Im looking at an 09 MCS automatic with under 20k miles. I have read all of the stickys and understand the potential short comings of the N14. I was wondering if anyone had any extra advise to add since all of the warnings talk about as it gets up in mileage.

I also wanted to see if anyone else has experienced their vin not pulling up in a vin decoder. I took the last 7 from the carfax and it also works in realoem, but in the multiple vin decoders that I commonly use, I get nothing.

Thanks

 

as discussed in many places, any engine or car for that matter is as reliable as owner's care for it. When Mini came out, the oil service interval was/is 10k miles and others were 15k miles. We all know that cannot happen. but customers bought into that and sort of waited for that red light to pop so they can take it for service. So, if basic maintenance is done on a regular basis with oil changes no more than 5k miles, I believe you'll have a long lasting engine. There are members who had zero incidents while others never stopped going back to the dealer.

Personally, I don't mind the N14 and because of it, I now have a hobby that've been enjoying for 5 years..lol

at any rate, it all comes down to records and price. as for the vin, I use bimmer.work

 

mdecoder seem to pull up MINI vins that others cant, dont know why but that what it does,