I regret to inform this group of loving owners that I had to give up my Mini. The short period of time I had my '02 MCS was pure honey. I wish I could afford the time to keep the vehicle. Unfortunately BMW is the thorn in my side, why did they have to make it such tweaky car? I love the idea of the Mini, I will harbor a obsession with them for the rest of my days, and I know I will own one someday.

I just wanted to thank the members of NAM for thier help even though it can to no avail. I also wanted to recomend BMW/Mini of Sterling as a dealership to anyone in teh D.C. area.

Now for my ***** session. I am un-impressed with BMW, all the research I have done into cars produced during the 2002-2006 period is dissapointing. I feel cheated by the company in general and have already written them a letter about the feelings that I'm sure even the most loving parent feels about thier mini at some point in time. I certainly hope that this new generation on Mini's can live up to my expectations and perform as I had hoped mine would.

Thanks again NAM posters, I hope I pass some of you in my new Civic Si and I don't get to dissaproving a glance. And know this...I will be forever jealous of anyone motoring out there

 

So your gripe is with a BMW dealership? What's the gripe on the car? And from MY research, the bugs on the R53 were completely ironed out by 2004. With the 2005 and 2006 being the most logical R53 choice.

Please digress on your problems. I'm interested to hear them.

 

Can I ask why you were not impressed by BMW and felt cheated? I'm not questioning your decision in anyway, just would like to know what has upset you enough to sell the car. Didn't you just buy it?

 

Don't be a drama que.. er, llama.
Sorry to hear about the troubles. The later year cars ('04+) really do have a better reputation.

 

I've got an '06 and can understand the feelings about a quirky (mechanical reliability) experience. I know too many people with cracked washer fluid tanks, blown engine dampers, blown clutch slave cyls. and rust under the door sills ('05s and '06s).

I love my MINI, but I can understand that the reliability isn't for everyone. It's unfortunate that they couldn't / wouldn't get the whole package together. Maybe the '07+ models will be better for reliability.

 

You won't get a disapproving glance from me. You won't be passing me either.

 

The race is On! Where can i find ya?


My Issues are with BMW as a manufacturer. BMW of Sterling was awesome with me, many long hours on the phone consulting me on issues.

The main issue i had was a bad Throttle positioner sensor, but also during the thousand miles i had my '02 teh Serpentine belt tore itself apart and i over-heated the engine in the extreme. I also had trouble with the wiring harness, not quite sure what caused that. In the total 10 days i owned the mini it spent 6 in the shop. I cant afford to miss work for repairs, but when i can afford a 2nd car i will buy another mini.
Thanks for the suggestions on the '04+ models. I wont be getting a 2nd gen because i would miss that loving supercharger scream at high rpms.

Just to clarify I love Mini's all the way from the ones turned out in the 60's up to the newest construct (i forgive the turbo). Mini's are my obsession, but since i am stilla full time student i cant partake in another Mini just yet...Keep me in mind in about 10 years to buy and overhaul your Mini!

 

Oh yeah i felt cheated because the Mini is so freakin cool! But it just didn't hold up mechanically the way it should under a BMW badge.

 

I think there was a TSB on the wiring harness. MINI should have taken care of that. As to the belt ... belts break in any car, that is not MINI specific.

I am not dissing your decision, if you felt it was unreliable, then that was important to you.

 

I've slayed a few new si . The new ones are pretty quick in my opinion. I've driven the si (my buddy has one) and yeah it's fast but didn't bring a smile to my face like the mini does. But everyone has an opnion on what they want in a car. I guess most of us would trade in a little reliability for some handling. well anyway... good luck with your new car

 

Aww, threads like this make me sad - where the owner truly loved their car and is sad to have to part with it due to quirkiness.

If you REALLY loved your MINI I would definitely recommend giving an 06 a go-round...they have largely been far more reliable than their earlier counterparts. I heart my 06 muchly. But I can understand the need to ditch a glitchy 02-04.

Too bad :( Hope you find the heart to try a newer one someday.

 

Oh I have the heart, it's just the cash flow as a student isnt where it needs to be. Plus it hurts me to daily drive a mini...I hated being stuck in traffic and not being able to let that six-speed show me a thing or two.

Yeah, at my present state i had to ditch the reliability issues of the Mini for the slightly less capable (handling) Civic. But the 197bhp makes it comparable off the line and in the straights. My first upgrade will be coil-overs and a lowering kit. I hope to see some of you in my rear-view at the track
I hope even more that the rear-view will someday be a mini made mirror.

 

Blah Blah Blah......

 

+1

Sorry for your bad experience with your MINI but I for one don't understand these sob postings 'Don't hate me I sold my MINI'.
Cars come and go. I really like my MINI but I will not be posting about how bad & good it was when I sell it.

 

sorry to see you go. i hardly knew ya.

 

I could care less if you hate me for selling my Mini. I just want to stay a part of the Mini community and stay current with all the new Mini tech and quirks.

Not to mention i'd always be open to help others with thier mini's and would love to help mini events.

 

I don't know you, so I can't say that I'm sad you are MINI-less or leaving...but I do think it's unfair that you had problems with your MINI. I know every car has their own issues, some being grater than others, but I've had no real issues with my 03' MINI....

Now what I don't understand is; if you claim to have liked the MINI so much, why in the world would you get a Civic Si and not an 04+ MINI? Seems to me that you are basing your whole MINI-experience on one bad lemon...

-Cody

 

 

I don't hate you, just really don't care.
Like I said, I am sorry you had problems and they sound like they were bad. Good luck with the Civic, they are a good car.

 

Sold my pookie two days ago. Unfortunate to say that I had at least an equally bad experience. Brand new, Aug 05 build. After all is said and done, I had 3 window motors replaced, two coolant tanks, a coolant hose, clock, a clicking axle retightened, and a still grinding LSD that was temporarily quieted by a TSB. Not to mention a papery, sticky rattle right above my head which the sevice people could never locate and remove (had to listen to this my entire ownership). Had at least 9 service visits during the 19 months I was driving it (garaged 'til it was sold). Loved my MINI and realize that many are not as unfortunate. I just can't stand the feeling of "what will break next" especially because all the other cars I owned are Toyotas/Lexus. My wifes Solara convertible went to the shop once for a handbreak adjustment in the 2.5 years we've owned it (other than regular maintainance). Thank you for all your support and Happy Motoring people!

 

I've been driving my 02 for over 5 years and it has not let me down. My daughter has a brand new civic, nice car and will probably be very reliable. The difference is that is lacks the personality of the MINI. I still get comments on a 5+ year old car, she gets none. I'll keep my MINI for another 5 years......

 

As a former Civic owner, '77 CVCC and '87 Si, you made a wise choice. Don't listen to the detractors, it's your finances and life.

Hope you will return to MINI sooner than later!

 

While I would normally agreet with you Kurt, the OP was an "In your face" posting, and members responded accordingly.

Person owns a Mini for 10 days, has only a few posts on NAM, then says don't be mad when I pass you (paraphrased), is "in your face," for most people. If the OP had simply said something like "Mini ownership just wasn't working out," then there would have been more sympathy.

Gets none from me.

 

Give the guy a break! I've gotta say that there are several major sub systems in our cars that aren't up to snuff, and if you read about the German car marques in general there are more problems across the board than the steller german engineering rep would lead you to believe. Lots of this has to do with too much electronics that are too complicated (just read about setting up all the user setable stuff in the M5! Sounds like you'd need multivariate analysis skills to dial that sucker in!)

And for those of us with a trouble free car, statistically that only is relavent for your own car! It says nothing of the health of the whole population, nor is it an indication that those who owned problem cars have done anything wrong, or that thier opinions are off base.

Matt

 

I have to say this is becoming a tough place to say you have MINI troubles. If the car was a problem & the owner moved on, then well OK. I understand that. Why is that so hard for some other folks to understand?

Llama, Good luck with your new Honda. They build good cars.