So I just bought my R58 yesterday, and I've noticed the brakes are much more mushy than my 2010 clubman. I only have about 100 miles on the car, but I wasn't sure if there is a time for the pads to wear in and bite better?

 

The manual says the brakes have a 300 mile break in period. I'd be surprised if the pedal feel changed substantially though.

 

Yes.

http://zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

 

Brakes do not have a break in "period" if they're bedded in properly:

http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...and-procedures

http://www.stoptech.com/technical-su...l-white-papers

 

Brake pads need to be conditioned after they're new and is not a MINI specific thing. Brake pad conditioning involves heating up and a glazing on the brake pads that allows a greater surface for friction between the pad and the rotor. This glazing is actually harder than a non-glazed surface from the brake pad. On lighter brake pads, this can take a few hard (fast) stops in a row, otherwise this glazing will happen occur time. During the break in period, your braking force will not be as great, but will be sufficient.

On rare occasion, I have seen an over glazing which actually made it impossible to completely brake, but this is on small aircraft and while similar, we don't use the electric braking features the MINI has, so I don't believe this would ever be a problem there.