Our MINIs are half way through the warranty period at 25,000 miles, so let's see how it's going for those MINIs with more than 25,000 miles.



TD51044 purchased in June of 2002

Year 1: 29,008 miles with ten visits to the dealer and replaced four MINI windshields.

Year 2: (first 10 months): another 14,700 miles (43,700 total) with no warranty repairs and a PPG windshield (the 5th windshield in my MINI) hasn't cracked or rock chipped in 10 months.

 

Well, not yet in the 25K club but getting close at 22K in our '02 Cooper CVT. No problems with the car and still has the original factory windshield, intact!

It has had 4 software updates (Currently running on V36, some early CVT operation issues successfully solved under version 33.2)

1 oil change so far (at 10K miles) and the next one due up (Second scheduled maint) in about 1,700 miles.

Still on original factory Continental 15" non-runflat tires and 8-spoke wheels.

TE12549, August 2002 build, delivered September 7th, 2002.
_________________
'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, MFSW, CD Boost, 15" 8-Spoke silver wheels.
'04 MCS CR/W, UJ Roof Flag, Aux Input, HK, Sport MFSW, Rain sensing, Auto dim mirror, 16" silver V-spoke wheels, Chrome grille, Chrome mirrors, OBC, front fogs.

 

31K miles

* 4 windshields
* PCV hose replaced
* tires replaced
* radiator overflow replaced due to leaky cap (not a bad seam)
* ECU software update to fix stumble (originally accused by dealership I didn't know how to drive a stick and use the clutch!!!! -- stupid dealer)
* 4 wheel alignment done @ ~12K (needs another already)
* diode addition to power steering fan electrical system
* Brake fluid replaced
* Speaker rattle (fixed twice!)
* door rattle
* sun-roof re-alignment (twice!)

 

I'm at just about 25,000 miles (a little over). In the 22 months I've owned my 8/02-build MCS, never once has it left me stranded nor have I had to have it flat-bedded to the dealer. Maybe I'm applying out-of-date standards, but to me, a bottom line on car reliability is how often it ends up "on the hook" at the back of a towtruck. Using this criteria, the MINI has been very reliable.

Still, I have had on-average about one trip to the dealer every 3 months to address various not-deadly problems. I plan on a full 2 year report at the end of the summer, but a rough list of replaced parts/addressed issues includes:

Coolant tank replaced (twice)
Windshield replaced
Rear wiper motor replaced
Passenger seat airbag replaced
Seatbelt airbag sensor replaced (twice)
Seat airbag connectors replaced
Sunroof cassette (everthing but the glass) replaced (after multiple attempts to address rattle)
Rear boot latch replaced (after 2 trips for adjusting)
Boot Power Relay installed (part was accidentally not installed at Oxford assembly)
Bonnet height/latch adjustment (and repainting of front strike area)
Rear seatback latch adjustment/replacement (I'm not sure which...but it doesn't rattle anymore)
DME (ECU) software reflash - 3 times

I'm probably forgetting something, but you get the idea. Lots of little niggling problems that have made ownership annoying at times (the airbag light thing was particularly maddening), but nothing exactly terminal.

 

28K Miles

Purchased in 10/02

1st Oil Service @ ~12K Miles

2nd Visit -

3rd Visit - SES, EML Light -

4th Visit - SES, EML Light, Rough Idle, Stalling @ Idle

5th Visit - SES, EML Light, Rough Idle, Stalling @ Idle

Overall, my experience has been good, my dealer has been the best to work with. I do have to say however, that this car has been in the shop much more than any new car I've ever owned. I write that off to the fact that it is a 2002 (1st model year) and the excellent service I receive @ MINI/Autohaus of St. Louis makes it pretty easy to handle.

My next service (Inspection 1, I think) is coming up in about 1700 miles or so.

_________________
BigBrownDog
2002 MCS Chili Red / White
Webb EVM Package
Collinsville IL / St. Louis MO Area

 

td61441 picked up Dec 28th 02 with 5 miles on it.
* first service at about 13000 miles, rear suspension bolt replaced (recall)
* second service 34000 miles replaced rear latch (broke when leaving dealer) and water bottle replaced.
*new tires at about 35000 miles.
Currently at 37000+

Other than that nothing. This is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

Nik

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03 LY/W MCS -- Alta CAI, Alta 15% pulley, and XM radio. 37000 miles, all smiles.

 

jsun:

"Passenger seat airbag replaced"

That's an unusual repair! What led up to that?

 

well i'm not in the 25,000 mile club yet but have put 16,000miles on my MC in 9 months
nothing has gone wrong that the car won't go
glove box door ,replaced. brake computer would not turn on left brake light, 'replaced computer. rear wiper motor would slow and stop ,replaced motor, door handles froze ,replaced withgreat work by tech,did tests outside -20 for hours to make sure he knew problem MINI Canada did not believe his idea at first . not internal cable problem ,snow and ice in door handle would not let door cycle to latch again .easy to deal with now just
clean out snow from handle ,they did replace handles with ones with stronger springs
High end BMWs also had this problem,
don't know there fix

 

:smile:

As far as reliability though, we are on our 4th coolant tank - the last one replaced almost a year ago and all is well. We still smile every time we get in her... :smile: :smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

>> :smile:
>>
>>As far as reliability though, we are on our 4th coolant tank - the last one replaced almost a year ago and all is well. We still smile every time we get in her... :smile: :smile:
>>
>>Chow!
>>
>>Donna
great to hear about that kind of miles already
I'm going to drive mine to hell and back,, then on weekends
not hard on the car

 

Just over 25,000 miles, I bought it used in Jan 2003 with 8,400 miles on her. Since this mini was an early build car most of the trips to the dealer were for upgrades.

New front struts and other misc suspension parts.
New seat adjuster mechanisms.
Replaced coolant tank and flushed coolant system.
Flashed ECU for hard cold start, resulted in stumble that wasn't there before.
Flashed ECU with V36, no stumble.
Front seat backs popped off, fixed twice.
Seat belt rattle, not fixed yet.
Brake fluid flushed at 25k mile service.
Warped front rotors, replaced with Powerslot (my cost)
Still on original windshield with lots of chips.

This has been the most fun car I have ever owned bar none. Most of the trips to the dealer have been good experiences even though this is the first new car that I've owned that required so many dealer visits. I attribute that to the fact that its a new model and I am more picky about everything to do with it. I have always been a "car" guy and this is the perfect car for me. Fun to drive and lots of potential for customizing to my tastes. My main problem now is my wife wants to drive it and I hate to share my baby.

 

I drove MINI #1 for 13,800 and traded her in for Wanda, who now shows 25+K miles on her odometer. The engine has been fantastic!!! I've had a few niggling issues with troublesome interior door handles, and some intermittent rattles. I had to replace the windshield...GRRRRRRRRR! :evil:

But, all in all, I would say I've gotten more enjoyment driving these MINIs than from any other cars I've ever owned or driven. I give a big thumbs up to my MINI!

 

'03 MC (24K MI):

Running like the day I bought it, which includes a leaking rear tire they wouldn't fix. Mechanically, I've had absolutely no problems with the car at all.

 

5/2002 build MC with 22.5k miles. Still on original set of runflats and good for another 10k miles (estimated). Replaced A/C compressor due to bad bearing. Replaced boot latch. THAT'S IT !!!! Now am I the luckiest MINI owner or what?

Oh sure, the car has some minor rattles and squeaks, but I've learned to live with it. I'm having too much fun to notice.

 

24500miles:

Coolant tank replaced- warranty

Windshield replaced- Global Imports MINI denied warranty for stress fracture. no chips or cracks in 9 months since replacement with aftermarket PPG brand windshield.

Rear brake pads and rotors replaced- warranty

Boot latch rattle- electrical tape fix

3 oil changes

I got a fantastic MINI which has been nearly flawless. I've never been stranded by the side of the road or suffered yoyo or stumble.

 

i have over 40k on mine, coolant tank change and thats it,
i have had other problems but no fault of the mini's(just some from trial and error on testing ideas, still nothing major)

 

I have an August 2002 build MCS and have accumulated about 18500 miles. Most trips are lengthy. . .probably averaging about 50-60 miles. My computer acutally didn't call for my first service until about 15,000 miles. I have yet to take it in for service, in fact, and I just scheduled my first for this Tuesday. I HAVE changed my own oil and filter at approximately 5000 miles intervals. It is a second car, hence the relatively low milage. . . my daily driver is a 1991 Saab 9000 Turbo that has just passed 250,000 miles!

I, too, have many of the various squeeks and rattles that seem to plague so many, and you know what? I have learned to live with them. Reading the posts citing sunroof replacements makes me wonder, why? If there is an inherent flaw in the design and it is replaced with the exact same unit, inevitably, the replacement will rattle in an identical way. Of course, if you are particularly unlucky, your new sunroof will rattle AND your roof will get scratched during the installation.

My coolant tank oozes. I have not experienced any coolant loss, and my heat shield does not wear crusted coolant clothes. It will be replaced when I take it in for service, though, as it should not "ooze" at all.

Quite honestly, the numerous squeeks and rattles are the only thing detracting from an otherwise delightful car. I would have expected fewer rattles on a $10,000 KIA. . . and had that KIA rattled as enthusiastically as my MINI I probably would have returned to the dealer disgusted demanding they take back my car. No new car should rattle like the MINI, regardless of price.

But this is what is really interesting. The MINI is so charming, so much fun, that I easily overlook these otherwise glaring defects. Its like the girl in high school who smoked, cussed . . . but took your breath away every time you saw her.

 

almost 40k miles

6 trips to the dealer for the airbag light (in past 2 months)
included in those trips..
3 times for dash rattle
and a new problem of car not always starting.
plus brake noise

Can you say LEMON

 

46k miles:

- coolant tank replaced
- steering rack replaced due to leak
- clutch mater cylinder replaced due to a leak
- driver's side power window not working - waiting until next service to get it fixed as I am 3 hours from the dealer

 

28,600 miles, 07/02 build
1 sunroof rattle.....fixed myself
2 expansion tank leak...fixed with an aluminum one from Forge


That's it. Still have original windshield, no yo yo.

It does have 15% pulley, madness intake, Hsport springs, ASA wheels with Goodyear F1's and Quicksilver exhaust

 

18000 miles Aug 02 MCS.

Only show-stopper issue I've had was having to replace the coolant tank. Thanks to this board, I was aware of the issue and caught it as soon as it happened. I still keep an eye on the coolant tank now just in case.

I have a small rock chip in my windshield, got that patched up and when something else happens to the windshield, I'll replace it. No stress cracks.

Aside from nagging rattles, this car has been a delight.

 

Thought this link would be of interest...

MINI2 news article

 

I'm just past 47k miles. The only warranty issue I've had is an airbag light coming on for no reason and a stress crack in the windscreen. The car seems to run as good, or better, than it did on day one.

 

>>well i'm not in the 25,000 mile club yet but have put 16,000miles on my MC in 9 months
>>nothing has gone wrong that the car won't go
>>glove box door ,replaced. brake computer would not turn on left brake light, 'replaced computer. rear wiper motor would slow and stop ,replaced motor, door handles froze ,replaced withgreat work by tech,did tests outside -20 for hours to make sure he knew problem MINI Canada did not believe his idea at first . not internal cable problem ,snow and ice in door handle would not let door cycle to latch again .easy to deal with now just
>>clean out snow from handle ,they did replace handles with ones with stronger springs
>>High end BMWs also had this problem,
>>don't know there fix
>>
>>
>> At 20k miles my MC is doing fine,10 months,now we start to see how it lasts

 

Not as far down the road @ 15.5K but other than a couple of rattle fixes and a seat that was restitched at one corner where it meets the hard plastic, nothing has needed attention. Looks like a vote for high reliability from this corner.