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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Discussion of other cars non-Z4
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M1k3yC
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by M1k3yC » Tue Aug 17, 2021 11:40 am

After five years of ownership (from new) and almost 20,000 miles I let my M135i go at the end of June in favour of a 2018 Mini JCW. I've been looking for a little while (OK, quite a long while) and was close to buying an Abarth 695 Rivale. Eventually I managed to find a well optioned, low mileage Mini and secure it before it sold.

When I bought it, the Mini had under 10,000 miles on it and is in really good condition. It's in (what Mini calls) British Racing Green and has a lot of optional extras like the panoramic sunroof, Harmon/Kardon sound system, Apple CarPlay, heads up display, and reversing camera. Although only two years newer, the infotainment is a real step up from the 1 series.

After a couple of hundred miles I noticed that it really liked to veer off to the left on most roads. This was odd, because I tend to check for that on test drives and hadn't picked it up. I took it to Lohen and had a full alignment. They were very good - perhaps because they weren't busy - but the car was test driven, aligned, and then test driven again. They also checked the car over for me. It's much improved now and has even almost completely eliminated what I thought was a bit of torque steer under acceleration.

I don't miss the c. 90bhp that I've lost versus the 1 series at legal speeds and the Mini is certainly more fun for short journeys and that suits me well. I also like the way it looks and sounds. It doesn't seem to be any more economical around town but I think it will be on longer journeys. Tax and insurance are obviously cheaper.

I used to own an R56 Cooper S that I kept for four years (2009 - 2013). When I traded that it was to buy my E86. I might have kept my first Mini longer but I fell out of love with it after a huge repair bill that included replacing a lot of the panoramic roof mechanism. It never closed perfectly after, meaning really irritating wind noise at speed. Initial research suggests (I hope) that panoramic roof failures are less common on the F56...

Pictures of them both below - any questions are welcome, I've driven a few. I'd be interested to hear from other Mini owners - why you own them, what you cross shopped it with, and if you downsized to one as well.
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Last edited by M1k3yC on Tue Aug 17, 2021 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2022 Hyundai Kona N - greyhound transport
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by tiglon » Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:00 pm

Good colour for a mini! I had a 2002 Cooper S for a year - absolutely loved the way it drove and the sound of the supercharger. I was less keen on the overheating problems, so I got rid of it. One of the most fun cars I've ever owned, but I think the new ones are a bit too large to have the same personality and I would probably go for a Fiesta ST if shopping for something like that again.
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by tomscott » Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:00 pm

Love minis that is very cool! Congrats!

I've had 2 clubman JCWs in very similar spec and 3 others and absolutely love them. One of the Clubmans had a panoramic roof and it lets lots of light in the car but I found myself barely using it and it rattled so didn't get one this time round.

My 2014 Cooper S on the other hand had 2 engines in 12k early engine flaw and the crankshaft kept shearing pretty bad experience really. It was one of the first off the line and although cant excuse it some times you get a lemon. Not really had any problems with the others :thumbsup:

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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by M1k3yC » Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:38 pm

tiglon, I had a first generation Focus and a 2007 Fiesta ST. Both cars drove well but the Ford interiors left me a bit cold. I haven't sat in a much newer Fiesta ST, though, so it might be better. I think I'm right in saying that if you want a modern, quick hatchback that's smaller than a three door Mini then about the only option is an Abarth 595 or 695. Perhaps there's an argument for an Up! GTI, but it's a long way down on power.

tomscott, thanks! The main benefit of the panoramic roof seems to be light, but I do have mine open a fair bit. They still rattle but it's only the plastic on the blind where the handle is against the frame. It's easily solved by not fully retracting the blind (front and rear) and it's such a small amount that it doesn't impede the glass. I figured this out on the drive home from Sheffield after picking it up, because it was driving me nuts!
2022 Hyundai Kona N - greyhound transport
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by LeeZ4MR » Fri Aug 20, 2021 9:12 am

Very nice OP. 8) :thumbsup:

I went from a E90 330i to a brand new F56 Cooper S that I kept for 3.5 years. I absolutely loved the Mini and I still miss it now(I swapped the Mini for a F82 M4 in March). I have nothing but praise for the Mini and they are just such good fun to drive I reckon.

I find the M4 quite frustrating to drive in comparison to the Mini because it is so difficult to enjoy/use the performance that it has. Whereas in the Mini you could pretty much enjoy all of its performance for most of the time in comparison. I'd have another Mini for sure.

Enjoy yours. :driving:
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by LeeZ4MR » Fri Aug 20, 2021 9:25 am

This was mine, and I went on a dechrome mission with it because it had loads of chrome on it when I first got it.
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Plus a couple of pics of it when I spotted it back up for sale.
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Current...BMW F82 M4 Coupe 2018
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by M1k3yC » Fri Aug 20, 2021 10:21 pm

LeeZ4MR, thanks, Lee - yours looks like it was a cracking example also. I feel your frustration with your M4 - I found that to be the case with my M135i and it's nothing like as quick as an M4. An M4 is a special car, though, so I'm sure it's still great to own. Out of the three cars I own, my MX-5 has the most appropriate amount of power for exploiting on a public road without being too irresponsible.
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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by DPG » Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:43 pm

What a lovely colour that green is. Works well with the red roof too.

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Garage update - F21 BMW M135i out, F56 Mini JCW in

Post by M1k3yC » Mon Aug 23, 2021 10:02 pm

DPG wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:43 pm What a lovely colour that green is. Works well with the red roof too.
Thanks! Starlight Blue was the other colour at the top of my list. Very happy with the green, though.
2022 Hyundai Kona N - greyhound transport
2018 F56 Mini JCW
2016 MX-5 2.0 Sport Recaro
Gone to a good home: 2007 E86 3.0Si Sport

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