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What 'mark' Is My Mini?


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#1 Dan

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Posted 02 February 2005 - 08:49 PM

This is to replace a previous FAQ about the various marks of Mini that have been produced over the years.

Mini marks generally identify a major change to the panelwork of the car.
You will need to know what mark your car is when buying certain parts from Mini specialists.
If you don't know which mark your Mini is, the fastest and easiest way to find out is to identify the mark of your Mini by year, as follows:

Mk1 - 1959 - 1967 - - Sliding windows, external hinges, small rear screen, small rear lamps

Mk2 - 1967 - 1970 - - Sliding windows, external hinges, larger rear screen, rectangle rear lamps without reverse

Mk3 - 1970 - 1976 - - Drop glasses, internal hinges (except commercials), larger quaterlights, rectangle rear lamps without reverse

Mk4 - 1976 - 1996 - - Rubber mount front subframe, face level vents standard, electrical update adds various brackets, built in reverse lamps

Mk5 - 1996 - 2000 - - 'Twinpoint' cars, internal fusebox, inertia rear seabelts, airbag and pre-tension front belts, various detail changes

The first four different types of Mini are the most important change points when buying parts and identifying your car as they each represent very major changes to the bodyshell, making it difficult to exchange parts from the wrong shell. The major identifying points of each shell are listed to the right above.

There are other change points during the production of each type however, including the change to negative earth electrics around 1970, the change to A-Plus engines in 1980, the change to the Verto clutch in 1982, the addition of standard disc brakes in 1984, the pre-engaged starter and side repeater indicators in 1985, and the direct acting brake servo in 1989 to name a few.

This is just a brief rundown, an exhaustive list of specification changes would run for may pages. If you need further advice about the specific equipment fitted to your car then ask on the Technical and Problems forum here at TMF, or buy a parts book! :wink:

#2 Guess-Works.com

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Posted 04 December 2006 - 12:15 PM

Many times the question arises, and also helps to identify if your mini is what it pretends to be :w00t:

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ITEMS or CORRECT AS NECESSARY.

MK 1 - 1959 - 1967

Tail lights are small and rounded, rear window is slightly smaller than other mk's, front subframe solid mounted with two small bolts either side, hinges on outside of doors with sliding windows.

MK 2 - 1967 - 1969

New front grill, with lip on bonnet for trim, rear tail lights altered to square bi-coloured variant, rear window enlarged to current size. Valance altered as per cooper to allow air to the brakes.

MK 3 - 1969 - 1976

Internal hinges on doors, wind up windows, position of bonnet hinges moved to outer edge of panel.

MK 4 - 1976 - 1984

Turret bolted, rubber mounted front subframe introduced, tri-colour tail lights with reverse lamp. Rain drip lip removed from roof seam. Hole in back seat for spit no longer there. I think this is also when the tunnel changed for the rod change box may have happened pre mk4 ), fog light appeared in 1980

MK 5 - 1984 - 1990(ish)

12" wheels & Disk brakes on all models, rear seat belt anchorages.

MK 6 - 1990 - 1997?

Introduction of Single point injection, change of inner wing for auxillary electric fan.

MK7 - 1997? - onwards

Introduction of twin point injection, change to engine block & front subframe, radiator front mounted, Side impact door bars.

Edited by GuessWorks, 04 December 2006 - 10:06 PM.


#3 Ethel

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Posted 29 December 2007 - 03:27 PM

The difference with the grills:

Mk1, also referred to as the moustache grill, the surround is all on the front panel and extends outwards at the bottom.

The later later grill has a lip attached to the bonnet. The major issue if you want to swap from one style to the other is the mounting for the strip on the bonnet not the grill itself.

#4 minimender

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Posted 31 December 2007 - 03:30 PM

Have a read..saves a lot of writing.

Attached File  Mini_History_1.jpg   1.41MB   702 downloadsAttached File  Mini_History_3_001.jpg   1.45MB   569 downloads

#5 THE ANORAK

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Posted 28 August 2008 - 04:05 PM

Link to a good website with lots of detail about 'marks' of Mini




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