Is there a Problem with Newer Minis?

"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke)
10/16/2014 at 18:40 • Filed to: None

I only ask because I noticed when passing my local Carmax, they have row after row of them. is that because of BMW upkeep costs?

Anyone?

DISCUSSION (28)

Textured Soy Protein > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:42

Would it not stand to reason that Carmax has a bunch of Minis in stock because they sell lots of Minis? Why would they buy so many if they weren't selling?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:42

This is what I've been told.

Twism > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:44

lots of them are leased, so they end up at auctions frequently.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:46

its a bmw....

but seriously, they had had their share of problems. my guess is that people are just getting tired of the cramped unappealing interior and potentially brittle ride. The Marky Mark Italian Job was a long time ago you know.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:49

It shouldn't take me 4 fucking minutes (on a 50 mbps net) to load 4 replies, KINJAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > HammerheadFistpunch
10/16/2014 at 18:49

Bingo. I can't sell my 2013 R56 to save my life.

Nibbles > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:49

It's all about the local market. We don't see many MINIs or near luxury/luxury vehicles at our CarMax, though it is completely rife with Altimas, Muranos and Tahoes.

Fuckers.

JGrabowMSt > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:50

The service centers are usually good, but lately my sister has been getting the "this may be going," "we think this needs to be done" shit from them.

Its regarding things like the water pump may be leaking, but theres no signs other than slightly lower coolant level, which I consider normal in a system that can vent coolant on long highway drives.

the trans seals might be going, but the car has 50k, and no signs of trans problems.

theyre for profit in the end, you just need to be careful and be able to do an initial diagnosis yourself.

HammerheadFistpunch > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
10/16/2014 at 18:50

was the r56 the one with the fuel pump and mushrooming strut towers?

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > HammerheadFistpunch
10/16/2014 at 18:52

Here's hoping it's gone before we find out.

camaroboy68ss > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 18:53

the 02-05? Base coopers with automatics are bad the cvt is junk. There is actually a class action lawsuit right now on the transmission.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Textured Soy Protein
10/16/2014 at 18:53

I'm not sure what the lease cycle is on Mini, but a year or so ago when I was looking, there were only one or two on this same lot. Now, dozens.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > camaroboy68ss
10/16/2014 at 18:55

I don't think so. Carmax out here tends to keep mostly newer cars.

HammerheadFistpunch > JGrabowMSt
10/16/2014 at 18:56

for some reason German cars always seem to evaporate coolant faster than the rest. Its actually a prescribed amount for VW and its a lot over a little time.

JGrabowMSt > HammerheadFistpunch
10/16/2014 at 19:02

Yeah, I really want to check/flush the SL because its kind of funky with coolant lately.

Those silly Germans...

Tom McParland > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 19:06

I dunno about this generation, but when I bought one back in 04 they flew off the lots new because so many people bought them because they were funky/cute...then that wore off after a year or so and folks were stuck with a small car that had a rough ride and BMW maintenance. So they traded it.

Steve in Manhattan > Twism
10/16/2014 at 19:14

That was what I though of initially, or possibly they're cars that Zipcar or similar is cycling out of its lineup. I've booked many a Mini Cooper/Clubman through that firm.

camaroboy68ss > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 19:55

idk much about carmax they just opened one in town. My sister has an 03 Mini that the cvt went out in. Got the lawsuit paperwork over the summer

RallyWrench > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/16/2014 at 20:00

Yes, they are crap from '07 on. 1st gen new Minis from '02-06 are generally quite reliable, but avoid the CVT like the plague. For the 07-up cars, the engines in particular are awful, with all kinds of timing chain, breather system, and oiling problems. The amount of oil they'll consume past the rings makes rolling coal look green. The S models eat their turbos in addition to that, because they coke up the oil feed & return lines. The transmissions are made out of glass, the window regulators are a joke, the intercoolers are vulnerable & easily punctured by debris or particularly hard air, and they are far harder to work on than the first gen cars.

BMW had a pretty good thing going with the early ones, and then F'd it all up. Don't do it. Unless you have a CARMAX warranty, because as Mr. Doug E Doug De to the Muro has so deftly pointed out, those suckers will cover anything.

PS: They also have the most annoying door chime in the history of automobiles.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > RallyWrench
10/16/2014 at 20:16

Oh, I'm not. I'm still quite happy with my Fiat. I was just curious about why so many used Minis are popping up everywhere. damn near as many as what is on the lot at the Mini dealer right down the street.

Matthew Phillips > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/17/2014 at 00:30

My Boss, His wife has one, she loves it to death. Trying to sell it.

Americanitis1 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/17/2014 at 15:28

The r55/56/57 with the n14 turbo engines are largely garbage. How do I know? I own one, a '09 MCS hardtop (r56).

At 19k, the thermostat went. This is a $120 part because it's buried inside another, larger, plastic molded piece with 6 coolant inlet/outlet pipes sticking out of it. This is common, as is this piece splitting and springing a leak. Either way, the part's $120, and it'll take a while to fix it because it's buried under a bunch of other stuff.

At 32k miles, I got a notice from BMW/MINI USA that they were finally going to take responsibility for poor design and replace the timing chain tensioner, guides, and chain because they stretch and fail. Google "Mini Cooper Death Rattle" for more info. LOADS of people apparently had to replace engines out-of-pocket at ridiculously low mileage because of failure. Mine had the "Death Rattle," was about to fail, but until I got that letter, MINI told people that the noise was normal for a direct-injected engine. Until, of course, it wasn't. NOT a recall, of course, but "Service Campaign." Ha!

There was also a turbo oil line heat shield that was installed as part of a separate recall. Sometimes these oil lines got too hot and the cars caught fire.

High pressure fuel pumps fail, from what I've read at 20k-40k miles. Mine hasn't yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time at 43K miles.

My front control arm bushings began leaking oil at 15k miles. I've since replaced them with poly and anticipate no further issues.

Carbon buildup: the PCV system vents into the MAF//intake tube. This means that over time, engine oil gradually builds up inside that tube and then makes its way into the intake manifold, where it enters engine and burns onto the intake valves. You can treat the car with Sea Foam every 5k oil change to combat this, but it WILL happen, and you WILL notice that the car will begin to misfire and hesitate under acceleration in a high gear (5th/6th). If you do not do this treatment EVERY OIL CHANGE, you will instead require at minimum, a walnut shell treatment where they blast crushed walnut shells at the valves in an effort to remove the coking, or possibly a valve job or even a new head. Plenty of horror stories online about this too.

Other things common to go wrong: early clutch failures (40-50k miles according to many reports; I'm sure mine's coming soon), my transmission grinds going into 2nd and 3rd gear (this car is probably the 20th or 25th car w/ manual, and I've NEVER had an issue in 20+ years of driving stick with any other car), plastics inside the car are cheap and shitty, turbos self-destruct for a variety of reasons, and so on.

Also, MINI's roadside assistance is a JOKE. I needed it once about 150 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon, and the woman told me they would tow the car to a closed dealership, that they couldn't do anything with it until Monday or possibly Tuesday, and that I wouldn't be getting another car, or a hotel room, or even a ride home. Well, if the car has to break down during regular business hours M-F to get assistance, what actual good is that for me?

In short, if you are not a mechanic (I am), and you do not have AAA (I do), do NOT buy a 2nd-Gen MINI, at least the S models with the turbo. I understand the NA base model cars are decent, but the early turbo cars (2007-2010) with the n14 engines are crap. Get a later one with the n18, buy a 1st Gen car, or buy a new one with factory warranty and roadside assistance.

It's a shame. The car is a blast to drive, but it's not a reliable, well-designed car, much like any other used European car in my experience. This car is like one of those hot, crazy girlfriends/boyfriends: looks good, is a blast much of the time, but you never know when it's going to act out and leave you broke, broken-hearted, and all alone in the middle of the night.

Americanitis1 > RallyWrench
10/17/2014 at 15:32

That's the early S with the n14 engine. The later S with the n18 version - 2010+ - largely fixed a lot of the issues you mention.

Americanitis1 > HammerheadFistpunch
10/17/2014 at 15:32

Yes, among MANY other things. See my other comment detailing mine :)

Americanitis1 > JGrabowMSt
10/17/2014 at 15:33

Check the thermostat housing; I'd bet it's leaking coolant. Very common on these. Mine went at 19k or so.

JGrabowMSt > Americanitis1
10/17/2014 at 16:01

I can look later today, but there's no signs of any leakage anywhere under the hood. The water pump was replaced under warranty, but I have my doubts there was anything wrong with it.

Americanitis1 > JGrabowMSt
10/17/2014 at 16:47

Look closely; it's buried under a bunch of stuff on the left side of the motor. Pay particular attention to the top of the transmission on the driver's (left) side of the car: that's where this thing will leak. There, or onto the back of the engine where you may not see it. Mine has NEVER leaked/vented coolant when this housing wasn't bad. I also live in PHX AZ where it's HOT (daytime highs of 90+) 6-8 months out of the year. If this car vented/leaked coolant regularly, I'd know about it.

JGrabowMSt > Americanitis1
10/17/2014 at 19:11

During my initial look at the car before it went in for any service, the motor has no evidence whatsoever of dried coolant. Considering it dries white, I think it would be incredibly obvious.

The other problem they mentioned was transmission seals, which my sister was told if they got bad, they would be covered under warranty. Overall, not bad, however considering I have no idea how they would be seeing it (to my knowledge, they did not drop the motor and pull the trans off to inspect). The other problem is that the front drivers side wheel lock is stripped, so the car is fine, but that wheel wont come off at the moment. I have no idea how they did the water pump, and have yet to take the time to inspect and see if the work was actually done (the pulley and pump should like shiny new).

But that's just me. Mini told my sister they would only attempt to remove the wheel if she agreed to pay an hour labor (which she declined). She's going to be taking the car to a shop I know that is far more persistent and has assured me that the wheel will come off the car safely.