911fan, the amount of happy mini owners speak volumes too. The mini's ecu isn't right picture you paint is wrong too. The mini may be shy of perfection but makes many of us very happy.

 

I've got almost 2 years on my 2003 MCS. I seldom notice the yo-yo and its minor (for me). I've only had 2 experiences where the car did not start on the first try, but I live in a fairly warm climate.

A few people have significant problems with these kinds of issues. Most folks have little or no problem. Your odds are pretty good, and you'll love the driving!

 

All software is revised in cars these days. Saying the V39 is an indicator of poor quality because 39 is a big number is like saying that Mac OS X is indicator of poor quality because X (ten) is a big number. It's an arbitrary number, in fact, it doesn't even indicate a software revision per se, it's a sequential number assigned to each CD distribution of a variety of systems to the dealers.

- Mark

 

No they're not! I'm tired of crass blanket statements like this that are simply untrue! C'mon OM just because you got a lemon don't cop an attitude about all of our cars in general. Ack! Jimbo

 

Take a pill dude!

Besides that, not only did I buy a POS 2005 MINI that was a lemon, but I've now had two loaner MINIs (one a 2003 and one a 2002) that have also broken down on me. Three MINIs in a row all braking down.... I think that I'll stand by my "blanket" statement that ALL MINIs are JUNK!

Now this doesn't mean that I hate the car and would never buy one. On the contrary, I absolutely love it and have now bought TWO of them (actually it's three if you count the lemon that BMW had to buy back)! However, I wouldn't go into the purchase thinking that the MINIs don't have their share of problems as they really do (maybe you just got lucky and got a good one). The guy who started this thread asked if he made a mistake in purchasing a new MINI, and I just gave him my honest opinion (based on my own experiences). If you don't like it then bugger off my friend.

 

I think the number of people with good 'uns far outweighs the people with bad 'uns.........

 

Find a car or car company that has absolutely no problems and you'll probably also find the answer to world peace.

From running a large forum for so many years now i've heard so many horror stories about every single car and car company it would make your head spin. When you pop out hundreds of thousands or event millions of product, your going to have some bad apples. You have to remember alot of the parts are produced out of house and just bolted on in the factory. So when you put all that together you get some nasty things happening to any car, even the ones that cost $60k-$150k.

You think every ferarri on the planet is a car delivered from Utopia? I can imagine they've made a lemon or two in their day, even if they are hand built.

 

Yes, I'm sure that you are right about that. And for my sake I hope that you are. I somehow talked my wife into buying two of them, and if we have problems with them, I'll never hear the end of it (especially after having gone through the whole ordeal with the first one that was a lemon).

 

Yes, you're absolutely right. However, there has to be someone that gets those few lemons in the batch and it's just too bad that one of them found me (as it has indeed left a very sour taste in my mouth). Let's just hope that LeftyS7 (i.e. the bloke who started the thread in the first place) doesn't also get one (nor anyone else for that matter as it really kind of sucks when it happens to you).

The one thing I can say is that both MINI USA and my dealer have been great about it so far. I've not had a single argument from either of them about buying back/replacing the original car (although the process isn't finished yet as my replacement car doesn't arrive until February). I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Trust me, i know your pain to an extent. Ford bought back my SVT Focus which is why i ended up in a MINI. The MINI was my other option when i bought the SVT so when it wasn't an option i went with the MINI. If Ford would have just replaced my car with no cost to me i would be in an 04' SVT right now but they wouldn't do that. Trust me i really liked that car and still miss it to this day when i see one at an autocross or some of the ones i see on our Focaljet forums.

But like i said, if anything were to replace that SVT it would be a MINI. Hey it was kicking my **** at autocrosses anyways heheh.

 

Moving from an 04 MC to an 05 MCS I find the engine to be smoother, have less hiccups, and is a better experience. I do have a bit of a yo-yo, but it is very faint and only if I drive a certain way, otherwise it is perfect.

 

Thats good to hear since i'm doing the same thing! Thanx

 

Having taken delivery last Saturday, I have only 455 miles on my 05 MCS, but I have no yo-yo, no drivability problems. In fact, the MINI drivability is far better than that of the 04 BMW 330Ci I traded for this car. I'm very pleased with the response using light throttle between 3,000 to 4,000 rpm during the breakin. I'm looking forward to getting past the breakin period, but on the knarly county backroads we run on motorcycles, the MINI inhales pavement at bike speeds while working under 4,000 rpm. My bike club members who have no interest in cars don't know what they're missing!

My dealer is 200 miles away, by the way.

 

I had all the sames concerns. I'm coastal remote and a ferry ride away plus an hour drive through clogged roads to get to my dealer, and the last thing I wanted was to be half way to nowhere and breakdown. We don't have a cell coveragte out here so I was ready to cancel too. BUT, I really wanted the car. So, I got myself a satellite phone, now I can always call for help But, we're not going to sell our other vehicle for this first year...just in case.

 

Thanks for all the responses. My wife's car is a Miata, we are members of the local Miata Club and that is a marque that has been through out its history almost without problems. Only one person in the club has had to do anything other than routine maintance. As I told her after my Caterham experiences: "I love this car, you only have to buy parts for it when you want to". I purchased a 315 HP M Roadster and got rid of it within six months because it didn't live up to the expectations I had from driving the Miata. I don't expect the MINI to be perfect because its designed/built by BMW (just that it would be better than '50s- '80s British reliability).

 

I think since they don't leak oil on the showroom floor, they've already got that one covered

edit - if that is honestly your standard, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

 

You’ve made a good choice on a great car. I’ve been driving my 02 MCS over 2 ½ years trouble free and I’m 600 miles from the closest dealer.

 

I have an '05 CVT MC, Liquid Yellow/Black, with quite a few options, but certainly not all by any means.

I live about 150-200 miles from my nearest dealer, in Sacramento, CA. I live in Reno, NV. The distance alone has not been a serious issue. I've taken my car back once for some rattle issues, but will be going back soon for more rattle issues, replacement of my heavily tweaked low-hanging lower front air-dam (my fault, though the MINI being so low does not help), replacement of a cracked front windshield (the fault of a flying high speed pebble while on a long Thanksgiving weekend road trip, though MINI front windshields ARE known for being...less than bullet proof, to say the least! ), and I will also try to get my H & K speaker problems finally resolved. (HA! Fat chance of that!)

This car is already costing me $50 a month more than I planned (funny how that can happen when you buy a new car, eh? ), and what I planned is probably $100 more a month than I can afford. Of course, that's MOSTLY my fault, and not the dealership's. However, I HIGHLY recommend that you ask around on this site for the best dealerships in your "general" area to buy from. Some MINI dealerships suck, and BADLY so. While others are quite stellar in the area of customer service, often going beyond the call of duty to satisfy. My dealership, Niello MINI of Sacramento, is one of the "not so hot" ones, but I could have better protected myself if I'd searched the forum here for good dealership recommendations. (Let the buyer beware!)

All that being said, if I'd not spent too much money (taken it easy on options, shopped around, been patient about a delivery time, etc.) I'd be SOMEWHAT happier with my MINI. She's a beautiful looking car, and everyone I know, or even just meet in passing, LOVES my MINI...rather more than I do, or so I'm beginning to fear. *sigh* (DAMN rattles. )

My car arrived for pick up at my dealership with seats that I had not ordered, but due to circumstances of the moment, I had to take the car. The dealer was unwilling to be of any assistance with that problem, and after being treated like crap by them for awhile...I just gave up on that particular issue. The seats are actually pretty nice, and look fine. It's just...they weren't what I ordered and waited 3 months for. That was frustrating, but...she's a beautiful car, seats and all, so I learned to cope. Such problems are not normal, but they are not uncommon either, so have a back up plan if you feel you need to bail on the day of picking up your car. You don't want to feel trapped by your dealership (no matter how nice they were BEFORE you signed on the dotted line!). So, if you decide to buy a MINI, do your research, be careful, and be prepared for one or two unpleasant surprises. (They MAY not happen, and if so...consider yourself lucky. Very, very lucky.)

I was taken by the MINI early on, as soon as there were a few in my area that I could catch a glance of as they happily drove by. I looked at all (ok, not ALL, but a lot of) the website information available, and...as my old car lease was going to be ending soon...I took a chance, and took the plunge. If the car was not too much car for me moneywise, I'd likely be happier. Of course, if they could ever get around to fixing my pesky rattle problems...for good, and my funny speaker rattles and squeeks, then I'd likely be pretty darn happy...despite the cost of the car on my slim budget. If you can afford to buy the MINI you want, without having a heart-attack, and can thereafter afford to fix on your own what the dealership is unwilling to even recognize as a problem, then you will likely be very happy with your MINI. They are a breed apart, truly, though I can't rightly explain why that is. They just are, despite just being...a car, and nothing more. (Like I said, it's hard to explain.)

MINI's are fun cars, even when they are being tempermental, as long as they are not being TOO tempermental. A good dealership can likely make all the difference in the World, even if you have to travel two States away to get to one. If you have to seriously play around with your budget to buy one, DON'T! If your budget is that small (or just not that LARGE), then look at more affordable, more economical transportation, or a cool used car. The MINI's gas mileage is decent, but not outstanding, so that's something else to consider in this day and age of ever rising gas prices. If I had to do this again, I'd...hmmm...maybe have gotten a Scion xA (four door Toyata built hatchback, kinda cute, though not heavy on stylish mystique like the MINI, but with better gas mileage than a MINI), or...shopped around for a better MINI dealer with a better MINI price, so unreliability issues would be less painful, and more readily solved, WHEN (not IF) they struck. (You can, of course, always go to your nearest MINI dealer for service, even if you bought it on the other side of the Country.)

The choice is yours. If I were you, I'd go with going as far as necessary (200 miles, 500 miles, or 2,500 miles, it doesn't matter) to get a good deal from a GREAT (highly forum recommended, NOT Niello MINI of Sacramento) dealership. Otherwise, as you're driving around in that new Scion xA, or WHATEVER, you may end up driving by a MINI (in just the color you wanted) going the other way...and feel...a pang of regret.

Good luck, and welcome to the club!

P. S. Just for the record, I want to state that...despite occasional inspiring stories to the contrary from a few folks out there...my MINI has never, not once, not ever, gotten me laid...not even a little bit. It's not something that upsets me (though it certainly doesn't make me jump with joy either), it's just something I had to get off my shoulders. (I got the car for me, not "the ladies", but at least one lady, once and awhile, would be sweet.)

*ahem* Now back to your regularly scheduled programing.

 

I think this persons right, we all go through that HOLY CR*P what did i just get myself into, almost like having kids

You could almost campare , no seriously, the car will be great and from looking at the changes that will happen over the next two or so years, mini getting a bit bigger and longer, I think the current car is going to stand out for a long time I am however looking forward to seeing the AWD Mini if they make it but I'm very concerned with the fact that they are changing the engines and body design so much that it's like getting a car that doesn't have all the bugs out......

I put a deposit on mine May 03 and didn't get it til late Feb o4 , that's KALIIFONIAA for you. The point is I had several months to panic and at times I did, in the end I've had nothing to complain about (Other then wanting to MOD the HELL OF OF THE CAR, but I've done that to all my cars!). It's a great car, saves on gas, fun as when you were a kid waiting to open gifts on christmas morning, and the chicks dig it What else you going to want.

Stick with the order, find things to do un-car related until you get it because you will drive yourself NUTS otherwise!!!!!

 

OM while I sympathize with your bad experiences there's no rational reason whatsoever to opine that "ALL" MINIs are junk. This statement is simply untrue, and I'm shocked that an obviously educated person such as yourself would resort to such emotional hyperbole (btw, it's "breaking" down)

However, if you altered your statement to include the words "I've come in contact with" between "All MINIS" and "are junk," then yeah you're absolutely spot right on the mark. I hope your next replacement car can convince you otherwise. Good luck, Jimbo

 

I Love mine, with almost 2yrs and 21k on the clock I have had no problems, yes the ECU could be better but it really has no impact on reliability at all, If you aren't a big gear-head you probably wont even notice those little hic-ups.

The greatest thing, and why I would really have kicked myself If I bought anything else, is the fact that It is still a head turner, It is a distinctive, well made car that still excites me to look at, kids still point and dream of having one one day and the re-sale (not that I would) has held up very well. If I had spent 25k on something that there is 6 or 7 (or more) of exactly like it in a large mall parking lot just terrifies me. 25k is still alot of money to me to spend on a car, and for it to be just like everyone else just would make me sick after 2yrs of ownership

BUY IT.....you will LOVE it.

 

Yes, you're probably right...

However, I have some more fuel for the fire. I just picked up my second brand new 2005 MCS on Monday (actually, it's my third if you consider the first one that MINI had to buy back), and it has been right back at the dealer since Tuesday. If all MINIs aren't junk, then BMW/MINI has some really serious quality control issues to contend with.

Our brand new car (which has less than 50 miles on it) was delivered to us with a huge defect in the sidewall of one of the tires. It's an obvious manufacturing defect since you can see that the flaw is in the molding of the tire. It's pretty bad that MINI let this one go through quality control as the defect could have easily made the tire blow out (and possibly could have caused us to have had a serious accident). I didn't catch it when we picked up the car as it was dark out, but the very next day (in the sunlight), you could see the flaw quite easily. Here's a snap shot of the tire:



The car also had the $250 exterior chrome package installed on it, and all of the chrome parts were completely trashed (how it got let go from the factory like that, I'll never know). Thus, our brand new car has to once again go back into the dealership (after already spending two days there trying to get a new run flat tire put on it) just to have all of the chrome pieces replaced.

I'll grant you that these problems are not really all that serious (and don't really qualify the car as being junk per se), but how come we keep having all of these problem with MINIs??? I'm not convinced that it's just every MINI I come in to contact with that's having these types of problems. I know that you don't like the statement that ALL MINIs are junk, but I'm finding that it's certainly holding true for me.

Now, once again, this doesn't mean that I hate the cars as I don't. I love them and so I'll continue to battle through all of the problems/quarks they seem to have. I guess that we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. You don't think that ALL MINIs are junk, but I certainly do based upon the sampling I've had experiences with.

EDIT: After thinking on this one some more, I guess that the tire really could have been damaged in shipment (if so, the VDC should have caught it though) as could have the chrome bits due to the protective coatings they put on the cars during shipment. It's still a real shame that all of these things happened as it really takes away from the "new car" experience. The car still puts a grin on my face every time I drive it though and our dealer has been absolutely terrific in taking care of the problems for us.

 

OfficeMaven,

I think you should just stop buying cars, find another hobby or something. because you have the utter WORST luck i think i have EVER seen when it comes to cars. Its understood if you have one car go bad or have some serious faults, but your track record is incredible compared to the rest of the forums (NAM or MINI2).

We should all chip in and buy you a Mountain bike.....

 

Ha ha! Yes, I think you are quite right. I'm not sure what's up with me and BMW/MINI. All I know is that before the MINI, I owned VW's for more than twenty years and I never once had a single issue with any of them. They we're always great cars. In fact, the main reason that I bought the MCS in the first place is that it really reminded me of my very first 1983 Rabbit GTI. I loved that car as it was a true "pocket rocket".

BTW, I'm an avid mountain biker too. I ride a Santa Cruz Bullet with a 190 mm Marzocchi Shiver on the front. It's quite a ride and I actually get more of a rush out of my mountain bike than I do my car (and that says a lot since my MCS is a 210 JCW).