For sale: 1996 Cooper 1.3i (1275) Mini Rover

Body accessories & features:

• Front grille: All C140s were fitted with a 7-slat aluminium grille, with a metallic silver-grey finish. A 2-slat grille is available as a rarely fitted aftermarket option. See images for reference.
• Trunk pop-out handle: Prior to June 1995, the trunk pop-out handle was black plastic. From June 1995, the trunk pop-out handle was chrome.¹ (Benzworld.org)
• Rear external antenna: An external antenna was fitted to many cars, located on the rear lefty side mudguard. The antenna supposedly performs a combined function for both the radio and Cell phone (if optioned). However, we have observed several cell phone optioned cars without antennas, this section of the guide needs more review due to some inconsistencies noticed. From our research, I note the following, which should be interpreted as observations rather than rules:
  • Where no external antenna was fitted, the antenna is believed to have been integrated into the rear windscreen.
  • From a large number of vehicles observed, all US and Canadian delivered vehicles appear to have been fitted with an external antenna.
  • Early vehicles in markets outside of the USA/Canada (up to and including 1996) are a mixed bag. The majority of vehicles observed with 1996 build dates have an external antenna fitted.  
  • From 1997 onward in markets outside of the US/Canada, the antenna was integrated in the rear screen. The integration in the rear screen is stated in a 1997 UK brochure.
  • We have observed vehicles fitted with a telephone, but with no rear antenna, and vice versa.
  • We have spotted bubble domes fitted to cars over a number of years from 1994 to 1997. We suspect this may have been some sort of booster antenna, or alternative to the integrated screen antenna. It doesn’t appear to be associated with the phone option, as we have sighted this on cars without that option.
• Central locking sensors: Vehicles were fitted with infrared sensors for the central locking system. Sensors were located on the door handles, and below the rear trunk to the left side of the key barrel. The infrared system, according to most forum discussion, is known to be somewhat unreliable.² A different combination system was offered on some C140s which used a receiver built into the rear view mirror, and deleted the rear trunk sensor. However, we note there are a number of examples of early model C140s (1993-1994) that don’t have the infrared receiver on the trunk. We seek comments on what systems these cars used, and need to undertake further research to clarify if it was as simple as just two systems offered. This is unclear from the research we’ve done.
• Sunroof: A sunroof was fitted as standard to all C140s. This could be optioned as a moon roof (finished in glass), or a steel top. Most vehicles received the glass top.³
• Side mirrors: These were electronically folding, and the mirrors were heated.
• Trunk lid design: Trunk lids on US and Canadian delivered vehicles was of a different design (around the number plate area) to all other markets. The number plate area and trim piece above it was much narrower (## cm vs ##cm], designed to better suit the number plates of those respective markets. Refer to the images where we have included a comparison.
• Glass:⁴ 
  • The side windows are double glazed. They should have a sticker/print on them in the lower corner with the Mercedes emblem, and stating "SIGLAPLUS" with the code "43 R-001283".
  • The front windscreen should have a sticker/print on it in the lower corner with the Mercedes emblem and reading "SEKURIT" and the code 43 R-001216.
  • The rear screen should have a a sticketr/print on it in the lower corner with the Mercedes emblem and reading "SIGLA" and the code 43 R-001017.
• Mudflaps: a very rarely sighted option, factory mud flaps were available for the C140, with the Mercedes emblem formed into the plastic (see image).

Lighting:

• Headlamps fitted to US models had an amber reflector built into the side of the lamp. Non-US cars had full clear front lenses without the amber reflector (instead fitted with an amber bulb). Headlights had “Free form reflectors” from 1994. These headlights were 30% brighter than the earlier variants through a reduction in output loss in the lens design. Xenon High Intensity Discharge headlights were fitted to the coupe.⁵ [Motorbooks Australia].
• Optional headlamp windscreen wipers / washers were available. These were optioned on a surprisingly large number of cars considering that many markets, such as Australia, would have limited use for them.
• The front lower apron on the coupe contained fog lamps as standard across all model years and variants.
• Tail lights on pre-facelift vehicles had orange/amber indicator lenses. Post-facelift cars received clear indicator lenses.
• Cars prior to June 1996 did not have a 3rd brake light fitted at the base of the rear windscreen on the parcel shelf, unless specifically mandated in that market (such as Australia). There are inconsistencies however, with countries like the UK having cars fitted with and without in specific years. For example, we have seen 1994 UK vehicles with and without the lamp. However, from June 1996, all C140s were fitted with the third parcel shelf lamp.⁶
• Numerous markets mandated side indicators/repeaters which appeared on the front mudguards behind the wheel arch. However, some markets (including as the USA) never had these fitted. Amber lenses appeared on vehicles up to mid-1995. On vehicle’s from mid to late-1995, the lenses were clear / white. We have observed vehicles in the following markets with side repeaters fitted:
  • Australia;
  • New Zealand;
  • UK;
  • Japan;
  • German market cars (not all vehicles, but particularly those after mid to late 1995); and
  • Some other EU market cars.