I am currently having a great problem I have a backlog of lego to build.

Building/Parts: 5/4

It's just so cool to see cars coming together from ton of squared bricks. These guys who design these are geniuses, we really appreciate the work that is going into designing these sets. Final product looks amazing and is a sturdy display piece. Part wise I don't think I see something new or overly fantastic It's still a good bundle of parts.

Aesthetics 5

So this Lego model wants to be Mini Cooper MK 7 which was produced form 1996-2000 and was last model to refrain classical Mini Cooper values in styling and its 1,3 litre engine. While this model specifically does not have any big achievements on its name, but It's still a final homage to car that is deeply rooted to British heritage, Its rally history and exposure in a load of movies and tv series. I am not surprised how well this car translates to Lego. But even with small amount the curves the car has, have been captured very well. The green fits this car so well.

Playability 4

Mostly I will condemn the playability in these bigger sets, but I actually think this one holds up together and is almost handy to handle even by the kid. But for me, I like this one on my shelf. I promise I roll it around a wee bit so the suspension doesn't die out and wheels don't stop rolling :) . And as an extra feature you can go to picnic with this one.

Value for money: 4

This is retired set, and It's still available with good value. So if you are not a collector just buy something from a store you will probably get better price.

Overall: 5

No I did not BEANsit with this set, its awesome and will stay into my collection for years and years to come.

See you on the next one

This set is simply great and it really looks like the real car. The colours and details are just perfect.

When I bought it, I get as a gift, the same model but in mini scale.

It will fit beautifully in your collection.

I was a long time LEGO player (you can see my collections). I enjoyed the building process the most after I find out that I tend to destroy and re-build the whole set every time I get bored with arranging their display. They are now mostly gone, because I was just a child back then. There are a few survivors, the 1997 LEGO Divers theme are the only complete set that I have right now.

I have many hobbies, being quite a petrolhead is one of them. So, Shell started offering LEGOs back in 2012, and again in 2015. I decided to get the 40195-1 Shell Station from nearest petrol station. The building process sparked back my interest, but sadly it was too late, I only managed to get 40194-1 Finish Line & Podium and 40192-1 Ferrari 250 GTO. Not a particularly great set, but it did spark my interest in LEGO back.

And then I saw this mark 7 Mini Cooper. After contemplating for several weeks, I decided to get one anyway. It is labelled as "Creator" "Expert" and "16+" How hard can it be? Especially for a veteran builder like me.

This review will be mostly about "old LEGO guy" trying the new LEGO stuffs.

Box

As you can see in brickset.com page of the product here, the box is rather large. Here is a picture of it with a pen, Mentos container, and a Blackberry to scale (at the bottom is the finished model).

The box also gives you approximation of the size of the real thing using the tyre as the 1:1 picture scale.

Older LEGO boxes are less pictorial, but when they are at this size, they will feature a flappable solid cover lid that allows you to peek the contents inside through a clear plastic "window". This one doesn't have it. It doesn't have a cardboard container and clear hard plastics that usually hold the minifigs like the old ones. Everything is put into numbered polybags, which are let loose inside this huge box.

These are new things for a LEGO hobbyist rejoining from 1997. There is more than one instruction book, which I consider as pretty normal due to the number of pieces and complexity of the build. But there is no LEGO collection showcase booklet, because today, there is LEGO.com.

So do the boxes from old era wins or the new 2014 boxes have toppled them? Well, I prefer the older ones, they feel more expensive and just better.

Instructions

Modern LEGOs are pretty easy to build despite the "Expert" label. Because the instruction booklet of a LEGO set today is pretty much step-by-step with only 4 to 5 pieces installed at maximum for a step (probably more for 1 stud-sized pieces). Each book also corresponds to which polybag numbers. It is very neat and well-sorted, and little wonder that they needed to print more than one booklet. This allows for team-building, which I used to do with my younger brother.

Back in the old days, they don't give you insets and they don't give you which part are being installed, the pictures are mostly showing pieces that are "just there", which "wasn't there" in the step before. So you have to carefully scrutinise each picture before moving on to the next one. I believe this is more fun, although quite frustrating if you missed one or two pieces.

I have to say, the new instruction booklets are more interesting. It allows more than one person to build the LEGO. In the olden days, since there is only one book for a relatively big sets, there can only be one builder, and the other have to fill other role that doesn't need the booklet, such as assembling minifigs and helping the builder to find the pieces (since they are not put into numbered polybags). Yes, the building process is much more enjoyable, but it is a tradeoff.

Parts

LEGO has gone for the looks in the modern era. And it shows. We have a lot of SNOT pieces here. It arguably makes the finished model look very polished and realistic, but not very LEGO-ish in a way. My younger brother builds the 75040-1 General Grievous' Wheel Bike and it doesn't impress him much. He feels that there is too much "cheating" going on with the new weird parts, as if we are just assembling a pre-fabricated model toy.

The mark 7 Mini Cooper set has a lot of things I never saw before. As an "old guy" I too feel that there is a lot of "cheating" indeed. Colours are more varying these days, especially for hidden builds, you'll see that LEGO dared to put mismatching colours.

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And stickers are plentiful this time. From the chromatic Mini emblems and the normal stickers for license plates, for which we are given extra options (British, Danish, German, US, and Australian).

My brother has expressed his disdain for the newer parts. But I think, we have missed quite a lot of LEGO developments. While I understand his point of view, but I think LEGO is just doing their best to expand into better "Model Team" sets here. Especially with this beautiful British racing green finish and very neat cheatline.

Minifigures

There are no minifigs given for this set. I was expecting a Technic-sized minifigs. But we don't have any. So that picnic basket is for nobody. But as I see it, this is a display model. It doesn't need one.

The build

Honestly, it is rather quick and easy. The booklet of modern LEGOs are extremely simple and very user friendly. Technic parts? Easy! New pieces and parts that are unfamiliar to veteran builders? Figurable within fraction of a second. Extremely long studs? You don't even need to count! As if LEGO has considered all of these when they design this set.

While I am eager to see the finished product, I also want to be challenged by the whole building process. I just didn't. For most of the process, I just rushed to finish, and found almost no difficulties beside the stickers, because we all hate stickers right?

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I like the interior build the most. It is where attention to details are being judged. My only complaint is that the steering wheel is too large that it touches the driver seat and has a very little tilt movements. The engine is the second. Everything is well-thought and the use of the claws as manifolds is genius. I was skeptical at first, but at the end of the build, the claws are neatly placed so it really looks like manifolds when finished.

In the end, I have to say that I enjoyed building my brother's 6338 Hurricane Harbour more. There are more things going on there than in this 1,000+ bricks set. Maybe because I was just a child being overwhelmed back then. Maybe I am currently an adult with bigger and better brain this time. But my memory is not part of that thinking process. In my mind, the older one has better building process: it is much more involving. I remembered putting in the sea walls, assembling the boat, and the control room.

With the new instruction book, this big Mini Cooper Mk.7 model build is just a flash. Patterning the seats is probably the most memorable part of the process. The spare wheel well is the first amazement point. The engine is the "Wow! I didn't know LEGO can do that" part.

The completed model

At first, it seems that LEGO is really ashamed about their trademark studs. The model is entirely covered with SNOT pieces. Nearly everyone in the house did not realise that it was a LEGO before I pointed it out. This model is "that" good, but at the same time, people do not see it as a LEGO, which kind of kill the purpose of building one.

LEGO also tries to create an illusion of thin pillars using stickers.

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From my view, it doesn't work. All I feel is another ordeal with sticker placements. I have to wrestle with my OCD all over again, hurting my finger tips, trying to slide stickers neatly into the centre of the piece. Well, why don't they use more for the interiors? The dashboard badly needs the sticker, but they just don't put any! All of the dials in the driver's panel are just speedos. Stickers will be very welcomed here.

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Lastly, everything looks perfect (I already mentioned the steering wheel), except one. One thing. The mirror! This one needs an explanation so casual viewers will understand that this little thing is a mirror.

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Newer LEGO is all about the looks, the finish, and it already trumps almost every older LEGOs that I have. Model Team can never look this good and finish this perfect. Yes it is rather boxy and not quite like the real thing despite being this huge. Nevertheless, I dare to say that this is the new LEGO high. From far away, people already know that this is a Mini, but even up close people still have difficulties to identify this model as a LEGO. It is too good to be true, yet disappointing at the same time.

Playability

The boot, the doors, and the bonnet opens nicely and offer nice eye-candy treats inside. A decent boot space for picnic needs. An interior with patterned seats that can recline and movable headrest, moving gear stick, hand brake lever, and steering wheel that can be spun around, but doesn't turn the front wheels. The wheel roll is very smooth.

The set is equipped with a picnic basket assembly, containing a baguette-like bread, cheese made from sloped 1x1 SNOT, a couple of wine glasses, a bottled water assembly, and a picnic mat folded nicely and fit into the boot space without hassle. This gives you an option to display the model with the picnic peripherals neatly arranged outside the car (like the box illustration) or neatly packed inside the boot.

Lift the boot, and you will have a spare wheel, which is different, it has different wheel (rims), noticably thinner, deeper and more pronounced treads. It will also fit nicely into the hub cap in place of the original tyre. But the thick original tyre won't fit into that spare wheel space.

The details are simply amazing.

If you have extra 1x4 SNOT in black and British Racing Green (which is probably very rare, and this might be the only set that has it), you can stick the optional licence plate number stickers and change it as you please.

Overall opinion

Every weakness in this set is alleviated by the looks of the finished model. It will teach many creative minds in the future that yes, you can build a LEGO that looks very realistic and detailed. Every time I glanced at this model, sitting nicely at my display cupboard, I feel very fulfilled. I can't wait for LEGO releasing another iconic people car of our time models in this format. MG T? Citroen 2CV? DS? Austin Healey? Or probably more modern cars, such as NA (first generation) Mazda Miata? I can't wait.

This Mini Cooper mk.VII set really worth the money, the time, and the contemplating process that I've been going through. Yes, LEGO has changed very far since the last time I played with them 18 years ago. But this is like love at first sight, I want it immediately after seeing the picture. I know the consequences, so I have no regrets. I am a petrolhead, and this thing has a character.

p.s. picture upload will follow soon.

Given the original Mini has no straight lines, this model does a very good job of imitating it.

There is a huge amount of detail packed in to such a small space, from the spare wheel, to the seat detailing, to the dash, engine and the flood lights, yet despite all that, it's still a very sturdy model.

There is a nice selection of rare parts, and the build makes some nice use of SNOT, but wasn't that complex.

All in all, this is a very worthwhile buy and you'll enjoy the build as well as displaying it afterwards :)

My first car was a metallic blue 1275 GT Mini which was a Mk IV model assembled in New Zealand in 1980. This Lego set is a faithful rendition of the Mk VII Mini which were assembled in Britain between 1996 and 2000.

The Mini is an iconic British car which revolutionised the motor vehicle industry in the 1960's. With its transverse front wheel drive engine and its extremely compact size, the Mini changed the small car paradigm.

The Mini was voted the second most influential motor car of the 20th century behind the Ford Model T.

Box/Instructions

This set comes in a box packed full of parts. There are several bags which are numbered into building stages 1, 2 and 3.

The instructions come in two books; book 1 is for building stages 1 and 2, with book 2 finishing off with stage 3.

The instructions come in a plastic sleeve which is lined with a card that also protects the two sticker sheets.

Parts

The standout contribution in parts for this set are all the British Racing Green bricks, plates and tiles. The tan and white tiles used to detail the interior upholstery also makes this a worthwhile build.

There is a four cylinder engine under the bonnet with an oil cap on the top. This is revealed when the bonnet is opened up.

I especially like the round headlights and fog lights on the grille with small round indicator lights. It is clearly the profile of a Mini.

The build

It is a really neat build. It took a few hours and was never a drudge. Lego has developed some clever ways of using parts which means that the larger Creator sets are very realistic.

The finished model is well built and very solid.

The completed model

The set is finished off with a picnic basket with a freshly baked loaf of bread, a bottle, glasses and two wedges of cheese. A picnic blanket offsets this and all can be fitted neatly into the boot.

It is the steering wheel which lets this model down. It is large and out of scale with the rest of the model.

I have tried out a smaller steering wheel which is found in some Technic sets. I think it is a better fit for this model. From memory, the steering wheel in my Mini was small in size therefore I believe this building variation is faithful to the real car.

As this is a British car, it is good to see that the steering wheel is on the right hand side and the set has not been designed for continental drivers.

Using this smaller wheel leaves room so that the non-functional gear stick and hand brake can be operated more effectively.

The wheels don't steer but I think it would be difficult to make a steering system that would work with the existing wheel arches. The hubs would need to be modified.

The wheels are finished off with hub caps making them look like mags.

There is a mix of printed bricks and stickers. There has been a big discussion recently on the use of stickers in Lego sets and I won't add to that here.

The silver racing stripes down each side of the body, all the gauges and radio on the dash board are printed.

There are two sticker sheets; one for Mini Cooper logos and the other having a selection of registration plates for different countries. There is also some black and green stickers designed to make the front and rear roof pillars appear thinner.

I haven't applied any of the stickers and it has not detracted from the overall look of the finished set.

Overall opinion

This is a fantastic display model and would look great at home or work. It is a very realistic rendition of the Mk VII Mini and can be clearly identified with any model of the Mini.

The two doors open, as does the bonnet and boot. There is a spare tyre under the floor in the boot and the picnic set.

The roof lifts off revealing all the detail of the interior.

This is a collectors set which will appreciate in value.