Teach Me About MINI.

I looked for a recent "Learn Me" post, but I didn't see anything.

Ok, so it looks like I may have a hit on a house to rent. However it is much farther away from where I live now, so my wife's commute has increased and I want to get her something that gets significantly better gas mileage than our Durango. The idea is that I am going to sell my XJ and keep the Durango for myself since I use my workvan for my DD.

The wife wants something "cute" and on the short list is the 500, the MINI and a couple CUVs. I don't want to resort to the CUVs. I love the 500, but at 6'2"/280lbs, the 500 was a tight fit. Now I haven't ridden in the MINI, so I'm not sure of the interior size, but I can't imagine it's much smaller than my wife's old Mistu Eclipse by the pictures I've seen.

Also, and this is important, It's going to be the wife's DD, so it has to be Automatic. I know it's going to be slow as dirt, but once again, it's going to be hers.

Looking at the local CL, I have seen some nice ones in my price range under 100k miles around the 2003-2005 model years.

So my questions are:

• How reliable are they? Including the automatics.

• Are the parts affordable, i.e. not BMW prices?

• How are these to work on?

Thanks in advance.

Others will beg to differ, but I HATE working on mine. I have an S, so it's a little more cramped in the engine bay than some others. Parts CAN be competitively priced if you don't go through the dealer. If you take it in for service because you hate working on it, as I do, be prepared to be RAPED. Like, should be criminal rape, like I need a therapist raped. I just had to drop 1300$ on 4 wheel brakes, a right front hub, right front wheel sensor ( controls the ABS, the TPMS and the TC).... and we're not done yet. Surprisingly, when it doesn't need service, it's been ultra reliable. It's not one of those "It works great when it's not broken" things, it is actually a reliable car. I've only needed un-maitenance service on it twice, once was because of a freak pulley explosion that took out a TON of other stuff ( that was the scariest invoice i've ever seen, but was all covered under warranty) and this time, for what turned out to be a hub. The hub took out the sensor, causing all the issues. I did need to replace the clutch at like 80k, but that was due to the fact that my wife rides the clutch like she should be riding my hootus. original MINI battery went out in January ( car is a 2005 so... 8 years?) and other than that, it's been tires, brakes and oil. Some of the interior can be chintzy, but if you're not a gorilla, it's not a major issue. I'm 6' 240ish, and I fit plenty fine, though I don't feel the seats to be the most comfortable. YMMV there. Gets solid MPG's, does require premium. I've only driven one auto of these, and I find it to be the most hateful thing on earth. I know others have complained that the auto likes to grenade, though I don't know if that's the R52/52, or if it's the current gen as well. Overall, I like the car. They're a hoot to drive even in n/a form, it encourages you to play Italian Job. My kid thinks it's hilarious when I hoon it. Would i buy another? No.... mostly because I hate working on it and the dealer ticket is a nice house payment. Would I encourage anyone slightly more stubborn than me to own one, assuming they did the work themselves? Absolutely.

Here are some recent threads (because the search feature on this site is worthless):

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-mini-coopers-newer-kind/61495/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/wheres-the-bottom-of-the-new-mini-cooper-market-and-do-i-want-to-shop-there/58399/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/keeping-an-r53-cooper-alive/53486/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/mini-cooper-reliability/48767/page1/

In reply to mndsm:

Thanks for the insight. After looking at the links that dj06482 posted I think I'm gonna end up with a CUV

I figured that they were just Mini-BMWs (no pun intended) and are a vehicle that either could be the best car ever or plagued with random bullE36 M3 issues. I am a little disappointed considering how dead-nuts reliable the original ones were.

If you're looking at '03-05 Coopers, then you're looking at CVT cars. Avoid like the plague. If you must have an automatic, the limit your search to '06 and newer S cars or any R56 ('07 to present).

All I've heard points to it being a FWD BMW. I'd rather deal with a real mini, or just go buy a not gimmicky modern subcompact, personally.

Ian F wrote: If you're looking at '03-05 Coopers, then you're looking at CVT cars. Avoid like the plague. If you must have an automatic, the limit your search to '06 and newer S cars or any R56 ('07 to present).

Ugh, I did forget about the CVTs. The '06s that I found are just out of my price range. Well like I said I probably will look at other vehicles.

Yeah, the nail has been hit on the head a few times now. The manuals have BMW problems but are fun enough to be worth it. The auto/CVT, on the other hand...run, don't walk.

< 6'4", 295#. Roomy enough for me. First car I've ever been in that I had to move the seat forward, from the max rear position. Forget about putting a human in the back seat.

When the power windows and locks don't work the way they should, it'll be ~$1500 for a new BCM; if the car is older (mine's an '03), add new keys/programming, if you want the keyless entry to work. For the life of me, I can't figure out where the rear washer is plugged up.

Parts aren't necessarily cheap, AAP/AZ/OR don't stock many parts. If the brake pad light comes on, not only are you replacing the pads, but a ~$30 sensor, as well.

Changing the serpentine belt, at least on an S, requires a $pecial tool, to release the tensioner.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to mndsm: Thanks for the insight. After looking at the links that dj06482 posted I think I'm gonna end up with a CUV I figured that they were just Mini-BMWs (no pun intended) and are a vehicle that either could be the best car ever or plagued with random bullE36 M3 issues. I am a little disappointed considering how dead-nuts reliable the original ones were.

What's your price range? There's gotta be something better than a CUV in that area. Unless new- in which case get a cx5- those things are awesome.

I just finished replacing the strut mounts on my friend's MINI S after they ripped from the strut top mushrooming and added the reinforcement plates. It wasn't that bad. We also have to find a coolant leak and replace the power steering pump. The power steering pump doesn't seem like it should be too bad. Finding and fixing the coolant leak one the other hand...

Early coolant tanks leaked. How do I know? My daughter bought a used 2005 S, coolant tank leaked, car ran hot (I know she should have been more observant) and she had to have the headgasket replaced. Independent shop replaced the headgasket, changed the supercharger pulley, and swapped out the supercharger for a used one with lower mileage (bearings in the original were very noisy at less than 60K miles), for $1800. I did replace the coolant tank too. I hated that car.

mndsm wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to mndsm: Thanks for the insight. After looking at the links that dj06482 posted I think I'm gonna end up with a CUV I figured that they were just Mini-BMWs (no pun intended) and are a vehicle that either could be the best car ever or plagued with random bullE36 M3 issues. I am a little disappointed considering how dead-nuts reliable the original ones were.

What's your price range? There's gotta be something better than a CUV in that area. Unless new- in which case get a cx5- those things are awesome.

It's $8k and below. We're not looking at getting anything until after we move into this new place.

I served about 2 1/2 years of my apprenticeship at a MINI dealer and can confirm much of what was already said. Great cars if under warranty, but you will bleed out after that.

Here I am changing the ENTIRE wiring harness of a car due to an issue with leaking sunroof drains. I did this about 5 times while there.

<img src="Uploaded with ImageShack.us" />

This is why we leased our 2011 MINI. It's been perfect while we've had it, but we won't have to deal with it out of warranty.

I would like to just encourage all of you to keep talking bad about them. Then the used car market prices will FINALLY start to drop. Around here, stock 10 year old Coopers are still in the $8k range....

-Rob

rob_lewis wrote: I would like to just encourage all of you to keep talking bad about them. Then the used car market prices will FINALLY start to drop. Around here, stock 10 year old Coopers are still in the $8k range....

Yes, +1 to this. I will need a parts car on the cheap. At 120k on the clock, I'm gonna need some bits with less miles on them.

I would like to add that the auto trans in the S models also is prone to valve body failure from about 20k miles onward. This is not a cheap reliable car, but it is fun and the cabrio is darn cute (if you like a cute car).

Yeah, I find this somewhat amusing as they are no worse than a standard BMW. My '06 R53 has been fine so far, and of course I understood before I bought it that issues may occur.

Many people though list the same problems under BMW ownership and say they don't have many problems at all. I suppose that it depends on perspective and what you want out of ownership. In many ways, the S is as much fun or more than an E36 M3, at least around town in everyday driving. And it certainly gets better MPG.

I would never buy a German car thinking it's going to be a Honda. You have to understand what you are buying and why. It is an extremely entertaining car for reasonable buy in, great handling, and it keeps a grin on your face. Do they have a few issues? Yes, but far less than my old E36 had.

dj06482 wrote: Here are some recent threads (because the search feature on this site is worthless):

Google is your friend. Try this method:

Google => site:[enter the website] [enter your search phrase]

for example:

site:grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum mini

Then select your date range under "Search tools" and select "sort by date"

phillyj wrote: Google is your friend. Try this method: Google => site:[enter the website] [enter your search phrase] for example: site:grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum mini Then select your date range under "Search tools" and select "sort by date"

Thanks for giving away my not-so secret! I wish the search function on here would go to the Google Advanced search, punch in this site, get the results, and then render them back in their list. Would actually make searching the site useful!

As it is, I searched "Mini" for kicks. A bunch of very old updates when GRM had their two years ago.

phillyj wrote: Google is your friend. Try this method: Google => site:[enter the website] [enter your search phrase] for example: site:grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum mini Then select your date range under "Search tools" and select "sort by date"

Thanks for giving away my not-so secret! I wish the search function on here would go to the Google Advanced search, punch in this site and my search term as entered, get the results, and then render them back in their list. Would actually make searching the site useful!

As it is, I searched "Mini" for kicks. A bunch of very old updates when GRM had their two years ago.