So before two months ago the last thing I ever looked at on the road were Mini's. Now I have one and love it/them.

One thing though...

I see a good deal of Mini's around these days. They all look like 07' to me. Of course this isn't true and I'm just ignorant.

What little details can I look at on the exterior to tell the difference between mini2.1 and mini2.2?

Eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one are appreciated.

 

Well, it really isn't 2.1 and 2.2. It is actually 1st gen and 2nd gen. The very 1st Mini's are Classics and the 1st and 2nd gen are MINI's

Now for visual differences. I don't really have any pics to show you but I will try to explain:

From the front:

• 1st has 3 sets of lights: Headlight, marker/blinker, foglight
• 2nd has 2 sets of lights: Headlight w/built in blinker, foglight

From the side:

• 1st has a smaller side marker emblem; where the "s" is if you have an S
• 2nd is much more pronounced

From the rear:

• 1st gen has a fog light dead center above the exhaust; early 1st gen had a reverse light there.
• 2nd gen has a black plastic strip going from one side of the bumper to the other.

There may be other things, but this is what I noticed.


1st gen



2nd gen

 

Thank you!!


-Gene

 

I don't have anything else to add, except the obvious tip that all the convertibles you see are still 1st-generation cars - the convertible version of the R56 won't be available until the 2009 model year.

I mainly posted to let you know I got the "Alice's Restaurant" reference -

 

The thing i notice is from the sides the windows are shorter.

 

The beltline of the second generation MINI is higher. The C-pillar is quite different on the second generation (not wrap-around glass as in the first gen), and the stance of the second gen appears to be higher, as well. That is how I can spot them as I motor around L.A.

 

Clo makes a good point...I spot the different models either by 1) the R56 one piece grill as opposed to the split grill (split by the bumper) of the R50/53, 2) the slant of the headlights on R56, or 3) the C-pillar profile change. Very little else is noticable enough for me to pick out quickly on the road, even the more extreme rear profile of the R56 boot.

 

Paint color can sometimes be the easiest way.

Get to know the new colors offered in 07

 

For me, because I am drawn to look at the lights (front or rear) like we are drawn to look at the eyes on a face I identify them as follows:

For the front, the first gen looks more forward, while in the 2nd gen the 'eyes' are more slanted outward---and they have the "egg yolk" light.

1st gen:


2nd gen:




For the rear, I notice the subtle diffeence in the width of the chrome lining around the light. The 1st gen is thinner, the 2nd gen has a wider chrome lining.

1st gen:



2nd gen:

 

#1 for me: windshield wipers: Pre 07 stick out of bonnet cowl (you can see they are bolted to the car); post, hidden below edge of hood.

 

To me, the '07 seems a bit 'chunky' in the rear end. Follow the C pillar line down from the roof and where it hits paint flares out much more than the '06 and earlier.

Also, the wheel arches on the '07 are more pronounced, especially the height of the arches over the front wheels.

 

1st - side panel = A piller (turn/side light area) is two piece - split just above the light

2nd - A piller is one solid piece..

 

R50 Cooper on the left, R56 Cooper on the right...



R53 Cooper S on top, R56 Cooper S on the bottom...



R53 MCS on the left, R56 MCS on the right...

 

Also: The side view mirrors on the R56 are rounder and the R50-R53 are more elongated / oval.

 

I read somewhere that if the car looks bloated it's the new version and if it looks somewhat emasculated it's the old one

 

Exhaust pipes are different, too. I can tell them apart quicker from behind, but thats just me.
I only see MINIs around here, but I know there is a right handed mini nearby. Just haven't been lucky enough to see it on the road.

 

never noticed the windshield wiper trick... nice pick up!

 

I just noticed this one today... Could make it easy to spot the R56s in a long row of cars...

Check out the red and amber side marker lights that are molded into the black front and rear arches on US-spec cars. On the '06 and earlier, these are in the lower piece that takes the bend to go along the front/rear of the car. On the newer model, they are higher, molded into the arch piece that goes over the top of the wheels.

'07 Coupe:



R50 and R53

 

 

you can tell the 05 and 06 from the 02-04 from the rear by the white reverse lights being in the taillight assembly vice lower center of the bumper.

from the front you can tell them apart by the headlights. the 02-04 has a vertical flat glass inside the headlight assembly where as the 05/06 has either the cool spaceship butt xenons or the concave halogens.

 

Also the side markers on the R56 S are chrome (and chunky), where they are more black on the R53 (and more flush with the car). Another way to tell is the rear fogs are different from the 1st to 2nd generations.