Hey all, looking at a 2015 F55S hopefully next weekend if all things go well. Has 82,000 miles. I'm trying to do some research, but I thought I would ask if there is anything to watch out for around this age/mileage? I've seen front control arms can go bad, some creaks and rattles, and engine seal issues for an early 2015, it's build date is May 2015. Anything else to pay attention to beyond typical car things? TIA

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...longevity.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...periences.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...b48-check.html

 

Thank you!

 

There are two issues I had on both a 2015 F56S and a 2017 F55S.

1. Upper engine mount
2. Water leak in the boot (toolkit well)

Also make sure the sunroof is quiet on a bumpy road if there is one. I had a defective sunroof cassette frame on the F55S. It would be very expensive to replace.

 

​​​​​​Good callouts, thank you.

 

When I was researching the F5* here are the things I found:
1. FIrst two years had potential bearing shell issues in manuals that resulted in new shells or new engine. Crank moved laterally, "crank walk"/
2. First year maybe two had leaking oil filter cartridge housings, apparently fixed right away. Also hearing failures at higher miles not sure years
3. Serious issue, wire harness under hood in rear corner oppose transmission side allowed water intrusion and rotting wires. Expensive to fix replacing part of the wire harness. Fix ranges from $1500 to $2500 it seems Fixed, but not sure exactly when Possibly 2018
4. Front control arm bushings fail early, perhaps 30-40K miles. An upgrades part came out, don/t know the date
5. Top motor mounts fails early. There was a first revision that also failed. A second revision October 2020 we still don/t know if works
6. Top strut bearing. I learned of that relatively recently. Don't know the fequency
7. Left rear tail light corrosion or melting including harness plug. Right side unaffected. Don't know if Union Jack light has the same issue
8. Automatic before electronic shift lever has a lever position switch the spring breaks on. About $1500-$2000 to replace assembly. It will break again. It is a plastic scissor spring. There is a metal one aftermarket (don't recal where).
9. B pillar door rub and pain wear at shoulder. After market clear vinyl shield highly recommedned!
10. (only a couple) 3 cylinder sounds like rattling marbles upon start at idle for minute or more. I experienced this one in very cold.

I still highly recommend the F55/56 and 2018 and later to avoid the wire harness risk.

 

thank you!

With regards to the harness, I am going to go look at a 2015, I'm guessing there isn't much of a way to see if the car is being affected by this? More of a time will tell issue...

 

There is a way to see if you are vulnerable. a collection of wires has a plastic wrap that lets water in and traps it, or apparently after 2017 tape wrap the seals it. Just because you have the plastic does not mean you will get the issue. I thought there was a better thread, one that showed the difference between tape and plastic, but I can't find it now:

https://www.minif56.com/threads/f56-...s.91256/page-2

 

Motor mounts: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html


I would say all the above, the front chrome headlight trims can flake and come undone.



Most people just switch over to the blackline version.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...stalled-2.html

The front bumper black inserts on the pre 2020 seem to turn purple and flake. Easy fix

Genuine MINI with PDC sensor
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...k/51117379434/

Aftermarket with PDC sensor
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-...117379434~brp/

Genuine MINI and aftermarket without PDC sensor
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/51117337791/

 

Thanks!
yeah, the newer models with the black pieces instead of chrome look much more sleek. I like them. Is there a piece that goes around the front grill too? Or is that just a fully new grill.... I'll look it up 😂

 

The center part. Old part is purple. New part is black.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...er-defect.html












The surround grille is here pre LCI. We have the chrome and the black aftermarket.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/51137449207/





Almost forgot. People beat these up on oil changes or the fall off due to stuff on the roadways.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/51757343141/

 

Thanks added those two to the list. Careful heat gun work will restore a purple one to black.

 

Welcome. They peel also so dont know if that can be fixed with a heat gun. On the bremmen parts version it seems to correct the problem so down the road it will not purple like the early production Genuine MINI part.