Yes, lots of owners have replaced the runflats with excellent results, myself included...just don't get too soft a tire as it could negatively effect your handling. As for the engine sound, you are likely hearing the direct injection...it's likely normal, and yes, it does sort of sound like a diesel engine when idling. If you are concerned, just ask you dealer to let you listen to another car. Also, you will find lots of discussion on these subjects here on the forum...the search function is your friend.

 

[QUOTE="shark715;4042605"]Yes, lots of owners have replaced the runflats with excellent results, myself included...just don't get too soft a tire as it could negatively effect your handling. As for the engine sound, you are likely hearing the direct injection...it's likely normal, and yes, it does sort of sound like a diesel engine when idling. If you are concerned, just ask you dealer to let you listen to another car. Also, you will find lots of discussion on these subjects here on the forum...the search function

The handling is about the same if not a little better, i got the Nitto motivo, great tire. Thank you for you info. On the engine i was starting to worry.

 

My opinion on this matter....


I don't have much faith in longer term reliability and cost of ownership of MINI brand cars. On the other hand, I love them, so I think I'll just lease until they get more reliable in general.

 

I'm having to replace the engine in my 2006 MSC...at 98,000. I bought it new, and I am incredibly **** when it comes to maintenance. (I changed the oil every 7,500 miles...I went to 10,000 miles one time. I keep detailed record of everything I do in our cars. Not just oil changes...I keep record of every time I fill up, for MPG recording. I keep it in a journal in the car. My parents always did that, so now I do. That's how **** I am!) However, here I am...am I going to spend $8000 for a new engine? Yes. Do people think I'm crazy? Yes! Do I still love my car? Yes!!! Are MINIs reliable? HECK NO!!! Want something reliable? Get a Civic! That being said, we were about to buy a Countryman, but we are getting a Jeep instead...now that the MINI's engine failed I couldn't imagine taking a chance on another one at this time. I'm hopeful that MINI's quality will improve. We'll see...I would love to have a Countryman one day.

 

I've never said or even thought this about any other care I've owned but as much as I love My Mini I'm lucky I don't have to keep it till the new car warranty runs out. Before it runs out I'll trade it in on a new car which will probably be another Mini and repeat as long as I'm still driving.

 

The first generation cars had their problems, especially the early years (we owned one), but having to do an entire engine replacement before 100,000 miles is quite unusual. The biggest problem spot with those engines was the superchargers on the S models. We sold ours with 150,000 miles on it, in the engine was still running like new and not using any oil at all. Of course we had the problems that everyone else experienced, such as the faulty power steering pump on the early years, and the power window motor problems. BTW, you should be able to get your engine replaced for $5000-$6000 by shopping around and having it done by a good private garage rather than a mini dealer. With the countryman, there have been very few reports of the owners needing complete engine replacements, even with the early model years that had other problems. Finally, you did not mention which jeep you are thinking of buying, but if it is a Cherokee, check out Jeep Cherokee Club.com, and look at how many owners are having problems with the new nine speed transmission, and look at how many owners are reporting transmission problems on consumer reports owners surveys. If you are looking at a grand Cherokee, they are for less problematic (and have received strong ratings in most professional vehicle reviews), although historically the jeep brand overall has tended to be at the low end of the rating scale in consumer reports and JD power owner surveys.

 

Jeez, you sound like my GF. She says that her Mini is her absolute favorite car of all time, and this is a girl that has owned a Ferrari and Lotus Elise among other cars.

 

I agree , i traded my 2013wrangler jku for my 2015 mini cooper , i belong to the jk- forum and everything that has been said here has been sain about jeeps, so im not surprise is just that people keep saying minis are not reliable but still they say they would buy it again same as jeep owners.

 

I havent owned my Mini too long, but as far as I've learned. If you go looking for bad reviews on ANY car, thats all you will get. Most people don't go posting about how awesome their car is doing, just people going to go complain about what happened.

If you take care of your car, there shouldnt be any reason why you need major repairs, and anything that isnt major you can do yourself to keep it a cheap fix.

 

You are quite right about that, but these sites tend to be set up that way. Look at NAM--there's no category for "owner loves car," but there sure is for "stock problems/issues." I guess it's human nature to gripe.

In December, 2006, I ordered my first MINI. It was a very early R56 MCS--week 3 build, delivered 4 days after the US release. I drove it from delivery to 103,000 miles, and found it to be very reliable. Not great in the Toyota sense, but certainly a lot more fun than any Toyota I ever rented (never owned one), and I had no complaints. And remember, people said the '07 MCS was particularly UNreliable!

Phase 2 of my MINI ownership began with the delivery of my 2015 F56, also ordered new, before release. As of now, just under 4 1/2 months in, I have 7700 miles on it--and that's in spite of winter weather, and no commuting! It's even better than my R56--more comfortable, better handling (no torque steer!!!), and hasn't given me any reason to go back to the dealer for servicing or repairs. We did an oil change ourselves at 5,000 miles, and I'm a couple thousand miles short of the first official service visit for an oil change. I've noticed the comfort access locking button on the driver's side door handle doesn't lock as quickly as the passenger side door, so I suppose I'll have them write it up. Still works, though, and I don't know if it's truly a problem. That's the extent of the issues. I've driven it around town, on the twisties, and to visit people 1000 miles away. I love it!

NAM--how 'bout an "I love it" category?

 

Exactly! Ill admit, some cars are more reliable than others. But to me that means that I can beat the **** out of a toyota and not change its oil for 15k miles and be fine. Do that with a more preformanced tuned car, and that thing will be dieing quick!

Also another vote for a "I love it" category!

 

What have you done to your Countryman, or Mini today threads are about people customizing the car. It is kind of a "I love it" thread. What are you expecting something like, I drove my car today and nothing bad happened, so I love it. It is natural for people to post that they sprung a leak or had a code and what should they do. Don't take it so personal.

 

My car is awesome and hasn't given me a lick of trouble/

There, I said it!

 

I totally agree, we are on our fourth Mini and three of them have never been to the dealer for anything but regular service, adding accessories, and free car washes.

 

I've had a great MINI experience.... 200K plus miles , one transmission, 2 clutches and a set of axles in addition to the normal maintenance - bought it new in 2003 -

 

My second vehicle is also a Jeep! I always joke (half joke...) that I drive a Chrysler product and a British car....its amazing I get anywhere!

 

I believe the 2nd generation "S" model Mini Coopers are primarily the ones giving the Mini Cooper such a bad rap.
Hopefully the new 2015 Mini Coopers with the BMW engines will be much better.
Time will tell.

 

I'm not so sure about that. I recall reading a Consumer's Reports-type of rating article last year that put MINI dead last. It might actually have been CR, but I'm not sure. When I started digging into the reasons, the major one given in this article was the CRV transmission on Gen 1--a transmission that hadn't even been in production for years when the article was written!

Gen 1 had some problems, as did Gen 2. I know that I really felt sorry for all the Gen 1 owners after hearing about mushrooming struts, CRT troubles, door and window problems, etc., etc. The Gen 2 Justas had a lot of CEL issues, too. The main problem I heard about with the Gen 2 S was the timing chain tensioner. Obviously, lots could go wrong very quickly there! On the other hand, people who kept up with oil levels had little trouble, and MINI USA paid for the tensioner replacements; they did so with mine when it started making noise (it never actually failed). Another problem area was the crud in the direct injection, a problem related to cheap gas, and not specific to the MINI brand. Lots of people paid for walnut shell blasting. I never did. Then again, in over 100,000 miles, I put in cheap gas exactly once--a single gallon of gas to get to a better station. I hated to do even that! MINI says right in the owner's manual what kinds of gas are to be used, but lots of people ignore that. Cheap is as cheap does.

I was very glad to have a Gen 2 S, and am even happier to have a Gen 3 S.

 

It's really not the 2nd generation "S", it's the N14 engine used in the first half of the 2nd generation "S'. The N18 engine starting in the 2011 "S" is a bullet proof engine IMO, it's the same engine used in all Mini's today except the new F56. Personally I am amazed at all the insigne turbo boost numbers and fuel mods people do to the N18 engine without coming apart.

 

You are correct about the CVT transmissions as they were indeed problematic in the earlier Mini Coopers as well as any of the other brands that used them during that time frame.
However I believe that timing chain failures that have plagued the 2nd generation model Mini Cooper were and are very much a real problem and while oil pressure and tensioners seem to be at the root cause, failures are not necessarily due to poor maintenance practices.
I have a 2nd generation Mini Cooper that rattles like hell for the first ten to fifteen minutes on cold start up and while I'm certain my timing chain is not in danger of failing any time in the near future, I'm also just as certain that those first ten or fifteen minutes of cold start rattle will eventually lead to failure given enough time. My Mini has never been run even slightly low on oil and oil/oil filter has always been changed at 5K miles or less.
There certainly are enough postings on this sight speaking to the timing chain failures to confirm what I am saying and there is even a class action law suite brought against Mini Cooper over this same issue along with the fact that Mini Cooper themselves have made several attempts at fixing their faulty tensioners ( I personally don't believe they've got it right yet), there is absolutely no doubt that there is a timing chain issue with the 2nd generation Mini Coopers.
While I'm happy for you and others who have not had these same issues with their timing chain assembly, I in no way doubt that those who have had these problems are giving us the truth about what they have gone through.
Beyond the timing chain there are certainly other issues about the engine used in the second generation Mini Coopers not to even mention the early clutch failures on some models.
I'm sorry but there is valid reason ( other than the earlier CVT transmissions ) that the Mini Cooper has ranked so poorly on recent reliability reviews.
Here's one thread about the "prince" engine and I could post many more to validate what I am saying.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ot-engine.html

 

I don't doubt that there are timing chain issues--as I said, I had it replaced myself. On the other hand, the dealer mechanics pointed out how many people come in for their "free" oil change with only 2 quarts of oil in the system. That's ridiculous! And my own repair/replacement was reimbursed once there was a service bulletin.

I think MINI is trying to do the right thing, and continued pressure can't hurt with the cold start rattle to which you refer. I personally never had the problem.

I've seen this sort of thing with other manufacturers, though. Porsche, for example, has had a problem with the IMS for some years and models. When we shopped for a 911-bodied car, we didn't buy a 996, for example. And we were all set to buy an early 997, until a kind friend pointed out that the first 6 months of this model still had the same problem. I've heard varying statistics, but most reliable reporting says 1 to 3% of the affected engines will fail, suddenly, absolutely, and without warning due to this problem. That's a lot! And while there is a fix, it's on the buyer's nickel.

 

My '13 base Hardtop has been 100% trouble free for the 13 months I've owned it. That doesn't change the fact that the last time I looked J.D. Power ranked the Mini "last" for reliability.

 

I have a 2013 N16 and it makes the cold start rattle for ten to fifteen minutes until the tensioner gets enough oil pressure to quite things down. Over time this cannot be good for the timing chain and will certainly cause it to stretch over time. It only had 6K miles on it when the rattle started.
There have been reported cases of N18 having this same tensioner problem which leads me to believe Mini Cooper has not solved this problem yet.
Here is a link to a 2014 N18 JCW with only 2K miles with the same problem as I have on My 2013 justa N16.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-damage-2.html


So the problem most definitely was not solved with the start of 2011 models and while rare, can occure with the non turbo models as well'

 

It would be smart if MINI figured out why some of them do this and others don't. In over 100,000 miles, I never heard this rattle (although I was aware it was a problem for some right from the beginning). While my car spent most of its life in Houston, it was never garaged there, and there were times when it had to start at these temperatures. More importantly, the last 2 years of my ownership were spent in Arkansas, where it went through 2 winters. Again, no cold start noises. Never heard it when we went camping in Colorado, either, although the frost on the car testified to temperature.

Some of the people who wrote in the various cold-start threads, and there are many of them, said this was an issue of a cold engine, and not necessarily of ambient temperature. In other words, some people in warm climates had the problem, too. So--perhaps this is where MINI should concentrate.

There were various tensioners in production, and part of the service bulletin involved checking the type of tensioner installed. Since I no longer own an R56 I haven't done any research, but have the latest-and-greatest "approved" tensioner had these noises, too?

 

Well, as recent as 2014 models it appears.