Not to mention the "BMW" markings inside the driver's door and pretty much everywhere on the car. Some people still dont get the differance between the Jaguar --> Ford relationship and the BMW --> Mini thing.

None of the Mini dealerships around here have BMW on the building. That's the building about 50 yards away next door somewhere.

Actually until just a week or so ago my MINI service dept shared the same building and service bays and everything as the BMW, and the parts dept still does. I dont think theres a problem with BMW badges as long as its not overkill

It's "Tomaaato", not "Tomayto"...

My "M" license plate ring is to let people know that this car is enhanced for performance.....since it is not JCW I can't wear those badges...childish...maybe.. but I dig it.....

My BMW dealer and Mini dealer are the same which is not true of my Ford and Jag dealer

If you really want to confuse some people, plaster Rover badges all over the car. That would be more accurate than putting BMW rondels on it. Considering it was Rover that engineered most of the car, not BMW. I'm guessing that is best argued on another thread.

What BMW did that 1.6l supercharged motor come from, eh?

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RE: re-/de-badging – I've never gotten it, but to each their own. I'm not driving their cars.

Here's a reason not to do it... BMW obviously wanted Minis to be still in the grand SPIRIT of Mini... otherwise they would have simply dissolved the company after buying them or just allowed them to dissappear altogether then made a knock-off of their own.

Instead, BMW kept many of the hallmarks of the origonal- the unusually spacious interior configuration (room for 4 in every car, an original Mini design requirement), the steering design that places the wheels at the outside corners of the car, giving the trademark steering agility, the in-line 4 cyl. engine, etc. Al while upgrading all of the tech with the latest and greatest in BMW engineering...

If BMW had wanted to make a sporty, "me too" car *LIKE* a Mini, then they easily could have, and would have branded it a such, but they chose to make a car that still appealed to fans of the original. Unlike other recent semi-sad attempts to capitalize on the nostalgia market ( ::: cough! VW Beetle! cough! :: ) that are already fading, however, the "new Mini" is a wonderful car in and of itself, one that appeals to fans of the original as wll as new drivers that might have never heard of them before.

All, as was said, assembled in Oxford, England.

So, yeah, I'm very aware that there's a BMW -> Mini "relationship", but I really don't care... It's not a Beamer- it's a MINI.

Or, to put it another way, if I went out and purchased a classic Tucker, should I rebadge it as a helicopter? Because, that motor in there began its life in a whirly-bird. I dunno- maybe it's just me, but that's just goofy.

Would you bring a Jag to your local FORD Dealer???

As longs as we're at it, how about putting a Mercedes Benz badge on a Chrysler 300?

What a debate! What a way to spend time! And yes, under the skin there is a heck of a lot of BMW, from the use of the i-BUS and other thing BMW in the electronics (and BMW uses Siemens engine control in other models too), to the previously mentioned brake calipers (that are BMW parts, the caliper bushing upgrade kits are identical for the MINI and the BMW).

In some posts about Minis in Japan, a lot had the Mini wings with the BMW inside it... Not for me, but I don't really care what others do for asthetics, and most of you shouldn't either!

Have a nice day!

Matt

I think this is great! I had originally thought of putting 'MINIBMW' on my license plate, but my bro advised against it, knowing the backlash I'd get from the MINI community. I think the plate I have now suits me better anyway.

My SO swaped out his 'COOPER', so he now drives a 'DINAN S'. I have no badge on my boot stripe, just the S, which I have switched to S.

"Youification" rocks!

I don't care what other people do to their cars on a deep level, but observing and discussing all kinds of mods and such, the good the bad, what you like/what you don't, is part of being an enthusiast imho. Anyhow, the whole rebadging thing I feel is not in good taste on the one hand, and kind of sad on the other - like the owner is not happy with the vehicle and is ashamed of what it is, and is trying to pass it off as something else. Just the impression I get. Rebadging strikes me as different then customizing mods, aka 'youification' (is that a Mini marketing term for modding? Will it make a difference if I tell the SA that no, its not modified, its you-ified? :D)

Hmmm... I consider cosmetic changes to be "youification" as opposed to modding, though I suppose some changes could be both. For example, my new tail lights changed the appearance of my MINI's boot (youification), but also required my '05 to be rewired for pre-'05 lights (modding).

Semantics I guess - I've always considered any modifications to a stock vehicle to be modding, whether its a performance or appearance change, and lord knows every one I've owned always ended up being modded I personally just don't feel right using a fake word made up by the Mini marketing dept.

Exactly

If someone so desperately wants to convert their Mini to a BMW, then perhaps the BMW website forums are the place to be. Why bother to be in the Mini forum at all?

I guess we drive Mutts.

Maybe we should just run the imposters off the road then...that'll fix them

My last car was a 325i, and it was the (second) best car I ever owned. I'm rather proud of MINI's asssociation with BMW. It is a great car company, with innovative products- including the MINI. For those of you running nav v. 27.1, you have the X5 crowd to thank. So, why not celebrate the connection? I don't really think anybody who knows anything about cars will confuse your MC for an M3, and for those who don't, they won't really care how you badge your car.

Um.. a Beamer (or Beemer) has 2 wheels. a BIMMER has 4. Pet peeve when people mess that up.

That said.. a MINI is more a Bimmer is the spirit of the light weight, 4-cyl small sports coupe, a-la 2002 or E30 M3, than ANY new BMW on the road today in the US. can't judge the 1-series yet.

And the funny thing is that the Classic Mini crowd will shout and yell that the BMW MINI is not really a MINI but a BINI!

Sorry guys, I for one LOVE the association BMW-MINI. BMW is a fantastic car company and a cringe to think what would have happened if BMW had gotten rid of the Mini back in the 1990's and either left it in Rover's hands or sold it to Ford along with Land Rover, etc.

Thanks to BMW, the MINI lives today, period! Rover would have never had either the financial growth or the know how to be able to launch to market an all new MINI after 45+ years of the original Issigonis design.

Some of you are too hung up on the badges! But after all this is America the land of badges and badge engineering!

Educate yourself on the history of the Mini/MINI. I highly recommend reading Graham Robson's "New MINI - Second Edition" book that explains in luxury of details the history of the Mini since its inception in the 1950's until today.

After you read that book, you'll come to the conclusion that the car we enjoy today is there by a MIRACLE. yes guys and glas, our beloved MINI, hadn't been for BMW's resolve, genius and vision would have already cease to exist altogether after the last classic Rover Mini was assembled in October 2000.

So Viva BMW! Thanks to your resolve and know how, we enjoy one of the most fun and best handling FWD cars in the world today!

And let's be honest here....

Most folks would have never considered/purchased the MINI if it had been for the BMW background.

How many of you would have still bought this car if it had been made by Rover or some Chinese company???

A MINI is a MINI... not a BMW

btw, a MINI with BMW badges is not the worst... I've seen this truck 3 years ago.