Hi there! My name is Chris and I am really looking to get a Mini S. I got turned on to the Mini's from having one as a rental from Enterprise in Escondido.. I had a 07' Mini convertible and LOVED it! I am 6'7 and didn't think I would even fit but I had a ton of room and it was a blast to drive. I currently have a big Ford Bronco that drinks gas like crazy.

So I am looking to get a used Mini. I have read almost every thread and post I can about the cars and the different features. But what I am having a hard time deciding is what mini to get and what to look for in a used Mini..

I want my payments to stay around the same as I pay now so anything under 17,500 would be cool. And I REALLY want to get an S model because of the power and fun.

So I found a 2003 Mini S for sale. It has 46,000 miles and the person is asking 16,200 for it. I took a look at it tonight and drove it around for a while and it seemed great. I am really into cars so I know what to look for in general but I wanted to see what experienced Mini owners, mechanics and dealers look for in getting a used Mini. It has the stability control and 17 inch rims with run flats.

I took my dad along just to get his view and he seems to think the supercharger "could" go bad and it would cost a ton to replace it and that the run flat tires are bad because they are costly and I dont even have a spare tire..

So far I have had 13 different cars and trucks (I am 31 and have been driving since I was 16). Some I have gotten used looked great but turned into total crap 2 months down the road. This seller said he had a mechanic go through everything before he bought it.


Has anyone bought a Non S and wished they had gotten it? Or does anyone have an S and wish they had the regular Mini? Any Pro's vs. Cons with the S and non S? What things should I specifically look for in a used mini?

I found another Mini at the dealership in Escondido Ca, that is a great deal but it's not an S and I just keep being drawn back to wanting the supercharger..

I have a dark silver(charcoal)/white roof 04 S with 27K miles for $18,500 Firm - loaded:
Sunroof, space cloth, Harmon Kardon, 17" rims, all records, trip computer, rain sensing wipers, climate control...perfect with no accidents/damage.

I have an M3 coming. PM me for more details.

Corona, CA.

i have an '05 mcs. i've had it for almost 3 years. i love it. i've driven a few regular coopers and liked them, too. they're both fun cars to drive. i prefer the look of the non-s model (the hood and lack of rear spoiler in particular), but really enjoy the supercharger whine and overall performance of my s. good luck in making a decision.

brian

I would just like to have more power that comes with the S.. But after readng just now that the super chargers are only expected to last 100,000 miles I think I might have had a change of heart. Seems like the superchargers that came in the older year Mini's have a gear oil issue. Since this will be my work and part time fun car I really dont want to worry about having an issue like that happen. I will still have another car to drive.. And I know I could take the motor apart and fix it myself but I dont know if I want to deal with that..

Welcome to the forum!

Well first of all the supercharger argument is bullcrap; it is not very expensive to have work on even for replacement (though not instantly obvious, you can get through it pretty cheaply!). That said, a Very large percentage of mini owners wont even have to touch their sc for up to and beyond 150k miles! Try searching the forum, there was a thread about this not too long ago.

Run flats. The reason the s doesnt have a spare (the cooper does, btw) is because it would defeat the purpose of having tires that keep rolling until it is convenient to have them taken care of. They are costly, and many will attest that their handling isnt quite up to snuff compared to non-runflats, but they are a close gamble. Having said that, having runflats is not playing with fire, and i dont think it would be wise not to buy a car because of the tires its got on it.

I would go for a later year. You can find 04's, even 05s for the price range youre looking for. If you can, try getting an 05. Theyve got a lot of bugs worked out of them, and are a bit faster due to a quicker and more efficient gear ratio. 04s are good too, though they dont have the faster gearing.

MCS vs. MC ...hmm i dont want to step on any toes here so ill be brief:impatient ! Both minis are ecstatically fun to drive (especially with the sport package the cooper offers!) and the extra power is really for people just looking for a little "kick" to the flavor of their minis. You will be overjoyed with either!

Overall, Welcome to NAM and remember whatever mini you choose, its still a mini and you will have GREAT fun! Good luck in your search!


-Colin

I know the thread you are speaking of here Bang, but in reality, a little preventative work should remove most of your fears. Check out this article on Motoring File. It gives a really good background on the cars and what years are considered better than others... Good Luck with your choice.

It sounds like you'll be kicking yourself in the rear if you don't get the S (meaning you'll always think you should have) but if you get the S and something happens to the super charger then everyone will tell you "I told you so". I would go for the S and enjoy life and the Mini to it's fullest. Life is short...

Welcome to NAM, Bang110!

I've owned two MINIs: a 2002 MINI Cooper with the Midlands manual tranny which I traded in for my 2003 MCS with the Getrag 6-speed when I just had to have an all-Jet Black MCS. I had dithered about whether to get the Cooper or the S in the first place, got the Cooper and after driving her for 6 months, knew I wanted an S with additional options when the Jet Black color was offered.

I have almost 73,000 miles on her. I've gradually modded her (I didn't know what mods WERE until I learned about them on forums like this one), and she's been the most reliable vehicle I've owned in almost 40 years of driving.

You will obviously read more about issues on forums like this, not so much about those of us with no issues. I've driven all sorts of MINIs, including the convertibles and the 2007s. I like mine best! If you buy an older MINI like an '03, find a trusted independent mechanic. Good luck and keep us posted!

FWIW-
One of my initial hestiations was maintenance cost, especially tires.
Reality is, it's not a big deal. When your tires wear out, get a set of standard tires, a plug kit and a small compressor. That will address 98% of any tire issues you'll have. (Alternatively, buy a set of take offs - LOTS of people sell their OEM tires/wheels. Bought a set of wheels and brand new tires for $400. Less than most tires would cost to mount/balance.)
I bought a used SC on ebay for $150 (you know, the cost of a fillup in the Bronco ) If it goes out, I'm out half a day of labor and $150. In the realm of today's auto costs, irrelevant.

As far as payments go, a car is a depreciating asset. Pay as much as you can, as soon as you can. Have one drink at the bar instead of three and take a road trip instead of a flight to Hawaii. Pay it off, save that payment in the bank and you'll never borrow on a car again.
Oh, and QUIT FLIPPING CARS - you pay the governator 8% for every car you buy. That's 8% a year (15 yrs/13 cars) Save that 8% and pay off the car you buy.

There - you said it - you want a Mini S. Get one.

Free advice follows - it's worth every penny:
- The S "whines". You know you want it.
- Quit flipping cars. Minis help with that, you won't WANT to flip after this one!
- Car buyers wear rose-colored glasses, especially knowledgeable ones. Use your car knowledge to find a good mechanic and let HIM (or her) smack some sense into you. If they say it's OK, proceed. If they say it's not, don't buy something just because you love the color and "oh, I have some car knowledge, I can fix that".
- That said, find a color you love!
- Runflats are a non-issue (stated above). LOTS of aftermarket stuff out there.
- Eric gives some good concise financial advice. Follow it.
- If you can get into an '05-'06, get one (better trans ratios, slightly more power), but if not it's no big deal, they're all good.
- Do your homework (Carfax, inspection, check maintenance history, thorough go-through).

Post pictures when (not "if) you get one! Good luck...

Thanks guys for all the info!
I haven't been getting new cars and flipping them.. Just to let you know. =) I have only bought one new car so far and it was a Dodge Dakota back in 1996.
I have been looking everywhere for a Mini that I want and just haven't found alot that are in the price range that I wanted and that didn't have a ton of miles. I did find one at the Mini dealer in San Diego but today when I went to go get more info and drive it some people were signing the papers for it. I am going to go back again tomorrow and try to get a deal on a 03' non S. Has low miles and it has the look that I like. I think for now I am going to end up getting a non S and after a while either trade it back in for a newer S or just order myself a new one.

I would also like any info on the local Mini clubs in San Diego if anyone has any.. I would definately like to meet some people and learn more about the cars and the fun things the clubs go and do. I find that being in a club gives you alot of information, support and new friends.

West Coast MINIs is in your area and a great local club. Lots of cool people.

In regards to your other concerns, go for the S. I personally drive a Cooper, but if you feel the need for more power/speed, then just do it and don't look back. If you are someone who likes more power and speed, you won't be happy with the Cooper after driving an S. I've driven an S and it's too much for me, so I own a Cooper. Different strokes for different folks.

As far as the SC and other mods go, a MINI is not a Honda or Toyota that's never going to require a day of service in its life. The 05/06 models are really reliable, but it's still a British car and *something* will likely need repaired. Getting an 05/06 over an 02-04 helps lower the chance, but not eliminate it.

The GOOD news is that these little cars are REALLY easy to work on. I'd never been under the hood of a car I've owned in my entire life, but this car is so easy to work on that a lot of the time it seems silly to go to the dealer for some small issue. The reason the repairs can be so costly is that it's a BMW dealership and parts and labor are high. Do it yourself, with aftermarket (and often superior) parts, and you can save a bundle. And bond with your car

hello. like yourself i too have a huge bronco! a 1990 w/ a 6" lift and 35" mickeys! i'm also in cali as well- L.A. gas is a killer. funny enough i drove an 03 cooper with 36k and bought it on the spot from a used car lot. it's not an S though. but, when this little mini runs it's course i think i will order a made to order S brand new. thats how much i love the mini.

as far as my bronco. jeez i don't know i love that thing but, it's hell to drive and park around here. may sell it and get a '67 (my dream bronco).

like the poster above mentioned. the dealer prices for service are insane. it's easy to work on. or at least look for a good mini mechanic if you prefer and save some serious $.