I was smitten by the mini bug a year or so ago... but... since by the time I got done with all the things I wanted... I was in used 3-series range.... So I bought one... I am very happy with it, but.... I still want a Mini... for many reasons and I wont bore you with them...( but by all means if you would like to know ask) =)
My budget is 10 - 15K and I am looking for an 07 and up if possible...
I find them with 80K miles etc... My question to all of you Cool Mini Maniacs. is what should I look out for... I expect to have to do some work on the car in order to keep it in tip top shape.... but I don't want to break the bank..
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I was looking for an 2007 last April. It gets better gas milage, had more power, etc.

I heard of some problems with chain tensioners on 2007 and later MINI's. I'm not sure if they ever worked that out on the Peugeot Prince engine. I think they may have... you'll have to ask someone with a 2011 if they're worried about it. You're out of your price range at that year though.

I also like the photos of the 2006 and earlier MINIs, -they're just better looking!

I test drove both a 2007 and a 2005. I knew what they meant instsntly about the 2005 being more fun. I bought the 2005, very glad.

Sure, they have their faults too; noisy flywheel, power steering pump prone to fail, coolant expansion bottle prone to leak, LCA bushings wear out, etc.

Best advise I know for anyone looking at a MINI, get a pre-purchase inspection done by a MINI Specialist.,... Not just a mechanic, but someone who KNOWS MINIs and all their quirks.

Hope you find the MINI that's best for you.

 

My brother bought a 2010 MCS rally edition with 35,000 mi for about $16k on Saturday from our local dealership. It's a nice ride and I thought he got a pretty good deal on it. Just for reference.

 

Thanks guys.. =) for the info, I have done some research and found the timing tensionar issue...

DAM!!!! BeachnMini.. who did your Bro go to? man I would be willing to stretch it out a litttle for THAT!!!
was that his Out the door cost?

 

As with any used car the advice I would offer is to get the car with the lowest miles you can afford, and IMO - 80k is too many. Mini's seem to be holding their resale value well, and there are a lot of gently used low mileage ones that have been pampered - perhaps driven primarily by women drivers? Anyway, there are a lot of them in Arizona especially around Phoenix that have hardly ever been on a freeway but driven just around the 'burbs.

 

I am working on jsut that, getting lowest miles and lowest cost..
but I do have time on my side.. this is going to be my recreational car..

To all that have responded how many miles does your mini have? and what has been the most expensive thing to work on?

and thank you all again for your input..

 

Bought 2005 MCS April 2013, with 72k miles.

I changed coolant, brake fluid, oil, sparkplugs, belt, and upper right motormount.

I need to replace my lower control arm bushings. I will also change all 4 ball joints, and install Powerflex motor mount inserts, and strut tower defenders. I'll do the work myself, but those parts are around $500, plus I should take it an alignment shop after.

My radiator's plastic side tank failed. I'm going to put in a Mishimoto all aluminum radiator in a couple weeks, that's $330

Next year when I upgrade brakes, 4 rotors, EBC Red pads, caliper stiffening brass bushings and stainless steel brake lines will run me 6 or $700 I think.

The expensive things will be Supercharger (around $1000). I think a PS Pump is $600 or so (many years now qualify for extended warranty from MINI) The Altranator seems very expensive, but they last as long as in any other car i think. AC is also not cheap, and beyond my tools/abilities, but I don't think that minis are worse than any other car as far as how long they last.

I kept my old car as a backup, and if I had not been working on my own cars for the last 25 years to get some know-how, I could not afford it. Service/labor on these cars is very expensive.

 

Is it just me or are there a lot of 07s for sale over other years?

 

Thats not bad....


Well I know I could get a different car than the mini and save on maintanance etc...
but this is A MINI im talking about... hehehe

I rode motorcycles for about 20 years and when I test rode a 2008 mini cooper s it has been the closest to giving me the same excitement and FUN as my motorcycles did...

I already have mods in mind once i get it and I have been clearing out my garage so I have space to work on her etc...

What was the best mod you guys have done on your mini's?

come on end of year...

hehehe

 

Yeah... I too thought "not too bad". I still say a key is a pre-purchase inspection.

It seems like you're already on the right page of understanding that even those of us who use our MINIs as daily drivers own them because they are FUN, absolutely *NOT* because they are super reliable. I've had good luck with mine, as I think most people do -99% percent of the problems we read about on line are the small percentage of people that end up with a bad one, and or are surprised at how many things were not maintained by the first owner -just my opinion, your milage may vary.

Speaking of Motorcycles, one pleasant surprise to me about my MINI was... When I grew up my Dad had an Alfa Romeo Veloce Spyder. I always enjoyed top down cruising. Many years later after having been in Hondas, Subarus and the like of common sedans, I had learned to roll up the windows on the freeway, because the buffeting of the wind was so annoying, -I thought maybe I was getting old! I discovered that in the MINI, both windows down, rear part of sunroof cracked open (or all the way open) is very enjoyable on the highway! I don't know if it's because the slope of the windshield is so different on the MINI or what, but they did it right -I feel just the right amount of wind in my hair without the noisy bu ba bu fa bu ba bu of the wind bouncing off the back window inside the car.

The concesus among r53 owners tends to be that a reduced supercharger pulley, and a rear sway bar are the two "best bang for the buck."

BTW, I always liked and wanted the S-Lite 17" wheels. It was kind of a requirement when I was shopping. I did not want the softer sidewalls of the 16" wheels. To my surprise I found the factory 17" S-Lites to be a whopping 25 pounds! You can find 15 pound 17"x7 wheels for a little more or less than $200 per wheel (einke rfp1 for example) Taking one pound off a wheel (or axel, or flywheel etc.) is like taking 10 pounds out of the trunk I've heard. Had I known that I'd be replacing the wheels, I might have gotten one with 16" oem wheels -they'd be better for mounting snow tires on -oh well.

 

That's true. The '07 I test drove seemed like a good deal too, but I could hear the chain rattling!

I was just looking at Craigslist Portland Oregon, they show a 2006 MINI Cooper S in Washington listing:

9,750 miles, $15k

I don't know the buyer at all. With that few miles,... Could it be real?

 

The 2007 Mini has many issues, you will see allot of them at the Mini Dealership in the service bays. With your budget look for a low mileage 2005 -2006.

 

I am looking at a few and negotiating on a couple...
You know never put your eggs all in one basket..

2008, and a bit up.

What other issues?
I know about the timing chain...

and with higher mileage cars your going to expect more serice required..
probably around 100k flushing fluids, clutch, o2 sensors etc...

This will be my daily driver, but it is not my only car.

but please if you know more about what issues I am all ears..

I was talking to a friend and this little ride reminds me of my uncles Super beetle.... in a way.. he worked on it on and off but it was fun fixable and there is a big following =)

I am actually looking at a few 2010... its a stretch for my budget but... I am sure mama would let it slide a little...

and Thank YOU ALL for your input.. you guys are the best..

 

You want a MINI you can keep? Get a good 05-06 or better, a GP1. More fun, lotsa mods, easier to maintain, looks heaps better/lower. It'll be among the best decisions in your life.

 

^^ + 1

@Monte,.. You know I am biased towards the 2006 and earlier. I believe you should get the MINI that you like the best.

Do yourself a favor, and be sure to at least test drive both R53 and R56. They are totally different cars!!!

Best Regards,


p.s. -I found this to be one of the most helpful and informative articles about buying a used MINI. http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/

Good luck!

 

I found a few Mini's with options that I want well almost all of the options..
2010's with very low miles and 2011's...
Is the 4 year 50k mile warranty good if I buy it from a non Mini dealership?
I will call mini dealership to inquire tomorrow.. but I want to hear if anyone has had any experience with similar situation?

im close to getting my mini =) I can almost taste it...

 

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/4136492352.html