I bought my MINI in July 2008 and I am very happy with the service and performance it has provided. I passed the 50k mile mark on my way to work on Friday and thought I'd post my service experiences.

Here is the list of repairs I've had performed on my MINI:

8/13/2008 800.0 Replaced Airbag Control Unit - This was the most disappointing MINI related problem since purchasing the car. I owned it less than a month and had only put 800 miles on car. No one had part in stock and it had to be shipped from Germany. The MINI sat at the dealer for two weeks until repair was completed.
7/07/2009 10,663 Reinitialized windows after driver's window goes down after being put up.
7/07/2009 10,663 Replaced timing chain tensioner due to rattling noise.
7/07/2009 10,663 Replaced tailpipe tips due to recall.
5/05/2010 17,660 Adjusted sunroof due to excessive noise.
5/05/2010 17,660 Replaced passenger side door actuator due to unable to open from inside.
7/5/2011 35,676 Replace master cylinder as brake pedal would slowly creep down to floor with constant pressure on pedal.
4/4/2012 46,188 Replace auxiliary water pump due to recall.
4/4/2012 46,200 Returned car to dealer due to overheating after auxiliary water pump replacement. Coolant bottle was empty, filled, checked for leaks, found OK.
6/21/2012 49,557 Free vehicle inspection offered by dealer prior to expiring warranty, found nothing wrong but I appreciate their offer.

Well, the list is longer than I expected. All the repairs listed above were free as they were covered by the warranty. I live about an hour from the dealer, so I tried to have as many repairs done in one trip as possible. I did not include any regular service items or state inspections, but everything has been done at the dealer except unscheduled oil changes, brakes, and mods. Otto's Mini in Exton PA has been great to work with and provided me with a free loaner whenever needed.

My biggest disappointment while owning the car was being rear ended in April 2010. The car was repaired and you'd never know it was in an accident.

My MINI experience has been great and expect another 50k miles and, hopefully, with just as much fun!

 

Congratulations on your 1st 50K miles.
May you have many more miles of smiles ahead.

Did you buy the extended warranty or the extended maintenance plan?

 

Thanks LittleWing, I appreciate it!

No, I didn't buy the extended warranty or maintenance. I figure I can do most of the maintenance myself for less. As far as the warranty, I know I hear the track record is poor, but I've been doing the preventive maintenance, and I'm going without.

 

My maintenance plan is about to expire as I'm at 35K+ miles.
Since I don't do my own work, I plan to buy the extended plan this week.

We think we will probably go with the extended warranty at 50K as well.
I have followed the recommended maintenance schedule and have only had 3 oil changes.
Now that my consciousness is raised I am concerned about various issues, especially turbo failure and tensioner chain.

I want to keep this car for a very long time.
If I did my own work it would be different.
We are hoping that the extended maintenance plan and the extended warranty together will cover any problems that might pop up.
Although I hate buying something that may not offer a good return in value, for me the peace of mind alone is worth a lot.

 

LittleWing, you're absolutely correct, peace of mind is what matters. Everyone's comfort level is different.

Good Luck and Happy Motoring!

 

Thanks.
BTW - Mellow Yellow is such a great color!
Motor on!

 

Congrats on the milestone!!!

 

Have you had any carbon build up issues - or do you have a catch can?

 

Thanks jcaseyfd!

I put a catch can on at about 18k miles. I've also given it the Seafoam treatment a few times which I've found improves performance. I want to pull the intake and take a look at the valves when I get time.

 

Thanks

 

Hey there neighbor! East Greenville, PA resident here. Congrats on the 50k miles. Guess that report is a very mixed bag. Just bought my '09 MCS a few weeks back. It's under the original warranty until December, then has the MINI Next extended warranty until Dec. 2014. I've become used to Honda/Mazda/newer Korean quality over recent years, so it's a bit unsettling knowing the track record of these things. But mine only has 30k miles and it already had the timing chain repair done under warranty, so keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Hi Klayfish, congrats on the new MINI!
Yes, it could be a bit more reliable but I'm very happy at this point. Hope to see you around.

Good Luck with the new wheels!