Teach me stuff about Mini Coopers.

"RotaryLover" (rotarylover)
09/23/2014 at 10:30 • Filed to: Mini Cooper

What are the best years? What models should I be looking for (I know the S is the one I should be looking at but let's see what you guys have to say. I saw a base model Clubman that I like.)? What are the issues?

DISCUSSION (54)

Sweet Trav > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:39

Avoid early Automatic Transmissions like the plague.

KnowsAboutCars > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:39

This one:

Kinja'd!!!

/ not helpful at all

Christian Bowers > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:40

Had a 2004 Cooper S with mods and it was great, and reliable. Traded in for a 2007 Cooper S (kept stock) and that was a different story... By 85,000 I had gone through 3 timing chain assemblies (under warranty) and pretty much all braking electronics ($5,000 out of pocket); commuter vehicle never tracked, etc. YMMV, but I'm not too keen on their reliability after the 1st Gen... And I know a lot of people who leased them so they were kept in warranty.

RotaryLover > KnowsAboutCars
09/23/2014 at 10:42

If only I could get financing lol.

RotaryLover > Sweet Trav
09/23/2014 at 10:43

I only go Manual. So this is not an issue lol

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:44

Cooper S models are not known for their reliable fuel pumps.

My family has a Cooper Clubman and a regular Cooper. The Clubman is the auto, the Cooper is a 6spd.

Any questions specifically?

RotaryLover > Christian Bowers
09/23/2014 at 10:45

So the first years were better on any models?

Cé hé sin > Sweet Trav
09/23/2014 at 10:45

Which, the ZF CVT or the even earlier AP four speed?

Dsscats > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:47

The silver car in this picture is tracked and has a sequential gearbox setup.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 10:47

How fun are they on the base models. Did your family had anything major to fix on them? What year are they?

RotaryLover > Dsscats
09/23/2014 at 10:49

Well...you did teach me something....

Dsscats > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:51

And it now has a front splitter and rear wing.

RotaryLover > Dsscats
09/23/2014 at 10:53

You know the car too well. Is it a friend of yours?

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:53

The Cooper 6spd is a 2009. The Clubman is a 2014 model (our 2008 was totaled during Hurricane Sandy when a tree fell on it).

The 6spd recently had a bad spark plug cause it to idle poorly and stall, otherwise has been completely problem free.

The Clubman has always been problem free, even our first one. Admittedly, it does not get driven very much, and the only problem we did have was acorns in the intake. Goddamn chipmunks.

Very fun cars. I'd definitely go for the 6spd. They're decent in the snow as well, no complaints other than the tire size is odd, and not offered by many companies. Continental makes them, Fuzion makes them. If there are other brands, I don't know what they are. Gas mileage is great, fun to throw around, and they're fairly forgiving cars. I don't get to drive them much though.

The only weird thing about the 6spd is that to put it into reverse, you have to mash the shifter into the seat, and then force it forward.

Something something germans like it rough.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 10:56

Looks like I'm gonna go check them soon. There's a lot of cheap base models in my area.

Dsscats > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:58

Ah NOPE, I was wrong. This is a different one. The other one is owned by a guy who goes to Supercar Sunday regularly.

Tripper > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:58

Fiance has an 05 Cooper S, Mother has a 2013 cooper S. 85k on the clock for the 05 no real problems. 05 is way more fun to drive.

Cash Rewards > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 10:59

I also had a first gen Cooper s, and loved it. Traded it in with 97000 on the clock, and only had one check engine light (it didn't like the O2 levels on the top of pikes peak, went away when I got back to reasonable altitude). The refreshed first gen was a little better, got a bump in power and an available lsd. You can tell the difference by the all red tail lights.

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:00

If possible, avoid the ones with stripes. For some reason, the vinyl they use is really cheap, and the stripes get really dirty, and start to break apart pretty quickly. Unless you really want stripes, avoid them. Even if you want stripes, find a vinyl business that can print you good stripes.

The headlights are a bitch to change, but if you can find one with a bunch of little things wrong, they're easy to work on, so you can talk them down a lot.

If you can find ones with the regular cloth seats, do that. They don't have real leather seats that I know of, and the fake leather is really cheap and cracks and gets ugly after a while. You can either throw seat covers on and forget about it, or you can suffer the BMW prices to get new seats.

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:01

I have a '13 base Cooper with the premium package and 6-speed. Nice car, but I'm actually selling it as my wife and i want a larger SUV. After 34k miles, still very nice. http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/4645929345…

It's also worth mentioning that after a steady diet of turbocharged Saabs, this was the first car I got a speeding ticket in since 2008. Naturally aspirated models are quick, too.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:07

Our family's had an '05 Cooper S for nine years and still going strong. Fire away.

RotaryLover > Cash Rewards
09/23/2014 at 11:12

I mostly see the second gen on kijiji. I'll have a look at them :D

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:13

Sounds like my NC. I only got 100000 km on it the other day, and boy the seat looks worn!

RotaryLover > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
09/23/2014 at 11:15

Hum.....I could get a SAAB. But a friend of mine told me how parts are getting harder and harder to get. So I walked away lol.

Louros > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:19

I have a fully loaded 2010 Cooper S 6sp, about 48k miles, no real problems. Comfortable, efficient, fun to drive. Would recommend.

RotaryLover > Louros
09/23/2014 at 11:25

You switched the NA for a Cooper?

Louros > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:31

Nope, the Cooper is my DD; I've had it all along. I sold the NA for an NB.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:33

This one is calling me! http://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camion…

RotaryLover > Louros
09/23/2014 at 11:41

Never seen the NB. Pic?

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:41

But you could get a Mini with 6spd for that money.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:44

Shit, didn't see the shifter. I'll keep looking. If not, what do you suggest to replace the NC. Something under 10K and is available with financing.

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:46

Replacing a Miata...Hmmmmm

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:49

It's hard...I've tried too. There's not much to replace it...

3vil-Monkey > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:53

Any Mini from 1959 to 2000 is a mini anything else is an imposter.

JGrabowMSt > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:54

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/edmonton/2005-audi-a4-wagon/1020911949

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

That's what I would look at myself. I would only want to outright own it. Each car offers a little wiggle room if it needs tires or something, along with room for insurance/etc.

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 11:55

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

That's what I would look at myself. I would only want to outright own it. Each car offers a little wiggle room if it needs tires or something, along with room for insurance/etc.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 11:58

I think you want me to have an Audi. Even the Golf TDI wants me to get an Audi ROFL!

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 12:00

ahahaha, goddamn cut and paste

there were supposed to be a few other cars in there...oh well. I don't even know how that happened to be honest...

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 12:00

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 12:09

Subbies kinda left me a bad taste...

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 12:13

Audi is associated with some high repair costs, but the Avant is up on the important bits.

In terms of shade tree/parking lot mechanics, where do you rate yourself?

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 12:25

I can do most stuff, as long as I don't have to remove the engine, transmission or diff.

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 12:41

How about this? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camion…

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 13:03

Then I think you'd be fine with just about anything. I can understand the pain behind Subaru, I'm a little wary myself about them.

What about VW? The cars are pretty small and easy to work on.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

JGrabowMSt > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 13:04

I'm a total sucker for those wheels. I have no reason to disagree with that car.

Louros > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 13:52

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/roadster-life-…

RotaryLover > Louros
09/23/2014 at 17:30

I've disappeared for a while, so that's why I didn't know. Nice NB!

RotaryLover > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 17:30

I prefer the gen after lol

Too many M's > RotaryLover
09/23/2014 at 18:35

The later R53s are my personal favorite amongst the BMW MINIs. I would find one with the factory JCW pack personally. Better brakes, suspension, limited slip diff, and more power. If you don't do this way you can find a regular S model and mod it in your own. Go with the facelift version (2005-2006). This have better tranny gearing and the JCW blower plus better Xenon projectors. Do not get the non-S CVT, those are nothing but a ticking time bomb. I would get the below R53.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

For the R56 S (2007-2014) these came with the turbocharged Prince engine. Early models were known for high-pressure fuel pump failures and carbon build-up in the engine. I owned a Countryman S with this engine and had zero issues in 15k miles. The next owner has had zero problems at 35k miles.

A mechanical limited slip was available in the first two years, after this DTC was introduced which used the brakes to simulate the action by adding braking power to the wheel experiencing slip.

A dedicated JCW model was added in 2009 which gives over 200hp, four pot front Brembos, suspension tuning, and additional badgering. Again, bang for your buck would be to buy the regular S and mod it to JCW levels, for resale it would be better to get the JCW.

For me, either model is a fine automobile. I prefer the R53 and will likely add the JCW GP once I get more garage space and my E30.

Too many M's > JGrabowMSt
09/23/2014 at 18:40

The R56/7s with the turbocharged Prince engines have had problems with the fuel pump. The supercharged version did not have this problem.

RotaryLover > Too many M's
09/23/2014 at 19:36

I found this. But I never knew that they could have 2 gauges. Can you explain how is that possible? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camion…

Too many M's > RotaryLover
09/24/2014 at 02:14

The R53s could get Navigation or in this case the "Chrono pack". Both of which relocate the Speedo to the top of the steering column. The chronological pack adds water temp, oil pressure and temperature gauges.

Joseph Shaul > RotaryLover
09/27/2014 at 23:16

They're too damn heavy, too damn slow, and the engines are hideously expensive to service - and you will be servicing it.

RotaryLover > Joseph Shaul
09/28/2014 at 16:33

Which gen/model did you try?