So I've owned my 06 cooper S for about 2 weeks now. I was paranoid and almost against the purchase from some of the reliability reviews and passed up several lower mileage vehicles that looked plain abused mechanically. The one I got has just over 100k on it, but appeared to be in good mechanical shape. I've been inspecting the vehicle with a magnifying glass over the past few weeks. So far I've fixed rally lights that didn't work, and a few running bulbs, broken cup holder, broken cigarette lighter ring, alta cai that was ripped, broken crankcase vent hose. I pulled apart the intercooler today and it was gummed up so I gave it a acetone bath. I also reset the fuel consumptiom / dash computer Did a fresh full synthetic oil change. I have a new set of plugs / wires on the way.

to my surprise I see one of the previous owners already put a alta reduction pulley on the car everything else besides the intake appears to be stock.

On to my questions I have for the more experienced mini owners is there anything else I need to check for or replace since I got 100k on the clock? Don't get me wrong I'm not made of money or looking for ways to just give it away but if it's something I need to do I'd rather spend a little now then a lot later. I also plan on trying to eventually get a few more ponies under the hood. I just wanna make sure what I got is healthy enough for it before I proceed.

 

Check the front lower control arm bushings.....they are notorious for going bad. Stand in front of your car and kick the front tire....the front edge of the tire so you are putting pressure trying to force it to the back of the car. If you can see the tire move backwards when you kick it....that means the lower control arm bushings are shot.

Suspension items usulaly seem to start wearing out around 60/80,000 miles....shocks, ball joints, bushings..

Also, check the bypass valve to make sure it's closing all the way. Maybe pull the cabin air filter out and replace it. It would probably be a good idea to give the brakes a good check.

Other than that...just drive it and have fun

 

Do you have records of its maintenance history? If not I would be looking at changing out all its fluids as a precaution.

 

I already suspect the suspension has some issues it drives well and straight but I know it needs shocks from the rebound test fail and I drove over some bumps and felt some loose vibration not in the steering wheel but in the wheels themselves.

I will see about getting the coolant , brakes, tranny flushed. Thanks guys great suggestions