I ordered a countryman s about a month ago and still waiting on delivery. I just saw consumer reports came out with a best and worst list. The 2013 Countryman S was marked with a black worst dot for reliability. I don't know how they come up with these rating, but I'd be interested in seeing if anyone has had any issues with there countryman?

Please respond, I'm seriously thinking of canceling my order and forgoing my deposit.

 

Don't listen to one review. I research the heck out of everything and all you ever here are the bad things. You very rarely read reviews of good things. Stick with the order. You won't be disappointed.

 

i have an 03/2012 build all4 w/ 10k+ miles, zero problems

my dad has an 09/2011 build all4 w/ 8k+ miles, zero prblems .... dad bought his used 2 weeks after i got mine new

scott

 

May 2011 bought brand new, waited for it to be shipped across the big pond.
Only had one recall on the temp sensor thing and I got rid of runflats at 4k miles.
Lovin the car...

I read all kinds of thing before buying, but like has been said, people usually only write when bad stuff goes on.

I'm hoping for a long ride..... 11k miles and going strong.

 

Just search this forum, there are tons of people that have posted with many different problems.... Then realize you should take all the negative with a grain of salt, as many people only post to complain or seek assistance with an issue, and this skews the grouping substantially... You'll find the same on forums dedicated to toyotas and Hondas....

We've had our 2013 all4 for a month/4k miles and it's been flawless... But that's a very short period of time.

 

I had my 2012 countryman all 4 for a year and it was in and out of the dealer for multiple things including it stalling on a cold start. I finally got rid of it because I wasn't confident driving it everyday. I read bad reviews also about the car and saw bad reviews on youtube but I took the risk. Unfortunately, I got burned. I was convinced the car was a lemon, the sad thing is the car was for sale on a Wednesday and was gone by Friday.

I traded it in for a 2010 MCS hardtop. I got hell from my family for getting another MINI but what can I say I'm hooked. What's the saying... Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.... Something like that..

Good Luck...

 

If you are talking about the new Consumer Reports issue (the annual auto one) I have seen it also. The rating for the 2011 models are not so great whereas the 2012 is a lot better. Also they give the Cooper a recommended which has pretty much the same review as the 2012 Countryman.
As for mine the only issues have been the coolant temp sensor recall and an oil pump solenoid leak. All taken care of without issue and I was only without my car for two days but had a loaner.
With over 14k miles still enjoying the hell out of it!

Good Luck!

 

In my experience driving MINIs since 05, I have had a number of small to large issues... all covered under warranty. Sure, looooong term that doesn't bode all that well, but it's hard to find a euro brand that doesn't have this or that reliability issue. You want bulletproof, get a Honda. I totally understand that perspective from an own-it-forever standpoint. I just enjoy the MINIs too much on several levels, so the occasional problem is offset by the daily enjoyment of driving them. It's certainly a considered trade-off...

 

Most European cars tend to have "teething" issues when they first come out and the CM was a poster child for the "don't buy the first model year" mantra.
Seems like the bugs are worked out with the current year. I can vouch that MINI's can be great cars. Our 06 with 85k miles has been bullet proof and we have had no mechanical failures on that car. It does not mean it has never been in to the shop, but all trips have been maintenance or wear parts. MINI's and European cars in general will go through suspension and steering components faster than Japanese counterparts but that's the price to be paid for the feel and fantastic handling. There is no free ride.

 

Just traded my 2011 Countryman S with 24,250 miles for a 2013 Paceman S. The Countryman had no issues whatsoever while I had her. Even took her on a 5,000 mile road trip from Atlanta to Montana. Had a 2010 Clubman before the Countryman and had numerous problems with it. It's all a gamble. Years ago, I had a V6 Accord and it was a piece of crap. Constantly in the shop having something fixed. The service experience was so bad I will never buy another Honda. Even though the Clubman had issues, I happily bought the Countryman and now the Paceman, because Global Imports has always taken care of me.

Don't cancel your order - you'll regret it if you do.

 

I would suggest that individual responses are not really statistically significant. What I would focus on are problems that were reported by dozens of owners.

I have been an active participant here for several years, and to me it's very clear that the early cars had the most problems. If you go back and look at the forum posts to the time the countryman was introduced, I believe it would be very clear to you. We were also an early r53 owner, and the same thing happened. There were widespread issues the first year, but each succeeding model year seemed to get better.

All that being said, we have owned both a 2012 and a 2013. The 2012 had an electrical problem that BMW was never able to solve. It kept blowing different fuses, including fuses that we disable the engine. When BMW saw that we were filing a lemon law claim with or state, they agreed to replace the car. I will say that we know no one else who had the same problem we did.

We have had a 2013 for a couple of months and are approaching 3000 miles. Not only if we had no problems, the overall build quality just seems to be better than a year ago. We have noticed that the doors seem to close more solidly, both the Exterior and interior trim pieces fit better, and even the switchgear feels like it's higher-quality.

How the overall quality of the 2013 model year might compare to other makes is difficult to say, but historically mini as a brand has had a consistently worse than average frequency of repair record.

 

Unresolved valtronic issue was the problem. I eventually had to argue my case with Mini USA to have them replace the car. It's the wife's car. If it were me I would have taken the money back and bought something else. Mini quality is suspect in my eyes, especially for what they charge for the vehicle.

 

My general sense is that each model year beyond the launch of a given model led to improvements, not just dressing but actual resolved issues. I waited for the 06 version of the R53 for that reason, and the 11 R58. Same again with the R60... wanted to give it a few years before even beginning to think about it.

 

Thank you so much for all your comments, it's helped a lot. I've decided to keep the order and give it a shot. I like the car too much too much. I thought it was weird that consumer reports had the smaller mini recommended and trashed the countryman. The engineering of the car can't be that different.

Anyways thanks again. I have about 2-3 weeks to wait. That boat better haul ***, like the car does.

 

Congratulations, and yes the wait is a killer. This is a good place to post and vent. Most can relate and it will keep your obsession on the DL from you friends and family.

 

This has proven to be a very good purchase strategy for the MINI marque. I'd imagine that the '13 are well-sorted by now!

 

I have a 2012 CM All4 11000m it was in the shop at the dealer for over a month with a vibration in the engine issue They brought in a BMW specialist and diagnosed it as an issue with one of the cylinders They "fixed" it but it still rumbles when idled

 

I think its kind of cruel that they let you track the delivery. It's like torture. LOL

 

I've had mine for almost 2 years and 40K miles. It's had its temp sensor replaced twice (once because it was acting squirrelly and again when it was officially recalled). It never prevented me from driving it, though.

I also had the brake fluid reservoir replaced because its sensor went squirrelly too. Again, I never had a problem driving, but I got error messages on the OBC and went in to have it fixed.

There was also one screwdriver which wrecked a tire and the wheel. Not really a design flaw there, though, lol.

Everything else has been scheduled maintenance which, given the long oil change window, is pretty infrequent. And I've never had this passionate a love affair with a car, so there's that.

 

I custom ordered "Max" in March of 2011. I have only had routine service done after 30000+ miles. Also had minor problems with the crown molding peeling and one of my stripes came off after a car wash. Both problems were fixed quickly by the dealer. He was well worth the wait.

 

I have a late 2012 Cooper S Countryman (ordered in July, took delivery in Sept) and I haven't had any issues at all in the last 6 months. Hopefully posting today won't change my stroke of good luck.

Apart from that, I love the car. I wouldn't cancel it. The caveat here is that I live in Manhattan and only drive it on the weekends and vacations.

 

With the exception of a cracked windshield (that I am not sure is defective, but I am going to try to push that it is) my CMS has been the only car I have ever bought in the last 20 years and has been perfect since the day I drove it off the lot 8,000 miles ago. I'd by another and often recommend them to friends. I do not like the feel of the clutch, but it works...

 

My 2011 All4 has had a fuel pump replaced under warranty. That's the only problem - cosmetic, mechanical, or electrical - it's had in 31,000 miles.

 

i took delivery of my all4 1 year ago today!

build date march 5, 2012

miles to date: 11,000

no problems at all, i am not counting the coolant sensor "recall" as a problem since i had no trouble before it was done

i have done 2 oil changes and the dealer did 1

rotated tires 1 time at 4,000 miles, then put winter tires/wheels on just as 2nd rotation would be due, 8,000 miles

the 225/45R18 pirelli summers were about 2/3 worn when i removed them for the winters at 8,000 miles

i waxed the car 1 time and had it detailed inside and out 1 time

it has been into service 2 times, 1st for the coolant sensor, 2nd for the oil/filter change

at the time of the dealer oil/filter change, the paperwork says i will need front pads by 15,000 miles!!!!! and rears by 18,000 miles!!!!

so far, i have to say this is the best car i have owned

scott

 

I'm on the other side with more problems (2011 CM purchased new):
1) Temp Sensor issue
2) Peeling Chrome Trim
3) Radio/Electronics issue (head unit replaced)
4) Temp Sensor Recall
5) Water Pump leaking (replaced)
6) Oil Leak (gasket replaced)
7) Friction Wheel just replaced the other day

Most issues were identified while the car was in for various service. The only one that sidelined me was the original temp sensor issue.

All issues were replaced under warranty and I still like driving the car, however I'm very concerned about owning this car after the warranty expires.