Guys,

Been reading the forums for a few days now. Great community of MINI enthusdiasts. I have been thinking of buying a 2003-2005 MINI. I have read of posts about extended Warranties. Have read many posts of people having problems with there MINI's and the high costs of getting them repaired. I have always loved the MINI's. There looks and performance. But have to admit im a little gun shy after reading the costs of owning one. I am i making too much of the issues had by some or is the norm rather than occasional? Wanted to buy a MINI with 40k miles on it. Would be an everyday driver for me. Wouldnt be anything in modifications other than say a possible Cold air intake. But getting a little gunshy of the cost of repairs. Can anyone help sway me one way or the other? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Mike

 

DO IT. I bought mine with 48K on the clock and just rolled over 64,000 with no issues other than it needing brakes around 51-54k. Knocks on wood. Here's a sure way to change your mind. Take a look at how many complaints are out there compared to how many posts are from people who love their cars like their own kin. If you're still uneasy, the best thing to do is either buy from a dealer, buy an aftermarket warranty, or at least take the car to a favored dealer or shop and have them go over the car with a fine tooth comb. This way, you know what you're in for if it needs anything and it gives you an upper hand in negotiations. Oh, and one last thing. Drive it and you'll definetly want to DO IT.

 

i bought my mini used and it has undoubtedly been the best car and most fun vehicle ive ever purchased. I ve had some fast cars in my life and some cars that handle well but none that i have such a good time in as my mini. The pride of ownership far outweighs any insueing cost that comes with maintaining it. Most of the money i have tied up in my mini are things i have chosen to do and not stuff that it needed. a fair warning though is to be carefula dn really investigate what you purchase. Its a sad sad thing to say and somewhat unbelieveable but some minis havent been well kept out there somewhere

 

Absolutely stay away from a 2002. Far less reliable than the later year first gen cars. The 2005 (and 6) is probably the most reliable of the bunch. If you are looking for performance and are contemplating the MCS, do not consider anything other than the 2005. The gearing is much shorter than the previous year models and makes the 2005 ALOT FASTER than the 2002-2004.

 

We have 38K miles on our '03. Knowing what we experienced over the past 4 years, I would do it all over again, and would not hesitate to recommend one to a family member.

If I was starting out shopping for a MINI now, my first choice would be a first-gen model- even if the price was still close to a new '07.

About the only thing I would change versus our "build to order spec" would be to skip the HID headlamps and the 17" "S-lite" wheels.

The HID lamps are bright, give a good field of view, and look sharp, but it's hard to see the difference in color between the yellow center line and the white shoulder line on the road with them. I'm not sure why this is the case- the HIDs in our '07 Prius seem to do better at color rendering for the painted lines on the highway than the MINI's do. In hindsight, I'd rather have had the $500.00 cost of the option back in my pocket to begin mods sooner.

As for the 17" wheels, I did not know how heavy they were until after I removed one the first time I rotated the tires. I have since installed aftermarket 16" wheels for warm-weather use, and have mounted dedicated winter tires on the 17s.

Still running on the factory brake pads- but most of our driving is highway and rural road use, with few hard stops.

 

I personally love my HID's. I do have a problem with 1 ballast causing them to occasionally not work in very cold or damp weather but lately, they've been great. They truly shine, IMO, when it's dark and raining. My HID lows combined with Silverstar highs are literally spot lights.

 

HIDs and silverstar brights- . (Same combo I have.) Can't tell the color of the lines apart too well, but I can spot a deer at the shoulder of the road from half a county away, it seems.

Aesthetically, I also like the early "reflector-type" HIDs over the later "projector" type- they give the car a "friendlier" countenance.

One thing I might get around to trying some day is pulling one of the HID bulbs from the Prius to see if it is the same type as the MINI uses. If it is, I'll try swapping bulbs between the cars, in case that's why the CRI is better for the Prius. Haven't done it yet b/c I'm too lazy.

 

Perhaps you should look at this 2003 MCS
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...22#post2155822