I've been reading these boards for a while. Or at least a few months before I ordered my Mini (which I got in Oct of 04.) I also read a lot of other mini forums and at least once a day I see either a new fault or a reoccuring one. Now I'm assuming the people who post on these boards is a small percent of people who actually own Minis. So I've come the conclusion that either Mini's have really bad design flaws, the quality control is horrendous or everyone who frequents these message boards is very unlucky. Anyone else notice this?

Howard

Have you had any problems?

This is typical of messageboards. You see a lot of problem posts.

The thing is, people aren't going to make a post to say my car's got XXXXX miles and no problems. You'll also find that most of the little things "enthusiasts" want repaired are ignored by everyone else.

It's the nature of forums. People are motivated to post when the have a problem. Conversely, when everything is fine, people aren't motivated to post "My MINI was flawless again today!"

FWIW, my '02 MINI (a year with a bad reputation for problems) has been problem free for the past 20+ months.

I had a 2004 MCS (9/2003 build) which I owned for 16 months and 17K miles with ZERO problems. That car never went back to the dealer's service dept for anything other than the 10K mile service. No ratles, nothing, zilch, nada.

I sold the car 3 weeks ago and I am waiting for my new '05 MCS hardtop.

My other MINI, a 2002 Cooper CVT, with nearly 28K miles has also been troublefree.

There are excellent MINis out there and the quality has improved dramatically in the 3 years since the cars were first introduced in the US.

In internet message boards, you are likely to read more complaints about owners that experience problems. The vast majority that do have troublefree cars, hardly if ever post here.

Its all relative.

Its just the nature of the forums. Much easier to complain than complement .

Mine is an 03 w 62000+ miles in 26 26 months and no problems

The most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.. hands down...

Nik

Geeez, I shound just like DID


Nik

My car has 40K+,and has had lots of problems,I like this car to much to let it worry me any

*waits for someone to start a "My MINI has XXXXX miles with no problems!" or "My MINI had no problems today!" thread*

I motor 100 miles a day 5-6 days a week,this car rocks in the snow,and holds dry asphalt like nothing else,at least those behind me can never keep up in the twisties

Over 20K miles on my 04 MCS. No major problems. Engine still runs strong. Still lots of fun to drive.

But the squeaks and rattles and vibrations are starting to get annoying (they just started happening recently).

Maybe it's just time to get a fresh one!

Got all those rattles fixed last time the car was at the dealer,should be good for a few tens of thousand more miles

Hello Howard, my 02 MCS has been trouble free for for over 30,000 miles. Everyone was telling us not to do it, but we did and have no regrets. Will soon be buying one for the wifey too. James

Don't get me started I had all sorts of issues with my convertible. They are fixed now, but it required a lot of effort on my part. I was just saying I usually see so many post about issues and very few this car hasn't had any issues.


Howard

Well mine has had lots of issues,needed a new glove box while leaving the dealer lot,day one,then the brake computer stopped sending a signal to the left rear light,Water pump,driver door tweeter,both outside door handles,new tranny,hatch latch and stricker,high/3rd brake light lens,some rattles.

So there ya go,this car can have all kinds of problems,but I love motoring it around,hate driving anything else,and plan on many more miles of uninterupted,as in never stranded,always starts and wants to go like snot motoringdrifting the car on snow packed icy roads,being in total control,holding 4K on the rev counter,and knowing that open bit of road coming up is good to go to WOT and bounce the rev counter,but stay within the speed limit,is why I own this car.

Not a problem free car and most definitely not the most trouble free car I have owned(the three Toyotas we had beat it hands down) I still enjoy driving it.

I do think about the potential problems causing me trouble,with this car,but if my septic tank freezes up I got way worst problemsAnd no matter how I feel about my septic tank,I can't motor on the back roads in it,yuck,and go like nothing else up here,and staying between the ditches on deserted back roads is what the MINI is designed to do,and I plan on letting my MINI make it go like it should,at least twice a day:smile:

I got twisties out bound in the first hundred yards from launch,and the same twisties let me motor through them on the way home,but then brake hard,and get into first fast left turn,hard,let the clutch out and roll homeGoing from the 60mph speed limit to 5 mph is so much fun,
almost as getting from 5 to 60

Model: Cooper
Year: 04
Delivery Date:12/03
Miles to Date:17.5k

Problem: 2 o2 sensors failed.
Solution: Fixed at dealer (01/05).

Problem: Slight dash buzz in 2nd gear.
Solution: Turn up stereo with iPod Interface (installed 01/05).

Problem: Perma-grin
Solution: None

Ya thats how messageboards are... When theres a problem people will post and ask to see if anyone else got the same problem and see if theres a way to fix it. I mean if everything is fine and dandy why would I post that? I mean I would... but I wont start a new thread to say that today my car drove fine no problems to report and tomorrow I do the same... I can tell you now... I will be hated by people on the board very soon...

And just for your information I went and searched on couple of the car thats considered the MOST reliable they have messageboards too... Acura RL and Infiniti (general) and Mercedes E class. I was curious to see if they had any problems compared to the BMW 5 series... and they sure do... I was able to find several threads reporting problems too.

All new cars are going to have problems,sooner or later,get the car you feel good in,drive it as intended,and enjoy.A MINI should get to open up at least once on every motor,well thats just me talking,but they do like to go

You are not the first or will be the last to bring this up. As said by others above many of us without problems or something we can take care of ourselves do not post. We are problem free. Only people wanting ideas about a problem or have something go wrong seem to post their difficulties.

I have an August 02 built MCS and have never had ONE problem with it.

NOT ONE.

I am the original owner and will keep this MINI for life. It will never be sold. It's that great.

Other than my ticking passenger door, which Im going to try to fix soon,
no problems.

On my door I think the sticky plastic and some insulation or something
is sticking and pulling off,etc causing this ticking noise. Going to drop
and hotmelt some felt on the inside door panel.

I'm not sure if this link will work, but here's the JD Powers reliability ratings for MINI Coopers, courtesy of autos.yahoo.com:

Reliability Ratings Comparison on Yahoo! Autos

Basically, the MINI gets two or three stars in most categories. And four stars in style and performance and overall appeal. :smile:

When I was considering my purchase, I went to the library and looked up the reliability ratings in Consumer Reports' annual auto issue. As I recall, the MINI was "Better than Average" or "Much Better than Average" in all the categories, expect Predicted Reliability. What? I guess CR just couldn't believe that the car would continue to be better than average???

P.S. Are you sure this is a British car? Where's the oil stain???