Some early European buyers of the R56 complained about a large gap between the bonnet and the front panel. Although similar comparisons were made in some of the press cars and show cars that first showed up in this country, I haven't noticed those complaints from the first wave of U.S. buyers who have received their cars.

Can those of you who have received your new Minis comment on the presence or lack of the gap on your cars. Thanks.

 

There is a gap. From what I've read here the design of the bonnet requires some gap. I was very concerned about it before I picked it up. I'm okay with the way mine is. I wish it was completely flush but I don't think that is possible.
Mine is evenly spaced all around. If I was not hyper-sensitive to it as a result of the early run MINIs' excessive and uneven gaps I would have very little problem with it -- and I've been told I'm pretty ****-retentive.

 

Most...if not all...of the R56s I've seen in person seem to have no gap "problems." I'd heard there were several retoolings at plant Oxford around this issue. I've seen nothing on R56s at my dealer that even catches my eye as a problem.

 

I saw quite a few R56s today at a dealership (maybe 7 or so), and I didn't see any of them with the problem, they all looked quite good in fact. It put my mind quite a bit at ease about that issue.

 

No gap on mine

 

No prob here!

 

That's awesome news! My dealer had 5 07's and every last one of them had the gap but that was also 3 weeks ago around the launch. My MA said Mini was fixing the issue along with the sunroof noise with the next couple of batches of cars so it sounds like they did it. Way to go Mini

 

There will always be a little bit of gap based on the design.

Some early run cars, it was really noticable.

It's gotten better, but it will never be totally eliminated. As long as it's reasonably tight... and more important: even... it's fine.

 

I have the gap on mine, it's an early car delivered soon after launch (chassis 696), as the car is AB it's not so noticable.