180 replies to this topic

[creakyjaws5533]

I honestly dont think those working on the BINIS care what we think I dont get upset if an airline likes boeing more than airbus so why would they, they clock in clock out get paid go home and dont spend two seconds thinking about us lot. Its BINIs drivers who think that we should wave at them how do wr know you may own a mini I dont wave at every car I see just incase they own a mini its ridiculous. And how can you compare the usage of car that and its youngest 14 years old against a modern car? how many people still use mobiles designed in the 90's? its a stupid point to make

[Chance]

It will be interesting to see the reliability ratings of the new F56 Mk3 MINI in a year or two as it is the first fully BMW designed and engineered version.......all other R50/53 Mk1 and Mk2 R56 MINI's were based on the original Rover designed and engineered platform. The launch of the original R50 MINI in 2001 was delayed when BMW decided it was no longer to be sold from Rover Dealerships and did a hasty quality upgrade from Rover standards.....however it was too late to change the steering pump and the Midland gearbox though until the 2004 facelift R50 model.
 
Having said that I have never had a single major problem with my own 2002 R50 MINI daily driver but as a classic Mini owner since my first car in 1974 I do know how to maintain cars properly.
 

Is it not true that BMW chose that steering pump though because it gave better driving feel?

I have nothing against the BINI..

As for reliability.. People drive cars ..ignore noises and problems until they break causing bigger damage and blame the car for being rubbish..

[Tanya]

I honestly dont think those working on the BINIS care what we think I dont get upset if an airline likes boeing more than airbus so why would they, they clock in clock out get paid go home and dont spend two seconds thinking about us lot. 

 
Maybe I'm qualified in a small way to comment on this.  I organise events with Cowley built cars and while that is primarily for models older than MINI, obviously as one of Cowley's greatest successes MINIs come along too and are very welcome.  Like with anything, while not all workers are going to be interested or care, there are a good number who do care and are interested.  I know as I've met them!  Generally, enthusiasts and those who work/worked on the cars enjoy meeting each other.  
 

how many people still use mobiles designed in the 90's?

 
My phone's a Nokia 3510i.  Not sure when it was designed but it came out in about 2002, so quite close to the '90's
 
 
Back to the waving.  I guess it's as basic as manners/wishing to make the world a kinder, happier place in a very small way.   Although small and what may be seen as insignificant acts of kindness do add up and make a difference.  If anyone waves at me, I'll wave back.  It's easy to do and makes those who've waved at you smile, feel good and it reflected well on Mini and the Mini community.  There aren't half some grumpy bums on here - what's wrong with you all!"!

Edited by Tanya, 03 April 2014 - 06:51 PM.

[BronkoMini]

Remember about that story something like; someone randomly waved at some one and his gf said why? he said to share happiness and the person he waved at was going to commit suicide but they didn't because the guy waved at them. It was something like that.

[mini-geek]

Bit extreme to kill yourself because you drive a bini....

[CityEPete]

I honestly dont think those working on the BINIS care what we think I dont get upset if an airline likes boeing more than airbus so why would they, they clock in clock out get paid go home and dont spend two seconds thinking about us lot. Its BINIs drivers who think that we should wave at them how do wr know you may own a mini I dont wave at every car I see just incase they own a mini its ridiculous. And how can you compare the usage of car that and its youngest 14 years old against a modern car? how many people still use mobiles designed in the 90's? its a stupid point to make

You are missing the point on most levels there, I dont think anyone is expecting anyone in a proper mini to wave at a Bini unless it waves/flashes at you first, I agree many owners wouldnt care about your old mini so why would you but I think its quite simple to calculate that the ones that do are at least showing their appreciation towards your car a "cool a proper mini, this one would not exist if yours did not, thanks" if you like.

 

As for clocking in/out Jeez the various versions of Austin and BL etc are world famous for a disgruntled work force, do you think they skipped in each day eager to build the ever out dated poorly built Mini that for some reason we all know and love?

 

Fwiw I do not flash Minis when in my MINI anyway, and from this thread I think that will remain so, I might give a pap to the broken down ones at the side of my road during next years Bingley show as its quite near to me, Lol.

[CityEPete]

For any mini drivers who think the people with both only use the classic for shows etc my wife is at work until late, which one has she taken to work today?

 

 

 

 

[mab01uk]

 

It will be interesting to see the reliability ratings of the new F56 Mk3 MINI in a year or two as it is the first fully BMW designed and engineered version.......all other R50/53 Mk1 and Mk2 R56 MINI's were based on the original Rover designed and engineered platform. The launch of the original R50 MINI in 2001 was delayed when BMW decided it was no longer to be sold from Rover Dealerships and did a hasty quality upgrade from Rover standards.....however it was too late to change the steering pump and the Midland gearbox though until the 2004 facelift R50 model.
 
Having said that I have never had a single major problem with my own 2002 R50 MINI daily driver but as a classic Mini owner since my first car in 1974 I do know how to maintain cars properly.
 

Is it not true that BMW chose that steering pump though because it gave better driving feel?

I have nothing against the BINI..

As for reliability.. People drive cars ..ignore noises and problems until they break causing bigger damage and blame the car for being rubbish..

 

 

At the time of the R50 MINI Cooper development Rover engineers felt fully electric power steering was not great for driving feel in a sporting orientated small car so went for the Electro-Hydraulic ps system with its distinctive 'whine' as fitted to the early MINI which BMW then approved. (See CAR Magazine extract below).

Many MINI drivers have grown to like the characteristic whine and I would agree the steering feel is probably the best power assisted I have ever driven for feel and feedback......my R50 is also still on its oriiginal 2002 pump !

The Mk2 (R56) and Mk3 (F56) MINI's switched to fully electric power steering which seems to be much improved with further development over recent years. I personally still prefer the earlier EHPS system despite the well known failures that have occured.....not a big job to replace anyway, the pumps are £200 exchange and take 2 hours max to fit.

 

Former Rover Engineer on the new MINI Development:-

We knew what the MINI had to be – the best handling front drive car in the world. We were very happy with a Z-axle concept, although it's not great for space. Some people also argued for double wishbones at the front, but BMW insisted that the Mini was a BMW and had to have struts. However, it wasn't easy to make the front suspension work. The MINI has a very compact front end.
We worked very hard to minimise torque steer and the complexity and detail work in the chassis is on a much higher level than under a Puma or Lupo. Success has a lot to do with component stiffness. For example, the MINI has a two piece box section chassis arm with 1.5 metres of welding in it. The flex in the suspension components is less than 10 percent of that in the bushes. The stiffness of the mounting points is good for NVH.
Ex-Rover engineer Robin Hall says he is proudest of the MINI's steering system because, he claims, he was responsible for changing the system late in the day. 'Up until 1999, the MINI's steering was fully electric with a powered worm-drive. But it was almost surreal: there was no kick-back or feedback. On rutted roads you couldn't feel anything, even at the limit of adhesion. I had overall responsibility for the whole front end and didn't like it.
The steering department said it could be fixed with a tweak to the steering, so BMW told us to get it sorted. But instead I knocked together a simulator with an electro-hydraulic Rover 25 rack. The original simulator had a Ford Escort rack modified for the right geometry and it felt good, but BMW drove both and chose mine. Fully electric steering was a pet project at Rover and several engineers had tried it in a Mondeo, where it worked well. It was just inappropriate in a Mini – there was no joy.
It was very hard to package a steering pump on the MINI engine. It's extraordinarily tight under the bonnet. We had to re-write the rule book on tyre and component clearances. In fact we threw the rule book away. There's meant to be 15mm clearance for tyres. Now there is actually a benign foul in extreme circumstances. It was a packaging nightmare – or miracle – and only got done thanks to computer-aided design. We needed a lot of suspension travel to cope with bumps and the 17 inch wheels on the Cooper S were an absolute nightmare to accommodate. I think the sweetest handling MINI was one with smallest tyres – it's a pity the run-flat tyres were added late in the day'.

 

New MINI: more cool Britannia than BMW will admit?

A former Rover engineer tells at first hand the role Rover had to play in the development of the new MINI'

Full Article posted here:-

http://www.theminifo...1997/?p=1297947

Edited by mab01uk, 03 April 2014 - 07:02 PM.

[Badboytunes]

their so unrealiable, you need AA membership.....hence dont buy one!

 

 

I must be lucky then, Mine has never let me down........

[Badboytunes]

 

 

there isn't much you could do to make me wave at you in your BINI, If you wave, i'll probably ignore it.

 

So if i waved/ flashed lights in recongition of your Mini while I was driving either my MINI hatch or the Coupe you would ignore me?

 

Shame, because when I see a classic Mini, I think nice car, great to see it on the road. Its a shame that people are willing to show predjudice towards me because of what I drive, However it reminds me of my earlier post and that makes me smile.

 

 

 

This is not me making a judgement about you or your choice of car. you drive something different to me... simples. If you stopped me in the street, I'm the nicest guy and will chat to you about your car, my car and anything else that takes your fancy.

 

If we all liked the same thing, life would be very dull. I think BINI's are bloody expensive for what they are and thats my main issue. Nothing to do with the branding as the new mini.

 

Its a shame that people are willing to show judgement of my character because i have my own opinion.

 

 

 

Thats a valid point, and although its harder to understand the context of text, my point is this. If I saw you driving your Mini, while I was driving my MINI I wiould flash , thumbs up indicating the fact I like the car. It would seems that you would ignore me because of the fact that im in mt MINI. Hence my post about showing predjuduce, Everybody has a right to an opinion whether others agree with it or not.

 

there isn't much you could do to make me wave at you in your BINI, If you wave, i'll probably ignore it.

 

 

 

And yes, MINI's are expensive for what they are and to be honest, I wont be getting another one as the new F56 looks pants.

[mab01uk]

 

If we all liked the same thing, life would be very dull. I think BINI's are bloody expensive for what they are and thats my main issue. Nothing to do with the branding as the new mini.

 

 

And yes, MINI's are expensive for what they are and to be honest, I wont be getting another one as the new F56 looks pants.

 

 

The MINI created a new 'prestige' sporting sector in the supermini market which was copied 10 years later by the Alfa Mito, Audi A1, Citroen DS3, etc.

BMW and Rover moved both the classic Mini MPi and the new MINI upmarket in price and spec because it had become impossible to build a small, cheap economy city car in Western Europe profitabily. To do that the Cowley Oxford factory would have had to be closed and jobs and production moved overseas to Eastern Europe or the far east.

 

The last cheap small car to be built in UK was the Nissan Micra but even that has now moved production to India......also the reason the slightly cheaper Fiat 500 is built in Poland rather than Italy.....

 

Most people buy used cars anyway and of course there are good reliable, rust free secondhand MINI's available from around £1500 these days.

Edited by mab01uk, 04 April 2014 - 07:08 AM.

[AVV IT]

If anyone waves at me whilst I'm driving my Minis, then I'll wave back whatever car they happen to be driving. It's really no different to talking to those people in the street who come up to you to tell you that they used to own a mini/passed their test in one etc.

I wouldn't go around randomly waving at Binis, unless they waved first though. In my experience the vast majority of Binis aren't owned by enthusiasts, and are merely just a form of transport to their owners. So they're unlikely to understand why someone is waving at them and I'd probably just get a reputation of being that "weird stalker bloke in the old mini that keeps waving at me!"

[Carlos W]

I'd probably just get a reputation of being that "weird stalker bloke"

Is that not a reputation you've already got?

[AVV IT]

I'd probably just get a reputation of being that "weird stalker bloke"

Is that not a reputation you've already got?

And that's the precisely why I'm taking active steps like this to try and get away from it! I'm also trying to stop sitting outside my ex girlfriends house all night sharpening my axe.

[Hrimfaxi]

This thread's an interesting read for a slow day at work!

If a MINI driver waved at me, then yes, i'd wave back - I take it as an appreciation for my Mini/Classic Minis in general.  The driver of the MINI may even own a classic themselves, so there's no reason to be a *******.

My mate owns an R56, there's always banter between us about the cars, always taken in jest - but he said he'd own a classic in a flash, if he didn't need to take motorway journeys to get to work.