Why and where? Thanks for the reply

 

Because they are prone to lock up and because they are running off of the cam shaft when they lock up, they destroy the valve train.

 

Mine is not an "S". No vac pump on a base Cooper correct?

 

I don't know.

 

The vacuum pump is separate from the turbo, which is what you're thinking of on the S models. The R56 base models do have vacuum pumps too. It's part number 11667570813. Haven't dealt with it personally since I've always had a first gen, but it looks like a pretty straightforward replacement.

 

My 2012 Automatic Cooper Hardtop (non S) has 196,000.
Bought the car in 2013 with 7800 miles on it. Had the usually Coolant /thermo issue twice but no other major work.

Serviced regularly every 8000-10000 miles...starting to think about another one in the 2011-2013 range

 

My 2008 Non-S is just over 227,000 miles and is running stronger than ever!

 

Crossed this milestone on New Years Day.



Thanks to NAM for coming along for the ride.

 

Is this a good idea in general if I’m paying 1600$? Its going to be my first car, I have no knowledge in terms of cars. I just want something that takes me from A to B and won’t be boring looking like just regular cars that’s why I’m seriously considering it.

Owners say it has some issues like hatchback needs to be propped open, and stuff like that. Not something I care about rn.

 

Base or S? It probably needs more than new hatch struts unless the owner has been very diligent, which I'm guessing they haven't just by the fact that the hatch struts haven't been swapped out. If it's a base model I would avoid - it has either the CVT automatic or midlands 5-speed transmission, both of which have been problematic.

I love my '03 MINI and am keeping it forever, but I honestly wouldn't recommend it in your case unless you love MINIs and you're willing to learn and do some wrenching. Any car with that kind of mileage is going to need some maintenance/repairs, and that's going to really add up having a shop do it, especially on a MINI.

 

It’s a base model. Yeah so issues are hatchback, passenger door and window won’t open from the inside. Owner is a woman about 45 I guess so I don’t think he’d using it beyond normal. It’s manual which I thought was “safe” comparing to the automatic I was told that one is known for failing. I plan to use it to pass my driving test and then drive like 20 min daily for work since I’m in Utah and public yes transportation though good hasn’t reach a level like NYC or SFO where I wouldn’t care about a car. So my last question would be provided I buy it what are the known failures in that particular model? Knowing it’s a base 2002 with 200,000 miles maybe 202,000.

 

200k miles?! Dude, run for your life. That car is worth $1600 in parts. If you don't know how to fix this old car this will be the biggest money pit you ever owned. In fact I'm shocked it ever reached 200k mile on the original engine. If its an automatic run faster.

 

1st gen engines are solid, especially the S with the added oil cooler and other upgraded internals. As you peruse this thread, you'll see many 1st gen MINIs with 200k, 300k, and even one base Cooper who has over 600k miles on the original engine.

Second gen S's are another story....

 

200k mile Minis are an anomaly. Listen man even if it was a 1990s Toyota Corolla, with 200k miles on it, it's gonna need work. Unless you know how to wrench, you're gonna be spending some big $ right away unless the current owner did tons of maintenance.

Dont do it. Find something with less miles on it. Mini's are half baked.

 

No doubt any car with those miles is going to need some work unless the owner was an enthusiast and stayed on top of things. But I don't think getting 200k+ miles on a first gen engine and 6-speed manual is an anomaly. If it's well maintained and not tracked every weekend, it'll keep on running...

I do agree it does not seem to be a wise choice for the OP who sounds like is looking for a cheap A to B car.

 

will continue to run....but at what cost?

Run bro, run. Unless you can fix yourself, dont do it.

 

I just gave my son my 2008 MCS R56 manual LSD with 209000 miles on it. Normal maintenance, I drove it as a long commuter vehicle, approx. 700 miles/week. Two clutch replacements, first at 85000 miles, second one at 204000 miles. Walnut blast of the head once, two turbo replacements. It runs great. He came to visit for an extended stay during first covid lockdown and we changed the oil and filter, which I did religiously every 5K miles, and I took it for a spin. It still has the pep from when I first had it. Does Teton Pass like it’s level turf.

That being said I just purchased a 2012 R60 S all4 with only 39000 miles on it. Got a great deal but looked at the original owners binder of work that’s been done and oh my, I’m hoping to get another 20000 on it before the next major breakdown.

 

2011 R56 base Cooper manual, original clutch. She would have had more miles but I put 80K+ on 3 other cars in the last 3.5 years. Keep coming back to her still. Just changed the oil/filter again this evening. After the warranty ran out, I went by OCI of 6K miles.

 

2014 Paceman, base, automatic 258K miles. Had the timing service performed at 230K miles. One owner. Yeah I've had the coil packs replaced 6 or 10, cant remember, and I think I need them replace again.

 

I presently have a mini with 189,000, run well plenty of pep it out ran a 2017 camaro v6 the guy was shocked and to tell the truth so was i, but generally i drive miss daisy , but i have other cars so its not a daily drver, at my rate it will take 3yrs just to obtain 200k

 

Well that encouraging I have one with 189,000 so 300.000 sound good for me, my mini is not a daily driver, some days it does bulge, wonder what all the replacements parts were in that amount of miles, but the block remains the same to obtain 300.000

 

I hit 235,000 on my 2008 R56 last week!

 

How many engines?

 

The one it was built with! Its the original one. I just did the valve seals on it, but it runs better than it was when it was new!

 

I have a MINI countryman 2015 bouth it with 71,000 miles, so far i had to replace clutch at 71,000 miles, a long with te entire rear suspension, at 92,000 miles timing chain dual mass fly wheel crank pulley and all drive belts. the timing chaing was making rattle noises, te previuos owner use to follow the MINI oil change intervals every 14,000 miles the last time she does the service the oil was 18,000 miles old ( Crazy ). with the new Timing chain i do the oil every 5000 or 7000 miles interval the car run awesome somewhere next week will hit 100,000 miles, i only use premiun Diesel that give me lest engine noise i do not know why regular diesel for Tesco and ASDA make the engine really chaiky overall is an awesome car but is u follow MINI oil interval u will loose ur engine really quikliy.