I'm still burn free

 

Too bad I didn't get the warning earlier because I now have a sideways "U" on my right calf. That's okay, though. My last name begins with a "U", so I've been branded. I did it while unloading groceries from the back of our Mini, named Nigel! Hurt like a bugger but Nigel will always be with me now.
Marie U.

 

Design flaw??

It's an exhaust pipe with a shiny silver collar on it that we all love to polish.

Now, I suppose they could cut off a couple inches and risk having exhaust seep into the cabin. I've never liked cars that stick the pipe behind a rear wheel. Some sort of ceramic insulator between the pipe and the silver collar?

Wait! Wait! BMW could provide a removable studded leather cover we could take with us when we park so it wouldn't get stolen for use as an arm band.
Cooool.


For goodness sakes, it's an exhaust pipe. I'm sorry that anyone gets branded, but if this qualifies as a design flaw, then the idea of a vehicle with performance that can get you killled if you fail to respect it is a design flaw.

 

Well I got my first branding last week. In my case, I was reaching deep into the boot to get something out when my ankle brushed the pipe for just a split second. My "Mini burn" is only a 3/4" crescent, but the skin burned off and scabbed over. I'm generally aware of the hot pipes and take precautions. The combination of leaning deep into the boot and wearing shorts contributed to the burn. Yes, I should have been more careful, but I'll bet a number of the "unbranded" have been unwittingly saved by wearing long pants!

I'll be doubly careful in the future, but Mini could easily recess the pipes slightly to mitigate the issue. Unfortunately, the dorky center position of the pipes makes them difficult to avoid when fussing in the boot.

As an aside, I never liked the look of center-positioned pipes anyway (whether on the Mini S or Porsche Boxster/Cayman). To me pipes look more "sporty" and natural when placed on the sides. Just my $0.02.