I've never been a fan of the central exhaust on or 2007 Mini Cooper S, or any example of this layout, for that matter.
For one, it looks weird. I can't get used tot he fact that the central location is somehow too ... biological. At least there are two exhaust ports instead of one.
And I also strongly resent the Mini's central location because the muffler routing eliminates all possibility of a spare, forcing the use of run-flat tires. Even with run-flats, I'd rather have a spare because driving out west involves distances that are too damn far to find a replacement tire within the meager mileage limit
of a run-flat. Besides, the hyper-stiff sidewalls tense-up the ride and destabilize the handling on lumpy asphalt. I'd much rather have "normal" tires and a spare to go with them.
All of this is well and good. But last night it got personal.
My daughter went to the hatch to retrieve her things just after I parked the Mini at Grandma's house last night. Nonna lives at the top of a hill, so the exhaust was particularly hot from the ascent. My daughter was wearing shorts, so there was nothing between her leg and the central exhaust tips. And she hadn't read Caroline's earlier warning post
.
Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.
These exhaust tips protrude further than most, though this was
exaggerated a bit by a slightly nose-down curbside parking space. And our Cooper S's rounded rear bumper doesn't overhang the tips at all--unlike most cars I studied during my morning commute. Compounding this further is the unfamiliarity of the central exhaust layout that puts the tips right where you'd stand when unloading the hatch.
And my daughter is far from the only one. A quick internet search turned up this, this, this and this.
Too many folks have had the same experience, and the problem stretches over two generations of this car. This isn't acceptable. Time for a redesign, Mini.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 18,039 miles
huyracing says:
02:22 PM, 07/ 9/08
Well, you can get a non-S model and avoid this incident altogether. :)
Mike Magrath says:
02:32 PM, 07/ 9/08
Good looks hurt. Cool design > safety.
bankerdanny says:
02:33 PM, 07/ 9/08
It also precludes installing a hitch for a hitch mounted bike rack (which I prefer to roof mounted).
I like the corner dual exhausts on the Clubman.
altimadude00 says:
03:18 PM, 07/ 9/08
"Cool design > safety."
Another way to avoid this is to not have any kids. Oh sorry, that was too arrogant. How about affixing that yellow Caution ribbon over the tailpipes? No no, that will affect the coolness of it....can't have that. I guess I'll just settle on having my car harm my children and myself when we're not paying attention.
Maybe the car is punishing you for using it like a regular car? "How dare you use me for cargo carrying duties! I'm designed for carving corners!"
lazyhater says:
03:48 PM, 07/ 9/08
The central exhaust is one of the cool neat feature I love about the Cooper S, you instantly know it is a S by seeing the central exhaust.
I always love central exhaust as it is unique and feels tidy, AKA 997 GT3/GT3 RS.
tmanz says:
04:01 PM, 07/ 9/08
ouch!
and the 80's called, they want their pants back....
just kidding :)
slickersdrip says:
04:12 PM, 07/ 9/08
Dan, you have a very interesting sense of fashion.
Joanne Helperin says:
05:27 PM, 07/ 9/08
I dunno, I kind of see Dan's point. With all the technology and design brains behind that car, you'd think they could come up with something that wouldn't put your legs at risk. Reminds me of the Dodge Viper -- if it's been running for a while and you let your calf touch the doorsill, you get burned. Dumb.
johnmarco says:
05:31 PM, 07/ 9/08
I hate center pipes. Looks like the car's bunghole. You know what it will take to get them to change? Sue!! Sue them silly. Sue them sideways. $100M lawsuit ought to do it.
firstwagon says:
07:13 PM, 07/ 9/08
Like the centre speedo, it's just there for styling tradition. The original Mini's also had a centre exhaust.
I'll bet the original did it for an engineering reason though.
Are those oversized tips an option?
ahightower says:
07:49 PM, 07/ 9/08
I've always hated that about the Boxster as well. Too "biological", as you put it.
speeder31 says:
08:08 PM, 07/ 9/08
Hmmmmm...BMW has been doing it since the 80's. But only the MINI continues the legacy nowadays:
http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/attachments/m-series-m3-m5-m6/8185d1084326610-1987-bmw-535m-full932.png
compliance says:
08:37 PM, 07/ 9/08
VW R32 has the same awkward looking exhaust style. It sticks out even worse on the more conservative VW.
blueguydotcom says:
08:48 PM, 07/ 9/08
You learn the hard way with the cooper s. I now approach it from the sides. And never touch the rear bumper with your pants or shorts - unless you washed the car that day - as the cooper (and all BMW products) seem to be designed to catch dirt on the bumper.
blueguydotcom says:
08:48 PM, 07/ 9/08
Those exhaust tips are standard. And hurt like hades.
dougtheeng says:
06:15 AM, 07/10/08
Yikes, looks painful. I'm guessing this is a mistake you only make once.
cartester16 says:
08:23 AM, 07/10/08
Redesign your kid, the Mini's fine.
oberg says:
08:39 AM, 07/10/08
The Mini's exhaust is just fine where it is. If you want a generic appliance with its exhaust in the same place as everything else, buy a Camry.
Next thing you know we'll have a warning sticker over the exhaust the same way we have the warnings on the sun visors. Always one idiot and their lawyer to ruin something for everyone else.
Dan Edmunds says:
09:28 AM, 07/10/08
Not sure if making the tips 3/4 of an inch shorter would "ruin" anything. Besides, Mini has done a good job of ruining the rear view themselves by leaving those rear lower control arms bare galvanized metal. And the run-flat tires made necessary by this exhaust don't do the ride and handling any favors; this car could be BETTER than it is with a normal exhaust routing. Oh, I see. Looks are all that is important. I didn't realize. I thought we were driving this car.
And whether you like to think so or not, the Mini isn't an exotic supercar. It's a compact hatchback that isn't too expensive and is easy on gas. Families can and do buy it. My parents bought one--my mom thinks it's "cute." It just happens to have some heritage and is a blast to drive.
desmolicious says:
02:56 PM, 07/10/08
While you're at it, have all motorcycle mfgs redesign their bikes so there is no chance of touching the exhaust!
But Dan, I'm sorry for your daughter. That looks really painful.
Dan Edmunds says:
03:41 PM, 07/10/08
I see motorcyles in a totally different light. Motorcylists are always more mechanically aware of the machine they are piloting than car owners. After all, all the parts are there to see. And if you're doing it right you're wearing long pants and boots to protect yourself. Kids aren't the normal passengers, but they certainly get fully briefed on where the hot parts are if mom or dad owns one. But, c'mon--no one wears leathers to unload groceries out of a hatchback.
sgude says:
05:47 AM, 07/11/08
Dan, sorry to see you're not getting much support here. But I wonder why they did it this way too. I think it would look much more cool if Mini slanted the tips 45 degrees or so.
desmolicious says:
01:28 PM, 07/11/08
Dan , I'm with you, I was just being facetious (sp?). Anyway, it says there are 45 comments, but I only see about 10 so who knows where this will drop..