I noticed when I shop for my MINI, some retailers list the MINI under BMW and others under MINI. I believe BMW is responsible for reviving the new MINI. In fact, the new MINIs share many parts with BMW. Do you consider your MINI as a "MINI" or a BMW? :smile:

 

I don't know how hands-on BMW was in the design. I belive that the new Mini was primarily designed in the US and is based on a platform that Rover had been working on for several years. In fact, I saw the first prototype pictures about eight years ago and the design has not changed much.

I believe that the new Mini is a true Mini in every way. Although some old Mini owners do not like the new design, I think it is the most inovative car on the road. Here is something I wrote about the subject while debating on another board: "BMW has accomplished a great feat. They have taken the spirit of the original Mini and packaged it within a design that will ensure its future viability as a competitive marquee within the global marketplace. They have designed a car that accomplishes the modern equivalent what Isogonis intended with the original Mini – a compact yet economical car to compete with the horrible alternatives occupying the road – those being the bubble cars of the 1950s and the SUVs of today. While we obviously treasure the past, we live in the present and can only look forward to the future. I agree that our classics can never be replaced in our hearts. But I honestly believe that the current MINI is the nearest we will ever come to capturing the spirit of the original."

 

Mini... though I have heard it dubbed "BMW Mini" as well.

 

and if you answer BMW, would that make it a Bimmer, a Beemer, or something else?

I say MINI.

 

It annoys me when people call it a 'BMW' MINI

 

>>and if you answer BMW, would that make it a Bimmer, a Beemer, or something else?

or Beaner (in the honor of Mr. Bean).

 

a family aquaintance with a very large BMW sedan
refers to my car as ,"the baby beemer."
I'm not offended at all...

 

I've had BMW bikes and cars and could never bring my self to say Bimmer or Beemer. Always seemed too obnoxious.

"Beaner" I like

 

I drive a MINI. But I did notice quite of few of my parts are stamped BMW.

 

I live in SoCal. The BMW dealers all treat you second class citizens. When BMW begins to appreciate us as the cash cows we are maybe I'll think of it as a BMW. Until then BMW won't ever get credit for this great car. MINI all the way, I say!. Thank you Sir Alec!

 

That is like asking if a Volvo is a Ford, a Saab is a GM, a Rolls is a VW. BMW is the money, MINI is the builder

 

>>That is like asking if a Volvo is a Ford, a Saab is a GM, a Rolls is a VW. BMW is the money, MINI is the builder <<

That's it, alright. When people ask me, "What kind of car is that?" (everyday)
I always say, "It's a British car, a MINI Cooper S, they've been making them
since the '60's". I never mention BMW, unless they do.

Godspeed.

 

Very good words, right to the point. I never really knew much about the original, being 22 it was before my time. I ordered my MCS because its economical, sporty and just cool to look at. But when you sit in a MINI, you can't help but feel its BMWness, thats also one of the reasons I bought it.

 

I bought my car from a MINI dealer. Therefore, its a MINI.

 

It says BMW under the bonnet , inside the door jam. BMW mechanics perform the service at the dealer. It was the BMW service manager that called me about my transmission. It certainly is a BMW product. I don't refer to it as a BMW, but a MINI or a Cooper, but when I show the car to others, I always explain that it is a BMW product, engineered by them. Why not? It is their advertising campaign that attenpts to make it a seperate brand. Unfortunately my insurance card say "BMW" and nothing else, which is wrong. No where on the registration does it read BMW.

 

>> BMW mechanics perform the service at the dealer.

Not at my dealer. My dealer is pure MINI, not a BMW in sight.

That said, I don't really care whether people call it a BMW MINI, MINI, BINI, or Beaner. At the end of the day I'm the one that gets to drive it home.

 

It's very much a BMW...no matter what you want to call it

 

>>That is like asking if a Volvo is a Ford, a Saab is a GM, a Rolls is a VW. BMW is the money, MINI is the builder


I agree with the execption that it would make a Rolls a BMW....Bently is a VW.

Wait, a better reply ... or more British anyway
We could say our car is built by the same people that make the Rolls

I just call it a MINI

 

handling: BMW
looks: MINI/BMW
theme: MINI

 

It's a true baby of the 21st century - it's a mix of British, German, American, Brazilian (engine), and probably other international parts. What vehicles aren't these days?

It's a MINI - more "Ultimate Driving Machine" than any BMW!!

_________________
My MINI makes me want to do the happy dance!

 

Is an Aston Martin a Ford? Audi a VW? What about Rolls Royce? Or, PT Cruiser calling itself a Benz?
MINI all the way.

 

It's MINI to me. But when other paople ask what it is or who makes it now, or when they say "Is that one of them new Austin MINIs?" I say it's BMW's MINI.
Cheerio,

 

Based on the way they have handled the quality issues (cold start, stumble, yo-yo, windshields, coolant expansion tanks), I am not very impressed with MINI and that tarnish is rubbing off on my impression of BMW.

 

MINI. I'm not sure what it's about exactly -- maybe a perceived image thing -- but I wouldn't want a BMW.

 

Personally I consider it a MINI BMW - All the wonderful options and gadgets clearly make it a BMW. A Mini on the other hand is a real minimalist car, the differences are too noumerous to even start to catorigise.

I have wondered over all the people screaming about their expansion tanks leaking and their yo-yo's and all the other really minor faults in a completely new car that BMW is addressing albeit slowly - You should have owned an original Mini (I had three of them). The Cooper 1275 S didn't have an airconditioner and barely had a heater, you couldn't hear the radio and it was AM only, it had to have the valves set about every month and the carbs balanced about weekly. It was a 1300 pound go-cart that was the very best thing on wheels at the time - it was never beat at a gymkana and only rarely on any hill climb or road course unless the straights were long enough as the top speed was just over 100. You young people have NO IDEA of what a lack of quality build was until you got a brand new Austin Cooper 1275 S and found that the whole steering assembly was installed finger tight. The disk brakes were good for about 1/2 to 1 lap on any course and then the brake fluid was boiling (That's why the old ones always are being thrown sideways through corners - to slow them down!). Get a grip folks!