Category: MINI

FROM SPEED BUMPS TO MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

Higher, longer, MINI – with an additional six centimetres in height and thirteen centimetres in length, the new MINI Countryman has grown noticeably compared to its predecessor, offering even more space and comfort. Wider wheel arches and a clear, modern design enhance the crossover aesthetic appeal of the rugged MINI adventurer.

Below is our MINI Select Finance Example. All quotes can be tailored to your required model, deposit and annual mileage so please contact us for a personalised quotation.

For more information on our MINI Countryman offers, please complete the enquiry form on this page. Click here to view our Centre opening hours.

MINI Select Finance Examples.

MINI Countryman C Classic MINI Countryman S Classic
On the Road Cash Price* £29,339.99 £35,129.99
Customer Deposit £4,566.95 £3,887.43
Total Amount Of Credit £24,773.04 £31,242.56
Term Of Agreement 48 Months 48 Months
47 Monthly Payments £329.00 £449.00
Annual Mileage 6,000 6,000
Excess Mileage Charge 10.69p 12.38p
Total Amount Payable £36,447.78 £43,787.36
Optional Final Payment^ £16,417.83 £18,796.93
Rate of Interest 8.9% APR 8.9% APR
Bowker Blackburn Ltd and Bowker Preston Ltd are credit brokers and not lenders.
Finance quotes are for MINI Select agreements for the models above, with a contract mileage of 24,000 miles and excess mileage charge per mile. Applies to new vehicles ordered between  03/04/2024 and 01/07/2024 and registered by 30/06/2024 (subject to status and availability) or within 10 days of vehicle arriving at Retailer. Retail customers only. *On the road cash price is based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 year MINI Retailer Warranty, MINI Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^Optional final payment not payable if you opt to return the vehicle at the end of the agreement (vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable). Finance available subject to credit acceptance to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. ‘MINI Select’ is a form of hire-purchase agreement provided by MINI Financial Services, a trading name of BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited, Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. You will have a 14 day statutory right to withdraw from the agreement. Bowker Preston Limited and Bowker Blackburn Ltd introduces customers to a selected panel of lenders, which includes MINI Financial Services. We receive a fixed commission for introducing you to MINI Financial Services calculated by reference to the vehicle or as a percentage of the amount you borrow. We do not have any discretion to vary the interest rate or APR you pay under your finance agreement. An introduction from us does not amount to independent financial advice.
†Test drive subject to availability and driver eligibility.

talk business at bowker. Friday 4th September.

At Bowker MINI, we’re committed to providing outstanding service to our customers, which is why we’re ready to talk business. Whether you’re a sole trader, fleet manager, drive a company car or even take a cash allowance, we understand there’s questions you might want to ask.

Join us at our virtual event on Friday 4th September  where our Corporate Expert will be on hand to help.

Discuss everything from company car tax, to alternative fuels for your business and compelling contract hire rates that can be tailored for you, in a no obligation 1-2-1 Zoom call. Simply book your slot and we’ll be in touch to confirm your time.

We’re here to help, so let’s talk business together.


    Erin Baker, Editorial Director of Auto Trader, said: “This loveable builder of cool British cars claims Auto Trader’s Most Loved Brand award this year, with a range of great-looking models replete with endless personalisation options. MINI always brings a smile to the face.”

    Voted for by 181,000 car owners, the awards are categorised based on customer’s lifestyles including awards for Most Fun Car to Drive and Best Car for Towing.

    David George, Director, MINI UK said “This is a fantastic award to win and a very fitting one for the brand.  To be over 60 years old and winning ‘Most Loved Brand’ shows our customers really understand the soul of MINI, something that’s captured perfectly in the new MINI Electric”.

    All the winners from the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2020 can be found here. Information on the MINI range can be found at www.bowkermotorgroup.co.uk/mini/new-cars.

    To keep the health and safety of our customers a priority, we are pleased to be providing a mail order service for MINI Genuine Parts.

    You can make your purchase in four easy steps:

    1. Call our Parts Department (Preston 0800 1957957 | Blackburn 0800 919724)
    2. Choose your products
    3. We will take contactless card payment over the phone
    4. Your order will be posted via a trackable delivery service

    We also have a local van delivery service. Please ask for details and availability.

    By choosing Genuine MINI Parts, you’re making sure everything runs exactly as intended. Accuracy, a snug fit and durability can be guaranteed. That’s why we’re happy to give you a two year unlimited mileage warranty on every Genuine MINI Part.

    A big Bowker thank you to everyone who took part in the Bowker MINI Halloween Drive Out this year.

    On Sunday 27th October, more than 30 cars and 80 passengers in fancy-dress left Bowker MINI in Blackburn from 10am, before completing a spooky circuit of Pendle and the Ribble Valley.

    The annual creepy car cavalcade wound its way to the final destination – Samlesbury Hall – for brews, bacon and prizes, before a Ghost Tour for hardy souls whose nerves can still take it.

    Look out for more Bowker MINI events soon.

    The Bowker MINI Centre on the docks in Preston has a new manager.

    55-year old Peter Turner from Wigan is a familiar face at Bowker. He was originally an employee of Bowker Motor Group between 2002 and 2008. 

    Most recently, he enjoyed successful sales management roles with motorcycle retailers Bowker Harley-Davidson from 2014 and then Bowker Motorrad – both also in Preston.

    And, during a 27-year career in automotive retail, Peter also managed the Bowker MINI centre in Blackburn between 2007 and 2008.

    Away from work, Pete is married to Vicky and has two sons, Adam and Liam. Peter is a keen rugby league player and fan. 

    Peter said:

    “It’s good to be back with MINI. The Centre in Preston has a close-knit group of loyal customers. We enjoy events and drive outs together. I’m looking forward to keeping up the good work with the kind of motoring retail experience our MINI customers deserve.”

    Peter’s first events included the annual Halloween MINI Drive Out in October and a sneak peek at the new MINI electric in November.

    The Bowker MINI showroom was opened in Preston in 2001 and extended in 2013. Three years later the centre became the first in Lancashire to complete refurbishment with a new open-plan layout; space for up to eight cars and complimentary coffee bar and refreshments. 

    It’s great to get special treatment. Which is why we’re offering you and a guest the chance to feast your eyes on our first electric – way before it hits our showrooms in March 2020.

    Get your first glimpse of the exciting new MINI Electric on 17 November. Our Preston MINI Centre will be hosting this exciting event for both Preston and Blackburn customers.

    And, if you’re blown away, you’ be able to pre-order your very own MINI Electric there and then.

    In fact, we’re so confident you’ll love it, we’ve made it the first car to come with a Feel Good Guarantee.

    Ready to feel MINI Electric? Then register today by clicking HERE.

    We look forward to seeing you!

    Join us on Sunday 27th October 2019 at 10am for our ever anticipated annual Bowker MINI Halloween Drive Out! All MINI owners, family and friends are welcome.

    We will be meeting at Bowker Blackburn MINI at 10am and the final destination will be Samlesbury Hall where breakfast sandwiches will be waiting for us from 11.30am with compliments of Bowker MINI. We will also be awarding prizes for the best Halloween fancy dress and best dressed car!

    As a part of the Bowker MINI Drive Out, you will be able to participate in Samlesbury Hall’s very own GHOST TOUR free of charge, taking place at 2pm.

    Our popular drive outs regularly attract over 50 MINIs. They are great fun so register your attendance today!

    We very much hope you can come. Please RSVP via email: alicia.james@bowkermotorgroup.com or by calling 01772 767335.

    Live Magazines Paul Agnew was intrigued by the new PHEV MINI Countryman. We sent him out in our demonstrator model for a MINI PHEV Adventure. Here is how he got on.

    AGILITY ELECTRIFIED.

    The MINI is a motoring icon – loved by the world over with a panache, presence and personality all of its own. A car with a place in history guaranteed.

    But this little beauty is not living in the past – far from it.

    Say hello to the MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) now available at Bowker.
    That’s right, the not-so-little PHEV MINI Countryman that is already proving a massive hit with the discerning drivers of 2019 who want a little bit of everything when they get behind the wheel; not least some fun.

    Powered by both a combustion engine and an electric motor, it offers “the spirit of an explorer with technology at its heart”, according to those whose job it is to market and sell.
    And after test driving the MINI Countryman Cooper S E ALL4 (yes, four-wheel-drive) from Bowker on Preston Docklands, it’s hard to disagree.

    The PHEV MINI Countryman is a friend from the moment you meet up. The bond is immediate.
    Perhaps it’s the famous badge or the instantly recognisable round central dial – now surrounded by an LED light ring that responds to how you are driving and houses a 6.5” colour screen and displays all in-car infotainment.
    Or maybe it’s just the way it looks and the ease in which you settle in … everything just seems very right.
    And so quiet. Once the keyless ignition has been activated you’d be hard pushed to hear any engine noise at all. Steering is light, vision excellent and road handling safe and sound.

    As for performance, the big-hearted PHEV MINI Countryman packs quite a punch, racing from 0-60 mph is 6.8 secs. That’s down to a combined 221 brake horsepower on offer when the 1.5-litre petrol engine and rear-mounted electric motor work together. Sending power to just the rear wheels, the electric motor also gives it four-wheel-drive status. And then there’s the renowned 6-speed BMW gearbox

    Who says sustainable motoring can’t be exciting?

    The high-tech lithium-ion battery provides an all-electric ‘range’ (mpg in old money) of up to 26 miles, enough to cover the daily commute of most drivers. Kept at its optimum temperature by an advanced cooling system, the battery excels in both output and service life.

    With the PHEV MINI Countryman there is the extra advantage of reducing the official CO2 emissions figure to just 49g/km, making the car a much sought after option for company-car drivers keen to reduce their tax.
    Economy, of course, is one of the big attractions.

    In terms of fuel ‘consumption’; suffice to say that the ‘range’ is a very impressive 134.5mpg (average) and a full battery charge at home (roughly taking about two hours) will set you back less than 5p!

    Whilst driving you can switch between electric and petrol power as you feel fit (there’s even a speedier sports option too) and the transition is smooth and fully automated with no interruptions.

    The PHEV MINI Countryman is blessed with an array of helpful and entertaining features including Sat Nav, real time traffic information and hundreds of radio stations (DAB) and music options. What the manufacturers call ‘Connected Services’ include: a concierge phone-line service, online search, weather information, Apple CarPlay®, rear parking distance control, bluetooth connectivity, chargeable battery during driving … the list goes on.

    So, who fits the driver profile?
    Anyone and everyone.

    There are clear advantages for the business user and an obvious appeal for those seeking a nippy, smart-looking, easy-to-park and great-around-town car, while it offers a practical solution for families too with ample room inside.

    Safety levels are excellent. It achieved the full five-star score in Euro NCAP crash tests and from an array of available extras you can choose a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and lane-keep assist.

    Eight airbags come as standard, in addition to the compulsory anti-lock brakes and stability control. Also standard are autonomous emergency braking and a bonnet that pops up slightly in a pedestrian collision to help cushion the impact.

    It is crystal clear that the choice of hybrid cars is likely to increase in the coming years. Indeed, BMW Group plans for 25% of all its models sold by 2025 to be electrified in some way.

    The PHEV MINI Countryman has got in early and made a big impact. In the weeks before and after launch, dealers across the land struggled to meet demand. It’s easy to see why. 

    To book your 48 hour test drive in the MINI Countryman Cooper S E ALL4, please contact the team at Bowker MINI.

    Content courtesy of Live Magazines – www.live-magazines.co.uk

    Nobody knows the ins and outs of your MINI like we do at Bowker. A Genuine MINI MOT from Bowker means you’ll receive a first class and professional service for just £46.85. Along with guaranteed quality, at Bowker Blackburn or Preston you’ll receive added extras that you simply won’t find elsewhere:

    • No extra hidden charges
    • A post-test wash and vacuum
    • Your car will only be worked on by MINI Trained Technicians using Genuine MINI Parts
    • Complimentary vehicle health check
    • Complimentary recall checks and quality enhancements
    • Free local collection and delivery or courtesy car to keep you mobile
    • Complimentary wi-fi
    • Customer lounge with complimentary refreshments

    Unsure about when your MINI needs an MOT? Click here and enter your vehicle’s make and registration number.

    For more information or to make a booking, please call Preston on 01772 761234 or Blackburn on 01254 274333. Alternatively, you can book online 24/7 using the links below:

    Book Online: Bowker Preston
    Book Online: Bowker Blackburn

    At Bowker MINI we have made a promise to check our prices against all popular tyre retailers such as Kwik-Fit, to ensure we get you the best deal possible. Purchasing tyres can be a confusing and expensive task, but our trained service advisors are on hand to walk you through the options available.

    You will also receive a Tyre Safety Check, which assesses the condition of all other tyres on your vehicle, ensuring they are roadworthy. 

    If you would like more information on your next set of tyres or tyre replacement, please do not hesitate to contact Bowker Blackburn on 01254 274333 or Bowker Preston on 01772 761234. Alternatively, please complete the contact form on this page, and a member of the service team will be in touch.

    A LIFETIME OF SHOWROOM SHINE. 
    PROTECT YOUR PAINTWORK AND INTERIOR FOR LIFE.

    BENEFITS:

    Maintains a high-gloss showroom finish, wash after wash
    Guards your paintwork and interior
    Protects the future resale value of your MINI
    Enhances safety and visibility in wet driving conditions
    Achieves British Standard EN ISO 2812-5:2007
    Provides a transferable Lifetime Guarantee for paint, leather and fabrics*

    The products that form the MINI Protect X system shield your paintwork from environmental pollutants, while providing a spectacular high-gloss finish. MINI Protect X also guards your vehicle’s interior, ensuring that seat fabrics and carpets resist staining, and that leather remains soft and supple.

    The take-home car care kit which is also supplied with MINI Protect X contains a selection of cleaning items that will help you maintain your car’s flawless appearance.

    So you can rest assured that beneath its showroom finish, your MINI and its future resale value stays protected.

    But the benefits don’t stop there. You will also be given a take-home car care kit which contains a host of items including shampoo, wheel cleaner, interior care cloths and glass cleaner – everything you will need to maintain your MINI.

    For more information, or to make a booking, call Bowker Blackburn on 01254 274333 or Bowker Preston on 01772 761234. Alternatively, complete the enquiry form and we’ll call you back.

    * There is an administration fee to pay to transfer the Lifetime Guarantee

    the trip is booked but is your mini ready?

    MINI Roof Box

    Whether it’s a winter skiing holiday through the French Alps or a good old fashioned summer road trip to the beautiful British seaside, you may need that little bit of extra space.  Bowker MINI have put together the perfect package to give you all the extra space you need for weekend activities!

    Purchase a Genuine MINI Roof Box 320 with Bars for just £540 with free fitting and a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty*.

    With a capacity of 320 litres, the Roof Box has room for everything that can’t be left behind – e.g. up to five pairs of skis up to 180cm long, or beach gear. It can be opened from both sides and, thanks to the 6-way locking system, only opens itself without a fuss for the true owner.  Dimensions are 1913/638/402mm (L/W/H) and the Roof Box is available in silver metallic or black metallic. 

    For more information, call Bowker Blackburn on 01254 274333 or Bowker Preston on 01772 761234. Alternatively, complete the enquiry form and we’ll call you back.

    *Subject to vehicle specifications. Offer only applies to vehicles with roof bar preparation. Price quoted is based on an F60 MINI.

    BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN LINE.
    PRE-ORDER NOW > http://bit.ly/MINIElectricPreOrder

    MINI has today unveiled the new MINI Electric at the Oxford plant, the home of the brand where the very first Mini was built 60 years ago. After 15,000 potential customers already expressed an interest in the car, the official order books are opened today. Manufacturing will begin in late 2019, with first deliveries in the spring of 2020 and exports headed around the world. Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production – and previous plant director of Oxford – Oliver Zipse said, “We are entering an era in which electric cars will become a normal choice for our customers. The MINI Electric will kick off our new model offensive for fully electric vehicles. By 2023, two years ahead of schedule, we will have 25 electrified models on the market. More than half of them will be fully electric”.

    The MINI Electric will be fully integrated into the production process at Oxford, running down the same lines as all the conventional models.

    “This plant builds 1000 cars per day, with a new MINI coming off the line every 67 seconds, so the integration gives excellent production flexibility and allows supplies of the new model to be adjusted according to demand,” explained Plant

    Oxford managing director, Peter Weber, “This is such a proud moment for every single one of our team.”

    Instantly recognisable as a three-door MINI Hatch, the MINI Electric blends the timeless appeal of the design and go-kart handling with the latest in cutting-edge, zero-emissions powertrain technology and in-car connectivity. It drives just as a MINI should with performance close to that of the hot hatch MINI Cooper S, accelerating from zero to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.

    David George, director of MINI in the UK said, “Now our customers can have everything they love about MINI, but with all the advantages of an electric car – lower environmental impact and running costs and they never have to visit a petrol station again”.

    Priced to be widely affordable, many customers are expected to lease the new car and rates will start below £300 per month. The on-the-road list price is from £24,400 after the government’s Plug-In Car Grant has been applied.

    Research published today by What Car? magazine and supported by MINI showed that more than 1.5 million UK households which are perfectly suited to running an electric car, are not yet doing so. They have off street parking to allow easy at-home recharging and more than one car in the household, one of which never does more than 100 miles in a day. MINI’s own data shows that the average distance driven each day is 26 miles.

    “We believe the new MINI Electric could be a tipping point for those who have been thinking about choosing an electric car, to take that step now,” added George. “We aim to introduce a whole new group of drivers in the UK to the fun and cost savings of electric driving, in a way only MINI can”.

    Secretary of State for business, Greg Clark, welcomed the news, “Our automotive industry has long been a source of national pride, and the unique collaboration between Government and industry through our Industrial Strategy has helped put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacture of zero emission vehicles with one in five electric cars in Europe now built in the UK.

    “The production of the electric MINI in the UK will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of cleaner, greener vehicles and I am delighted this modern British icon will be manufactured in Oxford”.

    The original Mini, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, was born out of the Suez crisis oil shortage and the demand for affordable motoring. The first cars rolled off the line at Oxford in the summer of 1959 and so began a global success story which has spanned six decades. As the world faces new environmental, social and economic challenges, MINI has chosen the moment to launch its first fully electric model.

    The MINI 60 Years Edition.

    On 26 August 1959, British Motor Corporation (BMC) proudly revealed a car that captured the imagination of the world and revolutionised the compact car segment. Six decades later, in 2019 MINI marks the brand’s 60th birthday and the extraordinary story of a British innovation that went on to achieve iconic status. To kick-start this anniversary year, MINI is introducing a limited run of 500 very special vehicles for UK customers.

    Built in the UK at MINI Plant Oxford, the MINI 60 Years Edition is the first of many celebrations planned for 2019 that will champion the brand’s rich heritage in Britain and its continuous dedication to innovation. Much like Alex Issigonis’ first car in 1959, MINI has continued to push the boundaries whilst keeping creative use of space, driving fun, style and individualisation at its core.

    The MINI 3-door Hatch Cooper S 60 Years Edition (combined fuel consumption: 39.8 – 43.5 mpg; combined CO2 emissions: 129 – 127 g/km) will be offered exclusively with an automatic transmission in the UK, with acceleration from zero to 62 mph in just 6.7 seconds.

    The exterior design features a new British Racing Green IV paint finish and piano black exterior trim, black roof and exterior mirror caps, special anniversary design bonnet stripes and model exclusive 17-inch light alloy wheels in 60 Years Spoke 2-tone. The 60 Years emblem completes the vehicle, uniquely placed on the left-hand bonnet stripe, side scuttles of the turn indicators and LED logo projection from the driver’s door. Further enhancing the exterior design and sporty character, every model in the UK will be sold with an additional set of MINI spot lamps fitted to the front radiator grille.

    The limited edition vehicle has a distinctly designed interior with model specific finishes using the 60 Years emblem, including the steering wheel and front seats. The seats are finished with MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Dark Cacao with contrast seat stitching and piping matching the new exterior paintwork– an exclusive leather for this vehicle.

    Navigation Plus pack is included, providing a larger 8.8” touch display with Satellite Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, concierge service and wireless charging. In addition, a rear view camera, folding exterior mirrors and front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC) can be found on the vehicle, courtesy of the Comfort Plus Pack.

    As with all MINI Hatch models, this unique edition vehicle features a high level of standard equipment including LED front and rear lights, intelligent emergency call, ambient lighting, automatic headlights with rain sensor and much more.

    A limited run of 500 MINI 60 Years Edition vehicles will be available in the UK from March 2019 at Bowker MINI Centres in Blackburn and Preston, priced at £29,990 OTR.

    MINI mishap? Bumped BMW? It’s your call where you send your car to for repair and Bowker have it covered, as Matthew Parkinson explains.

    Until it happens to you, you’ve likely never considered what happens next after an accident in your car.  I’d probably do the same as most people and call my insurance company. But what’s the alternative?

    In the event of your BMW or MINI needing repair following an accident, the decision lies with you, and not your insurer, as to who takes care of it. By choosing a BMW or MINI Approved Bodyshop, your car will be returned to its original Euro NCAP safety rating,

    By making Bowker your first call, their Accident Management team will handle everything with minimal fuss from start to finish, making sure you’re safe before liaising with your insurance company, organising the recovery of your car, arranging a like-for-like replacement car if the accident wasn’t your fault, and even providing medical and legal aid if you’re injured as a result. Your car will then be handed over to their Approved Bodyshop for an estimation of the damage before work begins.

    Located a stone’s throw away from Bowker on the Preston Docklands is BMW & MINI Approved Bodyshop, HB Panelcraft. The family business is headed up by Paul Harwood, whose fastidious eye for detail helped forge a partnership with Bowker back in 1996. Paul guides us around cars at various stages of repair, from minor cosmetic jobs to ground-up rebuilds, drawing attention to a gleaming BMW 6 Series that’s nearing completion in the body shop’s paint booth. “You sometimes see cars like this starting to corrode in unusual places, because whoever did the original repair hasn’t used genuine, galvanised parts,” explains Paul. “Everything we do is approved by BMW and MINI Group.” All body repairs come with a lifetime guarantee for the duration of ownership and you are issued with a Guarantee Certificate giving you peace of mind that you and your vehicle are completely protected.

    Having earned BMW and MINI national certification, HB Panelcraft are kitted out for all manner of repairs, boasting up to date diagnostic machinery and panels protected with the same galvanisation used on brand new vehicles – even the paint is sourced from BMW Group to ensure a perfect colour match. It’s because of this manufacturer backing that unlike many independent garages, your car’s bodywork warranty will remain intact, no matter how bad the damage was to begin with. If it can be repaired, it can be guaranteed.

    The devil is in the detail for the team at HB Panelcraft, who inspect each stage of the vehicle repair process in the same way BMW and MINI technicians would inspect brand new cars on an assembly line. The phrase ‘that’ll do’ just doesn’t exist within these four walls, and for good reason. Like each car that passes through the workshop, Paul and his team are subject to their own set of quality control checks. Each year, they’re assessed by BMW and MINI to make sure that the workshop, its staff, their tools and their attitudes meet the brand’s exacting standards. It’s testament to their hard work that since the start of their partnership with Bowker 22 years ago, they’ve passed with flying colours each and every year.

    The phrase ‘good as new’ is often banded around recklessly, but I can’t imagine a more honest description of the freshly repaired cars being readied for their respective owners. The partnership between Bowker and HB Panelcraft has created a one-stop-shop for repairs that BMW and MINI owners can trust from start to fuss-free finish.

    There’s no escaping the fact that in an ideal world there wouldn’t be any accidents, and any decent human being would hope that this is a service you won’t need to use. If you’re going to call anyone when your day comes to a screeching halt however, make sure it’s Bowker.

     

    Credit to Live Magazines – http://www.live-magazines.co.uk