I'm looking at getting a 2003 Mini Cooper S, but have a few questions:

Is there drastically more wind noise on a sunroof model than a hardtop?

Are there any known issues with a 2003 MCS that I should be aware of and pay special attention to when looking for a car so as to avoid a Mini that hasn't been taken care of like it should? Any tell-tail signs?

For a typical stock 2003 MCS, what sort of price range do you think I'm looking at? I've found several online that are located in my area for as low as $10K, does that sound right?

I've been reading through these forums for a week or so, as well as other forums, but is there any other information that I should be aware of while looking for my perfect Mini?


Thanks in advance,
~Slacker20

 

More noise from a sunroof, yes but it is mostly mechanical and can be cured by a variety of things: proper lubrication, velcro padding, etc. I wouldn't call it wind noise as it is generally independent of speed.

Issues with an 2003 MCS should already have been taken care of by the vehicle's previous owner(s). Back in the day, there were several software bugs, and some shoddy mechanical / interior issues, but anyone who has let it go for 6 years and not rectified their car is, well, INSANE! A weakness is the windshield, most 2003's are on their second, third or fourth by now.

I have over 100k on my MCS, I'm the original owner and I think my car is worth at least $100K, so if you can find one for $10k that must be a bargain.

Hope you find a good one, and welcome to the tribe.

MGC

 

I meant more wind noise on a sunroof model since there is not as much roof with sound deadening insulation. I know that on my car it is much louder with the sliding sunroof cover slid open, and as soon as I pull it shut it's drastically quieter (I currently drive a '99 Volkswagen B5 Passat 1.8T 5spd).

What mechanical/interior issues are you referring to?

Thanks for the response, any and all information I can get is much appreciated so I can get the best Mini I can possibly get for my money.

 

Even closed, the sunroof rattles, it is much more annoying than wind noise, as it can begin basically at idle.

Mechanical issues on the '03 MCS were limited to a recall for sub-standard suspension bolts on a few of the early model year cars, a power steering fan that frequently short-circuited causing overheating of the engine, interior problems were mostly with substandard quality leather on the leather seat option, typical British trim pieces falling off, and also about mid-model year MINI changed the suspension on the S, making it "softer" as some customers had complained about the choppy ride quality of the sport suspension (never bothered me though).

 

Ok, thank you. I'll look for a hardtop without a sunroof then. The sunroof on my Passat leaks and the wind noise is rather loud with the cover slip open, and it has just been much more of an annoyance and hassle than a benefit.

So the majority of the mechanical and interior issues were recalls, meaning the previous owner would have had to be a complete idiot not to take it to a dealer to have it fixed for free?

As for the suspension change, is there a particular VIN# when it changed or is there any other way of knowing whether it's a 2003 or a 2003.5?

Thank you again for your information thus far. You've already helped me to eliminate the sunroof option.

 

I have an 04 with a sun roof and i LOVE it. i guess it depends on where you live and if you have enough of the year to enjoy it. No rattles for me!

 

No rattles on my sunroof. I would not get a mini without it.

 

Get the sunroof! Really!

Otherwise you're going to kick yourself everytime you're waiting at a traffic light. My '03 has 44K on it, and I've had no issues with my sunroof at all. I LOVE to have it open... with the windows down and that huge roof open, it's very similar to a convertible! (Without being beaten to death by wind.)

 

Get the sunroof.
It's noisy when it's open. Big deal. That's remedied by cranking up the stereo. Life's full of little trade-offs!
Emily ('02 MCS, 38,000 miles, for sale) has had none of the problems attributed to early models, with the exception of very slight mushrooming of the towers, which will be fixed soon.
Good luck, and welcome.

 

i got a 02 mcs in december with 35k miles and the only issue ive had is the "mushroom" strut towers.

so i'd say make sure you inspect those and get the protection plates.

-jason

 

Ok, I suppose what I'll do is be sure to do the majority of my test drives with the radio off so I don't get a car with a sunroof that rattles. Even if it's only a small rattle, I know that it will end up driving me absolutely insane. That's the majority of the reason I hate my Passat is because it rattles and squeaks all over the place, and I can never seem to turn my radio up loud enough to drown it out.

"Mushrooming" strut towers? Um... could you elaborate please?

 

I got my 03 MCS over the summer and it had only 15,000 miles on it and i paid about 16k. The sunroof kicks a** no rattles. The best money spent on my car so far has been the m7 strut tower brace since my strut towers were pretty bad. The only problem i've had with it mechanically was a leaking crank sensor seal which i fixed by replacing the rubber 0-ring around it. Leather seats are fine and the "typical" british pieces are not falling off.

 

In the engine compartment, at the top of where the struts anchor, the mounting points have a tendency to deform.
A fairly easy fix, involving a piece of 2x4, and a BF hammer, followed by installing strut-tower braces, then an alignment.
No big deal.
I think it's very cool that you're going after a first-generation MINI. The second-gen are a little (lot?) more refined.
Please don't be dissuaded by some of the horror stories about early MINIs. My car (08/2002 build date), and thousands of others, continue to be trouble-free, and excel at generating more smiles-per-gallon than almost anything I've driven.

 

I would get the sunroof! Only wind noise when its open (as expected), and maybe a rattle or two now or then. Most of the rattles are easily fixed. only have a slight rattle when its ~15 degrees out, and its gone as soon as it warms up.

As others have said - check for mushrooming, if you find it its an easy fix, and if you find one without its easy to prevent.

I have over 190,000 miles on my Sept 02 build and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Nik

 

I am sure that virtually every Mini you look at will have some form of mushrooming unless the individual never drove on city streets with pot holes and bumps, or possibly switched to non-runflats immediately. Its really not that big of a deal. So many people on here think its a problem with the actually frame of the shock tower. I have asked people who actually know what they are talking about and its not the thin sheet metal that is the weak link but the strut plate. Or so an individual who I trust says so...

From searching:

thread on repairing it if you want to

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...om-repair.html

 

I have no problems with my sunroof. The only caution is the same one for any kind of car--some areas of the country (very sunny and hot) you may get not only minimal user of a sunroof but it will cause the AC to overwork. I personally love them and would not consider a car without the option. Thye MCS has only a mesh slider to cut down on light, not a solid one like some cars.

The other thing you should check is the Power Steering Pump and fan. Earlier MINIs have a separate pump run by an electric motor that tends to short out and the fan and fan relays sometimes fail. The fan is also somewhat exposed and gets fouled up by dirt and debris. Whe the car is at operating temp and you turn on the AC, the PS fan should come on. Do a search and there is lots on this issue.

Beginning in '03 (build date after April, I believe) you can put a connection to the AUX in your radio for an Ipod or other gadget. (build date is in door frame) (BTW, the color of the car is shown under the bonnet on the pass side near the door frame)

Check the age of the battery, mine was original after 4 years and was OK, but some report sudden failure when they are about that age.

The real noise issue with earlier MINIs are the run-flat tires. The MCS does not have a spare (battery is in the rear under the floor panel. The run-flats tend to be noisy. I replaced mine with Goodyear Eagles and got a donut spare (spares from Jettas and small chevys fit, but check bolt pattern and onlky use on rear wheels).


Packages: Standard packages(and original cost) are:

Combo #1: Premium Package $1,250
Automatic AC
Dual-Pane Panorama Sunroof
Sport w/Cruise and Multifunction
On-Board Computer

Combo #2: Sport Package $1,250
White Bonnet Stripes
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
17" S-Lite with perf. run-flats
Front Fog Lamps
Xenon Headlights w/Power Wash

Combo #3: Cold Weather Package $300
Heated Front Seats
Heated Side Mirrors
Heated Washer Jets

Chrome line exterior' package. It made the front grill[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] chrome as well as the rear boot handle.

You will love it!!

 

i have the dual sunroof. love it ! no way id have one without in the summer.
10k damnnnnnn jump on that! good deal : )

 

Wow, thanks for all the great information. I'm looking for the 1st gen Mini simply because they're cheaper; I'm looking at the 2003 specifically because they're not the very first batch of 2002's so I figured there would be fewer issues, and also because the price isn't as much as a 2004+. If I had the money I'd order a brand new one, but I'm a 21 year-old full-time college student working as a waiter so I don't have that kind of money.

You said that after April '03 they added the ability to connect an iPod, but does anyone know the month of '03 when they changed the suspension to a "softer" setup like MGCMAN mentioned?

Thanks a lot for the package information, that will help greatly when looking for specific features I'd like to have. It will probably be a few months before I actually get a Mini (I need to sell my Passat first), but that gives me time to research as much as I can about them and find the exact one I want.

As of now, what I'm looking for is an '03 Cooper S with as low mileage as I can afford, 6spd manual, sunroof (the first upgrade I'll do is a dark window tint, so I'm not worried about the inability to cover the sunroof to block the light), black leather interior, and preferred color choice is either pure silver, dark silver, black, or dark blue with either a color-matched roof or a black one. Now I just have to find it

 

What are your thoughts on these two cars? The second has obviously had some minor things added as there are blue hoses in the engine bay and some awkward tail lights, but everything else seems good.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...d=1328592&ct=u

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js..._id=66574&ct=u