I got my 2016 MCS a year ago with <20K on it and it still had 1.7 years of warranty on it(still has). When I go into vehicle status, it shows there is "brake fluid flush or something like that" maintenance exactly a year from now. Also annual vehicle inspection has the same date/schedule as the oil change. Last spring oil and filter were replaced by 3 year MINI maintenance, so I didn't pay for it.

The question is:
-Will I have to really do brake flush every 2 years?
-Will that "vehicle inspection" cost me anything when oil and filter is changed?

I drive ~6K miles a year, so my car has less than 25K on the clock after owning it for exactly a year(turned this months)

 

.

 

Sitting at 180,xxx here with my 2005, but it's sat for months on end more than once... mostly for financial reasons and my lead foot though. I will say that the engine in my ole boy has been one of the most resilient engines I've ever worked on. SO many times I though he was done for only to complete some work and he fires right back up.

When it comes to comparing Toyota to Mini, a Toyota will go and go and can be neglected some while Mini's need weekly attention... but I doubt anybody in your family has had as much fun in their Toyota as you will in your Mini.

 

Knowledge, understanding, wisdom. The last of these three is the "application" of the first two. If there is no "application" the first two become moot.

Having owned a trucking business along with keeping up my auto and motorcycle "hobbies", I think it would be fair to say that over the years I have done my fair share of oil and fluid changes. Many of those oil changes were finalized with an oil analysis done by an independent lab. What I have discovered from all of this is that fluids need to be replaced/flushed at intervals respective to time and usage. Any vehicle is never as new as the day it was made! Over time systems degrade and moisture, acids, fluid separation, electrochemical reaction, heat, cold, oxidation and particle contamination act as destroyers. Don't think you can escape a brake fluid change just because you aren't using your car that much. I have seen brake fluid in an unused, garage kept, motorcycle turn from a light vegetable oil color to a brownish honey color in 24 months! I've also purchased vehicles that have sat for long periods of time only to find that I'm the one stuck rebuilding brake calipers and boiling out radiators, or worse! Have you ever heard anyone say, "Pay me now, or pay me more later"? My advice to you is, follow the fluid change intervals the factory recommends and use the type fluids recommended. That's where wisdom comes into play!
Good luck!

 

Interesting! Few months ago I have checked the brake fluid quality with the tool and it showed <1 % of water, so it is good and clean. So if the dash will say I need to do it but I decide not to, will the dealer force/insist on it?

 

I am relieved to have found a thread/forum that has some positive comments on life expectancies of a Mini. I have posted in another forum but am not getting much traction and am close to joining the Corona panic over TP!

I finally was able to find the cooper that I have been wanting for so many years now, thanks to the Italian Job movie... yep that sold me!
But I still have kids and dogs that I cart around regularly so I was looking for the Countryman, but only the All4 S was going to do it for me.

I found my car with under 10k miles at a Bimmer Dealer who had just gotten the car in for a trade, they haven't even touched it yet. I got it for a deal, I had been looking for over a year and found it was quite a challenge to find a Cooper in that body style with all the features that I wanted, nevermind the Blue I was looking for with the two bonnet stripes down the middle. So in the end, I did settle for a silver and black but man that's not much of a compromise today. Love my beast!

So, April is coming up, my factory warranty is basically done now. I have been losing sleep over worrying that as my luck has it, the Turbo will most like crap out the day after the warranty is expired. Lol The struggle is real for me there.

It seems that most of the folks on here actually haven't reported any major issues with their cars, which is quote reassuring. My previous car was a Toyota Camry, that car has been to Germany and beat up on the Autobahn at about 130km/h that was quite interesting lol, she held together and now back home in SC she is serving my 17 year old faithfully. We have not had any issues, knock on wood that Toyota has been the most reliable car and I think it's over 300k miles now.

My question, can I risk driving the mini the way it wants to be driven (I am german, the Autobahn is part of my soul) without spending $3k or more on the "extended maintenance contract" kind of like extending the factory warranty? I am so torn that, I feel that it's a waste of money on the current state of my vehicle, it only has 35k miles on it, its barley 4 years young now? I mean, I understand it's not a Toyota but am I expecting to much to expect not seeing major issues until down the road some???

Lastly, I'd really like to change the exhaust kit to the Borla 500 cat back, I would like a little more purr but not so to annoy everyone when I come into the neighborhood, just enough... tasteful...

my baby:

 

Good looking Countryman. If your going to keep it relatively stock the factory extended warranty is actually a good deal in my opinion. I've been known to complain about BMW from time to time but there is no denying that warranty service from a good dealer is some of the best there is. Also consider the possible costs that can happen. A replacement sat/nav can set you back $2500, footwell modules and other what if's could also cost you quite handsomely.

I have a 2012 JCW with the N14 "Ticking Time Bomb" engine with 85,000 miles on it. Its been tuned for over 55k mile and making 300 horse for the last 35k with no engine issues. Will you ever need the extended warranty? Possibly not but the question is really are you willing to pay for piece of mind from the what if's.

 

I would like to find out more about the extended warranty. Where can I find info on that? Just want to see what is covered and what are the requirements on getting the warranty. My car is still under factory warranty but 3 year free maintenance have passed.

 

Imperial, is this what you seek?

https://www.miniusa.com/content/dam/...erageGuide.pdf

I bought the Extended Warranty for Gollum, primarily due to the likelihood that I'll be doing brakes every 40k miles or so. So far no regrets, as we've done a full set so far, and will do it again in a few months. The JCW rotors are not cheap.

My decision was based on my intent to keep this Works car for as long as I can, unlike the previous two Gollums.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Thanks Tiger2011! I am a little hesitant as we are not in the best financial standings and all though Mini offers to let me pay over time, intrest free to me it's like another Car payment right now. I am definitely thinking that once we eliminate one of our higher bills that I will sign up fo the extended warranty and buy the Silver/Gold option. I am totally stressed about driving around like a free bird knowing that my Car can break without warning, but I am hoping he will hold up one more year without much fuzz. The maintenance Tech always complements me saying that my Cooper is one of the cleanest and never anything wrong when I come in.
As far as keeping it stock, yeah I doubt that I will play around with Tuning kits, but I would want the exhaust kit eventually. My Brother is very handy and could also just remove the catalytic converter for me lol we don't have inspection here in SC so I guess that could be the poor man's way of getting the exhaust enhanced.

 

Thanks Tiger2011! I am a little hesitant as we are not in the best financial standings and all though Mini offers to let me pay over time, intrest free to me it's like another Car payment right now. I am definitely thinking that once we eliminate one of our higher bills that I will sign up fo the extended warranty and buy the Silver/Gold option. I am totally stressed about driving around like a free bird knowing that my Car can break without warning, but I am hoping he will hold up one more year without much fuzz. The maintenance Tech always complements me saying that my Cooper is one of the cleanest and never anything wrong when I come in.
As far as keeping it stock, yeah I doubt that I will play around with Tuning kits, but I would want the exhaust kit eventually. My Brother is very handy and could also just remove the catalytic converter for me lol we don't have inspection here in SC so I guess that could be the poor man's way of getting the exhaust enhanced.

 

Yes, looks like this is what I was looking for! Thanks

 

Our 2002 MINI base model has 256,000 miles on it.

 

Bumping this for the sake of keeping it going.

Bought my '13 R60 at about 82k miles, at 87k now, no known problems that were not self inflicted.

I come from a family of GM. I went black sheep and bought Jeeps. Then I started looking for a car and a Mini popped up and it was about the same price used as Buicks, Pontiacs, Ford cars around all with known problems. I fell in love with the MINI. I did very little research before committing (which is unusual for me). I read enough to get the perception that the N18 is bulletproof compared to the N14 and bought it. Now it seems I constantly read about problems with the ALL4 system, turbo failures, yada yada. I got a 4 year loan on a $9,000 car. So vehicle life expectancy is a major worry of mine with this MINI now.

So for people like me, if you come across this thread, please keep updating it with your mileage! Maybe if you have a preferred garage you use to keep it serviced, put that info in here too. Hard to find information here for non-Dealer service shops.

 

With 45K on the odometer our R60 has had what to me is a reasonable service record. Under warranty we had two front wheel bearings fail and an ignition coil. Recently the water pump started to leak, and was replaced on our dime. Wear and tear wise we have replaced the brakes once on each corner (lots of stop and go with hills), and done one tune (plugs and coils). We wore out the original run flats, and have bought about six new (non-run flats) since.

 

Another MINI milestone after 15 years in harsh Minnesota winter conditions:

Cheers!

 

Nice Work! Any significant mechanical repairs to get her there?

 

Dealer maintained with extended warranty.
O rings, oil pan gaskets, control arm bushings, power steering (warranty), motor mount, clutch, transmission, valve cover gasket/crank seal & pulley, multiple brakes, separate set of matching wheels w/ Blizzak WS-60's...
Bought new for $23k, spent additional $20k to maintain in top stock condition over 15 years of very spirited driving.
No complaints for having the most fun every day of ownership.
Cheers

 

Buy the extended warranty. Mini's are great cars but they are expensive to fix. You will thank me later.

 

yes , not cheap to fix or maintain, but fun cars..
i have a 92 classic mini with 20k miles right hand drive
02 r50 cvt with 265k miles ..orig eng / cvt trans still going strong
09 r55 135k miles
09 r55 S with 130k miles
bmw 524td with 500k miles

 

Most cars have the potential last a long time if you maintain it. My brother had a Saturn (not known for reliability) that had just under 500,000 miles when he sold it. Never let him down. Oil change every month, tires every year or so (at 50,000 miles) and everything else recommended. It never let him down.

A MINI should last as long with proper maintenance and driven like you own it (not like you stole it).

 

Thanks for the info! Just curious on what mods did you install on your mini? I just got a 2011 Mini non-S with 45k.

 

In my experience, at least with the 1st Gen Minis, they don't appear that much different in term of reliability compared to most brands. The difference comes when buying parts because in general, they're more expensive. By comparison, the R56 generation are what typically gets the butt-end of the unreliabilty, and I firmly believe the 2nd Gen Minis tarnished the reputation of Mini for quite sometime. I occasionally get asked by members of the public if my Mini has been reliable, or given me issues. I simply tell them it's been routine maintenance. Brakes, tires, belts, fluids, filters, spark plugs, clutch, suspension, etc. These are all things not unique to Mini, and apply to ALL brands...yes, even Toyota.

Mine has just over 166k miles on it, and again, all I've had to do on it is really routine maintenance. No major engine repairs, no structural damage, etc. There's been the occasional odd thing like my antenna base which broke after going through a car wash, and replacing that piece requires you to drop down the headliner. I had another issue with the front wiper motor that failed during a rain storm, so I had Mini replace that.

The only other real issue I have as of right now is the rear hatch is rusting from the inside due to water/moisture getting inside over the years, and I believe it has also shorted out the rear wiper as it only works some of the time. It'll turn, but it will tend to stop in the middle of the window instead of doing a full turn.

Ultimately, most cars will give you years and years out of them as long as you take care of it like anything else in life. As I plan on keeping my Mini, I fully expect it to go over 250k miles or more as I continue to drive it.

 

When you guys mention you bought extended warranties, would you mind being more specific? Did you buy the Mini Extended Motorer Protection (extended warranty) or did you buy the Mini Maintenance+ (extended maintenance plan/contract)?

 

The sun is calling out, and I found a good looking 2013 convertible from a private seller. 53,000 miles. Are there any red flags I should be aware of? Notorious engine or transmission problems, or other future maintenance time bombs?