Former Mini Cooper Owners!

[MachVEvan]

...I've just gotta know how many former Mini owners there are on here.

I service Mini's, and believe me, I know firsthand about everything that is about to be ranted about in this thread.

Go to it...

[TCroly]

My wife and I owned a Mini Cooper coupe and a Mini convertible from 2002 to 2011. We traded our Mini Convertible for our CRZ back in Ocober and are loving the fact that we do not even know the service advisor at the Honda dealer. The service advisor at the Mini dealer was on both our phones speed dial and we probably saw her one a month over those 8 1/2 years!

Nevertheless our MINI's were fun to drive when they weren't being fixed.

[MachVEvan]

Lol.

Let me guess on just a few of the failures.

Water pump (supercharged car)

Oil leaks from the...ummmm, whole engine?

Lower control arm bushings

Pass side engine mount

...to name a few

The CRZ is a much needed addition to this segment of the market. It's a shame the Mini Cooper isn't a much better car, it looks very stylish for such a hunk of junk.

[VTEC Mini]

I had a 2004 Cooper S. Biggest turd I have ever owned. From 2500 miles on it was in the shop at least once a month sometimes three. I got rid of it at 42000 miles in four years. The repairs;

1. O2 sensor
2. Window motors
3. A/C automatic control
4. coolant bottle.
5. Power steering pump
6. Power steering fan.
7. Power steering reservoir.
8. Rear suspension rebuilt twice
9. Front suspension once.
10 Total of four clutches for the "wookie clutch"
11. Valve cover leak.
12. 4 hydraulic motor mounts.
13. Battery
14. Automatic temperature sensor.
15. More rattles than you can shake a stick at.
16. Mushroomed strut towers
17. fuel pump
18 power steering hoses

What was worse was the technicians weren't worth a crap in So Cal. I knew more about the car than they did and even had to do the trouble shooting for them in one instance when it came to the rear suspension. Something was always getting scratched (my rims mostly) soaked, or left disconnected. I had the area rep on speed dial also. I will never buy a new MINI again. This car also was never tracked or raced- I was too scared to because it was such a piece of garbage.

I ended up selling it and buying a Classic 1971 Austin Mini which has been more reliable than the new.

Like TC said, when there running there such a blast to drive and nothing really compares in performance at that price range but trying to keep them on the road especially with limited dealerships/ repair station and people that know what the hell they are doing and cost is fricken ridiculous.

[VTEC Mini]

Had to move thread to the proper area...

[Varmint]

After a test drive in a Cooper S, I came very close to pulling the trigger on a Mini. (Haven't had that much fun in a parking lot since... err never mind.) Friends own one. They had the water pump issue, but have decent luck otherwise.

[VTEC Mini]

Originally Posted by Varmint

After a test drive in a Cooper S, I came very close to pulling the trigger on a Mini. (Haven't had that much fun in a parking lot since... err never mind.) Friends own one. They had the water pump issue, but have decent luck otherwise.

R53 or R56?

[gordonfc]

Owned a new 1974 Mini.
Needed valves adjusted every 25000 miles and thats about it.
Here in Toronto, Canada one winter on our main E - W highway, the 401,the snow was so deep that 18 wheeler drivers had to abandon their trucks and be brought into a service station on rescue snow mobiles.
My Mini got through the 39 miles of 401 in 3 1/2 hours. (normal time 50 minutes)..

It was almost impossible to get the old Mini up on 2 wheels it handled that well.
Got 41 miles to the Imp. gallon too.

[MachVEvan]

Originally Posted by VTEC Mini

I had a 2004 Cooper S. Biggest turd I have ever owned. From 2500 miles on it was in the shop at least once a month sometimes three. I got rid of it at 42000 miles in four years. The repairs;

1. O2 sensor
2. Window motors
3. A/C automatic control
4. coolant bottle.
5. Power steering pump
6. Power steering fan.
7. Power steering reservoir.
8. Rear suspension rebuilt twice
9. Front suspension once.
10 Total of four clutches for the "wookie clutch"
11. Valve cover leak.
12. 4 hydraulic motor mounts.
13. Battery
14. Automatic temperature sensor.
15. More rattles than you can shake a stick at.
16. Mushroomed strut towers
17. fuel pump
18 power steering hoses

What was worse was the technicians weren't worth a crap in So Cal. I knew more about the car than they did and even had to do the trouble shooting for them in one instance when it came to the rear suspension. Something was always getting scratched (my rims mostly) soaked, or left disconnected. I had the area rep on speed dial also. I will never buy a new MINI again. This car also was never tracked or raced- I was too scared to because it was such a piece of garbage.

I ended up selling it and buying a Classic 1971 Austin Mini which has been more reliable than the new.

Like TC said, when there running there such a blast to drive and nothing really compares in performance at that price range but trying to keep them on the road especially with limited dealerships/ repair station and people that know what the hell they are doing and cost is fricken ridiculous.

Lol...done them all.

Like stated earlier, they can be soooo rewarding when you want to get somewhere in a hurry, but I couldn't live with that car every day. What a nightmare.

[zoltiz]

I had an R55S for about a year. Fun to drive, towed to the dealer only once. Would never own a BMW product out of warranty (550i that replaced the R55S proved this rule - sold it a month before warranty ran out, check engine light popped up on the day the guy picked it up).

It was pleasant to buy a car and have it handle great from day one without having to tinker with the suspension.