Was thinking the Cooper S w/ 4 cyl turbo. Now after reading about engine heat and scoop deformation, thinking the 3 cyl may be a better option. Have read the 3 cyl is still peppy enough to buzz around and no hood scoop to melt.

Anyone running the 3 cyl in a 4 dr HT? Starting to think about scaling back on our original car (Harmon Kardon stereo amp failures, Cooper S and hood school deformation., battery power lighted door sills , and so on).

Thinking maybe the base 4 door with the Wired package, stock radio with Sirius, and automatic may be a smarter choice. Maybe have bonnet stripes painted on at a body shop since heat may bubble off the decals.

Thoughts? Any downsides to the 3 cyl motor that I have not heard about?

Thanks

 

Listing to your fears, you are combining MULTIPLE generations of cars and their failures ...
If getting a new car, you only need to look at gen3 issues....
Each generation is a near total redesign.....sharing very few items...

 

Being new to the world of Mini and without the break out of generations on the forum, I'm rather at a loss as to which problems apply to which generations.

If someone could enlighten me I would much appreciate it. I was going into this purchase with the intent of getting a loaded car and enjoying all the benefits.

Then through investigation I find the $750 Harmon Kardon amps fail in rather large numbers (at $1000 fix at the dealership)... I'm not handy so that's the route I would have to go for repairs.

The read that the 2.0 Turbo heat melts the hood scoop and can damage the bonnet stripes (unless you get the CF version for a up-charge) or install a heat shield (which may or may not cause other problems with the motor and the plastic components).

Found out the lighted door sill accessory is battery operated and not wired into the car electrics (something I'd have never guessed).

Hope you can see my fears going in as reasonable from someone not at all familiar with the Mini and previous generations., Reading this stuff and then dropping $36K + on a car where if true, I'd be kicking myself for not heeding the warnings.

I have a 2015 C7 and read their forums too, so I know problems can be skewed with a few negatives. I've owned previous generations of the Corvette so I wasn't completely out of touch (and the forum is broken out by generation so fuel injection problems with a C1 series are not confused with the C7 series fuel injection). Not so with the Mini. Completely ignorant and trying to get a handle on things before I purchase. Assuming since BMW took over the cars would be stellar in every way especially at their price point.

I was surprised to find very little is published on the maintenance schedule for the Mini. Most other cars maintenance schedule requirements are published. Without deeper investigation all I could find was that the car will let you know when it needs to be serviced.

Discovered that originally oil changes were required ever 15K miles which was then lowered to 10K miles. Pretty shocking considering most cars using synthetic oils are 7500 and blended oils are 5K. I always thought frequent oil changes were the best insurance for maintaining a engines life. So going in, I realize I'll be paying for half the oil changes for the first three years if I expect the maintain a healthy engine beyond 4-5 years.

Not trolling here or trying to be contrary, but also not coming away with a real comfy feeling either then more I read.

I know the Mini gets sterling reviews from magazines and road test reports. That's one reason I am considering a purchase. However the Mini doesn't get great dependability scores. Hence my deeper investigation. If it got 4 stars or more, I'd not really look any deeper than a cursory review.

Thanks for any clarifications.

 

I've driven both engines, the S is quite powerful, but the 3 pot base is pretty gutless at the initial tip in, but ok in the mid range and top end (as long as u keep the turbo spool up). But the 3 pot does shievers quite a lot at low revs. PS the engine tone of the 3 pot is actually quite cute.

 

This post was in "general" mini...
Go too and look at the 3rd gen mini further down the forums list...that will have SPECIFIC info on the 2014+ hardtop mini's...the current 3rd gen cars being sold...they are the "f" series chassis, a full BMW chassis.... Older cars were mostly rover/BMW mixes, with different motors...some Brazilian (gen1), some French (gen2).....
Since many folks ONLY post with issues, I would not freak out....while mini is no Honda, they do fine IMO if kept off the track...remember, many folks here track and auto-x cars, aka, race...and its hard on any car....
Mine...10+ years as a daily driver, never been without it overnight, and has only been back to a dealer 3 times in the first 4 years....different model, yes, a r53, gen1 ht, but a good car.

 

Thanks for the direction to the more appropriate section. I honestly never scrolled down that far, thinking I was in the Mini discussion section (as the main forum for the now models). Big difference in comments and discussions on the F series.

After reading through the first 4-5 pages, am starting to feel a bit more confident going with the Cooper S F55. Not a track guy but rather a pretty conservative driver. Hopefully no hood scoop melting either.

Was honestly ready to look elsewhere for another car buying option, but faith is being restored.

Now only a matter of verifying which options are worthwhile and which are not before proceeding forward to the haggle and pricing phase with the dealership. USAA member so I should get that discount. If they are fair with my trade, we should have clear sailing going forward.

Again thanks for the help. Much appreciated.

 

Yep , check out the F56 section.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...talk-2014-428/


You mixing up Generations.

Harmon Kardon stereo amp failures, Cooper S and hood school deformation. Those are gen 1 MINI on the HK and some gen 2, Hood scoop is Gen 2 Turbo.

 

Love my 3 cyl Triumph motorcycles, very unique sounding.

 

I was going to say, I've never heard anything about heat or HK issues on the F5x!

To the OP, I've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of the 3-cylinder and I LOVE that engine. It has plenty of torque, very fuel efficient, and makes a great sound that anyone who likes to DRIVE their car would appreciate.

Come see us on the 3rd gen forum and we'll help you pick out options

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

so far all my loaners have been 2.0 , like to try a 3 cyl.

 

I have the 3 cylinder '15 & have driven it over 9,000 miles. I find it super smooth, quiet. Several times I have driven miles before realizing I was still in 4th it is so quiet. In the sport mode it flies. Just did 400 miles on the interstate & mileage was 44 mpg. Love the technology. I did test drive the S but felt the 3,was the best for me.

 

Welcome.

 

44 MILES TO THE GALLON.... Wow, that's all I can say.

 

You can get that in an R56 as well, but you have to stay off the loud pedal. And limit your top speed.

 

As others have said, as long as you're strictly talking about the 3rd gen, scoop deformation hasn't shown to be a problem yet. Also, unlike 2nd generation which had huge reliability differences between S and non-S, the F56 has no such difference. Both engines are turbocharged and it's a modular engine system, so just about everything under the hood should be the same parts.

Something that you may consider is that they're charging quite a bit of money for that one extra cylinder in the S.

 

I don't know if that's fair, the differences between the S and non-S are more that just the engine size. It really boils down to what you're looking for in a MINI.