Ok, so I got my MINI Cooper S from Carmax on 5/22/08. It's a 2003, if that matters, since then, I've driven it a total of 1 week (maybe 7 days, max).

It started off like this: The alignment was off, they fixed it, but the DSC and Tire pressure monitors weren't reading correctly, they sent it to a shop in town (black Forest Motor Werks), then found an auxilary fan that wasn't working, fixed that, got the car back on Tuesday, drove it Wednesday (this week), and it overheated from a motor fan.

In ya'lls opinions/experiences with Minis, is this going to be an on-going thing?

My thought right now, is that I might try to back out of the car, get a less expensive car, and get a new MINI in a couple of years, since if you're buying used, you're buying somebody else's issues. I really need a car that I can drive for more than a couple of days at a time. Surely Mini's are more reliable than this?

My other thought is that this is just like my luck. Sometimes I get a run of really crummy stuff happening to me all at once (and since I'm still in the first 30 days of the car, Carmax is paying for everything), and that after everything smooths out, it'll be all good. Amy I being naive?

 

first of all, never buy a car from carmax, it's bound to have problems. i have yet to hear a good story from there. so, i'd bring it back since you have the 30 days. Mini's are a really good and reliable car when treated right and properly serviced. i think you just hit bad luck with this one and i'd take it back and keep shopping for the "right" one.

 

I have bought at LEAST 20 cars for carmax...never issues talk to the manager, he will give you another car even if its longer then 7 day...the are very good

 

hmm.. twenty you say? that is quite a few. which proves my point

 

The fan and overheating are common issues. The other items are just fluke happenings I think. Although it's frustrating, I think I'd be glad that the problems are occuring now, instead of after your initial warranty from Carmax has expired.

You picked this MINI for one reason or another, and you must like it, so keep your head up, watch out for anything else to go bad and bring it in for repair ASAP if you find more problems. I think you're going to be fine in the end, but of course it's a crap shoot because you can't foresee the future.