After much thought and internal debate I have decided to keep forever my 2005 MINI Cooper S. It will be 10 years old March 18th of this year with 105,000 miles and garage kept. This car refuses to ever bore me and now that I am retired, I started this year off with a Milltek non resonated cat back system. Next is the Koni FSD Damper Set than on to the brake upgrade. Looking forward to a long cruz planned this summer from the east coast to Vancouver, BC.
Can't wait to hit the Continental divide!

 

My wife's 2002 mini turned 325,000 km a few weeks ago. We will be keeping it until it is dust. 2nd owner, bought it in 05 with 25,000 km on it from a family member. It took 5 tries but they finally sorted the transmission, since then it hasn't been too money hungry. But with over 300k on it, it's not worth much to anyone but us.

 

I sold my 2012 JCW Coupe in November, but I'll always keep my 2004 JCW MINI Cooper.

 

I think my '02 R53 is the third car I've owned that I thought I'd keep forever. Don't have the first two anymore, so who knows?
I'm planning on new tires and struts this Spring, which will probably cost half of what the car is worth, so another reason to keep driving.

 

If I can't get mine to start soon after putting a new smf clutch kit in it myself. I will probably tow it to a field and destroy it out of anger!

 

I wanted to genuinely keep it and eventually turn it into a stage rally vehicle, but it's proven too costly to maintain lately and now that I'm a homeowner it's not really an option so I began parting it out and I'm going to go back to the Honda/Acura brand. The mini has been fantastic to drive, but I miss simplicity...and 8,000+ rpm's 😊

 

Congratulations on becoming an adult...sucks doesn't it? I am in the same boat as you - mini is just a spare car now. It's only got 102k - 2003 r53 but I am more just hoping i can keep it running for a few more years (500 miles a month) until our subaru is paid off.

Priorities - they shift so fast don't they?

 

Hah, it sucks very badly . I mean I don't have to sell all my toys, but I feel like I should. Being an adult mind of sucks, Id much rather have sweet cars and enjoy eating a bowl of froot loops in my Jammies on Saturday mornings before doing fun car stuff than trying to fit 2x4's into the mini.

 

Fun fact for you and all else -- recline the passenger seat of the MINI so its laying as far down as possible (after folding the passenger side rear seat down).
Then slide the 2x4 through the back into the passenger side foot well. I learned this with my surfboard -- you can get about 8' long boards in there.

 

she's a beauty-great find and enjoy getting some respectable miles on her!

 

Just hit 110,000 miles and had a friend on NAM diagnos my engine rattling noise is from the SC failing:-(

I figured it would be cheaper to buy a replacement SC from Way then buying another car.

 

Doing the same thing, goin with the ported way sc, doing the Detroit byvalve, a water pump, cps seal, and a reduction pulley, will be fun! Doing it as a 10yr bday present for my car, 05 mcs that was made in March 05 haha, seemed fitting.

 

Gafer,


I am planning on getting the ported SC too and having a reduction pulley added.


The bump in HP should be fun:-)

 

Haha agreed! Looking forward to it! Anyone know if I have to send in my old SC to way motor before I can get the new one? Sorry I lazily haven't looked into that.

 

you won't have to, you will just be charged the core fee until you do I believe.

 

I was very close to trading in the Mini for a white Fiat Abarth but my daughters would not let me do it. They love the Mini and do not want to see their dad driving around in a "Tater Tot"

 

Listen to the kids, they always know best

 

I think I can safely say for the entirety of the mini community that it would have been a sad day if that trade would've happened.....

 

Thank you for helping me confirm my decision to keep the Mini

 

, too funny, that made my day!

 

Thank YOU for making it. Haha, what drew you to the fiat anyways? Curious, haven't ever driven the Abarth.

 

Does anyone know a forum thread or site that I can find all of the known issue and what years or milage they "fail" at. I have a 125,000 mile r53 that I plan on keeping forever I have been slowly fixing and checking all fluids etc. I bought the car from an elderly couple that took very good care of "Barnaby" but I want to go boot to bonnet and replace anything that might fail. With that being said some say I should let it fail first then replace??? What are your thoughts?

 

I bought mine at 120k and by 130k have replaced due to failure or "since I was in there" maintenance:

• Clutch
• Coolant tank
• Power steering pump & fan (under extended warranty)
• Crank pulley
• All engine mounts (shifting is night and day compared to before)
• Control arm bushings
• Front sway bar bushings
• Crank sensor o-ring
• Front & rear main seals and both input and output shaft seals
• Swapped driver's seat height adjuster with passenger (would only go up, passenger now stays in one position only)
• Low speed fan resistor
• Low pressure power steering line
• Strut mounts
• Cat had a piece loose that I managed to get the dealer I bought it from to split with me 50/50 and no labor
• Passenger side axle due to torn CV boot (easier to replace the whole thing than repair)
• Driver's side axle because I tore the CV boot and then broke the CV bearings when trying to fix the boot

So that should get you started...

 

The Abarth is a fun car to drive with a great exhaust note.


My friend is selling his, a 2013 with 13,000 miles for $15K to replace it with a Ducati.


Regarding reliability, they seem to have less issue's then the Mini but the dealer service is poor.

I know of three owner's with the Fiat's and the only problem I know of was a failed MAF sensor, loose seat mount bolt and the original tires are toast by 10,000 miles.


Here is a photo.

 

I'll admit, have heard the exhaust, it's pretty great off the bat. I need to do something with my stock exhaust, want to get somewhat louder than stock, but not too much.