First gen BMW mini cooper

What is the hives opinion on these? Not supercharged manual models?

A buddy is considering a 2006. Known issues? Things to watch for?

How big guy 6'3 320lbs friendly are they?

icaneat50eggs wrote: What is the hives opinion on these? Not supercharged manual models? A buddy is considering a 2006. Known issues? Things to watch for? How big guy 6'3 320lbs friendly are they?

Known issues? Yes

Things to watch for? Uhhh...everything.

Super fun car, but reliability nightmares.

/thread

'06 naturally aspirated manual avoids the least reliable parts (hot supercharged engine bay, old Midlands 5-speed gearbox or CVT). Still, expect it to be out of service a lot more than a Miata.

There is an enthusiast that created a dedicated app to help shop for replacement parts for MINIs. That is all.

chaparral wrote: '06 naturally aspirated manual avoids the least reliable parts (hot supercharged engine bay, old Midlands 5-speed gearbox or CVT). Still, expect it to be out of service a lot more than a Miata.

The 06 S with the Getrag 6spd is the most reliable first gen MINI. It is the last year of the run. The NA either had the unreliable Midlands 5spd or the unreliable CVT. At least I don't think you can get the NA with a manual trans other than the Midlands?

Look for one from an enthusiast with a stack of receipts. Budget $1500 a year in repairs and you'll be fine.

Tall windsheild profile + soft glass means you're going to go through a lot of replacements, or deal with cracks, pits, and stars.

They're pretty roomy. I think you'll fit fine, but you won't know until you try one on.

Look at the engine bay closely. I can't image a less inviting place to turn wrenches.

In reply to Tyler H:

The base Cooper switched from the Midlands to a Getrag 5 spd in 2005.

By 2005, most of the MINI production issues had been sorted out and you're essentially buying a typical German car with everything that entails.

I had a 2007 Cooper Convertible (mechanically the same as the '02-'06 base hardtop) and it was a fun car to drive. Not quite the stop-light car the supercharged car is, but once going it could hold its own. The trick was paying attention and keeping the engine higher in the rev range. An unfortunate sequence of events forced the sale of the car in 2011, but I often miss it. We never had any problems with the car during the 4 years we owned it, but it was always a secondary car, although I occasionally used it as a back-up DD.

An '06 doesn't have the Midlands "made of glass" transmission. Both the R53 and R50 had issues throughout the model run , but the later ones are significantly less troublesome. Watch for mushroomed strut towers, look underneath and be sure the electric power steering fan is free and clear of debris, carefully inspect the area around the taillights for rust (there's a warranty for this),headroom should be fine for your buddy, although the back seat is reserved for legless midgets.
I dread the day when mine starts misbehaving, but it is a fun car when it's right. I've had mine for 9 years and it has let me down once, the power steering harness shorted and was replaced under warranty. Mine is supercharged and I did have to replace the supercharger, but we caught it early so it didn't trash the motor. I also replaced the torn A-arm bushings (check those ,too).
If your friend wants one , I wouldn't run away, but it isn't the trouble free car my Miata has been. Just jump in with eyes open.

Also, any large driver should seriously consider a C5 or C6 Corvette. With the stock (horrid) seats they're good up to 6'4"-6'8" depending on leg length, with Sparcos or Tillets a seven-footer can be accommodated.

FWIW I fit way, way better into any BMW-Mini than I do a C5 vette. I'm 6'5"

Legroom is fine in both cars, headroom in the Vette was a real issue, my head was brushing the roll bar thing (in a targa) or the roof (in a coupe). I find those BMW Minis to be among the best cars for tall guys, IMO. YMMV.

In my recent shopping for a car to replace an increasingly unreliable and thirsty e30, I was considering picking up an r50, before being scared off after enough research. I repeatedly heard everything mentioned above.

FWIW, I ended up with a 1st gen Matrix XRS instead of a Mini: cheaper, roomier, more powerful engine (albeit ~400 lbs heavier), and Toyota reliability. Unfortunately, I find I have to defend its merits with a frequency that a Mini wouldn't require.

The high roofline of the Matix would be perfect for taller folks. Sitting on Tein springs that provided 2" of drop, it is still slightly taller than my wife's bone stock Focus.

The XRS was also a neat little sleeper.

penultimeta wrote: The XRS was also a neat little sleeper.

I honestly didn't even know what it was when I saw one pop up used at a local Mini dealership. After some googling, I was intrigued, but that one was gone by the time I called about it. It did however, dethrone the Mini in my hunt for a cheap DD.

If you want a MINI, there is no substitute. If you want a small, zesty 3-door...well, the world is your oyster. Move along.

I really enjoyed my '03 MINI S, and it was a great primer to prepare me for E46 ownership.

Wow. Soooooo how about the Fiat500? Would be amazing to parallel park for city life and '13s are going for like $5k around me.

In reply to Blaise:

Well, while I don't have any personal experience, it seems there's a reason why the Fiat 500 has such poor resale value. It does seem like an Abarth version could be fun.

The thing about the MINI - in a way, they can be more than a car. They can be a lifestyle. In some ways it's like owning a Jeep or a H-D.

Ian F wrote: In reply to Blaise: Well, while I don't have any personal experience, it seems there's a reason why the Fiat 500 has such poor resale value. It does seem like an Abarth version could be fun. The thing about the MINI - in a way, they can be more than a car. They can be a lifestyle. In some ways it's like owning a Jeep or a H-D.

You mean because Jeeps and H-Ds have horrible reliability. Oh, wait, Jeeps only have poor reliability. H-Ds well, miserable would be polite.

I left a mini dealership with an SVT Focus.

In reply to markwemple:

Do you own a Jeep or HD?

In reply to markwemple:

No... there's just something about the little cars that can make some folks defy rational logic and overlook the short-comings. Especially those with 1st gen cars. I know quite a few original owners in the local club and they love and coddle their cars. My ex- is pretty much counting the days when she can put her '03 MCS on classic tags and insurance - but she'll never sell it. In 20 years, she wants to take it to car shows as the original owner.

I have MINI friends who also own Jeeps. Similar passion for those. You either "get them" or you don't. If all you care about is getting from A to B, then a MINI probably isn't the car for you (at least not an early one).

Why did people buy Sprites and Midgets and other British cars back when they were new, but still obviously flawed cars? Look at the Bugeye in your garage and think about how the person who bought that car new planned to drive it pretty much every day. Where was the logic in that? What the hell were they thinking?

Ian F wrote: In reply to Blaise: Well, while I don't have any personal experience, it seems there's a reason why the Fiat 500 has such poor resale value. It does seem like an Abarth version could be fun.

That's what I figured, but couldn't actually find anybody who had reported serious issues. And the 1950s light green is kinda cool.

In reply to Blaise:

Jthw8 has/had an Abarth for awhile. Start a new thread asking about it and maybe he'll pipe in.

FWIW--- My father had a 2004 MINI Cooper S that he recently sold. It was a well taken care of, but not babied. He ran it up to 70K miles without any major trouble. It was a 6pd manual. From what I understand the CVT autos are junk.

I think he had a computer module in the radio go bad under warranty, but beside that, it was reliable, roomy (at least in front) and a ton of fun. He sold it to a friend, who hasn't had any issues.

I didn't see anyone mention it but reliability aside, they are indeed big-guy friendly. Plenty of headroom and the front seat goes all the way back til it hits the rear seat. Might be a three-seater at that point but it will fit a bigass driver no problem. Edit: read 230, not 320. Big difference. Not sure about that but the height will be fine!

The jeep thing explains it. My buddy is a jeep guy. no rational discussion can show him how horrid they are.