What do you know about R50 and R56 Minis?

"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/09/2019 at 17:52 • Filed to: oppopinions, Necessary car shopping, R50, R56, Mini

As I’ve been shopping around for a stick-shift hatchback, I’ve noticed several late-build R50 Mini Coopers and a couple early-build R56 Mini Coopers that are both in good condition and within my budget. They’re a little smaller and perhaps less economical than what I was looking for but the style, form factor, and reportedly fun personality have turned my head.

What worries me at this point is that they’re old German cars built in the UK. I know we have a few long-term Mini owners around here, so what do you think? Is an R50 or R56 Mini a good daily option for someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty maintaining a decade-old BMW? Or are these cars maintenance nightmares that will leave me wishing I bought a Hyundai?

DISCUSSION (37)

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 18:07

I have a R53, but have had no issues maintaining mine over time...The interior quality is bad and it can squeak a bit over time but not so much that it annoys me. Also, no trim piece has broken so far so that is nice.

2nd gen cars have a Peugeot engine which I hear is a right pain to maintain. 1st gens have Chrysler developed motors which are pretty reliable.

Can you get a S? They are way more fun than the normal ones imo.

PS: I bought mine with 160k miles on her and is now at 210k.

EDIT: My stock suspension is quite stiff for Detroit roads btw if you are near there, I would not want to daily my car there.

for Michigan > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/09/2019 at 18:10

Several of them are S models, which I like the idea of as I’ve always wanted something with a supercharger. As long as the supercharger doesn't introduce any crazy problems over the base model, I'm down.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 18:13

R50/R53 Minis tend to rust around the bottom of the tail lights and on the hatch under the handle trim. If you can see the rust around the lights you are fucked, the only way to fix it without it coming back quickly is to cut that corner off the car and weld in a new quarter panel. On the R50 and R53 the coolant tanks tend to split where the two halves join. Thermostat gaskets tend to be another leaky point. On an R53 S check the battery tray in the trunk, they sometimes collect water indicating a plugged sunroof drain or other leak. The 5 speed Midlands transmission in the 2002-2004 R50 Coopers is the big weak spot and why mine isn’t a daily anymore.

I don’t have much experience with the R56 other than that 2007-2010 S models should be avoided like the plague. The N14 engine is a dumpster fire of epic proportions and will cost you a buttload of money. Cooper models and 2011+ S models tend to be pretty reliable from what I have heard.

With every Mini maintenance history is king. A Mini with 200k+ that has been cared for will treat you miles better than a 50k mile example that has been neglected.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 18:15

The SC has its own oil so it does not increase oil consumption by its own. However, it needs to have its oil changed every 50k miles (to be safe). It is easier than it sounds tho, you will need to take off the radiator to get to it, it takes me about 40 minutes to take mine off now :)

Also, you need to replace the water pump every 70k miles. It is driven off of the SC and if it seizes, it can take your SC along with it. So might as well change it while servicing the SC.

There is a very good YT channel for DIYs on 1st gen Mini, this is a good vid from the channel about what all to look out for while buying a 1st gen:

and for the 2nd gen:

Howler at me if you want to talk bout anything else :)

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/09/2019 at 18:19

I believe the new coolant tanks are much better built , I;ve had mine on for 2 years now and 50k miles. Still no sign of leaking.

dogisbadob > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 18:19

Get an EP3 Civic Si instead. It’s a Mini Cooper Done Right :o)

HammerheadFistpunch > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 18:33

I know some of them had weak strut towers that mushroom with use

https://new.minimania.com/part/NMS7300/Mini-Cooper-Suspension-Strut-Tower-Reinforcement-Plates-Gen1-R50-r53

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/09/2019 at 18:35

The new tanks are better but they still seem to start leaking after 4 or 5 years. It remains something to be aware of.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > HammerheadFistpunch
09/09/2019 at 18:36

All 1st gens have weak towers...Mine havent mushroomed yet tho

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/09/2019 at 18:40

My R53 broke the water pump coupler when the pump seized at 170k. That was fun to find, super chargers were still really expensive at the time, found a coupler or two in Czech Republic, I think. I might still have one somewhere . My R56, ehhhh, I will leave that story for another time.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 19:36

I’ve got a lot of experience with 50/53's. On top of what everyone else is saying I've seen a ton of window regulators, door latches, head gaskets, and power steering pumps. Super fun cars, but not exactly problem free. R56 is dumb in my opinion, I but I admittedly have no real world basis for that opinion.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
09/09/2019 at 20:08

Ouch!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/09/2019 at 20:09

Head gaskets as well huh...I did not know about that.

MM54 > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 20:10

My friend’s R 56 needed a new engine at 24k miles, juuuuust squeaked in under warranty.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/09/2019 at 22:30

Yup. I've definitely done a few and I never worked on these full time. Usually would leak coolant directly into a cylinder causing misfires and overheating.

Mini crazy > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 22:41

I’ve owned my 05 r53 since 07, it now has 253,000 mi. And counting! Sc oil is changed every 100,000 mi. Original sc, engine, transmission, and clutch! I love my little mini! Minis use oil! And also water reservoirs, went through three the motors run hot , and a plastic reservoir doesn’t last! I now have a stainless steel one, courtesy of Minimania.com

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/09/2019 at 22:56

Good to know....especially since mine ingests all my coolant in 10k miles and the oil report is fine...

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > for Michigan
09/09/2019 at 23:57

I had a 2008 j usta (non S). It was fast enough for me and actually pretty reliable. I’ve also heard bad things about MCS 2007-2011.

Currently have a 2013 MCS and it’s been very reliable. I really love it too.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/10/2019 at 01:39

Oh fun! Does it ever run a little funny? Particularly first thing in the morning or after sitting a few hours?

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 06:47

If you and your significant other haven’t spent any time in a mini, see if you can Turo one first. Back in 2011 I needed a car for my part time home in northern VA (I was commuting out there from Iowa and was there 20 days out of the month). Found a great 2006 Cooper S (last year of the R53) in Iowa and drove it out. I loved driving it, great size, handling, super cool to look at, perfect transmission and it had that great supercharger whine. My wife and son loved it, although they really only rode in it once in IA before bringing it to VA.

Put about 8k on it before finally moving the family to VA. The second time we went out in it my wife got car sick. EVERY time she was in the car for more than a mile or so she would feel car sick, 30 minutes and I’d have to pull over so she could throw up. Tried driving as smoothly as I could, windows open, no playing on the phone, everything we could think of, that car just made her sick to ride in.

She’s not someone who gets car sick, either. She normally can read in the car. I’ve had plenty of other low cars like my Miatas, 911, multiple GTIs (one of which was lowered), none have had that effect on her. I ended up selling it pretty quickly since it was of limited use to me if only my son and I could drive in it.

Other than that, I loved that car. All the weird quirks and things made it feel special, and I really enjoy small cars. No big issues in my short time with it, just a couple oil changes and a seat occupant sensor that is a common failure and can be coded out with the right software.

Bu t definitely try to get a few days seat time in one before you buy. I’d have never imagined that could happen with a car, but it did.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 06:48

Oops. Double Post.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/10/2019 at 07:45

Nope

Its runs pretty normally after cold starts.

Tripper > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 08:30

1st gen S over all others. My wife had a first gen s that was an absolute blast to drive and was good to us for the most part. My mother had an R56 cooper s, it was really “nice” but the exact opposite drive. It feels so awfully soft compared to the R53.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/10/2019 at 08:54

Then I would pressure test it and monitor everything really closely. And do it with the engine hot and cold. It might just be a tiny external leak that never hits the ground, but just hides somewhere.

hillrat > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 09:15

Hmmm, I was looking at one of these last week and was shouted down with a rousing chorus of boos.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/10/2019 at 09:44

I put dye in the coolant and looked for it under the hood after making sure the thermostat had opened. Couldn't find anything ¯\_()_/¯

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > dogisbadob
09/10/2019 at 09:45

Except it has no torque in the mid range

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/10/2019 at 09:53

There are a lot of little nooks and crannies where that stuff will hide. Especially if it comes out that slowly and dries before making itself obvious. This is where an actual pressure tester, a lift, a really good flashlight, and a mirror will come in handy.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/10/2019 at 11:10

Now that you mention it, I’ve actually had it pressure tested by a specialty Mini shop. They couldn't find anything either...iirc they said that the leak is too small to detect

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/10/2019 at 13:11

Then don't worry about it. Just remember to top it off every oil change.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
09/10/2019 at 13:13

Will do! Thanks for all the suggestions

pizzaman09 > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 17:02

If you are looking at an R56, you want a late 2012 or 2013 with the N18 engine as opposed to the highly unreliable N14. Mine has been brilliant in my 2013.

If you are interested, mines available on eBay right now! Best built mini for autocross put there and has been a brilliant daily as well. No squeaks or rattles. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Mini-Cooper-S-JCW-GP2/174019888062?hash=item288464c3be%3Ag%3A8sEAAOSwr4VdbxdF&LH_ItemCondition=3000%7C1000%7C2500

pizzaman09 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/10/2019 at 18:52

Part way through 2012 through end of production in 2013 the N14 was replaced with the much improved and slightly more powerful N18. Most of the reliability problems were fixed.

ApexShift > for Michigan
09/10/2019 at 20:50

I’ve owned a 2011 Justa for the past 4 years. Aside from basic maintenance I’ve replaced tires twice, brakes, a rear caliper anx coil packs once and had the AC recharged. I bought it with 44k on it and have put about 52k on it since. The guy to talk to is Jonathan Dresser at Crooked River Garage in Akron, Ohio. It’s a Mini specialty shop. He’s super knowledgeable and is very active in the NEO Miniacs Facebook group. Some of your questions can even possibly be answered on the Crooked River website. He has a buyer’s guide on his blog. I’ve never personally used his garage, but a large number of the NEO Miniacs community does and I've heard of people bringing their cars to him from neighboring states as well. www.crookedrivergarage.com

for Michigan > hillrat
09/11/2019 at 06:15

From what I’ve read, there were a lot of problems with the 02-03 Minis that were sorted for the 04-06 model years . Not that the later production cars are flawless, but they’re much improved.

The Midlands 5-speed in the 02 you posted is a known week point and part of the reason you were warned away as that car was already having trans issues. That trans wasn’t in the S models and was replaced with a Getrag trans in later cars.

for Michigan > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!
09/11/2019 at 06:16

Good thing I'm single.

hillrat > for Michigan
09/11/2019 at 08:21

Thanks for the informative response. This is the kind of content I come to Oppo for!!!

Maybe I’ll see if I can get an 05 for my kid that was born in 05, that’s what has me looking at these things.