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Original owner of an '05 R53 with 205,000 miles. I'll be buried in it before I sell it. I was VERY disappointed with the feel of the Gen 2 MINIs ... just didn't work for me. Keeping my '05 forever.
My dad is the original owner of a 2002 R50, ordered in May. He saw the MINI in a newspaper ad and thought it looked really funny. Spec'd and built a few months later. Took a 1200 mile round-trip to New York to pick it up, along with the whole family.
2006 R53 MCS, Silver with Black roof, Dinan S3 suspension and S1 performance upgrades with JCW brakes. She's logged almost 23K miles with most of those happening during the first 5 years of her life in Germany. When I got my 1985 Tdi Defender 110 in 2011 the Cooper became a weekend fair weather car.
I read the list and I may have the oldest Mini. I bought it in Los Angeles at the end of March/2002, build date is 02/2002, 125K and few repairs. Things that I remember:
Brakes, tires, brake fluid flush, window regulator, coolant change, arm control bushings, front speakers, gas cap, purge valve, clutch, alternator, serpentine belt, engine mount, spark plugs, SP cables, the transmission was ok, but since I had to drop it, I decided to change the gears (5-speed manual) Ah! I almost forgot: spark plug #2 popped out of the engine, a quick trip to Napa, bought an insert (on sale for $27) and the car was back on the road the next day.
The list may look long, but this is a 14-year old car. I think it has been reliable, because most of the parts I have changed, would be considered maintenance parts.
I need to replace the rest of the engine mounts, change struts, get new tires, A/C compressor is getting tired and a new window regulator. We have a Countryman S too, and I prefer to drive my little old car everywhere.
edit: radiator fan replaced too.
I also forgot to mention that I've done all the repairs. I've found most of the information here.
Bought my MC40 new in '04. She still runs like a dream and I'm in love with it. The whole MC40 package is still intact but I had to replace the decals and the shift **** since they got kind of worn. I will never sell this car!
Still here, although I haven't been around much. Still own my '05 MCS which I ordered and took delivery, Aug 17, 2005 in Long Beach. The car has less than 32K miles . . . and still drives like a brand new car.
Coming up on 11 years and the only gripe I've had is minor . . . changing the passenger side hydraulic motor mount twice.
The car is just as it was when took delivery, however I did add a Dinan strut tower brace a few years ago
march 2004 MCS BRG and I ordered it just the way I wanted it (most options but not the giant wheels) the first time i have done that in 50 years of buying mostly used cars or a pervious year 'new' car off of the dealer lot... added things i wanted like the XM satellite radio gadget to the HK with Nav cockpit and a nokia bluetooth hands free kit that was fine till I replaced the nokia and found the kit only does nokia blue tooth... (so I am about to do a parrot that will work with the MFSW...) other mods were a pair of Union Jack rearview mirror covers euro parcel shelf and a bunch of other stuff that was sold in the uk but not in the US like the first aid kit and mounted hazard triangle. Ian Cull's auto window up kit was done that summer. and I have my Mini just the way I want it.
I have looked at the newer MINIs but I don't care for the Turbo engine (love the sound of a supercharger) and the change in the Nav system putting the speedometer around the screen just looks ugly to me.
so I am religious with service intervals and other upkeep and it lives in a heated garage in my basement and I plan to have until it is a problem for my heirs
I fell and Broke my Neck (compound C2 fracture) last July and the recovery from that has been bette than I could have hoped with very little neuro impairment... That said 15 week not able to drive was on of the worst parts of the halo collar restrictions... I live alone and having to ask folks for help so much dented my self reliant soul.
Now the big problem returning to driving has been the reduced head rotation and so I have been considering my options... the obvious one is that the MINI is getting old and if I want all the new hotness of lane departure blind spot protection etc. than a new car is the quick fix... but I love my Supercharged MINI... right now O am considering this gadget https://support.pearlauto.com/hc/en-us
and I was wondering if any here have tried it?
The winter muck on the roads in Maine will limit its usefulness a bit I guess but it seems a workable solution to my main head rotation problem.
Originally Posted by windshadow
march 2004 MCS BRG and I ordered it just the way I wanted it (most options but not the giant wheels) the first time i have done that in 50 years of buying mostly used cars or a pervious year 'new' car off of the dealer lot... added things i wanted like the XM satellite radio gadget to the HK with Nav cockpit and a nokia bluetooth hands free kit that was fine till I replaced the nokia and found the kit only does nokia blue tooth... (so I am about to do a parrot that will work with the MFSW...) other mods were a pair of Union Jack rearview mirror covers euro parcel shelf and a bunch of other stuff that was sold in the uk but not in the US like the first aid kit and mounted hazard triangle. Ian Cull's auto window up kit was done that summer. and I have my Mini just the way I want it.
I have looked at the newer MINIs but I don't care for the Turbo engine (love the sound of a supercharger) and the change in the Nav system putting the speedometer around the screen just looks ugly to me.
so I am religious with service intervals and other upkeep and it lives in a heated garage in my basement and I plan to have until it is a problem for my heirs
