I have a friend that works for BMW and he's hearing rumors abouts Mini installing a M-series engine in 2005 with a 270 HP engine. I have no idea, but thought I would post it. Rumors only :smile: He also said at that time they were going to take make the car a few inches longer to house the engine and a little more leg room in the back seat.

 

>>I have a friend that works for BMW and he's hearing rumors abouts Mini installing a M-series engine in 2005 with a 270 HP engine. I have no idea, but thought I would post it. Rumors only :smile: He also said at that time they were going to take make the car a few inches longer to house the engine and a little more leg room in the back seat.

sweeeeeeeet

 

Dude, your friend's on crack. Tell him to get help.

First, Beemers are RWD. There's no way to adapt an existing BMW engine to a MINI or any other FWD car.

Second, BMW already signed the contract with Peugeot for the MINI engine in 2007.

 

I said it was rumors. But just called him and he agreed with you. But said that's 2007 not 2005. Also he stated this is going to be a limited edition version. Only rumors though.

 

How far up the ladder does this friend work at BMW?
I wouldn't put it passed BMW to do something like this. They are quite involved with the design and power aspect of their cars. They seem to be really in tune with tuning their line up of vehicles offered.
But it still sounds a little too good to be true.
But for a car that came out not too long ago, it's already got a regular Cooper, One, Cooper'S', convertible, diesel, & JCW kit model. Who knows what's next
I think 270hp seems a bit too much like a pipe dream. But hey, time will tell all I guess.
Most rumours of the automobile nature rarely ever pan out. So I'm not going to hold my breath for like 3 1/2 years.
Cheers,

 

MINI + 270HP = TORQUE STEER!

 

1) there is no way I believe that to be true

2) Based on MINI/MINIUSA's rollout of the JCW kit, if there is a rumor for a hotted up MINI in 2005 or 2007, then there is no way we would see anything until at least 2013.

 

270 HP? Y.R.S. I think your friend is joshin' ya.

 

270 hp would be ridiculously unfeasible in a MINI. Even if one made it to production, you can bet we wouldn't get it in the States.

 

My friend is a regional guy. Don't know his title but he is always gone. I have estimated his salary in the 175,000+ a year. Not that means much, but he hangs out on the golf course with other high up people.

Personally I think a 270HP Mini would be a death trap :smile:

 

>>Personally I think a 270HP Mini would be a death trap :smile:


Agreeable with that. It would be a lot of fun mind you, but it would be putting out some wild rides. Think we'd see wayyy more MINI fatalities than we see right now. But if it were to come out, you can bet it's not going to be a cheap model. Look how much a JCW equipped MCS costs right now, nicely loaded.
Cheers,


_________________
Simple recipe for enjoyment: Take 1 Mini. Add 6 gears. Drop in 1 supercharger. A dash of 91 octane. A sprinkle of style. And finally add 1 MadMan. Bake pavement and tires to taste. Recipe produces 1 Mini Cooper'S' and full satisfaction. Motor On!!

 

Talking with my salesman at mini who knows the high ups at BMW and convinced them to bring the cooper here in the first place he said there "might" be an AWD cooper with very large numbers. He didn't say 270, but this could be the same car. It's the monte carlo edition, and it's picture is in the Mini accesory book avaliable at the dealer. Check it out. I'm sure you've seen it, but he said they are going to make it. I asked how much, and he said it doesn't mateer how much because people will pay whatever they charge for such a wild ride! They are also going to start racing with this car in the WRC and he says it will kill everything else out there, and then they will have a tamed version for everyone else sort of like the WWRX STi. We can dream can't we!

 

Second, BMW already signed the contract with Peugeot for the MINI engine in 2007.

Damn..I was hoping for a decent engine by 2005.....I'll just have to maybe give the G35 Coupe or new RX8 a try before 07 as my MCS is closing in on 20K miles and the rattles are getting worse...hopefully the build quailty will also improve in 07....heard rumors that there may be a chassis manufacturer change as well....styling is terrific if they could just tighten it up.....

 

>>.....I'll just have to maybe give the G35 Coupe or new RX8 a try before 07 as my MCS is closing in on 20K miles and the rattles are getting worse...hopefully the build quailty will also improve in 07....heard rumors that there may be a chassis manufacturer change as well....styling is terrific if they could just tighten it up....>>>


Well there's your problem. THe MINI IS tight. Tight vehicles take a beating with bumps and rough roads. That's why your MINI is starting to rattle more. I have 16k+ miles and have noticed the same thing. If you want a less rattling car, you should go with a softer suspension. That will keep the rest of the car from taking such a beating.

 

What rattles in the MINI is the interior plastic trim not the structure! 2 different things!!!!

Remember that the MINI has has 50% more torsional rigidity than the current E46 BMW 3 series! The MINI is a pretty stiff car, the problem lies in the quality of the interior plastic trim and the way it is installed to minimize rattle development.

 

Well there's your problem. THe MINI IS tight. Tight vehicles take a beating with bumps and rough roads. That's why your MINI is starting to rattle more. I have 16k+ miles and have noticed the same thing. If you want a less rattling car, you should go with a softer suspension. That will keep the rest of the car from taking such a beating.

Had a new 3 series with sports suspension in 83...put over 40K miles on it and never had one rattle...it was as tight the day I traded it as the day I bought it....I really don't think it's the suspension or torsion rigidity that is the problem...... as the 3 series is pretty rigid as well...my opinion it is the build quality of what goes into the car...the sunroof, windows, dash, seat frames, etc.....could also be the plant in England..bad karma on build quality of any car built in Britain...lol !

Seriously...hopefully BMW is embarressed by the very negative report from JD Power and being near the bottom with Hummer concerning build quality issues....but from what I've read concerning bringing the mini to market, 18 months before the scheduled launch the whole program was a train wreck and many corners were cut to meet launch dates....and bimmer is supposedly losing money on mini based on current production numbers and costs....one of the rumors regarding a chassis change as well as engine change...

 

MINI is doing great, thank you very much. The car has been a worldwide success no matter how you cut it and slice it. Also I would suggest for you to read in between the lines of the J.D. powers report. The top complaint about the MINI was related to the CUP HOLDERS.. Pluheezeeeee!!!!!! Only valid complaint is the ongoing problems with the engine management controlling software. The rest of the chap shots seem to be well unfounded IMO.

You know why the Hummer came at the bottom of the survey? Because, then again, customers were complaining about the abysmal fuel economy of the vehicle. Oh Gosh! what kind of mileage do you expect from a 4,000 pound V8 powered behemoth??????????

If you want a softer riding MINI, then get a Buick. Seriously the #1 problem with the ride quality of the MINI is not in the suspension tuning but rather with the IMO poor choice of going with heavy and stiff runflat tires. That's where the problem lies.

 

The top complaint about the MINI was related to the CUP HOLDERS.. Pluheezeeeee!!!!!! Only valid complaint is the ongoing problems with the engine management controlling software. The rest of the chap shots seem to be well unfounded IMO.

PLEASE.........I wish the only problem I had was with the cup holders...lol! I'm certainly not unhappy about buying the MCS because it had poor or no cupholders or had no arm rest.....I bought it for it's handling & styling.... obviously not for it's straight line performance as there are many cars in the same price range that are much faster straight line...but I did expect a better build quality....if you call dash rattles, broken seat frames on both front seats, driver window rattle, sunroof rattle cheap shots, then I guess we have different views of reality as I have seen these issues mentioned many times on the boards here...I also had a blown air compressor and blown supercharger, but those were fixed and not related to rattles which are the bigger problem concerning build quality. I also had a defective run flat and got rid of those dreadful tires, replacing with yokos and lighter 16 " alloys instead of the heavy 17"....the runflats have nothing to do with the rattles as the rattles have not changed with the yokos and the ride may only marginal better, but the handling is much improved as the yokos are stickier and the lighter alloys and tires has improved the low end which is really the weak point in the MCS IMO...the ECU management is part of the problem but also the problem is the low end torque, especially under 2500 rpms and with the lags on starts....over 3500 rpms no prob....

I love driving the MCS but am realistic to know it has some problems and was not the least bit surprised by the poor JD Power showing, but then again I remind myself I didn't buy a 3 series at $30K plus....

 

Oh Gosh! what kind of mileage do you expect from a 4,000 pound V8 powered behemoth??????????

Actually the Hummer weighs 8640 pounds....over 8000 pounds and it qualifies for the special depreciation tax....GM is no dummy in order to get an extra 40 lbs loaded on...lol !

 

>>Talking with my salesman at mini who knows the high ups at BMW and convinced them to bring the cooper here in the first place<<

Does this strike anyone else as unlikely? A salesman that rubs elbows with the kingpins? My only question is, if he not only knows but influences such powerful decision-makers why is this guy still just a salesman?

 

>>>>Talking with my salesman at mini who knows the high ups at BMW and convinced them to bring the cooper here in the first place<<
>>
>>Does this strike anyone else as unlikely?

Yes.

 

A couple of months ago I ran across (online) a MINI racing team in Europe that hard dropped an engine (don't remember if it was an M series or not) in a MINI and were running 340 HP. They stretched the nose 6 inches and built a a tube frame to support it. Seemed very similar to the V-Tech and Vauxhaul conversions done on the Classic Mini's. If I find the site again I'll put it up. The car was white and lime green.

 

Hrach Chekijian ring a bell????

look in your mini history books if it doesn't.

Everything he has told me has been very truthful.

Maybe I'm a sucker though.

Ben

 

>>>>>>Talking with my salesman at mini who knows the high ups at BMW and convinced them to bring the cooper here in the first place<<
>>>>
>>>>Does this strike anyone else as unlikely?
>>
>>Yes.

 

I was reading an artical on one of thoes Euro Tuner websites, they said with all the suspension work they did to their MINI Cooper S, it was able to pull 0.98, I almost pooped my pants when I read that, I can't even imagin what that would be liked paired up with the John Cooper Works Package.