I have a mild case of MINI fever and am looking into
the 2004 S model as a possible commuting vehicle.

I was a little put off by JD Powers rating for the
MINI Cooper S in mechanical quality.
Below are all categories:

Mechanical Quality 2 of 5 (average)
Body & Interior Quality 2 of 5 (average)
Feature and Accessory Quality 2 of 5 (average)
Performance 5 of 5 (among the best)
Creature Comforts 4 of 5 (better than most)
Style 5 of 5 (among the best)

As far as the mechanical quality rating it is further explained:

"This score is based on problems reported with the engine,
transmission, steering, suspension, and braking systems."

What is your experience after how many Months/Years?

Thanks

 

I believe this is 2002 Data.

This was posted on MINI2:

In the latest JD Power New Vehicle ratings, the "2003 MINI Cooper" scored the lowest in the following categories: "Mechanical Quality," "Feature & Accessory Quality," "Body & Interior Quality" and "Overall quality." (2 *****)

"Comfort" got a "did not really stand out" rating. (3 *****.)

"Performance," "Style," "Features & Instrument Panel" and "Overall [APPEAL]" got the highest ratings (5 ***** each).


See ya,
JS

 

I have an 02MCSJCW with 6,800 miles, the only problem I have had has been to replace the coolent resevoir bottle. The report you read I think was probably for the 02 year and frankly for a first year car I'd say that is pretty typical. This is the first time I have ever bought a 'first year car', never thought I would do such a thing but very happy I did, I love my Mini.

 

if you search around there have been many prospective owners asking similar questions...as i think there should be a prospective owners forum

nonetheless

i have a 2003 mini cooper s, 0 problems
very happy with it

again 0 probs :smile:

 

Do a search on:
windshield
coolant
stumble/lurch
rattles
boot latch breaking

the transmission problem was solved within the first year - faulty cable. The others seem to plague some cars but not others. Many cars have been absolutely trouble free. Very few people have been stranded by the side of the road.

The warrantee is good and usually honored without any hassle at the various dealerships. I think the only thing that should make one consider not getting a MINI is being far away from the local dealership, or perhaps only having one in the area.

it's a bit of a risk - you really could end up with a completely problem-free car, but then again, you could end up with a car that stumbles. There haven't been any recent posts about these issues even though plenty of new owners have signed up.
You may want to consider getting a used car, because then you could check the service history and see if it's had any complaints. That would up the odds as to getting a trouble-free car, as the issues tend to appear right away.

 

I didn't answer your question, did I?

I agree with the survey, and from my personal experience and from my conversations with other MINI owners, the numbers are accurate.

My MINI was built in April, and delivered mid-May, 2003. In has now been in the shop 30 days since I took ownership. It is in the shop at this moment. Please know that this is NOT typical. My paint had a factory flaw that required a respray of my bonnet. This was repaired poorly, so it is back again. My car also suffers from the stumble/bog/yo-yo issues you've no doubt read about. My car had and still has rattles and squeaks, though I took care of the most annoying of these, myself.

I think if body and interior quality were broken out, interior quality would suffer while body quality would receive higher scores. It is mainly the painted plastic parts that cause the most grief to MINI owners. The silver isn't protected, and it scratches and/or peels easily. Painted plastic without a clear coat = BAD NEWS.

Overall, though, the car's good points outweigh the bad. And that's what the survey says. I can just imagine what the car would be with just a little higher quality construction and better quality control. Perfection! As it is, the car is a bundle of fun, but with the fun, you have to take a teaspoon of medicine. It's the price of admission.

Of course, there will be those who receive a MINI that encounter no problems, but that's a statistical anomaly.

If you're interested in a MINI? Test drive them. Test drive them several times. Try to take at least a 30 minute test drive. Look at the construction. Look at the wear on the demos. Is anything broken, missing, damaged? That is likely the condition you will find your MINI after 10K - 20K miles. If you love how the car drives and can live with the construction, go for it. It's an amazing little car. I would do it all over again, despite the problems I've had. But, I would be much more thorough in my inspection when my car arrived, and I would do a thorough test drive before I accepted the car.

And, as always, I will say that the people you meet through the MINI is the best aspect of ownership. If you do buy one, join a MINI club and get together with other MINI owners. It's always a lot of fun.

Good luck,
JS

 

I did what jstines suggested and after a few too short test drives, rented an MCS. I spent a day with the car, drove it in stop n' go traffic, weekend beach crawl, freeway, canyon road, favorite twisty (or two) and got a good sense of what it's like to live with an MCS. The red rental had about 8500 miles and the agent thought it was a late '02. With the exception of a slight rattle in the sunroof on rougher pavement, and an underpowered/overtaxed A/C I thought it was a ball. The good (for my taste anyway) outweighed the irritating. And I'm not someone who takes being irritated particulary well. In fact that's when I decided to buy one.

I mean, after all, it may have had some German engineers, but it's still British. So the really big question comes down this -- Is it fun? Is it fun enough to tolerate the faults?

 

plugot--i noticed ur in so cal...where di du rent the mcs from? how much was it, if u dont mind me asking? i havent seen anything but mc
i havent seen and mcs

i want to see what an mcs is capable off..and would love to flogg a rental car

 

I thought the Powers Report was incrediby accurate and my feeings exactly. 23K miles now on my MCS and unfortunately the tightness is loosening up with more rattles from the interior. As I type my car is in the shop, now for 3 days, they have taken the entire dash apart trying to repair the dash rattle. I was told the rattle came from deep inside the dash and was no easy fix (but at least they are trying, thank God, as it was driving me crazy). Also while there they are fixing the passenger door rattle. I have previously had the drivers door rattle fixed as well as the rear hatch rattle and sun roof rattle fixed twice which still rattles only occasionaly. Mechanically I have had the supercharger replaced (at 4K miles) and the air compressor replaced. My car has been in the shop for repairs or maintenance close to 60 days out of the more than 450 days I've owned it, part of that was waiting on an air compressor because they didn't have in stock and also for a defective run flat, because they couldn't get a Goodyear (since long replaced with Yoko's). Interestingly I drove the new Works demo (fun, but egregiously overpriced) the dealer has while at the shop with my MCS. Unbelievably the Works had a severe rattle in the dash, this was a newer MCS and couldn't believe they would let drivers test drive it with the rattle. The Works also had the stumble, so the Works package will not fix the stumble if you have it, which the salesman who rode with me admitted (he said the fix would be here in December, but I've heard the fix will be here soon now for over 10 months.

The MINI's are fun cars to drive and you might get one that is problem free, but don't be mad or disappointed if you get one that has problems and needs to spend time at the dealership, because those problems do exist...the MINI is definitely not HONDA build quality, but also definitely more fun to drive than a HONDA. If the MINI had HONDA build quality for both the engine and chassis, then you would really have something special. My take is BMW is really a novice at building low profit margin cars and is learning as they go, when you have the profit margin they have built in the 3, 5 and 7 series, of course the cars will be solid...

Good luck, but go in buying any MINI with your eyes open and not in denial on what might happen....called Murphy's Law...