I am about 4 weeks into owning my 2009 JCW Convertible. Since we just turned into 2015, I have no warranty (only have 12k on car).

Should I spend the few grand and get coverage? I could put the same money into an account to save for a rainy/broken turbo day?

Thanks all.
-joe

 

I prefer cash in my pocket and finding a quality Indy repair shop for the future.

 

I have an 09 r57 JCW and bought an extended warranty when I purchased my car. I put probably close to double the price of the warranty back into the car with repairs done (under warranty) in my first year of ownership. I'd DEFINITELY buy one.

This is all just my opinion though...

 

I believe you should buy one no matter it is a low mileage because it is a 5 YO car and they seem " very,very expensive" to fix unless you do it yourself.

Mine is a 2013 bought from new 6 months ago with only 22 miles and I read so many horror stories about engine problems that I am not sure what is the long term reliability of the Mini brand.

I am now about 3200 miles and I still love my JCW Coupe as a basic sport economy car but I am not sure I will love it when the dealer will find issues to bill me after the maintenance program.

This "free" maintenance program looks more like a joke because it is mostly an oil change every year with a basic inspection check list.

Be safe and buy an extended warranty.

 

I consider extended warranties snake oil. Just like Las Vegas there's always the occasional winner (that's what keeps people coming back) but in the end the house always wins.

There's a good bet that any part that survives infancy is neither defective or improperly installed. If it were either of the two the original warranty would have covered it. If a car is well maintained and not abused there's no reason to think that something will fail if it lasted thru it's original warranty. If a car is not well maintained and if it is abused an extended warranty might be a good idea.

I've been buying cars since 1952, never bought an extended warranty on any car, motorcycle or appliance and have yet to regret it even once.

 

If you do not buy a warranty backed by Mini (a factory plan), be careful to research the "brand X" warranty. Make sure it is insured by a reputable insurance carrier with an AM Best rating of A or A+. Check the plan wording. Sad to say, but warranty companies have a sordid history of going out of business and leaving their holders "high and dry."


Note: just because an extended warranty is sold by a Mini dealer does not alone mean that it is a "factory" plan backed by Mini. Dealers often sell "brand X" extended warranties.

 

Well..............He bought a 2009 Mini.

The extended warranty make sense. We are far away from the 50's LOL.

 

Yes we are. I think that was my point.

 

They sell warranties to make money, if we the car owner made out like bandits they would stop selling them or raise the prices even higher.

Guys buying cars in 1952 know a heck of a lot more than you young whipper snappers!

I've bought a few extended warranties in the past and always lost.

 

When I was shopping for my last car (a BMW 335i) I ended up getting one that came with a CPO(ie extended) warranty. I wasn't looking for a CPO but boy am I glad I ended up with one. That thing needed tons of expensive repairs in the 2 years I owned it. Without the warranty I would have been screwed. I almost feel like some sort of warranty is necessary when owning a BMW/MINI.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I can see both side of it...

- It's a sham
- It an save my *** if big repairs hit.

I guess at the end of the day it's just 'insurance' like any other. I'm a healthy guy, but it my guts explode one day and I don't have health insurance, I'm gonna be paying bigger bills then if I did have insurance.

Just kind of stings to have to shell out 3K to mini.

 

There is always a risk to buy a used car and a cost associated with it. It is the reason I never buy a used car and always sell before the warranty and the maintenance program is over. No hassle and no surprise.

The Mini will not be different.

 

As much as I love my Mini I've read enough on these forums to know that it's reputation is poor enough that it probably is the least dependable automobile I've ever owned. Instead of paying several thousand dollars to some outfit for an extended warranty I will use that money towards buying a new car before the factory warranty runs out on my present '13 Mini.

 

I haven't bought one since a Jeep GC's rotors kept warping every 6 months and they didn't want to cover it because they were brakes, and I pulled a little tent trailor a few times (you know that's hard on those brakes..). Then after I dump the car I get an invite to participate in a class action suit. Jeep was using flaky parts and charging people for repairs. Most defective stuff will have showed up by now right? Now it's just wear stuff out stuff.

 

Caveat emptor! That said, we have a 2102 hardtop, JCW, and it has been great so far. We don't have a lot of miles on it for a 2012, and the only service we have had other than oil changes was a false alarm as it turned out. They sent out a rollback and hauled it 60 miles to the dealership. Found the problem, a rock in the brakes picked up most likely on some twisty backroads trip. Removed the rock, and called us. We volunteered to come and get it ourselves. Great service by Mini of Louisville. We are debating about a new JCW, but I am an old school guy that likes the manual and we will have to wait until late this year to get one. However, I have been following a lot of talk about the new one and the consensus is that they no longer have the go kart feel and handling! That's not good for me as that is what I love best about the car. We will try and test drive a new one when the dealer has one in stock with the automatic to see if we want the new one or just keep the one we have. If we decide the latter I will spring for a warranty extension if it has the same provisions as the original one. I do love this diminuitive funmobile!

 

Both arguments are true. That is what makes this so much fun. A warranty is a type of insurance. Just like car insurance, there are more people on the road that haven't made a claim than the other way around. So, yes the house wins.

I can tell you from personal experience my turbo failed at 100,000 miles on my JCW. Now, that goes against previous comments that if it doesn't fail under warranty it won't fail after.

I opted to DIY my turbo replacement and here is why. The dealer charges approximately 7.5 hours of labor to replace the turbo. Plus parts. So using $100/hr as a swag number you get $750 in labor and another $1880 list price for a OEM turbo. Not to mention other items like bolts and oil lines and gaskets etc. Total is $2630 give or take.

That doesn't include the catalytic converter and intercooler that also had to be replaced because of getting oil soaked.

Compare that to the cost of a warranty.

Now, if nothing happens, you lose the cost of the warranty.

Darn decisions huh!!

 

3rd party warranty... FORD ESP
2012 JCW, bought a few months ago.
52k thermo replaced, oil/ water leak behind oil filter and Amp replaced.

Already paid warranty and then some.

 

I have a 2009 R56 MCS, got it used as a Mini Next Certified Pre-Owned. Came with extended warranty and maintenance until May 2015 / 100k miles. Car had about 45,000 miles when I bought it in Oct 2013. Since then I've had the following all done under warranty / maintenance the only cost to me was on 2 occasions I was required to pay the $50 deductible.

Timing Chain / tensioner, new front and rear brake pads, new front brake rotors - 48,500
Walnut media cleaning of carbon build-up - 51,000
Water Pump, Thermostat - 57,300
HPFP, Alternator Belt, Valve cover / oil line, thermostat housing - 62,750

The N14 engine is not a reliable engine. Its not a case of if, but when things will go wrong. I'd have to recommend avoid the N14 and get an N18 if you want a Mini, if not then spend the money on the extended warranty you WILL need / use it sooner or later.

 

I think when anyone faces this question the deciding factor should really be whether not you turn your own wrenches. Auto repair shops not only up-charge you for parts but you got to pay them for labor so changing out a thermostat and housing might cost $300-$400 because of labor and this is a pretty easy job. Point is repairs can be expensive if you don't do them yourself.

And if you don't do your own repairs then a handful of repairs can be well over the cost of the extended warranty.

I did just get done pricing out several companies.

USAA was one - 48 months or 100k miles whichever comes first.
For $4,038. You pay payments like $170/month for 24 months.

2011 JCW with 48k on the clock.

I'll pass. I like to get my hands dirty and learn about the car and it's a gamble. Bentley repair manual and MINI TIS DVD ordered already.

 

If you are looking for a used Mini Cooper the smartest thing you can do is negotiate the CPO Mini Next coverage into the purchase price.
This would require purchasing from a Mini Cooper dealership but you will need them should any warranty work be required.
Shade tree mechanics is not what it used to be but if you are an accomplished mechanic with a good working knowledge of what tools and equipment are needed to work on these newer cars ( many repairs could require removing the front clip or pulling an engine along with special tools) you might be able to save some money, but if not it will get very costly quick.

 

You are so right. Some special tools are required to work on a Mini and most of the work to handle is not for the average mechanic.

The warranty cost reflects the complexity of the brand but the best peace of mind is to buy one or buy a new Mini and get rid of it before the OEM expiration.

 

I'd say get one if you find a decent one that's not a rip-off. I've bought them with used cars in the past and they've been useful. So I got one with mine when I bought it. I made them go with the one with almost everything on it that didn't jump the price to being stupid. Make sure the price is reasonable and most mechanical and electrical bits are covered (at minimum).