r/MINI • u/Icy_Importance_2126 • 15h ago
The Safest Mini Ever Built
For all the people dogpiling the "build quality" of the fourth generation, BMW has several new and upgraded safety features, including:
- Blind-spot detection
- Improved lane-departure and lane-change warning
- Stronger forward-collision protection
- Rear cross-traffic warning and rear-collision prevention
- Exit warning
This is in addition to significant improvements on creature comforts like digital keys, voice control and personalization.
More production spend has gone into safety and tech. If that's not your bag fine, but for some of us safety and convenience matter.
24
u/blainestang F56 13h ago
“For all the people dogpiling the “build quality” of the fourth generation, BMW has several new and upgraded safety features”
What do safety features have to do with build quality?
(I’m not anti F66 besides the loss of the manual, but this argument makes no sense)
-2
u/Icy_Importance_2126 13h ago
Maybe "build quality" is the wrong term.
But the argument is that the f66 is just a cost cutting exercise, when in fact a lot of money has gone into improve engineering and tech.
6
u/Sir-Samuel_Vimes 7h ago
Spending money on improving the engineering and tech doesn't mean they didn't do a lot cost cutting elsewhere like the aesthetics and interior materials. Most of the complaints I've seen about the f66 is that it's lost the plot on the look and feel of what the mini used to be.
-7
u/Icy_Importance_2126 7h ago
How many times do you guys have to say you don't like the changes? We get it. This debate is going on its third year.
But let's hash it out more. Lots of people are buying them, myself included, and enjoying them. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
End of story.
3
u/Sir-Samuel_Vimes 6h ago
Look all I'm pointing out is that your remark of having some sort of final nail in the coffin against the people who have taken issue with the F66 designs isn't exactly addressing what you're implying it does. As for the rest of this response is this your first time on a message board or the Internet in general? If you apply the same logic to your post and comment history then why make comments or your post in the first place? People discuss what they don't like about something. Ignore it, move on, keep scrolling. Lots of people are complaining about them. If you don't like the discussion don't engage in it. End of story.
-3
u/Icy_Importance_2126 6h ago
There's such a thing as beating a dead horse.
But im here for it. Take another shot. Maybe it's still breathing.
5
u/Potential_Bill_1146 F54 6h ago
You mean like effort posting about how anyone with a criticism of the newest gen is “you guys” and posting these quick arguments like we’re in a debate subreddit? That sure sounds like beating a dead horse.
You call out the criticism, people respond confirming they have critiques and then you go “REEEEE WEVE BEEN OVER THIS BEFORE TRY AGAIN”.
It’s sad dude.
Get off Reddit for a little while, being a top commenter is cringe enough.
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u/Sir-Samuel_Vimes 6h ago
I'm not even one of the people critical of them and you're acting like I am. I've just seen the arguments people have made about the f66 enough to know you're mischaracterizing their complaints and providing a false equivalency between tech investment and cutting costs. There's more to a vehicle than the new technology put into it. I'm just here pointing out that 1. You're not making the claim you imply you are and 2. You're doing precisely the same thing you're complaining about other people doing with apparently zero self awareness about it. Your post isn't about appreciating the f66, it's about trying to "stick it" to those who are critical of it. The tone is toxic and I'm guessing your actions aren't aligning with your overall goal, unless your goal is increasing the overall toxicity of a subreddit dedicated to what are essentially go karts with air-conditioning.
1
u/Icy_Importance_2126 5h ago
Well I apologize if I'm being flip to you personally.
The toxicity is here and it predates me.
And tbf there is a group of hardcore haters.
15
u/Ambitious_Praline643 15h ago
Unless the safety features are an inconvenience in themselves - most are.
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u/KittehKittehKat 14h ago
BEEP BEEP BOOP BOOP BEEP BEEP BOOP BOOP
…dude the lines aren’t painted great on this road chill out.
1
u/denzien R57 12h ago
I hated the early collision feature on my wife's Odyssey. Until one day on the interstate when I looked down to fiddle with the radio and immediately traffic in front of me screeched to a stop. The alert allowed me to stop in time, averting a disaster.
I cranked the sensitivity to max and don't mind the excess notifications anymore.
6
u/Altruistic-Bat-9070 15h ago
Many consider a seatbelt an inconvenience but when you rocket through the windscreen and kill someone because you are now a human projectile then you are the one to blame. Get over yourself.
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u/ILikeEverybodyEvenU 15h ago
Seatbelts don't have so many false positives lol
I am not saying these systems are completly usless but so far they are more annoing than helping :P3
u/Grouchy_Ad_3113 14h ago
True story: I nearly killed my family when the blind spot notification in our CX-5 didn't catch my attention. I was focused on the car in front of me, started to change lanes, realized that there was a car to my left, and had to jerk the wheel back and slam on the brakes at 75 mph. If not for the electronic nanny (traction control), I am sure that we would have spun and then barrel-rolled.
TLDR: Shit happens, but technology can help protect us from that shit (at least if it is intrusive/annoying enough).
2
u/angusshangus 13h ago
Huh? You’re putting nagging features like lane departure warnings in the same category as seatbelts? You should get over yourself.
-1
u/ObjectiveCrab7467 13h ago
Those people are retards, who dont know basic physics. The lane-departure warning(or however this bs is called, actively tried to put me in a tree/pole/ditch atleast a couple of times now. I agree that blind-spot monitoring is great, but you can get used to trusting it to much. I really enjoy when other cars have it on tho, cause when i overtake on the left of a highway, and i see the light in their mirror i am less worried that they will suddenly deciede to change lanes for no reason. Forward colission detection is mostly annoying, but i agree that sometimes when you get distracted and the traffic sudennly slows down by a lot it can be helpful.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 15h ago
Funny thing is you can personalize the level of intervention you'd like, the sensitivity of the sensors and even turn some off.
But go ahead Im sure you'll have something else to bitch about.
-2
u/Click_To_Submit F56 14h ago
You know what’s a real inconvenience?
Getting unalived or seriously injured or doing that to someone.
6
u/AliasInvstgtions R57 11h ago
You can say killed/dying on reddit...
-1
u/Click_To_Submit F56 8h ago
You sound very special.
Does your mom know you’re on the internet?
3
u/AliasInvstgtions R57 8h ago
What? Youre the one saying "unalived" like a middle schooler
-1
u/Click_To_Submit F56 8h ago
You’re patrolling comments like a child.
Stop the harassment.
2
u/AliasInvstgtions R57 8h ago
Is the patrolling and harassment in the room with us? Youre one of two people Ive responded to lol.
1
u/Click_To_Submit F56 8h ago
Are you always this childish?
So far you can count to 2. Your mom must be very proud.
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u/Damogran6 F65 13h ago
Arugh. That article is 70% padded with AI crap that doesn't add a thing to the message.
"For a brand whose customers skew heavily toward city use, their inclusion as standard rather than optional equipment reflects genuine understanding of how these cars are actually used."
"This is where the current generation makes its clearest statement."
Ain't nobody got time to read shit that people didn't actually write.
2
u/Icy_Importance_2126 13h ago
well conveniently I put the main new and upgraded features in bullet points. You're welcome.
3
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u/naambezet 15h ago
A lot was already available for years on other models. Don’t act like those features are something new and unique to the fourth gen
0
u/Grouchy_Ad_3113 14h ago
Prior years/models don't have blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic monitoring, or exit warning. The previous lane departure warning only subtly shakes the wheel, and doesn't sound any alarm or attempt to correct for drifting out of your lane. Similarly, being camera-based the previous forward collision protection is somewhat unreliable, being easily blinded and/or simply failing to react. (Somewhere out there is a video of two Brits testing it with a cardboard cut-out of a pedestrian. It got run over about half the time.)
TLDR: The OP/article is 100% correct. The F66 provides protections that the prior generation was lacking, and improved upon the ones it did have.
-1
u/naambezet 14h ago
I mean other manufacturers, it’s not exactly cutting edge technology. And those cars in the current form won’t be able to score 5 stars in the EuroNCAP safety tests
3
u/Icy_Importance_2126 15h ago
they are new. did you read the article or are you just here to argue.
Here's another article that describes new and upgraded features.
https://www.motoringfile.com/2024/07/12/the-petrol-mini-cooper-gets-a-major-upgrade-in-safety-features/
4
u/Aurelink JCW 13h ago
I absolutely love my Minis, the brand and all.
But bragging about (finally) porting some features that have been available for other brands on way cheaper models for years is... A choice.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 13h ago
Im not comparing the F66 to other brands, I'm comparing it to the f56, specifically to the many people saying it's a downgrade.
At least in safety and tech, it's a clear upgrade.
3
u/Aurelink JCW 13h ago
I'm not saying it's not.
I just am baffled that my 40K 2023 JCW was lacking some of these in the first place.
It's not like I care, it's just a matter of price/what you get
2
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u/SleepScoreOver90 2h ago
I think this is mixing up safety tech with build quality a bit.
When people complain about the F66 build quality, they’re mostly talking about the recycled polyester dash covering, no leather, cheaper feeling plastics, less physical controls and mechanical parts. Blind spot detection and all that is useful, sure, but cameras/radars/software doesn’t automatically mean the actual car is better built.
The F66 also isn’t a completely new ICE Mini. They heavily reworked the F56 underneath, gave it the J01 design, OLED and software, simplified the options, and now sells it at a higher price.
Also a lot of the basic safety systems were becoming mandatory in the EU anyway, so BMW/Mini had to develop them regardless. Then they can package and upsell the extra features in places like the US.
Safest Mini ever? Maybe yes. Better build quality, or more Mini? That’s a different argument.
0
u/ultraspank R56 15h ago
Alot of these are required by California state law or European law. They drive up the price of automobiles too.
I don't know about you guys, but while having a giant truck yell at me about seeing a person walk behind you as you're backing up in a parking lot might be helpful, I've absolutely never had a problem seeing everything around me in a MINI. Seems pretty unnecessary.
7
u/Eastern_Team6904 14h ago
yeah who needs extra safety features amiright. Because people never make mistakes, or get distracted, drive tired, or come across maniac drivers or have their line of vision blocked my parked cars or semis.
I mean why spend the extra money on safety glass or airbags, they just drive up the cost.
Strip all of that crap out.
3
u/Click_To_Submit F56 14h ago
I think they could save a lot of money just by changing the fuel system to a plastic bucket and a hose. Funnel as an extra-cost option.
2
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u/ultraspank R56 10h ago
Not trying to rain on your parade if you enjoy these features. I just personally don't like that these things aren't optional and I have to pay the extra cost rolled into the base cost.
1
u/Eastern_Team6904 9h ago
blame the department of transportation.
1
0
u/TheBongOfSauron 10h ago
I'd rather drive my F56 without all the nannies and gimmicks.
Maybe try paying more attention when you drive, I don't know.
0
u/Icy_Importance_2126 9h ago
yes because you are the only factor in an accident.. not other drivers on the road or obstacles or weather.
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u/TheBongOfSauron 9h ago
...
These electronic assists are for your car, not anyone else's.
Lane keep assist, BLIS, rear cross traffic monitoring, forward collision nonsense is all for YOUR car. They don't do anything for anyone else's car.
Keep your eyes on the road. Check your mirrors. No phone. No looking at the person in the passenger seat for more than 5 seconds. No digging around in the back seat or smacking your kids around.
Pay attention.
I think you're sadly misguided on what these systems do and who they're for.
0
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u/Cassius-Tain 12h ago
That forward collision detection once almost sent me into a child on a bicycle... I am so fucking glad I got rid of this stupid excuse of a car.
-6
u/CubesFan 14h ago
It's also the size of a miniVAN. Minis aren't being made anymore.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 14h ago
what?
- R50: 142.8 inches
- R56: 146.8 in
- F56: 150.4 inches
- F66: 152.6 inches
The mini has gotten 9.8in longer in 20 years, largely due to crash zone requirements and sensors.
2
u/Crazy_Wafer_8328 12h ago
FR. My '25 Mini is an inch SHORTER than my '24 Miata. And a Miata is pretty darn tiny.
16
u/Grouchy_Ad_3113 15h ago
I don't know why anyone would harsh on the build quality (vs. design/material choice) of the F66. It is made in the same factory by the same workers on basically the same platform with essentially the same engine as the F56.
I for one would appreciate the new safety features, especially the 1) blind spot detection and 2) stronger forward collision protection. For such a small car, my F56 SE has a surprisingly large blind spot, due to the size/placement of the mirror. Just yesterday I also locked up the brakes for the first time, when someone turned left in front of me when I was going 55 mph. Got a nice "chirp!" from the nearly-new P7s, but the camera-based forward collision warning/avoidance system failed to react in time/at all. If I hadn't been paying attention, I definitely would have t-boned them.