So, I took the plunge. MINI/BMW Canada's offer to replace my troubled 2011 and get a fresh start.

I picked up my replacement Light White 2013 CMS All4 today. Dealership was nice enough to put on my winter tires :D Hopefully, this one will be trouble free and lightning won't strike twice.

Here she is, Rally Pig's replacement, Urban Panda. Completely gone from the dark side into the light side.

 

Was your '11 a 6sp? If so what is your take on the new clutch?

Congrats on the new(er) ride!

 

Thanks! Yes, my old one was a 6spd and I've put 26k kms on it. My clutch wasn't as horrible as some people on this forum are experiencing, but I did go through the smelly clutch, ambiguous feel, and the clutch biting almost above 3/4 up from the floor. It was also had a clunk from time-to-time when I release. I've put up a thread about the clutch last week when I was test driving.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...13-clutch.html

Basically, hard to tell until the clutch is broken in. It definitely bites earlier than my 2011 (about halfway up from the floor). I feel a difference, but not as big a difference as I thought it would be. That was the first manual car I've owned with a dual-mass flywheel setup. I've mostly owned Subaru's, Honda's and Mazda's in the past. I'll post again once I'm done with the break-in period of 2000 kms. I have not gotten a smelly clutch yet which is a good sign (I did on my 2011 the first day I drove it home).

The 2013 clutch felt the same as regardless of JCW or Cooper S All4 trim. Drove them back to back. Which is why I decided to give MINI a second chance, but not enough trust them to put more money to get into a JCW. They have to earn my trust back, and getting me a deal on this replacement is a first big step.

 

Doh....
I even posted in that thread.
I look forward to peoples long run reports for this new clutch. It really is the only thing keeping me from "loving" this car!

 

What sort of issues did you have with the 2011?

 

Good luck with your new ride. I like the wheels. Are they from the 3 series BMW? If not where did you get them if you don't mind me asking?

 

They look like replicas from an e92 m3

 

The official issue that sparked the replacement was in the last 5 months, my car has been in an out in the service center for a total of 6 weeks for the same problem: oil leaks. They fix one thing, give it back to me, and it will leak on another spot a week or two later.

Ironically, I think they finally got it all right a couple of weeks ago, but the ball was already in motion and MINI Canada and my dealership already offered me a deal on a new 2013. I could have gone with a JCW but of course, it would mean more money from me even though it was a heck of a deal, I didn't want to give them any more money until the brand earns my trust. If the clutch felt better on the JCW, I would've probably seriously considered it. But it felt the same as the regular 2013 Cooper S All4.

Good thing is that in my case, MINI Canada stood by their product, and my dealership was also very good and helped me through the process. Never once did I feel that I was left out to dry or felt like I would have to take any legal action or third party arbitration.

 

They are BMW M3 replicas that a local tire shop carried. I got them before my first winter season for the 2011:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bmw-rims.html

No modification at all. Tires sits flush with the fender. No rubbing. I love the look, I get a lot of compliments with it. Some of my friends jokingly say my car looked better in winter than in summer (I got the optional black compo 18's)

 

Well that just sucks. We've been about 8 months with my wife's All4 Auto with no problems at all. Hope you have much better luck with Urban Panda!

 

I have to take ours in to Mini Downtown for oil leaks as well.........

 

Your wife's CMS All4 looks surf blue in the photo--the Cosmic Blues that I have seen are all really dark.

 

My friend ED you have a surf blue CM not a Cosmic. Hope you still love it the same.

 

we just turned in our 2011 countryman S for a new 2012 chili red special edition countryman s. We had starting problems and the car was at the dealer 6 times for the same trouble and they just couldn't seem to find the problem. I investigated the Florida lemon law and spoke to the dealership about the problem. They were very good about taking our problem car and replacing it with a new one of our choice. We felt no pressure, they worked with us from the beginning to the end. The bad one was our third Mini and the first with a major problem. It was amazing to go through the whole process without feeling that crummy feeling that one usually get when dealing with dealers.