Don't laugh - Who builds the Mini Cooper motor?

[owen]

My girl friends, girl friend told her she was planning on buying a Mini till her brother found out that chrysler makes the mini motors... Sounds like bullshit to me, I sure hope that it is!
Does anyone know for sure?

[M3RACER]

nope, its true. there motor shares the same prodution facility, its on the official mini site.

[Kevlar]

Yup... it's true. It's a pretty strong little engine tho and if BMW thinks the engine can stand up to the strain BMW/MINI drivers will put on it... it's OK by me.

Now that being said...

After talking to some people that had the luxury of working on a MINI... I'd like to paraphraze them by saying "What the hell?!? This is a odd design. Who the hell would friction fit a pulley to the supercharger shaft?"

[aceves]

Look at this way, it's a mercedes built engine!

[Kevlar]

Originally posted by aceves
Look at this way, it's a mercedes built engine!

Yup... DaimlerChrysler product.

[minicoopersgirl]

Hate to break it to you, but this was before DaimlerChrysler.
Chrysler/BMW team - Engines built in South America.

[Kevlar]

It's still a strong motor... I would still buy one, regardless of where it is built. If BMW/MINI has enough faith in it to put their name on it... I have enough faith to drive it...

[minicoopersgirl]

Here Here!

[Kyle K.]

Originally posted by minicoopersgirl
Hate to break it to you, but this was before DaimlerChrysler.
Chrysler/BMW team - Engines built in South America.

Exactly.

And my sentiments exactly Kev.

[aceves]

Originally posted by minicoopersgirl
Hate to break it to you, but this was before DaimlerChrysler.
Chrysler/BMW team - Engines built in South America.

Jesus!
I thought my comments were OBVIOUSLY tounge and cheek, maybe I should have put a J/K or LOL on the end

[Stylin]

My parents have owned MBs since their first one... a 1990 300E and then a 2000 ML320. MBs still have a rougher and more contained motor/driving while BMWs u feel connected to the road tho it is a rougher ride. I got to experience the newer MB cars and I must say I am hugely impressed.. and their body styling trend is much more attractive than the new BMWs stylin.

[kcbraunschweig]

I can't find the article right now, but I thought it was more like the following than being Chrysler owned:
My understanding was that BMW and Chrysler had a joint project to build engines at a plant in Brazil. Neither company has sole ownership of the engines and both have rights to use them (probably with very specific legal parameters, but whatever). These engines are BMW's use of the output from that factory in Brazil. An interesting question though is, is Chrysler using this engine or another one from that factory in a car? If so, what car?

[minitek]

I read (i believe from another forum) that the same engine is used on non-US Neons. :

[SoonerE39]

Yea, I would rather call it Mercedes built than Chrisler built.

[Moriarty]

It may be a chrysler engine, but it has BMW made/ engineered internals, at least for use in the Minis.

[stjobs]

"It may be a chrysler engine, but it has BMW made/ engineered internals, at least for use in the Minis."

AFAIK, it doesn't. It was being made in Brazil under license before Daimler-Chrysler, it is basically a Chrysler engine. I wonder if it is used in the PT Cruiser? Probably not, as the displacements are different. I heard a rumor VW sources engines from that plant also.

Regardless, the MINI Cooper S is a great car. I would definitely not hesitate to buy one, as they do have a warranty in case that Chrysler made engine turns out to be a grenade

stjobs

[Moriarty]

AFAIK, it does, I work on them. In tech school for Mini, they went over the internals, and as I remember, at least the S has BMW made internals.

[///Milk]

What other companies does Daimler Chrystler own?
i know they own Smart