Any one know of a place that might show side by side changes?

 

There were many changes during the '11 model refresh but I can't think of any changes at all for '12. Maybe just different color, wheel, and package options.

 

Drove both today (11 & 12). 12 had different instrumentation and nicer seats. Both base model R55.

 

I haven't known of instrumentation or seating differences between 11 & 12. Are you sure the differences weren't simply different options? For example, what instrumentation differences did you see?

 

Have done more research.

Seems the '11 has auto a/c, the '12 no so the readout displays looked quite different.

As to the seats the '12 material had a much different feel plus more 'cushion'.

Both are listed (via VIN) as LEATHERETTE/E1 CARBON BLACK (K9E1)

These are at non Mini dealers whom have no clue on options. Am tryong to sort out from this URL:

http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Will have visit a Mini dealer to see what More I can find out.

 

A VIN by itself won't provide information beyond manufacturing date and car model. It doesn't tell you anything about options such as type of seating or instrumentation (unless those are related to the car model). For example, a VIN would identify that a car is an S, and you'd know that sports seats are standard. However, a VIN by itself wouldn't tell you whether a base Cooper has optional sports or upgraded seats.

A dealer would have to look up what options were ordered with the car. If you find a cooperative dealer they can tell you, but I think that officially it is considered private information only for the owner. If you post photos, people here can probably identify most of the options.

 

Actually the German site ref above shows sport seats, auto a/c and other options / packages. Lots of dealers post VIN so has been of some assistance, at least more so than the (non Mini) dealers.

 

Great website! I entered my '06 R52 and it listed my options correctly. It must be pulling the info from a BMW database, because that information isn't encoded in the VIN number itself.

However, I will stand by my assertion that what you saw were differences in options, not changes between '11 and '12. It would help if any pictures are available.

 

Auto AC is an option. The '11 you saw had it, and the '12 simply didn't.


I love that URL. I ran across it a few days ago and used to to document everything on my car.

Here are most 2012 changes.