From 2017 Countryman S:

1. iDrive is terrible
2. Harmon Kardon speaker upgrade isn't as good as i hoped
3. Ent screen has developed a black circle and Mini won't cover a replacement (it's done 24k on the clock for a 2017) - so aftercare service
4. Finding affordable after-market replacements easy (e.g. wipers) and not paying Mini a fortune for them.

 

I have had a 2017 S Countryman and now have a 2020 JCW Countryman.

I hate to point out dislikes but i feel a buyer would like to know any issues before making a big decision. These are things i feel could be IMPROVED…

1 Harmon Kardon sound system is just OK
2 apple car play sound is weak and is bad compared to Sirius
3 ASD sound pumped through the speakers needs to be removed. (Easy to turn off through BimmerCode)
4 OEM Brake pads produce WAY too much dust
5 NO option for aftermarket wiper blades
6 on the JCW, tires are SUMMER runflats. Should have been All Season Runflats
7 power fold mirrors don’t fold/unfold when locked and unlocked. Easy fix through BimmerCode but should be standard
8 foot opening of boot works only 20% of the time. I turned off the close feature through BimmerCode because it closes when you are unloading…annoying!!
9. Mini needs to lose the button on the handle for convenient access. They need to have a sensor in the handle to unlock when you grab the handle…buttons are so 1990
10. Lower the rear bumper/defuser to cover the shiny metal undercarriage. Looks like they fixed it in 2022 models.


I had a 2022 loaner and the list gets worse…
1. The 2022 steering wheel and buttons…HUGE disappointment. They look and feel horrible
2. The 2021-2022 new digital display HORRIBLE. It’s matte finish and the NAV/RADIO is gloss. It just doesn't work. I prefer the analog from 2020
3. The buttons below the center NAV, horrible!
4. The wheel combinations for 2022 is really bad, they look cheap
5. The front end on the 2022 looks like a 1983 **** Stache. Looks so bad.

I will stay with my 2020 until MINI can get someone to re style their lineup back to the classic MINI styling.

 

I have about 120 miles on our 2022 CM Oxford. Enjoying much about it, but a few gripes thus far. As a side note... I believe any of us that can afford a new CM (even base ver. let alone S etc) should consider themselves very lucky in a world of such deeply divided income / fairness outcomes.
That said, and humbly put forth...


- just too much computer control. I'm getting up there in years but geesh, no dipstick!? having to "learn" so much about ones vehicle just to get from a-b is a bit goofy to me.

-shouldn't the auto start/stop be a function one can turn "ON" if wanted, instead of always being annoyed if you forget to turn it off?
EDIT: just learned this can be turned off via the bimmer-code app. Guess I need to get that app.

-For our upcoming road trip outta town, I'll have to buy a donut or, plug kit / air compressor to have with the run flats. Or risk a bummer potential episode.

- Steering wheel "tilted to Left" ...not just mine but I've experienced on a few other CM's I test drove. ...1st, why?
...and 2nd. is it really unreasonable to think the dealership might be willing to help sort it!? ...as I understand it, it's just a tie rod adjustment. I may be missing something if there's a mini-only idiosyncratic reason for it but, these questions are still unanswered.

-I haven't yet found a way to turn OFF the back up sensors "audible beeping". I wouldn't mind it but, it sounds even if you're not in any danger of hitting something. ie; you're backing up into tallish grass / some brush-small branches etc.

-the audio system / speakers kinda suck. I'm admittedly a musician / studio owner & sensitive to that stuff, however I'm honestly not to picky about a car system. Yet, this one has a flubby bass heavy poor response. It could be speaker placement / acoustics type issues. I've been messing with the tone controls but it's kinda weak.

-the choose drive profile on start up every time? I'll have to see if this can be turned off. There's only 1 driver Mr. Countryman.


A few gripes aside, I'm very grateful to have it.
And, coming from Toyota etc. ...way more concerned with hoping it's a relatively reliable vehicle over time, and that costly repairs don't ensue past what it is reasonable & to be expected.

 

I love my F60 Oxford. A couple improvements would be:

1) Have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard! This is available on almost all cars now, its inexcusable not to in a "premium" brand.
2) Mine has a whistling noise above 70 MPH around the windshield.
3) Offer the powerlift gate as a stand alone option. For such a small hatch, its a pain to close manually.
4) The key is incredibly cheap feeling and bulky. I installed an aftermarket sleeve and it feels more premium.

chet.d I don't think the base stereo is bad. Much improved over the R generation in my opinion. There are plenty of other cars in this price range that are far worse.

 

too much road noise while driving on freeway, compared to other cars..maybe half part it's because runflat tires

 

These posts remind me why I never want to work in Retail Sales. I'll be skipping this thread in the future!

 

I thought of starting a thread called "Things I like about my F60 Countryman" but I suspect it would've received a lot less action than this thread. People can be so picky. Do your research *before* you buy your car, people. This is not a cheap Kia. It's a very expensive BMW and it's going to have some built-in quirks because of it's British-ness. ;-)

 

No point in whining about the types of answers that owners posted in this thread. They answered the question that was posed to them and they are what they are.

 

Yeah, whining about whining. I guess that's fair!

 

Yeah, it's as you say basically responding to the question posed. I also see it as there may be some gripes posted that could? have some relatively straight forward solutions that would be helpful to all if proposed.
I confess, and being so new to Mini, I may have prematurely posted as a few things I mentioned. I'm already finding some possible work arounds for. Yet, it seems to require the bimmercode app which I have yet to decide worth it to dive into.

Perhaps a "what do dislike about your F60 that you've found work arounds for" ...might be a plausibly less whiney thread

 

only gripes i have on my 2020 JCW Countryman
-slight hesitation when starting from a complete stop
-no video playback w/the idrive in my 2020
-no fullscreen carplay w/o getting latest idrive updates (most dealers have no idea there is an update)

however.. things i love? that 300hp feels so perfect for the size; going 30mph to 80mph is way too easy and fast. 30-100mph.. yea, crazy fast! the 2020+ JCWs w/updated engine is just the right power and getting up to speed is never a problem, 50mph to 90mph? boom!

 

The car is to noisy inside. Theirs a whining noise in the drive train. The mufflers to loud and to much road noise.

 

You might try turning off the ASD. They pipe artificial engine noises through the speakers. Get an OBDII dongle and BeemerLink software on your phone. There is a switch to turn it off . My wife says the low rumble hurts her ears so we turned it off and the car is much quieter inside. It is a low to the road sports car so board noise is just part of the charm.