I was doing a brake job on my wife's car, the first 'out of warranty" service, and when my new pads arrived they were too big to fit.

After a quick call, I was informed that our 2007 Mini Cooper S convertible was fitted with "standard" brakes rather than the "S" brake calipers and much larger pads (that we thought we were getting, and paid for).

Since the swept area of the pads certainly influences braking performance, it seems that BMW/Mini eagerly sold us the heavier convertible "S" car with a supercharger for a lot more performance than the normal Mini but with the substandard (for the extra weight of the convertible and performance of the supercharged engine) non-S brakes.

This seems wrong.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Is this the usual equipment for the "S" convertible?

Are there any remedies?

My wife (a serious Mini racer back in the day) loves her car, but as her 24/7 mechanic (prepped race cars for thirty years) now I have this nagging question mark about the car.

Thanks

Andy (reynard)

 

Isn't 2007 the first year of the turbocharged mini?

Sounds like you need 2006 MCS brakes.

 

2007 is the first year of the turbo in everthing except the convertible they were still supercharged till 2008 so still 1st gen

 

The '07 and '08 convertables were still super charged. The "S" models came standard with regular brakes. The option for those years was the JCW brakes which is the same as '07 and up "S" brakes on turbo charged cars except for the color. JCW brakes are red and the '07 and up "S" brakes were silver. A lot of people find the '07 "S" brakes as take offs in the market place and install them on the supercharged cars.
Steve

 

I knew I came to the right site.

The brake pad manufacturer thought that perhaps it was an "on the line" substitution like in the old Mini days when whatever was in the parts bin was put on the cars. That prompted my post.

I think that your answer will go a long way to modify the compatability charts that have made the situation so confusing.

I have been able to install new drilled/slotted rotors and much better pads (with a lot of research/advice from the forum) and the braking performance has really improved over the OEM equipment.

Thanks again.

Andy (reynard)

 

Jcw brakes on a gen1 were an option....you have a gen1 mini, with standard brakes....they are pretty oversized....

 

Nothing confusing here....you have a stock gen1 cabrio.....and it sounds like you ordered/were shipped the wrong part.
Like previouly said, many folks added gen2 brakes, which are gen1 jcw brakes/rotors minus the red paint+stickers.

 

recently shopping for new pads for my 07-S hardtop I noted that several places I went to failed to keep track of the GEN1 vs GEN2 differences of the rag top vs hard top.

It is one of the advantages some folks might consider when looking for parts - vendors who KNOW the differences, like MINIMania and WAY can help you avoid mistakes and save time. As owner of a 'classic' with many modifications, I seldom buy parts without discussing the issue with a vendor who knows ... like Seven or MiniMania. They've helped me avoid minefields a time or two. A booboo along this line cost me almost two months of downtime on my '79 when I replaced points with Pertronix. On the other hand, now I know CONCLUSIVELY how to identify an A+ block and which dizzys fit it!

p.s. a qwik visual check for anyone wondering. GEN1 disk brakes (non JCW) have a spring clip on the outside that holds the two halves of the caliber together (vibration control I've read). This clip is a minor PIA to get back on when the time comes.

'clip' in this picture from MiniMania site


GEN2 brakes do NOT have this spring clip on the outside. You can see this clip thru most wheels.

OP's picture is a perfect shot of the difference between GEN1 and 2 front pads - note size, shape of the end lugs, and the spring clips on the inner front pad. On a GEN1 inner rear pad you'd see the spring clips to grab the outside of the rear piston. GEN2 pads are smooth on the back side.

+++ to OP

curious to know what vendor this was but do not post here please ... pm me if willing to share the info

 

+1 for a vendor that knows mini's....
The fact the cabrio was a carryover from the 2006 causes much confusion...even here. So if buying parts online...use the pulldown for a 2006 model......