Hi, Newbie to Mini but lots of experience with BMWs. Have been reading the boards for a couple of days. Would like some purchase advice.
Missed the True Blue Countryman on sale on this board. Would have grabbed that. I would like to buy an inexpensive car and feel free to mods/upgrades but also am aware of the need for restoration repairs (buy a BMW at 90k miles and most likely you are restoring the suspension). Thus the question of mileage and price.
Ok...
Subject car #1) $9900 for 113k miles, 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman S ALL4, Stick, no nav. Heavily optioned. No mods. Looks good in the pictures. All carbon black interior. Can Pick-up. + tax, and dmv paperwork
Subject car #2) $12,990 for 39k miles, 2013 MINI Countryman S ALL4, Stick, no nav. Comparably optioned to the first one. No mods. Comparable ownership record. Has fancier seat fabric. Looks good in pictures. Red Door panel kinda bugs me (can this be recovered?). This car will need to be shipped to me (est. $400) + tax, and dmv paperwork
Subject car #3) $15,900 for 68k miles 2015 MINI Countryman S ALL4, AT with Nav. Comparably optioned to the other two. No Mods. Comparable ownership record. More desirable color combination. Looks good in pictures. Will have to be shipped to me ($800) +tax, dmv paperwork, dealer handling charge of $599?

What is the expected maintenance schedule for these cars? Which would you purchase and why? FYI, ihe BMW e46 has Inspection 1 and Inspection 2, which when a car is kept up it does well and is fairly reliable. Does the Mini have a similar maintenance schedule?
Thank you all for your advice.

 

Ok I found out how to remove the door cards to change that red if it really bugs me. . So the red door panels are no longer an issue. Now it's just price vs. mileage. Please advise. Thank you

 

I would stay away from the one with 113K miles unless you have maintenance records showing that the timing chain and turbo have been replaced or you are willing to have at least the chain replaced after purchasing. Unless you do the work yourself, the timing chain job will seriously eat into the price difference. Between #2 and #3, for me the transmission is the key. Do you want MT or AT. I have a 2013 CM S All4 with AT. Now that my son has a JCW Paceman with MT, I wish my car was MT as well. My previous car was also an AT and I forgot how much I like driving a manual.

 

Hi Dmath!
Thank you for the response about the 113k car. I am willing to do some reconditioning. Used to doing Maintenance 1 and 2 on time on the BMW.

I have a 6-speed e46 and a 5-speed '88 4runner. Was going to sell the 4runner and replace with Countryman All4 S. 4Runner is totally rebuilt but for me not a good daily driver. Would like Mini to also stand in for daily driving here in mountains. Sometimes I kinda want an AT.

 

for the 2013 car: According to CARFAX: All inspections, service and work have been regular and at the local BMW - Mini dealer up until 109k miles. Major services are listed below.
43k miles Vehicle serviced
- Maintenance inspection completed
- Vehicle washed/detailed
- Oil and filter changed
- Transfer case removed to complete repairs
- Tire condition and pressure checked
- Intake silencer serviced
- Drive belt(s) replaced

82K miles Vehicle serviced
- Maintenance inspection completed
- Vehicle washed/detailed
- Oil and filter changed
- Tire condition and pressure checked
- Thermostat replaced
- Fluids checked

96744 miles Vehicle serviced
- Maintenance inspection completed
- Brake fluid flushed/changed
- Vehicle washed/detailed
- Oil and filter changed
- Tire condition and pressure checked
- Intake silencer serviced

 

We bought my son's Paceman in June with almost 98 k on it. Turbo had been done last year. Not sure I would have pulled the trigger otherwise. Had the timing chain done soon after we bought it and did the thermostat myself (small leak at the bleeder). Changing fluids in diff, transfer case, and MT in a couple of weeks.

It's good that the thermostat has been done on the car you are considering. You might look st the build dates for the 2013s as a couple of parts changed during the model year. The high pressure fuel pump is the big one.

Good luck with with your decision.

 

actually the High pressure fuel pump was changed post 3/12 build dates. up to 3/12 they had the old continental brand pump (ask how I know, lol) and post 3/12 they used the Bosch pump.
The newer pump is sup[posed to be more reliable, but they have had the warranty extended too, so I don't really think it made a huge improvement.
I bought my 2012 Countryman with a little over 110K miles for a good price (most likely they knew the turbo was shot) with very detailed service records and all receipts. even so the turbo crapped out within a couple of months! but doing the work myself saved a ton of dough.
Having one with higher mileage, I've had a few small things pop up here and there, but besides the turbo, its been pretty routine maintenance kind of stuff, aside from the mods, that is.
Good luck!!

 

Mr. Grumpy and Dmath, thank you, this is all good information so I can go ask questions.

Build date for the 2013 is 14.01.2013 according to: https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/check...ZC5C55DWM15608
It's possible the Turbo is on the way out on the 2013. It went in for service at a Race Shop at 109k miles. Well time to upgrade the turbo
Has detailed service records... looks like all interval service work done regularly at BMW/Mini.
Where can I find the service manual maintenance guide for the R60 that shows the service intervals and what is serviced?

What about the clutch in these cars? When does that have to be replaced?

Owner 1 was doing around 11k miles a year. Owner 2 was doing 23,820/yr. Owner 2 was taking the car in to the dealer for maintenance twice a year.

I just remembered why I was including an AT in my search. On both my MT cars I've had to put a block on the clutch pedal so I can push it in all the way. Is the travel as long in an R60 as an E46?
Any info service / maintenance on the AT would be helpful. I was wanting the R60 to replace my '88 4Runner in light snow and around town.

 

Subject car #3) $15,900 + $599 dealer service fee... for 68k miles 2015 MINI Countryman S ALL4, AT with Nav. All interval work was done at the BMW/Mini dealer up until 59k miles. No major repairs. Then it was traded in for a Mercedes in August of this year at around 65k miles. Hmmmm. None of the work discussed above was done on this car and reported to CarFax. What typically goes out at 65k miles? Was the build quality better on the 2015s?

Subject car#3 oil was changed every 10k miles? Isn't that a little long? Shouldn't that be at 5k miles?

 

There were some minor changes in those years, but I’m not sure one year is better or not, the later years may have a few kinks worked out. But I have several friends with them too, and don’t notice a quality difference really.
some interior design changes took place too. For instance in mine (2012) I have my window switches down low on the dash center console, under the radio and heater control. One of my friends with a 2015 has his window controls on the door.
i like the old school switches and center speedo. I really like the ring speedo with the nav screen in the middle, which is part of the reason I went with the one I did. I like the interior layout better. But those are minor things really. The AT is pretty solid from what I can tell. It handles the increased power from my tune just fine. The manual, is fine I think, unless you start modding for power, then it may need the clutch upgraded.
FYI a bigger turbo and ECU remap makes it a whole different car! Much less of a dog, power-wise!
have fun!

 

Mr. Grumpy, thank you for the details. I will have to check out those design differences. Good to know about the AT that it can handle the Turbo mods. I was wondering about that.