1st Gen MINI Cooper S

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
07/02/2014 at 13:58 • Filed to: ask oppo

EDIT EDIT: Anyone want one. I know of a guy selling his...Disregard the following info. It's a great car. You should buy it!

EDIT: So as I figured, while an awesome car, we should avoid because BMW dealers suck, their prices are TOO DAMN HIGH!, and it's going to be visiting a lot.

Damn. Oh well...

Reliable?

Neighbor is selling his 02 6-speed manual special edition with a painted Union Jack on the roof. Wants $9800.

Wife and I are intested. But I wondered if that's a fair price (probably is) and if the Mini is reliable or not. Am I going to hate BMW dealer pricing?

DISCUSSION (17)

Party-vi > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:03

NADA says "no" .

trmoore09 > Party-vi
07/02/2014 at 14:04

Damn that's way off.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:05

I say go for the later years just to be safe, like an '05.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:09

You're going to hate BMW dealer pricing.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Party-vi
07/02/2014 at 14:10

NADA is also way off about the car. The Cooper S has a 6-speed manual. It's actually the same Getrag-supplied unit Ford put in the SVT Focus.

PS9 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:10

Clutch swap on those is like $1k and up. Stay awaaaay (though to be far this will be more common among newer manuals because Dual mASS flywheel)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/02/2014 at 14:11

I figured that was a rhetorical question.

thebigbossyboss > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:11

Nope. Early cooper S's were notorious for carbon buildup in the valves. My mom's has to get cleaned every couple years.

Sn210 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:11

I'd say their price is too high. A local CL search found a few from $6500 with 117k miles to $7995 with 92k

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > PS9
07/02/2014 at 14:13

Yeah, I know. Same Getrag-supplied 6-speed that Ford used in the SVT Focus. I know exactly how much parts and labor on that costs...

My SVT Focus was $1400 parts and labor. I upgraded to an AL flywheel so the clutch kit was $800, plus ~$600 in labor.

Cé hé sin > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:20

If it's made in 2002 it's not a first generation. It's about 40 years too young to be one!

Kinja'd!!!

JGrabowMSt > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:35

High Pressure Fuel Pump problems in the S, there was a voluntary recall done on them. Also, tires are a weird size, so be prepared to pony up dough for tires. My sisters has Fuzion tires, no problems so far, something around 25k miles on them I think. They come with Contis which are pretty expensive for what the car is. They have a bit of a stiff ride, so if you like soft and floaty rides, this isn't the car for you.

They don't have problems with oil, but keep an eye on it, because low levels could result in the car just stalling, or throwing weird codes. My sister's regular Cooper also ate a spark plug. No error codes, car just wouldn't run.

They're fun little cars, but they do not behave themselves. They're all devious. Fun, but devious. $9800 isn't bad, but I'd personally shoot for closer to 9 even.

We have a Cooper 6spd and a Clubman auto. I wouldn't call them fun to work on, but certainly fun to drive.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:37

i bought my 2010 mini cooper base for 14. CP

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > JGrabowMSt
07/02/2014 at 14:37

So, basically exactly the same temperament as my 2002 SVT Focus. Except with the added costs of dealing with BMW for parts and service.

RUN AWAY

tromoly > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:42

1st Gen Cooper S, you say? (Yes, this is a 1964 Mini Cooper S. http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auction… )

Kinja'd!!!

JGrabowMSt > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 14:47

Yes, essentially. Under warranty, when the work is covered, they're great.

Also, the pleather seats dry out and crack pretty early on. Cloth or full leather interiors are the only way to go with these.

Our auto did stall once. It was in the auto-stick mode, and just didn't shift to neutral when stopping. Only happened the one time, so we have no idea. Unfortunately, that car caught a tree during Hurricane Sandy, so it was a write-off. It was replaced by a nearly identical newer Clubman (only difference was the wheel package because it was changed).

The 6spd will be out of warranty soon (it's an 09), and the auto will be under warranty for a long time (extended warranty was purchased, and the car almost never gets driven). The fun will be starting soon. Luckily outside of the spark plug and low oil, the 6spd hasn't given my sister any mechanical trouble. I think it's around 40 or 50k miles now. Both of ours were bought new.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
07/02/2014 at 15:25

My buddy purchased an '05 with about 100k miles on it a couple of years back. It's a ton of fun but it's been a headache for him. Cooling system and A/C have both essentially been completely replaced, and the clutch, while expected, was pretty spendy.

I do know for certain that the cooling systems are a big issue on those cars.