16 replies to this topic

[drewdat]

I have an MPI Rover Mini Cooper and i'm not really sue what what trim it is. I've read a bit about the differences between a sportspak option and a Cooper Sport model/edition, but I'm still not sure I know what I have.

Here are the facts:
-Tahiti Blue with Silver roof and mirrors - I was told it was repainted - it still has the bonnet stripes but no thin lines down the side of the body
-GB and Cooper Sport badges
-Has the wide colored arches - but has been retrofitted with the smaller brakes and 10" rims
-4 round lights on bumper
-An MPI engine
-Black leather seats with black piping
-black leather and woodgrain steering wheel with SRS and green center circle (LHD)
-alloy dash with extra gauges
-Alloy shifter knob
-black plastic door and window handles
-metal acceleration pedal

That's about it. Is this really a Cooper Sport or were badges added later?

Thanks for your help!

Edited by drewdat, 21 October 2010 - 08:11 PM.

[bltrdly]

Pictures probably would help

[mininuts]

'S' Works interior.

Standard Cooper Sport interior should be as in the picture except for the brake and clutch pedals which are from John Cooper Garages, the door lock surrounds which should be black plastic and the radio/cd is non standard.

The rest of the door furniture is correct.

Yours could be a '99. Personally, I don't think you have a Cooper Sport. It sounds more like a standard Cooper that has had the Sportpack option fitted, some aftermarket badges applied, optional leather interior, and the roof changed from white to silver.

Some piccies would be helpful

Hope this helps.

[drewdat]

Pics removed

Edited by drewdat, 21 October 2010 - 07:32 PM.

[joakwin]

whats the engine number say?

looks like a mpi mini to me, should start with a 12, like a 12A or something like that

[mininuts]

Going off your pictures, I don't think it's a Cooper Sport.

Still think it used to be a standard Mpi Cooper though. The non-Rover wheel arches look a bit like the Wood & Pickett style so I'd say they'd been replaced at some point too.

Very nice mini though

[drewdat]

So I know what the sportspak option adds but what is the difference between a Cooper Sport and a Cooper? Is there any performance difference or is it mainly trim differences?

Also does anyone know where I can find production numbers for the MPI years?

Thanks.

[mini-man-dan]

Sadly this is more than likely a stolen car, ringed to obide by US rules then shipped out. Maybe someone might recognise the car on here.

Pretty big business over here.

[1stpromotive1275gt]

Assuming nothing else has been changed apart from the vin numbers and plates to get over the exporting problems in your country there are over 100 dated parts on your car.

All the white tags are dated on the wiring loom for a start.
the bootlid latch plate on the inside of the boot is date stamped.
the doors are date stamped behind the clear plastic when you remove the door cards.
the rear lamps will have stickers on them
these are just a few and I could be here all night.

It should be very easy to narrow it down to a month and year it was made.
you could probably even find out the original reg number from all the date stamps and barcodes if you could find someone with access to the rover factory data.
As the numbers and barcodes will come down to a batch of cars on the production line at a particular time.
Depends how far you want to delve into it.

If the alarm flashes the indicators its built after august 98
if the switches on the lower dash panel have rounded edges the car is from mid to late 1999.
There are so many ways to find out.
Id be happy to talk to you on the phone if you want to pm me.


there are no performance changes to a sportpack mini.
sportpack cars have a few differances.

koni shock absorbers
four spotlights
5 switches on the lower dash rail
2 extra guages in the dash
differant steering rack for 13" wheels
extra 1/4 inch spacers on the rear drums for clerance on the 13" wheels
chrome exhaust finisher
differant shape rear exhaust silencer (standard one is round)
the rear subframe sometimes if in good condition has a yellow s scribed into it from the factory

All assuming it hasnt been touched since it left the factory.
yours has no side repeaters but the front arches look like they have been cut
interior is from either a paul smith or lhd mini 40

Hope this helps

[drewdat]

Sadly this is more than likely a stolen car, ringed to obide by US rules then shipped out. Maybe someone might recognise the car on here.

Pretty big business over here.

I really hope it wasn't a stolen car... I did pay good money for the car and would rather not be badged as the guy who drives [enter name here]'s stolen car. I guess anyone who purchases a used car takes some risk with it being a stolen vehicle. I don't know that jumping to conclusions and saying "hey everyone take a look at this car... it is most likely stolen. Can you help identify who it was stolen from?" is really going to help anyone.

Edited by drewdat, 21 October 2010 - 08:23 PM.

[drewdat]

there are no performance changes to a sportpack mini.
sportpack cars have a few differances.

So what is the difference between a Cooper and Cooper sport on an MPI? I realize that all Cooper Sport models have the sportspack option and that some Cooper models have the sportspack option.

[rwerry]

there are no performance changes to a sportpack mini.
sportpack cars have a few differances.

So what is the difference between a Cooper and Cooper sport on an MPI? I realize that all Cooper Sport models have the sportspack option and that some Cooper models have the sportspack option.

The whole "Cooper Sports" thing is pretty confusing. Here's my take on it based on Mini World magazines of the time, Chris Rees's excellent Complete Classic Mini and my own memory(!). I hope anyone reading this will correct any inaccuracies:

There was a limited edition Cooper Sports model produced by Rover in 1998. It was offered in Brooklands green or black paintwork with dark green leather interior. It also had distinctive BMC rosette decals and a V flash above the front side indicator. The engine was the standard 63bhp 1275 MPi unit. Interestingly, although it had sportspack wheels and arches and other features, it only had two auxiliary front lamps. Only 100 of these cars were made.

When the four Mini runout models were announced in early 2000, the Cooper Sports name was used again for one of these. These were basically a Sportspack Mini with a few special features: The seats were black and nickel leather with black piping, the upper dash was black leather and the steering wheel nickel and black leather. The door fittings and gearknob were alloy and the dash had a engine-turned-alloy-like finish. The engine was the standard 63bhp 1275 MPi. The paint choices available were standard Mini colours, except black. The Cooper Sports was only produced for the UK market.

John Cooper Garages took the Rover Cooper Sports runout model and modified it to produce the John Cooper Garages Mini Cooper Sports SE. These were available only in Tahiti Blue with silver roof and stripes. Coopers added a few distinctive features, such as a flip petrol cap, but the big difference was the specially tweaked (S Works) engine that produced 90bhp, had a top speed of 102mph and did 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds. These models were announced shortly after the Rover runout models.

In answer to an earier question about MPi production figures: From 1996, 65,695 Minis were produced. However, a large number of these were for the Japanese market and these had SPi, rather than MPi engines fitted (to allow space for air conditioning) so it's hard to say how many of the total were actually MPis. Maybe someone else can provide more definitive figures.

[mini-man-dan]

Sadly this is more than likely a stolen car, ringed to obide by US rules then shipped out. Maybe someone might recognise the car on here.

Pretty big business over here.

I really hope it wasn't a stolen car... I did pay good money for the car and would rather not be badged as the guy who drives [enter name here]'s stolen car. I guess anyone who purchases a used car takes some risk with it being a stolen vehicle. I don't know that jumping to conclusions and saying "hey everyone take a look at this car... it is most likely stolen. Can you help identify who it was stolen from?" is really going to help anyone.

Sorry, didn't mean to come across like that. Was merely pointing out way too many Minis and other classics are going missing over here, having different VIN numbers attached to them and shipped out.

Bemuses me as to why the US and other countries can't seem to identify cars that have obviously been ringed and send them back, trace the seller and prosecute them if the car does turn out to be stolen. Just scroll down the forum and you'll see how common it's becoming, and that's only Minis from TMF's community.

Anyways, that's not your fault etc, didn't mean to make it sound like it was!

Dan

Edited by mini-man-dan, 22 October 2010 - 08:30 AM.

[1stpromotive1275gt]

there are no performance changes to a sportpack mini.
sportpack cars have a few differances.

So what is the difference between a Cooper and Cooper sport on an MPI? I realize that all Cooper Sport models have the sportspack option and that some Cooper models have the sportspack option.

i said that in my first reply.
under the line that says sportspack cars have a few differances

[Bean]

interior is from either a paul smith or lhd mini 40

The interior is a late Cooper Sport/Sport 500 interior. As is the alloy dash.

Does it have a 3rd brake light, in the middle of the back window?