1) Auto up window feature
2) Heated windshield.

 

I'd like to see a straight 6, not a fan of V's. Tough fit though...

Also, the interior plastics are SO chinsey. The cars would rattle a lot less with some higher quality plastics. I'd pay more.

 

I beg to differ...."Higher" quality plastics do not guarantee rattle/squeak free interiors. Prime example is any newer VW model. Very nice plastics and well finished interiors but they still rattle like Cuban Maraca....oh and parts still fall off or brake in your hands...just ask any Jetta owner.

Sure, the MINI can benefit from better plastics but the key here is actual component assembly quality.


A Toyota Echo has cheesy interior plastics, but those things simply don't rattle at all.

_________________
'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

I would like a complete service manual. I don't understand why this has not been made available to anyone who wants one.

Jack

 

For those who want a 6cyl engine in the MINI, I think you are in the wrong car. Set your sights in a 3 series, 350Z or WRX.


MINIs are not meant to be hot rodders!!!

 

I have to disagree with that last statement:
"MINI's are not meant to be hot rodders"

Um.. of course they are- I have never seen another car where customization and performance upgrades were so universally accepted and encouraged- even by the dealers

The whole MINI advertising campaign is based on that very idea. Which is basically get one- then make it your own.

That said- a BMW straight six would be an amazing addition to the MINI line- even if it would be a challenge to squeese in there. The one thing I miss from my Z3 is that smooooooth 6 under the hood.

Though what the MINI lacks in cylinders it more than makes up for in handling and character.

-S

 

>>For those who want a 6cyl engine in the MINI, I think you are in the wrong car. Set your sights in a 3 series, 350Z or WRX.
>>
>>
>>MINIs are not meant to be hot rodders!!!
_______________
Well said. Some upgrades can cost $$$. Examples: Recaro seats, V-6. If you factor in the additional costs of all such major "improvements" you basically place the MINI in another price/performance bracket where there are many competing cars with ever-improving features.

I would say the Recaro seats could be an "option" or maybe even available through a third party source. There are many excellent suggestions, some addressing problem areas like the windshield and the yo-yo, and others considered "niggling" problems. Those niggling problems, like rattles and the near useless sun visors , should definitely be fixed.

 

>>>1. Cruise control cannot maintain the set speed, which totally defeats its usefulness
>>
>>
>>Really? mine is dead-on each time... humm..

1) i agree i with the first statement. cruise control is totally useless. if i set the cruise to 80mph, which is my highway cruising speed, as soon as start going uphill, even slightly, it drops to 79, 78, 77... THEN it starts picking up speed..., 78, 79, 80, 81..., 82 (what the hell? stop speeding up!!!). by now i'm over the hill and going downhill, ...83 (starts to close throttle, but not fast enough), 84!!.., 83, 82 back down to 80. even on level ground it will go from 78 to 82. USELESS!!!

2) sunvisors are also totally useless, even on non-sunroof mini, like mine. there is a 3 inch gap between the A-pillar and the visor when they are down. when you move them to the side they PIVOT DOWN (WTF?) and leave a gap between the top of the visor and the headliner. and to finish it off, the visor slips off of the clips every time you flip them back up! AAARRGH!!!

aside from those two VERY annoying design flaws, this is the most fun i have ever had driving a car, AND i get to drive it everyday!! i wouldn't trade it for anything.

BUT, i would love it EVEN MORE if BMW would FIX THESE PROBLEMS!! hell, i can live with the crappy visors, but for god's sake AT LEAST FIX THE CRUISE!!!

 

Here's a minor tidbit. Occasionally the power mirror control gets bumped and the mirror gets misaligned. The problem could be solved by either locating the control in a more out of the way place or by making a neutral position for the left/right setting switch.

 

Since I have nor received myMCS as of yet I am already aware of a few items which needs to be addressed by BMW.
I had a Classic Mini im my younger days and enjoyed the manually opereted rear windows. It allowed for a wonderful circulation of air and certainly would be welcome in the New Minis.
I suspect that I will be a recipient of the new 3 spoke multifunction steering wheel. I just saw it the other day at the dealer with all the small 2x4 buttons on the horizontal spokes and I mean small.
I have small fingers and will have difficulty operating 'them' little buttons, one at the time.
Bigger hands and add gloves in the winter, how is that possible?
Anyone have the new steering wheel?
Just thought I would add my five cents.

 

>>My pet peeves:
>>How about making the key smaller? Or a least flip out. Its enormous.
>>While I'm on the subject of keys: make the hole for the key ring bigger.
>>My dealer gave me two nice MINI key rings one of which (the compass) the MINI key won't fit and the other (the wire with the mini logo) has to be threaded through. If you are designing a MINI key ring wouldn't you want to use a MINI key to make sure it fits?
>>
>>
>>
>>

>>The Mini Key Ring provided by your dealer was likely purchased by the dealer
>>from a stock set up. The dealer thought the key ring was cool, bought a bunch
>>with the mini logo and then gives them out to each customer. They likely bought
>>them from a catalog, so didn't see that they didn't fit the key properly.

If I not mistaken the "Wire" model keyring may be the same as offered at minigear. My wife bought this one only to find the only way to get the keyring to work was to ream the hole in the key larger. Once on, though, I love the keyring. My wife is also not happy about the size of the key. She doen't need the remote and would rather a smaller key as to not make her keyring take up her entire purse.

 

>>The primary nag I found was the small oval rear view mirror. This design makes for blind spots. Nuf - said.

Initially, I thought the rear view mirror was too small as well, but then I realized it does cover the whole rear window view (for me; with my seat pretty far back). The Car Talk boys have a mirror set up (using all three mirrors) that eliminates blind spots. See:

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autoscon...g03-298020.htm

It takes some getting used to but I really like it now.

The cold weather rattles are the most annoying for me---something that seems should be an easy fix. As others have said, this should be embarassing for BMW.

 

Clearcoat ALL silver interior trim pieces for improved durability.
Select different wheel vendors ( offer lighter 16 & 17" wheels for ss+ suspensions) S-"Lite" is a joke. Offer Pannasports or real Minilites if prospective buyers want the 60's look.
Improve pedal layout to allow easier heal n toe with OEM pedals
Make "sports" seats standard & find a better seat with more lateral support for SS+ equipped cars.
sunvisors...
Move side mirrors forward by several inches to bring right side door mirror into clearer field of vision .
Offer factory installed Performance gauge option; Boost/oil for MCS, Oil temp/press for MC, others?
Offer Factory oil cooler with thermostat .
find different windshield vendor ( This may have already been done)
Offer real British Racing Green as a color option. Real BRG is very dark,almost black (see early Jags or Rover sedans) I like the Current Metallic BRG but would like to see real BRG offered.

And the pie in the sky requests;

Ditch drive by wire
Start with more displacement & better gearing! 1800cc minimum or reduce weight.

 

Ways to "improve Mini

1. Have engineers/suppplies come up with a stronger glass and do a
"recall" on all 02/03 windshields.

2. Put a "left/Right arrows for the directional signials!! (Looks like you have your 4 way blinders on!)

3. Call HONDA's supplier for their HEATER! Mini's heater makes all kind of wind noice, but does not hold a candle to a Honda heater,! Also change the stupid way you have to turn down the fan of the defroster,, (Hold button for 3 seconds,,THEN press the - sign,,WHY?) (If you press the - sign,,it shuts off and turns on the vent/floor heater,

4 Provide the AUTO UP" feature for the windows

Provide "loners" at ALL dealers no hassle,, (If I owned the BMW..at the same counter I would get a "loner" with no questions asked)..And remember it was BMW's call to on have 70 or so dealer NATIONWIDE.. so when the car is is in for ANY SERVICE..provide a free loner,,


Put all NEW feature for the model yr at the BEGINNING of the new yr builds and not phasing in new features because in 03 you phased in Medal pedals in the "S" (Cost $135 retrofit) 2. DVD NAV unit vs CD and HK stereo based for pre march builds..This practice lowers the resale value of "early builds.

Provide the interior choices of the UK cars

Provide Works version form the factory thus knocking out the dealer labor charge because you have to put "parts" on the car either way


But most of all, stand behind our Mini's by not "stonewalling problems, then improving the design for next yr,,and leaving the other owners "hanging,"

PS ..It might sound that I dislike my Mini, but I LOVE my Mini and I am your #1 biggest salesman..just these things listed above would cost very little.. but worud greatly improve your car and customer service.

 

>>Are you guys talking about the clutch throw or the physical height of the
>>pedal to the floor? i am talking about the pedal height from the floor.
>>It's too low. I have to sort of 'push' the clutch forward with my left foot
>>instead of 'step' on the clutch. wear the wrong shoes
>>and the pedal'll just slip under the shoe around the ball of my foot and
>>make it hard to control the pedal.
>>
>>none of my other cars had such low clutch pedals. The MCS's pedal pivots
>>fine and the stroke is good and engagement area feels okay, but its just
>>too close to the floor.

Ahhhh...i see what you are saying now. I do notice that certain shoes makes clutching more difficult. This may be why. Thanks for clarifying.

 

>>Clearcoat ALL silver interior trim pieces for improved durability.>>

Oh yeah, I'd really like to see this!!! My poor passenger side door grip is all scratched!!

 

1. JCW as a factory option
2. better non metallic paint
3. yo yo fixed
4. stumble fixed
5. more comfortable and adjustable seats in all fabric options
6. AWD as an option
7. non run flat tires as an option and either a spare or repair kit
8. compass on rear view mirror
9. strong windscreen glass and retro screens for those of us with 02/03 chipped and pitted glass
10. BETTER SERVICE! the present service here in southern california is terrible!

that being said, i really like the car AND these issues are frustrating and seem out of step with the BMW line of cars

i do hope that BMW is listening to us

 

I'll bite:
I had an idea for a re-worked DSC: have a two-stage switch, one click disengages traction control, but leaves on the rest of the DSC (all the braking controls). Second click turns it all off. Have it dealership programmable to default on or off upon startup (with the appropriate safety waiver signed, of course).

Realistic improvement ideas for the R50/53):
duh - get the Yo-Yo fix finished up ASAP
1.) improved paint - current stuff is unacceptably soft
2.) Cruise Control that works as well as my old 1993 BMW 3-series, ahem
3.) Auto-up windows (with, of course, the requisite safety waiver, again)
4.) factory optional: euro shelf, Sound Modul, JCW, Aero, R90's
5.) clearcoated painted interior bits (like Cabrio?)
6.) radio delete option

That'll work for me,
Ryan

 

>>My only suggestion (For now) Please add Homelink support as I am tired of carrying bulky garage door opener remotes!!!.
>>
>>BMW offers Homelink as an option on its cars, MINI should do the same.
>>
>>Oh yeah, an electronic compass embedded in the rear view mirror or made part as a prompt in the Tach's OBC LCD display would be the hot ticket!

When I first got my MCS I e-mailed MINI and told them they needed a button for the garage door opener - most vehicles have them - at least the last 10 to 15 I have owned.

And Second was to have the headlights stay on for a period of time after you get out of the car like 15 to 30 second - again most cars have that.

earl

 

>>...Second was to have the headlights stay on for a period of time after you get out of the car like 15 to 30 second - again most cars have that.

Doesn't "Follow-me-home" light serve this purpose? You do need to get it programmed at the dealership.

 

OK, I see an opening for one more suggestion:
A grab bar above the door for the front seat passenger. They're there above the back seats of my '03MCS but no such helpful place to hang on in front. Maybe they were added in '04? (I haven't looked closely at one yet) - if so, I withdraw my suggestion. I know that I would appreciate this addition when I must relinquish the controls from time to time for marriage preservation sake! It just doesn't seem natural to hang onto the door.

 

>>>>...Second was to have the headlights stay on for a period of time after you get out of the car like 15 to 30 second - again most cars have that.
>>
>>Doesn't "Follow-me-home" light serve this purpose? You do need to get it programmed at the dealership.
>>

Yes, that's exactly right. I have them programmed and they turn off after about 40 seconds I believe. There was talk of having them programmed for different time intervals, but I think they only have the 40 sec option available now.

 

1. Seats with more comfort and better side bolsters.
2. The plastic ring around the tach in some other finish other than the faux silver
3. The Harmon Kardon speaker grills in some other finish other than the faux silver.
4. Why no black leather shift gaiter when you can get one in leather for the Lapis blue and Tan? I have never been able to figure that one out.
5. An old style "fly-off" handbrake rather than the press the button and release one on the car now. For those of you who don't know what a fly-off handbrake is, I'll explain. You press the button to set the brake, and just pull up on the lever to release it.
6. Flared lower rocker panels for all the cars.
7. Instrument lights in white, no orange(It's a car, not a submarine). Yes I know, that would not be traditional BMW. However the Mini is not your traditional BMW.

 

> Instrument lights in white, no orange(It's a car, not a submarine).

I kind of like the amber/orange instrument lighting. Hatin' the erie green it could of been.

 

>>OK, I see an opening for one more suggestion:
>> A grab bar above the door for the front seat passenger. They're there above the back seats of my '03MCS but no such helpful place to hang on in front. Maybe they were added in '04? (I haven't looked closely at one yet) - if so, I withdraw my suggestion. I know that I would appreciate this addition when I must relinquish the controls from time to time for marriage preservation sake! It just doesn't seem natural to hang onto the door.

Finally one I agree w/ completely. My passengers almost always reach up to hold the handle that isn't there when I'm driving w/ any spirit at all. I'd like less rattles, it's true- MINI could take some quality control lessons from the folks at Honda or Toyota. One other small thing: the high beam and windshield levers are almost impossible to miss when doing other things- seems like they could be further down away from the actual wheel. Every time I signal to turn, I end up giving a quick high beam flash- and the wipers get hit accidentally all the time as well. LSD option would be cool, and a spare for the S is a very reasonable thing to want. Other than that, for a car w/ a base price of 17k, I can't complain much about my Cooper. Many of the "problems" needing improvement on this thread are simply non-issues, IMHO, or as one member mentioned, they'd put the MINI in another price bracket for sure.