Good Morning Gents,

I'm looking to buying a 2006 Mini Cooper S - manual - convertible this weekend. Curently has 68,000 miles. I've done research on the car in general and it seems like they have issues with the clutch, power steering pump, control arm bushings. Those are the main things that i've seen discussed. I'm not trying to cause a stir but from reviews, the car is being labelled as unreliable. I'm sure there are many of you that have had success. I just want to hear your reviews and stories. I think it's a good deal and i want it but i don't want to let my emotions to get a head of me. Thanks

 

Keep in mind in car forums you only hear from the owners who are having troubles usually. As with any car some go 200,000 miles trouble free others only make it 50,000. So your going to hear from the 50,000 mile owner complaining about his car.. Of the first few Gen models alot of people say the 1st Gen is the car to have. They all have their troubles here and there but now the first Gens are cheap and have a pretty good aftermarket parts world, or atleast you can find one in a junk yard to scavenge parts from if need be..Alot of it depends on how you drive and maintain it of course..

 

That is a very low mileage Gen 1 Mini. MINIs, with proper maintenance, have gone hundreds of thousands of miles. The key is proper maintenance. Service records are a good source of how the car has been maintained. A carfax would be great. An absolute must is a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified dealership or independent shop. The areas of concern you stated are valid: however, many can be considered normal wear and tear Buy it, enjoy it...but do your homework first.

 

I'm with N2MINI. Mine is a 2004 S (Gen 1) that I bought with 125,000 miles on it, so I expected maintenance issues from the start (it's not my daily driver). My replacement list includes front wheel hubs/bearings, crankshaft seal, crank position sensor o-ring, supercharger air duct gasket, a/c compressor, coil, valve cover, plugs, SC pulley, serpentine belt, timing chain tensioner, rear shocks/struts, plus various other gaskets and hoses - all this in addition to quite a bit of cosmetic work. But I really enjoy the car, and love tinkering with it. Bear in mind that my MINI is 15 years old and I expected to have to work on it (and wanted to). So ... my advice would be to stay away from a Gen 1 MINI if you are not proficient with a wrench and/or don't have a high level of time, patience or disposable income (or an understanding partner).

 

Low mileage is encouraging. Get it inspected. My 2005 "justa" is my daily driver and has 157k miles on it. Its needed basic maintenance and with those miles you expect to have to replace some worn out parts, but I do what I can myself, and its still going great (touch wood). If it checks out and the price is right it could end up being the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

 

 

I get ~30mpg from my "non S" 1st gen, but its premium (93) fuel. Something like a Civic is probably more reliable and cheaper to run, but probably not a much fun, and will fill more of your garage. And doesnt have the rag top...so DEFINITELY not as much fun. Mind you, that may depend on your location. thats South Carolina weather speaking, if I was still in Canada the frustration of driving top up for a lot longer would probably be a negative factor...

 

My '06 Cabrio had 165,000 miles on it when I sold it. It was a very low maintenance car for me. Changed the oil everytime the computer told me too. Thermostat gasket had to be changed 3 times, 3rd brake 1 time, Front axles once but was probably because it was lowered quite a bit. Had the tranny flushed 1 time, 1 accessory belt change and still had the OEM spark plugs, coil, and clutch. Yet this car did BMW Performance Center Events, Auto-x, VIR a few times, club runs and Dragon twice a year...So they are tough cars...

 

As far as work on the 1st Gen MINI is concerned, this had to have been the easiest vehicle I have ever worked on or modded. Sure, you just about need to pull the front off for nearly everything you do, but it's actually very simple and goes right back together with little to no hassle. These cars were made to go into front end service mode very quickly and simply.

Between that, the price, the modability, and the fun factor, I can see why MINIs are so popular where I live. Adding on the convertible feature, and you got a good year round daily driver! My gas mileage is currently around 25-27 on a "spirited driving" tank and 28-30 on a conservative driving tank.

 

If your paycheck depends on your car's reliablility, I would be looking for a Toyota instead of an old english car.

 

I've driven an R53 since 2003, and my dad had one for 10 years. I've driven nearly 200,000 miles in them between the 2 that I've owned. (both 2003 models)
I think they're generally reliable. My first R53 went 155,000 miles before I got hit by a snow plow (no injuries, totaled the car) other than oil changes, brakes, and tires, I had to replace the front lower control arm bushings
the strut mounts
the radiator
the crank pulley
door lock actuators
power steering pump/fan (eventually covered under recall)
new struts at 100,000 miles
I'm pretty sure that was all. I never needed a new clutch and it always started and ran. Not too bad for a car that was driven cross country many times and saw way too many dirt roads and off road adventures. I had it for 12 years.

After it was killed by the snow plow, I replaced it with another 03 that had 55,000 miles on it. It had been well maintained, already had new lower control arm bushings and has most of the aftermarket bolt ons, like a cold air intake, super charger reduction pulley ect.
It's been very reliable for the 33,000 miles I've put on it. I put new struts on it, and recently had to put a new alternator in it, but it gets me to work everyday and I play with it on tracks on the weekends.

In general I'd say that these cars a maybe a bit higher maintenance than a honda civic, because the do need the fluids changed regularly, and they have some common problems, like the crank position sensor o-rings like to leak oil, the control arm bushings go bad, the power steering pumps fail, and the low speed cooling fan can fail. But in my experience if they're taken care of, they'll run very reliably. Especially if you have the mustang as a back up, I think a MINI would be a great daily driver. On the highway, you ought to be able to get low 30's for mpg, and you will really enjoy driving it.

 

Let me throw in my two cents for your consideration.

I purchased a 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible last November with 13,500 miles. I do not do my own mechanical work, and depend on a trusted mechanic with some but not extensive MINI experience. When I bought it I had him go over it and take care of everything that was needed. He did all the routine stuff including flushing and replacing all the fluids, Replaced a rear strut, the ignition wires and thermostat housing. The total cost was $1,250. I am sure it was more than it needed but I wanted it perfect. It was out of service for a week waiting for parts.

In the first year, I drove it 4,500 miles including using it as a daily driver for about half of the summer (1 hour commute with heavy rush hour and city traffic). After the year, I had him go over the vehicle completely, do a synthetic oil change, rotate tires and replace the O2 Sensor - the warning light came on just before the scheduled service. The second service was $445.


I would recommend a MINI Convertible to someone who enjoys the go-cart like driving experience. My opinion is that the MINI convertible provides more of a convertible experience than most convertibles on the market due to the shape of the vehicle and the distance to the windshield. You look forward and see the sky where in many cars, your forward view is pure windshield. From everything I have heard, the last of the first generation, are the most reliable and have the most go-cart like drive.

I would not recommend one for you for your long commute as your daily driver. The maintenance cost, time waiting for parts, cost of fuel and inconveniences of a 12 year old car make it a tough car to recommend for your need. While less than a V8 Mustang, the MINI consumes more fuel than some other options and it requires premium. While I said I believe it to be the most reliable MINI, that is when the age is factored in.

There are also quirks that need to be considered. The rearward visibility out of the convertible is pathetic. You have to adjust your driving style to account for the fact that the rear view is slightly larger than a post-it note. NEVER pull into a parking space, you will need to back out of the space several feet before you can see anything. Technology from 2006, augmented by things powered by the 12-volt outlet. The quirks make it unique and are part of why we love them (a distant second to the go-cart drive), they can get annoying in a long daily commute.

I recommend that you consider a Mazda as an alternative. Mazdas are as reliable as Toyota and Honda (as with everything above - purely my opinion). Mazdas, however, have a much more enjoyable drive than Toyotas and Hondas. Mazdas make a great daily driver for someone who enjoys driving but needs to know that the car will be ready to go every day of the year. Another alternative may be a late 2nd generation MINI 2012 or 2013, however, I defer that recommendation to others.

 

*edit

 

As far as common stuff, you pretty much hit them all. Suspension parts wear out mostly, things leaks, etc....also check engine and transmission mounts. As far as the clutch goes, it's just like any other car....mine went 160,000 miles before it crapped out. And I'm still on the stock power steering pump. I've heard of some only going 60,000 miles....it all depends on how it was driven.

I would not label these cars as unreliable......it all depends on how you take care of them, and service them. Just keep in mine, you are looking at a 12year old car.......anything 12 years old could/might/will have some issues. That's just how it is.

 

 

 

 

It's really interesting hearing all of you guys experiences. I bought my 2005 r52 ns, auto, in 4/2016.I had all the service records from when it was new. I spend about $1,200.00 on having all the fluids changed, all the filters changed, and a couple of other maintenance items. The first couple of tanks of gas I got about 28 MPG combined driving. Then the mod bug hit and I got addicted to modding the car as it was the 'most fun' car I have ever driven. Knock on wood, I haven't had any serious problems in the 26,000 miles I have put on the car. No, it is not my daily driver. I have a hybrid Ioniq that get about 52 MPG...but is boring as hell to drive.