I have been looking for the right mini for a long time. I'm in no hurry to buy.

Basically I want a toy, that will be used only in the summer for lapping and doing solo. Might do a few joy ride with it also. Something fun to drive and I always loved the mini from the first time I tried one.

I had a bad experience this summer with a used JCW mini, both time I test drove it the engine light and electronic light came out. Turned out that this JCW has been sitting on the lot for a long time and has a tranny problem after I did reasearch on it.

I talked to a local mechanics (not a dealer) who only works and repairs mini's a few weeks ago and he basically told me not to buy a 2005-06 or any other models. Since you can't know what preventive maintenance has been done to them and they are out of waranty. In the end you save a few thousands but over a 2009 + still on waranty but will end up paying those thousands of dollars in repair.

I do most of my work on my cars but some things I am not equipped for or do not have the knowledge, plus de mini engine bay is pretty tight.

So what do people here think about that statement ?

thanks for the info

Ernie

 

It is true only to the extent that it would apply to any used car purchase and for which the vehicle is out of warranty.

 

From what I've seen, transmission problems are pretty common. If you have one thats already known to have transmission issues, I'd run away.

I can't even imagine keeping my own Mini past its warranty period. Buying a used one out of warranty sounds psycho to me now.

I know I sound like a big pessimist here, but I feel like there are others out there who need to see both sides of the story. A cursory glance of these forums would make any casual surfer think these are great cars. But really they're quite more problematic than usual, only with a raving fanbase stuck in a reality distortion field.

 

+1

Then again, you have the people that think because thier MINI is problematic, all of them MUST be problematic. They seem to live in a reality distortion field as well. I can say, granted mine is a Justa, mine so far has been just that, problem free!

There is middle ground, but you are taking a risk when you buy a used car. Do your research, if you find one you are interested in, get the carfax and have a trusted mechanic look it over. It might cost you an hours worth of labour, but in the end it could save you thousands on repairs. When I looked at getting a MINI, I did my research. I talked to other MINI owners and honestly, there are those who have problems and those that don't. There is no rhyme or reason either, an 05 R53 that only ever saw the dealer for scheduled maint, and then there are the R56's that I hear about here that never see their home driveways. Bottom line here [broken record] Do your homework, and have it looked at by a trusted tech/mechanic [/broken record].

 

that`s why I posted here to get opinions from people. I know some of them had bad experiences and that is why I am curious and worried.

The advice I got wasn`t from any joes on the street it was a from a mini only garage. I know a lot of people here are also very knowledgeable on mini's so this is why I`m looking for other opinions on the subject.

For sure this is common sense to get a mechanics and the carfax. I understand this applies to all used cars but I'm trying to figure out if worth the risk or should I look for another car for my purpose. I've always loved mini's so this is why I am not giving up yet on it.

thanks again

Ernie

 

There have been similar questions discussed here, but I'm not sure what you'd type in the search field to get them.

MINIs traditionally haven't been very reliable cars according to Consumer Reports (and this website), but recently the non-S has achieved "average" reliability, with the S still at below average. Some already know that before they buy, but they want one anyway.

MINIs seem to hold their value relatively well, so some have puzzled over buying a new one versus one that's just a couple of years old. Unless one could know for sure, and accept, the driving and service history of the used car, buying new would probably be the safer option, as long as the higher price is not a problem.

MINI mechanic or not, one should never say never buy a used MINI. Some owners here are **** compulsive about taking good care of their MINIs.

 

For some people buying a used MINI is reasonable, while for others it isn't. If you are purchasing from a dealer, you could discuss with them about a warranty (when I bought mine it was offered and was backed by Nissan and most used car dealers will offer something like this backed by a bigger company). After reading the forums, sure I'd be worried but remember not everyone's experience is the same and the forums are largely negative because those who have issues discuss them and those who don't enjoy their MINI.

However, after reading the forums there is a general consensus that there is a reliability issue which I myself (only had my MINI for a month now) can not help you with!

I'd suggest if you are that worried to find a car that still has a good portion of the MINI warranty, buying a 3rd party warranty or consider buying new. Sounds like these would ease your concerns when buying your MINI. Ultimately you want to have a worry free experience with your MINI, sometimes paying extra will make your motoring all the more enjoyable!

Good luck with your purchase!

 

It also depends on your purpose of this MINI. Is it a pure track day car, or is it an occasional DD/weekend warrior? Based on your original post, it is a fun car, not a Daily Driver. With that in mind, how much potential down time are you willing to deal with? If you are ok with doing some serious work over the winter to be able to drive it in the spring, how much are you willing to do? If you don't want to do a whole lot, sounds like this perticular MINI might not be the one, keep looking. Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

Ernie, I appreciate your concerns since I had very similar concerns in July 2010. I had found a beautiful used MINI, yet had uneasy feelings about it. It had been a rental car.

I found a new Justa at the dealer with 5 miles on the odometer that was just $3K more than the used MINI. It now has 12K miles and has been flawless. Other than changing oil and rotating tires I haven't found anything to do except drive it and have fun.

With 60 years of driving and making repairs myself, I wonder if I should have bought the used car that would have given me more to do?

You said, " Something fun to drive and I always loved the mini from the first time I tried one." Ernie, do you feel that way about any other car?

Now go out and do what you know you have to do!

 

Hi Ernie,

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but the folks that run MotoringFile (and even the comments section) are always useful tools to gain insight on which is the right car for you... They have an article specifically about spotting a real JCW and more interestingly about how their value does not hold well (which is an advantage for buyers of used JCWs). Check it out and good luck in your quest!

Chris