Hello all - been lurking for a few weeks, reading lots of threads about the R56, options and upgrades, whilst searching for a used Mini for my gf.

Collected a 2008 Mini Cooper on Tuesday..

Lightning Blue
White roof, spoiler and mirrors
White bonnet stripes
Heated mirror pack
Panoramic glass sunroof
Chilli pack
Cloth/leather ray carbon sports seats
Chrome line exterior
Chrome line interior
Decor rings
Interior light pack
Colour line dark grey
Interior trim piano black
multi function steering wheel

Bought from Mini under Cherished used mini scheme - got a great price given the low mileage (33k) and spec.

It'll be getting a good detailing over the next few weeks to bring it up to my standards, and the front speakers will probably be swapped out for JL Audio items. ALready swapped the headlight bulbs for Osram Night Breaker Unlimited items, which have given a little improvment but still not the best headlights

 

S or base?

 

I had never heard of the "Cherished Used MINI" program until now. I checked Google, and it sounds like it's a program in the UK.

Welcome and congrats!

 

Sounds exciting. Enjoy.

 

Thanks for the comments guys.

As you've figured out we're in the UK.

Just a normal Cooper, 122bhp, 6 speed manual - GFs criteria for a car was..

> looks nice
> economical / cheap to run
> air conditioning



Mini Cherished is the approved used programme, in theory..

> only good condition cars qualify, independent validation against standards
> 12 months warranty
> 12 months breakdown assistance

You normally pay a premium for these sort of schemes but i found this car with lower miles and much better spec than other Mini dealers were selling for our budget. Happy so far..

Dealer photos attached

 

Ooooo, Right Hand Drive...

Welcome to the MINIacs...

Very nice Justa.

Motor on!

Cheers!

 

Well ur GF must be happy. Seeing those pictures makes me miss the UK...I lived there for 2-years...lots of fun!

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

 

Very nice condition! I love the dash color combo. Congrats to your girlfriend!

 

Thanks for the comments guys.

Hopefully Sunday I can give it a good wash and start the winter protection detail.

 

Mate, if you go to the effort of washing it…please take it for a Sunday ride afterwards. The birds will like it!

 

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It will be doing 450 miles per week just commuting so the poor thing needs a rest lol! Been raining incessently for four days and another two inches forecast today. Fingers crossed I can get it washed, polished and some Rejex winter protection on tomorrow.<br />
Will attempt to treat the interior to some Gyeon fabriccoat today.

 

Congrats, percymon. Your new MINI looks fantastic.

 

Thanks Mr. T - it looked better still after 8 hours of my labour; wash, polish, Rejex and wax. Sadly it's been pouring down with rain ever since and another 100miles added to the odo !

 

Don't let the weather bring you down. Forge ahead.

 

The weather certainly won't stop us - 4 days on it looks like a rally car again; more incessent rain, wind and muddy roads

Back to the dealer today (FTM alarms daily), so it'll get a wash for free Plus I get to run around in a 500 mile Cooper Convertible for the day; roof down, heated seats on and sport button on

 

Well after a further two visits to my local dealer the flat tire montor alarm is still not resolved.

On visit one they immersed a wheel/tire that was losing approx 2psi per day - they found nothing but changed the valve. As the rims were recently refurbished they were reluctant to remove the tire.

Visit 2 - they removed the tire (taking a little bit of refurb paint off the rim edge in the process), found a very small piece of metal in the tire, repaired it and sent me on my way free of charge. I was hopeful this was the end of the saga.

Later that day the light/alarm came on again (as it does daily)

So visit 3 today - they say no faults logged, but as one tire has 2.5mm tread deapth and the others 5.5mm thats the cause of the issue.

They told me to replace the 'offending' tyre; but no mention of the fact that a new tyre will also have a similar radius difference to the the other three tires. They told me non of the sensors or electronic modules are covered under used car warranty, and that I should take car back to supplying dealer.

Supplying dealer is happy to take the car back for resolution, they state all components (bar wear on tires and brakes are covered by warranty) and that its ridiculous I drive 100miles to them when my local dealer 1 mile from my office isn't interested in resolving it. I quite agree, if you buy a car from Mini network you should be able to take it to any Mini dealer for service and repair.

So I drive the car to supplying dealer next Tuesday - 100 miles each way and a day off work. I hope they can resolve it, they are certainly more than willing to help when the local dealer aren't.

As to my local place, their arrogant attitude and lack of customer care tells me they won't have any more business from me - the car will be serviced at another Mini localish dealer, even though its not so convenient.

As I've been using the car more than my partner of late I've noticed on my regular journey that the alarm triggers at almost the same point in the journey, after ca 12 miles.
I have a new set of winter tyres to go on next week - that might finally validate that the issue is not wheel/tyre related if Tuesdays visit isn't successful.

 

Thoroughly annoying, percymon. I hope the installation of the winter tires resolve the issue.

 

Couldn't agree more Mr T - hopefully the supplying Mini dealer will have it sorted on Tuesday.

Today..Repaired a couple of small rim marks in a set of R101s, winter tires going on them Monday..









Not 100% perfect but the last one would have needed a lot more sanding and paint to get it much better, I'm happy enough.

Two coats of Finish Kare 1000p paste wax inside and out. Loaded up ready for tire fitting..

 

Tyres fitted this morning





Will swap wheels at the weekend

 

Took car back to supplying dealer today for the ongoing flat tire monitor issue. Investigations confirmed one tire with lower tread (as my local dealer indicated), but also a clip on balance weight on the inside (possibly allowing air seepage) but more worryingly the start of a blister on the inner sidewall (possibly due to damage caused by local dealer when removing and refitting the tire last month).

Supplying dealer fitted new tire for free, and in 80 miles so far no more FTM alarms - fingers crossed. If nothing else I got a tire for free that would have needed changing in six months for normal wear, never mind any other issues.


Not quite a low cost visit - while there I test drove a 18 month old Countryman SD with Chill pack and leather , so it could have been an expensive visit dependent on my brain thoughts in the next few days (that would replace the family A3 Sportback, so we'd be a two MINI family) - EEK !

 

No tire alerts today - Yaaaayyyyyy !!! :D :D

 

Really nice looking Mini--congrats!.

 

Thanks.

Got the winter wheels on today (poor phone pic sorry !)

 

On Friday it will be joined by my own Mini - Countryman SD All4...