Hey everyone, I was thinking about selling my current car (nissan 350z) and picking up a mini. I have my reasons for wanting to sell the car, low mpg, only 2 seats, a little too big, and its a hassle to drive sometimes.

Now I'm in the market looking for a mini, and I'd like to know somethings about it first.

1. With the 02-06 MCS models, is there an common problem or expensive problems?

2. How much is maintenance? OEM parts? Aftermarket parts? And are used parts fairly easy to find?

3. Whats the average city and highway mpg for an MCS? I surely hope its much better than what I was previously getting...15 city..24 freeway

4. Is there anything you dislike about the MCS?

5. Which yeah is the most reliable or "best" year for minis?

6. What are you paying for insurance? what state/city?

7. Are mini's fairly easy or moderate to work on yourself?


Thanks in advance everyone!

 

I'll answer a few for you.

My MPG on a 2004 MCS is 32 with a mix of hwy/city. On the BC I show 39mph most tanks (average speed per tank)

Insurance is not bad, in fact it was $6 cheaper than the 99 Miata I replaced.

Mini's are pretty reliable, but when they break they cost some money to fix. I would look and see if you have an independent BMW mechanic locally. Surprisingly they are everywhere. You'll save quite a few dollars on the hourly rate.

OEM parts are easily had using PelicanParts and various sponsers here on the forum They offer discounts which make the parts pretty reasonable.

Aftermarket parts price/value is subjective.


Asking the "which year is best questions" is a big can of worms. There are differences, but again, very subjective as far as better or worse. 02-05 had stiffer suspension, 06+ are more compliant. So depends on what you're looking for. I would spend a few days of reading here to get a good feel for each model, then go drive a few to get what YOU want.

If you get an Automatic trans, get an extended warranty (that's just my opinion) Very pricey to fix when they hatch, and they do...

Other than that, Just pick one and go.

When looking for Minis call 866.ASK.MINI with the VIN and they can tell you what packages are on the car. Lots of ads are incorrect, especially non Mini dealers.

 

Be sure to check for rust under the door sills where the plastic covers them. It seems to be a common problem for the cars. The 2005-2006 cars seem to have better built motors. They also have revised gearing along with that softer suspension. So they also Feel faster as well as have the bonus of the Teflon coated supercharger.
along with some revised gauges and headlights.
Other than that they are all good cars.
Keep an eye out for a lower milage one they are around and can be found. buy carefully.
Also a clear indication of how the car is driven is by the shape the tires are in. I drive mine quick and make it corner. the edges of the tires show it.

Colin Oh yeah and welcome!

 

We average about 28 MPG in a city/highway mix. We often put four people in it, though we take the old minivan for trips longer than 20-30 minutes.

We regret not ordering ours with leather seats--I'd seriously look for one that has them though it would not be a deal-breaker.

Do your due diligence on a used MINI just as you would any used car. Having just run into someone who recently bought a used MINI that turned out to have several expensive problems, I'd certainly have it gone over by a competent mechanic--I suggest the dealer because they will likely have records for a car that was serviced ("free") for the first three years. A common, expensive problem is a bad dual-mass flywheel. This will make a chirp/screech sort of sound the first few times the clutch is engaged after the car has been sitting for a couple of days or more. This means it will be hard to know if a used MINI has this problem. A dealer will want somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000 to repair a bad flywheel.

My OPINION is that you should stay away from cars that have been modified. People who mod cars tend to drive them harder and any mod that increases power comes at a cost to service life. There are lots and lots of MINIs out there that have not been modified to choose from.

If you can wait, a lightly optioned, brand new MINI can cost just a bit more than a well-optioned used MINI. This is worth thinking about if you're OK with a long wait (if you can find a new MINI on a dealer's lot, it will likely be heavily optioned with a high price tag).

They are great cars and a well-researched buy will be a pleasure to own.