My wife and I just started searching for a preowned 05 or 06 mini cooper s convertible. Originally, we were looking for one with less than 50k miles on it, and I am finding that we either need to increase our budget or let ourselves accept a car with higher miles. As we start to consider a car with 75k miles, I am worried about high dollar repairs in the first two years of owning the car.

I am curious about when clutches need to be replaced, and at what cost. Do things typically go wrong with the convertible top? Does the supercharger need to be rebuilt, and at what cost. What else does one need to start spending money on as thes cars age?

Any feed back is appreciated? If there is already a thread on this topic, please point me to it as my seemingly endless search did not easily reveal an answer to my questions. Thanks!

 

One of the better resources to check is the Motoring File buyer's guide (upper right corner of the page). You might also check the R52 Cabrio sub-forum under the 1st Gen MINIs section of NAM, and the R53 section if you're considering an S.

Good luck on your search and let us know how it goes.

 

The convertibles have the same shortcomings that the hardtop does. Like the right motor mount going bad. Or the thermostat housing leaking. Just about anything that can be a problem on the hardtop can be a problem on the convertible. That said, I have an '06 cabriolet with every possible JCW option plus the full factory aero kit. I've had very few problems with the car. I had the motor mount and the thermostat and housing replaced under warranty. I've had the oil pan gasket replaced. And other than brakes, it's been trouble free. (I've got the 6 speed manual.)

Of course, since it's a convertible, there can be other problems as well. The most common is excessive wear of the top itself. Mostly this is confined to some small holes getting rubbed into the top where the part just above the rear of the door meets the top at the back corner when the top is down. I had my first top replaced under warranty and since then, I've always put a small piece of folded black felt between these two surfaces when the top it down. (Which is daily and most of the time.) This seems to have prevented any further wear of the top in this area. Others have reported mechnism failures of one kind or another, but the only thing I've experienced is that every once in a long while it'll stop mid close and I'll have to back it up and then proceed again putting it up. I've never had a complete failure.

One more thing I do is, when the top is starting to engage the front windscreen frame (those pins go in those holes), I pull down on the left front part of the top to help it go to seat in the hole. On my car, the pin that goes in that hole doesn't line up exactly perfectly and I believe I'm helping the top and reducing mechanism strain by helping it that last little bit. I then remove my hand and let the sunroof part of the top close normally. It'll close on it's own, but I figure why not give it a helping hand.

 

Thanks for the replies. We got anxious, and drove home a 2012 that we found that was gently used for only 9,000 miles. Its not the S, hope I don't miss that in the long run. Still, its more fun to drive than the mini van and pick-up that are also in our stable, and on day 3 of ownership, we are already arguing about who is driving it to work. Otherwise, its like new condition, still has a lot of factory warranty on it, and has more of our desired options than any of the '06 we could find.

 

Congrats on your purchase. Now we want pics! I'm originally from Midwest and have done quite a bit of traveling in your neck of the woods. You have some good driving roads to enjoy once the weather warms and you drop the top. Envious!

Happy Motoring!

 

Not the best pic, but as requested.

 

good looking MINI. One thing I will say: Check your insurance companies glass policy. My Cooper S is by far the most laughable windshield I've ever seen. The day after I bought it, first trip on the highway, chips/pits by the handful. Between the steep angle and very poor glass quality of the factory unit, you want to make sure you at least have a no-deductible repair(and if you're lucky replacement) glass policy. Aside from that, should be a heck of a fun car!

 

After years of pestering me for a MINI convertable we found my wife a a low mileage 07. Within 2 weeks I was out of a four wheel drive SUV and into a low miles 08 hardtop. Too much fun! We won't look back!