Greetings,

Perused the MINI dealer inventory in the summer of 2015, but never went any further. Saw this 2015 Cooper S Countryman ALL4 w/ automatic at my local "foreign" car specialist last Wednesday when I was having my 1989 Mercedes-Benz W124 260E (signal red w/ black int. / 175k mi.) serviced. Took the MINI for a test drive, and liked it. Especially liked the front and rear sunroofs. Went back the next day to get a trade value on my 2008 Toyota Yaris sedan (original owner / black / 63k mi.). Returned on Friday (October 14, 2016), and made the deal and drove it home.

Didn't know much about MINIs. I am familiar with the history, and know guys who own the early, original models (members of the local MG Car Club), and think the styling of the modern ones is a nice nice blend of old and new (i.e. retro). The black wheels and stripes give it "attitude" against the subdued "Jungle Green" paint. Was surprised to learn (this summer) some models feature ALL4 (AWD), which this car has. The automatic gearbox was appealing too.

This car has 27,500 miles, and it's super clean. The level of detailing was just enough to make it look new, i.e not overdone. The interior seemed like new. The MINI sunglasses case and phone holder appeared to be unused in the glove box - along with the USB cables in the sealed plastic bag. The floor mat carpets were never used, and stowed in the rear hatch section. Kind of makes you wonder. The body, undercarriage, and engine bay were equally spectacular. They put it up on the lift, and I was quite pleased with what I saw. Thought there were some minor chips on the edge of the passenger door, but they turned out to be water spots, which just wiped away.

I currently drive about 100 miles per week, and it will be parked in an unheated garage. I look forward to trying the AWD when the snow starts to fly. Glad to have found the forum.

First question: did these include a tool kit of any kind? With run flat tires, I am not sure if there is even a jack.

 

Welcome. And congrats on the jungle green.

They have a tow hook under the seat and a tool kit like this unless they changed things in the newer countryman, check the trunk under flat load floor.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-paceman.html

 

Welcome to NAM. Love the color, you found a real gem there. Ever get to Watkins Glen?

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

I have been to Watkins Glen during the vintage weekend in September.

 

One of my favorite tracks.

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

You found a great buy. Well taken care of, for sure. Congrats!

Watkins Glen and the track have a great sports car racing history. I spent most of my school years in a little village called Penn Yan at the north (east) end of the Y-shaped Keuka Lake. Was very fortunate to see quite a few races at Watkins Glen during that time... many years ago. Helped to advance my interest in small light good handling cars.

The whole Finger Lakes region is spectacular and a great scenic area to drive, especially in a Mini.

 

Thanks! I have a friend who currently lives in Penn Yan who also grew up there. He is now 84, and his memory is crystal clear all the way back to pre-WWII. He would have been nine in 1941. It's great to drive around the region with him and hear his memories of certain areas, buildings, or post-War road projects, and so on. Our association came out of our shared interest in Mercedes-Benz. I had a 1957 190 "Ponton" sedan for 27 years (sold it in June 2016*), and he owned a series of M-B (all considered classics now) over the years. He had a 1958 300SL roadster (W198 II) for a while (in 1962) until his wife informed him he needed a family car. He traded it on a 1964 220b (W111) "Fintail" sedan, and then a 1967 250S (W108). He now drives a 1999 M-B SLK230 convertible roadster (purchased in 2003). He actually still works part-time for the Yates County Historian - researching old records and data so it can be stored in digital format. One of the projects I remember him talking about was organizing the names and data of Civil War veterans buried in the county. The Keuka Lake area is spectacular - especially in the fall.

*Selling my 1957 MB in June was probably one of the events that led to getting the 2015 MINI. I had the extra garage space, and a few extra smackeroos from the sale. Also got a decent allowance on my 2008 Toyota Yaris sedan (original owner, super clean, w/ 63.5k mi.). In any event, the MINI is now my daily driver, and it's seven years newer than the Yaris (sorry, but that was a great car - dead reliable, economical, stylish [IMHO], etc.) and the MINI has almost 40k fewer miles (not to mention: one last factory service (oil delta, etc.) and two more years of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage). I can only hope the MINI is as reliable as the Toyota.

I was at the MINI dealer yesterday (getting a second "comfort" key fob programmed), and met another owner who said MINI maintenance costs are high. They were charging him about $260 to replace a headlight bulb. He recommended getting an extended warranty just before mine runs out (ETA May 2017). He bought his 2011 MINI at Carmax, and also got an extended warranty (cost about $2k) through Carmax. He said it's already paid for itself. This is something I will be investigating in the coming months.

 

Great bunch of cars you and your friend have owned. And nothing wrong with having a Yaris. Toyota products are quite reliable... we have a 2011 Prius, our daily driver with 80k miles and have not had a problem with it. Just change the oil and drive it. Something to be said about the economy that comes with reliability.

If you take your Mini in for dealership service... it will cost some serious cash once out of warranty. Best to find a good independent Mini garage. We have one here in Maine, but no dealerships yet. For the time being, I gladly drive the Mini 112 miles to Peabody, Ma for service once a year. Extended warranty is a definite consideration for these cars. Modern European car parts can been astonishingly expensive, as you probably know.

There's a lot of really interesting history stuffed into the Finger Lakes area, starting from the earliest inhabitants of the region into the colonial period, foundation of our country and beyond. I miss the bluffs, lakes, farms and vineyards. Unfortunately, like myself, most of my school friends have long since moved away to follow their jobs and careers, as is usual. Anyone that stayed, certainly lives in one of the best places.

 

Good deal on the Prius! I believed the Yaris sedan looked good, and stuck to their original (days of yore) Toyota design principles (small, economical, well built, four-door sedan - I'm a sucker for four doors). I traded a well worn 1982 MB 240D (w/ 365k miles) on the Yaris (new) in 2008.

MINI Content --> The place I bought this MINI is my go-to Euro. car specialist. I have my classic MBs serviced there, and they are only two miles from home (nice). The only reason I went to the dealer was to have that key fob programmed. I'll obviously go back for the warranty service (no brainer), but plan to get regular service performed at the local shop. That's if I don't feel like doing the work myself.

Have vacationed in Maine several times. Beautiful area. Sorry you have to drive so far to get to the dealer (see the new ones, etc.) For a few years we didn't have a dealer either. The closest one was in Buffalo. MINI of Rochester is 22 miles from my house.

 

How do you determine if the car has run-flat tires? Do all run-flat tires have "RSC" (in a circle) - as described in the manual?

Mine currently has:
Federal Formoza FD2 205/55 ZR17 95Y XL
Date code: May 2015

I don't see "RSC" on them, and can't determine if these particular tires are run-flat. My guess is that they are not, but I don't have a spare or lug wrench or jack either. The original window sticker only says, "all season tires (included)."

The manual says "XL" is a "designation for specially reinforced tires", but I don't think that is the same as run-flat.

If someone installed non run-flat tires, would they also need to change the rims? I thought the rims were designed to support the run-flats.

 

Update... Federal site... Federal uses FRF runflat markings on tire.

Here are some of the Tire Brand Run-Flat designation on sidewalls...

Bridgestone: RFT
Continental: SSR
Dunlop: DSST or DSST CTT or DSST RunOnFlat
Firestone: RFT
Goodyear: EMT or RunOnFlat
Kumho: XRP
Michelin: ZP
Pirelli: RFT
Yokohama: ZPS

Found the info above on TireRack's web site. Didn't find Run-Flat info on Federal tires.

XL is used for extra load capacity designation.

Some people like the ride that a stiffer Run-Flat sidewall provide. Some, like myself, feel that a Run-Flat adds quite a bit of harshness and noise to the experience of driving and would rather run a good performance non Run-Flat. A non Run-Flat is generally lighter in weight than a Run-Flat tire, which helps reduce unsprung weight.

BMW produced Minis initially came with a small 12V electric tire pump and a can of "fix a flat" of some sort, before they started sticking Run-Flat tires on their cars. I would feel fine with that choice. Our Roadster came with Run-Flats and they are ok... not stellar... but, they will be replaced with a good high performance non Run-Flat when they wear out.

Tires can and do make huge differences how a vehicle rides, the road noise factor, feedback feel, and actual response. Tire choice is also dependent on how you use your Mini and the types of road conditions you would normally encounter. Our Roadster is not a daily driver and doesn't go out on salted roads in Winter. If this car was our daily driver, the Run-Flats would have been gone during the first week of ownership. Again, just personal choice.

Hope this helps.

 

Lots of useful info. Thanks.

Just checked, and didn't see "FRF" on my Federals. Interesting comments on the noise and ride. Much appreciated.

I'm going to my local Monro Brake and Muffler tomorrow (great guys, and Tire Rack installers). Plan to ask them what their experience tells them. Tire Rack has Continental "ContiProContact SSR" Run-Flats...
Size: 205/55R17
Star RSC MINI, Run Flat
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Serv. Desc: 91H
UTQG: 500 AA A
$141.45 per tire (4 = $565.80 + $17.11 per tire shipping = $634.24)

Want to see if they can verify mine are run-flat or not. Then plan to head to the MINI franchise to get their side of the story. Sorry if this seems old school, but shouldn't I at least get a jack and a lug wrench to remove the bad tire (if needed)? Or maybe they will try to sell me a 12v compressor and a can of fix-a-flat. Who Knows?

 

It's possible that quite a few drivers have AAA or similar, usually offered under auto insurance plan road assistance. Under that circumstance the 12v compressor and fix a flat would probably do. We drive quite a bit, and I haven't used a jack on the roadside. Probably just set myself up to have to use one soon. Need to go find some wood to knock on.

That ContiProContact SSR is the tire that came on our Mini. They are very sensitive to tire pressure. Found that it performs best at Mini recommended inflation of 41 PSI. I asked the sales guy if the tires were up to recommended inflation before I test drove this car. He said, "of course they are".

By that time I had already driven a few Minis and a couple or three Roadsters, and this one really felt pretty dead. When I came back with the car, I got my pressure gauge out and found the tires were all 7-10 PSI lower than spec. Inflating those tires to what the door sticker indicated, 41 PSI all around, did the trick.

I have not had the chance to drive a Countryman yet, so don't really know how isolated it is, compared to the smaller Minis. Would imagine that Countryman handling is Mini excellent.

 

Interesting on the 41 PSI on the Continentals. Will have to check that if and when the need arises.

The Countryman feels OK, but I'm not a sporty or aggressive driver, It feels good, solid, and responsive. Not sure what you would think.

Yeah, touch wood - been driving 40 years and never changed a tire on the road - that I can remember (which isn't saying much these days). And that's what the AAA is for I guess.

Just noticed tonight that the Carfax report for my car shows the tires were replaced five months after the car was purchased (new - by the original owner) at 5,996 miles. I intend to go to the tire store that did the work tomorrow (this is now Plan A) to have them tell me if the Federals are run-flat, etc. That tire store is almost directly across the road from the MINI franchise, so if I need/want to try driving a Countryman with run-flats (drive before buy) it might make it easier.

Why would the tires be replaced with only 5,996 miles - five months after purchasing the vehicle? Was there something about the characteristics of the run-flats that the owner didn't like? With any luck, the tire store has a record of the transaction and can tell me.

 

Not being familiar with Countryman and not sure how the suspension and tire characteristics translate... say compared to "minier" Minis, I can only say that tires are not long lived items on Mini's like my Roadster. I haven't driven ours a huge amount of miles yet, and like you, I'm pretty gentle on the inputs while I drive, so not sure how many miles the Continental run-flat tires will last. From what I've read here on this forum...15,000 to 20,000 miles is about normal for a set of tires on a Mini like ours.

Hard to tell why the original tires were replaced so soon. The previous owner may not have liked the feel of the run-flats and replace them with non run-flats before they were actually worn enough to be replaced? May not have liked the Winter grip? Or somehow damaged the run-flats and needed to be replaced? Could be lots of things.

How much tire tread do the Federal tires have left on them? They've been on your Mini for about 21,000 miles.

 

You're right. There could be many possible reasons the tires were replaced at 6,000 miles.

Update:
The tire store (mentioned in the Carfax report) didn't have details on WHY the tires were replaced at 6,000 miles. The guy came outside and inspected the Federals, and declared they were brand new (but definitely non run-flat). He suspected the tires and wheels may have been replaced (as a set) to help sell the car.

So, the Federals were not the ones replaced at 6,000 miles. The tires that were replaced at 6,000 miles (who knows what brand and type?) would have had about 20,000 miles on them (like we thought the Federals had). So that's probably why they were replaced (end of life) before the car was put up for sale.

Also went across the road to the MINI franchise, and they said the car would have originally come with run-flats, and his personal experience was that he didn't notice much of a difference between RFs and non-RFs (in terms of handling, etc.). The franchise could replace my Federals with new Pirelli Cinturato P7 (205 155 R17) run-flats for about $970 (incl. parts, labor, tax). Ouch!

Conclusion:
Since my Federals are "new", I bought a can of "Fix-a-Flat" at Home Depot, and will re-evaluate when the snow flies. If all goes well, I'll stick with the Federals, and put AAA on speed-dial. I currently drive about 6,000 miles per year, so may be able to get two or three years out of the Federals - if I'm lucky.

If something changes, I like the Continental "ContiProContact SSR" (205/55R17) run-flat. Tire Rack sells for $141.45 per tire (four = $565.80 + $17.11 per tire shipping = $634.24). Plus $30 per tire to balance and mount at Monro Muffler ($120) plus 7.5% sales tax (on $120) = $9.00. Grand total: $763.24. Not so much "ouch."

 

Well, looks like you have a plan and a can of Fix-a-Flat. If the Federals are new, why not use 'em up? As long as they provide good traction... you should be good to go for at least 3 years. Just stay away from sharp pointy things on the road.

I have the non run-flat version of the Pirelli Cinturato P7s on our Prius. A lot less expensive than the RF versions, thankfully. Good tire, quiet, comfortable and does really well on the highway in the rain. Not a snow tire.

Tires have gotten a lot more expensive. The reason given many times was the rise in oil prices. Oil has been down in price for quite a while now, and tires continue to get more expensive. Apparently, the price relationships there only work when oil prices go up.

 

Of course!