In the market to picking up an R60S for the wife (maybe JCW if I can convince her it's necessary).

Are there any susceptible known problems, recalls with the 2013s new buyers should be aware about?

Thanks in advance!

Brian

 

We only have about 3000 miles on our 2013 All4... It seems as with all MINIs that the cars get better with each passing model year. I don't have any complaints so far. Here are some opinions on options...


I'd get the Xenon lights, they are great headlights.

Haven't put more that 300 miles on the runflats, they seems ok, but some people really hate them.

The 2013 comes with the rear bench seat, but not flat load floor. I'd look for one with the flat load floor, as it's a nice option to have.

The base stereo is pretty weak, many people say the upgrade to the HK is worth it, I didn't hear it, so I'm not sure...

I couldn't imagine not having the center console, just to use as an armrest

Good Luck!

 

That's good to hear. I used to drive around my college roommates Mini Cooper and I really liked it, in fact have been eyeing one for quite some time. Glad to have found this community.

Thanks!

 

+1 on the xenon lights, they are amazing.
connected adds monitor in dash that will only get better with future updates" i hope"
if i did it over i would get the cheapest wheels, there are alot better ones available.

 

I've read some posts here about issues with the clutch on the all4 manual, you may want to look into that.

 

I just got a R60 as well. Have about 600 miles on it so far. I was thinking the same as you about the arm rest. Mine does not have one (which blows my mind they dont come with one standard) but I actually have not missed it. I end up letting my hand rest on the e-brake so my arm just kinda hangs down straigtht. I am getting on in the years and found my shoulder doesnt ache as much when I get out of the car. Maybe there is a reason that it is an option.

 

I just wish I would have optioned for the xenon lights! If you can get that with any option on your CM.

 

I have a 2012 CMS All4. Auto trans. 30k miles.

* I agree with the Xenon. I did not get them and wish I had.

* I am in the "hate runflats" group. HUGE difference in ride quality after swapping to a standard tire set.

* I have the buckets in the back. There was no option for a bench when I bought it. I thought I wanted the bench but the more folks I cart around, the more I (and everyone that rides) likes the buckets. I bought a cargo liner for hauling dogs and whatnot.

* The All4 systems is very well done. 50/50 from the start, 70/30 either way as needed. Great control and handling. Very happy I optioned for the All4.

 

Yes, a different car!

 

Plus 1 ^

Radio is a big difference. get Connect.

all4 only if needed. Gas mileage terrible on the all4

 

No longer an issue with the 2013's.

 

can someone give a quick description of what Connect gets you? from what i can tell it's like the ability to tweet or post a facebook update from the car console.

The builder on the miniusa.com site says that this comes standard:
it's hard to tell whether the base options lets you stream music via bluetooth, but as long as there is iPod/iPhone integration of some sort i think it would be fine. I am used to just using an aux cable when I drive a zipcar and don't have a problem with that, so what else does Connect do?

I think I like the TomTom iPhone app for navigation, so definitely would prefer that to the Connected w/ Nav.

 

I have a 2012 R60 All4 Auto. I've had the rear differential swapped out twice due to clicking noises from the rear wheels. If it happens a 3rd time, I think I classify for the lemon law..

Other than that, I love the car honestly. Especially manual mode w/ paddle shifters. I wanted the manual but got a great deal on this one.

One question I have - why does the right steering wheel handle which controls the wipers, have 2 rear window washer jet activations??? Anyone else notice that?

 

Must-have options:
HK Audio (standard audio is terrible)
Flat load floor
Heated seats
Auto climate

I would skip Mini Connected if you like using your phone for Nav, Mini connected doesn't really add that much. The UI is pretty bad, especially the Sirius implementation...you have to wonder what sort of mentally challenged orangutan designed that one.

Things to watch out for- I think I have one of the higher mileage CMs on here, I am just over 52k miles, and I can honestly say that this has been the least reliable car I have ever owned, worse than my Mk4 GTI, which is saying a lot. Yes, everything so far has been covered under warranty, but it is still a hassle. I don't plan on keeping this car for the long term. My 50 year-old Pontiac is way more reliable than this turd.

On the plus side, it is great to drive, the size is right, and it is awesome at both city driving and long-trip comfort. I love the looks with the 18" wheels, and the color. The braking and handling are fantastic. It gets quite a bit of interest, people asking me about it in parking lots and at gas stations.

Overall, a great driving experience and an unfortunate ownership experience.

 

I'm intrigued by the comments in favor of the flat load floor. Can any of you elaborate? I'm trying to understand the difference.

I was considering dumping the xenons this round but I'm starting to reconsider...I've never NOT had them on a MINI, so I have no point of reference.

 

Without a flat load floor the trunk area looks like (ignore the flat piece against the seat backs, this is actually the flat floor, but it's the best picture of what the trunk floor area look like without the flat cover)


With it


And the flat load floor lifts open to show the hidden space. It's nice to have the little bit of out-of-the-way storage.

 

I'm astonished. I have a Clubman S with what I would say is the flat-load floor then.
That's now an OPTION? Crazy.
I built a false floor for my old Element; I think I'd go a similar route this time if they tried to get cash for a plastic carpet-backed panel. On the E, I covered the ply with black rubber anti-skid hex material (like restaurant kitchen mats) so that groceries and other objects stayed put (for the most part)...

 

My car has the halogens. They're definitely not as good as the Xenons, but they are by no means terrible. I'd say of you do a lot of rural or back road driving at night the Xenons might be more valuable, but if you are mostly on suburban roads or highways like I am, you aren't missing too much.

 

if you turn the right control down/back, you get washer fluid/wiper and then the rear wiper is off

if you turn the right control up/forward, you get washer fluid/wiper and then the rear wiper remains on

scott

 

if you get the (free) optional rear bucket seats, when you fold both seats there is a gap between the seat backs ... the flat load floor covers the gap

with the bench seat there is no gap

i got the rear buckets and unless you need to carry 3 smaller people in the back (one of them needs to be very small) i would recommend the buckets with flat load floor option ... i get more comments on the rear buckets than anything else and rear passengers all comment on how comfortable they are

get the winter package (heated seats, heated power folding outside mirrors and heated washer jets)

get the xenon headlights, they cast shadows on the standard halogens

my dad liked my cms all4 so much, he bought one 2 weeks after i got mine (mine is custom ordered, his is a used ex-demo/loaner so he had no choice of options)

his is auto, mine is manual, neither has had any problems, he has 8,000 miles, i have 10,000 miles ... i find the auto to be slow shifting in full auto/non-sport mode, but very nice in sport/manual mode, shifting with the paddles ... in full auto/non-sport mode, if you floor it, the car downshifts abruptly several gears and there is a huge lag until you GO ... with the manual, i am gone

he has auto climate, i do not ... we both think it is unnecessary

his has stock suspension/stock 17" wheels, mine has sport suspension/18" wheels ... dad wishes he had gotten both the sport suspension and the 18" wheels

dad has the sunroof, i do not ... dad does not like the sunroof, it is hotter than hell in the summer, very noisy when open, either tilted or open wide and rattles at all times (been to the dealer 2x about the rattle)

dad has the standard light colored headliner, i have the dark one ... his car feels larger inside, but i like the look of the dark headliner

i test drove cars with the upgraded radio and passed on it, the standard radio is fine, unless you like all the cars around you to listen to your choice of music

i would pass on the satellite radio, it sucks, the music is highly compressed, sounds like am radio, although if you are a talk radio junkie, there are lots of talk radio stations ... but the music quality is terrible ... my free year is up in april, i will not be renewing

i passed on nav and connect ... my smart phone does both ... and nav updates are $199 each!

both cars have the leatherette seats, neither of us likes leather

i got the black headlight housings, dads are chrome ... i like the black

we both have the front center armrest and both like it

we both have the 2 piece center rail

scott

 

I strongly disagree with these two statements, my experience is 180 degrees different.

I have the HK system in my car, and it sounds good (not great). I've now had 3 loaner cars with the base sound system and I was shocked at how awful they sounded in comparison to the HK. Even bluetooth phone calls sounded bad.

As for Sirius, I'm guessing that you're judging the quality of all the stations based on the compression of the talk stations. The music streams are compressed, but the talk stations are *really* compressed. The talk stations (except Howard Stern) do sound like AM radio, but Stern and the music stations are much better, and sound somewhere between FM radio and CD quality. I have been a Sirius subscriber now for about 10 years, and they have played around with the compression over time...it used to be that music and talk sounded the same, now they've changed it so music sounds better and talk sounds worse, and that is ok with me. IMO the content quality of the talk stations has gone downhill...there are now too many commercials on the comedy stations. But the music has remained great, which is why I subscribe.

 

Hey Brian, just a few thoughts. I got the Mini bug back in December 12, checked them out and had the wife take it for a road test and she proclaimed it "a nice car". I knew I was gonna buy something in March so did some really really deep researching from Dec to March. Read this forum everyday, chased down any CM cars I saw on the road to interview the owners and finally took a deep breath on Friday and went to the dealer.
I absolutely "frigging" love this car. It is a joy to drive, is very well built and has some very cool features if you take the time to read the manual. My big worry was the maintenance issues I kept seeing on this site- but owners I met loved their CM's- so I ended up doing the extended warranty. So for now- just having fun driving the durn thing.

 

Bought my 2012 countryman S last October! I drive 900 miles per week , all highway ! Got about 17,000 miles on it already and have no complaints! Mine don't have the automatic climate control, which at some times it's aggravating! Also to my surprise mine has no alarm or security which come to find out weeks after I bought it its part of a package I don't have.... Also I was told by the dealer come time for brakes , ill have to spend $500 to replace the rotors also because they don't turn them....

 

Oh yeah.... I LOVE MY COUNTRYMAN S!!! Got me an aftermarket intake and exhaust! Love it!!!

 

Thanks for all the help guys. Ended up picking up a 2013 Light White Countryman S over the weekend.

Options we ended up with were:

Rear Bench Seating
Flat Load Trunk
Premium Package 2
Sport Package
Tech Package (H/K Stereo + MINI Connected)
Navigation
Xenons

Sounds like I pretty much covered everything recommended in this thread. Thanks a lot for the recommendations!