A few weeks ago I was back up at my dealer to test drive the Cooper S again, and I accidently scraped bottom. I went out of the parking lot at an angle and very slow, but still hit bottom. I guess they are a lot lower than I thought they were. I am just a bit worried about my Cooper S (when it comes) because I have a lot of steep driveways I go up and down for work. Thanks in advance.

When I had the 15" wheels on my mini I scraped the front a lot on steep driveways but with the 16"s wheels I put on I didnt scrap as much. I actually bent the plastic part under the front bumper from going down a driveway too fast. Just be careful down steep driveways and ramps, you should be fine.

m3ster-- It is seldom a problem with my MCS. You do have to go slow backing onto roads from driveways with curbs, but you will remember to do it. When it scrapes in those situations, it usually scrapes the plastic lip well under (I don't know what it is called), and not the front piece forming the bottom of the grill. Some of the "Mini Mod Squad" lower their Minis and so have to be very careful with and road bumps, but I have no problem there. Congrats on your choice... happy motoring!!

m3ster,
Yes, I scrape the bottom of my stock front bumper only/ never anything under the car. Last time in my MCS was yesterday coming out of a steep driveway area for the first time into busy traffic. Also I have a sloped driveway and if I back out and then turn at the same time and reversing over the edge of the curb then no problems. The other place to scrape is when parking, do not get close to the concrete blocks at the front of many parking stalls- it is way too high. I have an MCS that has been lowered one inch front and rear. Speed bumps are OK (never scrape- if taken really slowly. Take care on curbs esp when going over them for the first time.

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ALOHA

Oh and another thing, if your going over speed bumps and you have a really low car it helps if you go over the bumps at an angle to avoid scraping. Also works on steep driveways

I never scrape -- this thing'll go over anything. Probably just a matter of driving style though. I've never had a lowered car or any such hassle but have driven small cars all my life so I'm always conscious of my technique with steep ramps.

I read the title and I was about to say NEVER... but I thought you were talking about the oil pan. I had a couple little chunks/scrapes taken out of the bottom of the oil pan on our last car (Turbo Beetle) cause this one little "yump" we take over a short single lane bridge. The Beetle's suspension was so soft it would compress on the downside and scrape on ocassion... but the Mini NEVER.

As for the plastic lip that you're talking about, unhhh, we backed out of a steep lipped driveway (new development awaiting final pavement) and scraped slightly and realized that we should have angled it ... letting one wheel down at a time allows the higher wheel to hold the front end at an angle that doesn't scrape. But everything has it's limits.

Other than that, no worries.

Scrape everytime I come out of my driveway with a passenger. Now that I'm employed again, I will eventually be able to afford to redo the drive and get rid of the GD California curb.

my front in scrapes at times, depending on the driveway. BUT I have never 'bottomed out' and hit the underside of the MINI. Maybe some Lowrider style suspension would work? then you can Bounce it up the street too.

The plastic lip near the front will scrape on driveways from time to time, but its not a bit deal, and you learn to anticipate that.

I think the lip is some sort of air dam to help reduce air pressure under the car, and keep it on the road better at very high speeds. Minor scraping of it is not a serious issue.

Otherwise, I've never had an actual chassis or mechnaical part of the MINI bottom out.

I think that a skid plate install is sounding better and better. :smile:

My MCS has the stock suspension setup, and I've scraped the front lip a couple of times on driveways. Never on a speedbump yet. My driveway, every time unless I angle it, but my wifes Subaru Outback sedan scrapes unless we angle it too, and it's an extended ground clearance car!

My MCS has the stock suspension setup, and I've scraped the front lip a couple of times on driveways. Never on a speedbump yet. My driveway, every time unless I angle it, but my wifes Subaru Outback sedan scrapes unless we angle it too, and it's an extended ground clearance car!

>>I think that a skid plate install is sounding better and better. :smile:

DJ -- I live in the boondocks and have a 1/4 mile gravel driveway. The gravel tends to crown with usage, and my MCS (stock suspension, 17" wheels) frequently scrapes. The MOSS skid plate I put on last winter has prevented any damage to expen$ive parts.

Tom

i've never bottomed out. i have an S with 17" wheels.