I have an 02 Coopeer with 117,000 miles on it. CVT failed at 113,000. Mini wanted to charge me $10,400 to repalce it with a rebuilt CVT that I was told would only last 25,000 to 50,000 before it wouold fail again. I thought for sure I would have to send my car to the junk yard until I found out that Way Motor Works of Atlanta would do a CVT to manual swap. I now have 6 speed Cooper S transmission in my Cooper and it ROCKS!! Other than the CVT that was really the only major issue that I had. Of course my power windows stick from time to time. (a mallet works great for that) and I had a couple minor leaks but nothing too big. I am hoping to get quite a few more years out of my Mini.

 

I find that very hard to believe that he is still on the original CVT. Mini built such crap with those things!!! If it is true it is quite a miracle. Mini made me lose faith in them over the whole CVT thing (and poor customer service) that I have contacted the lawyers regarding the class action suit against them and their faulty CVTs. I love my Mini but I would never buy a new one. I won't give them the satisfaction of my business.

 

Amy,

I am curious
of the cost of the conversion?
I belong to two clubs in columbus area and cleveland area
did you ship the car to atlanta?
steve

 

I'm almost to 265k (264,433 yesterday). I know Harold Stansfield hit 500K in his just a week or so ago too. His story: http://www.miniusa.com/haroldqa/index.html

My latest update: http://dbmini.us/the-road-to-300k-miles/

 

She just hit 105k today, after taking a trip to NV this weekend. She done real good

 

My MCS just turned 135k. 2 clutches later, i haven't had any problems. I do my own work myself.

 

My daughter's '03 R50 is at 114K with the original CVT - ssshhhhhh! It still runs perfect. Had a scare last year where it was stumbling accelerating froma stop, throwing transmission codes. Mini service told me the trans was shot. I changed the plugs and wires, and that was 4K miles ago, so I think they were %$@#$! wrong!

I hope it lasts, she loves this car (her first). It's Liquid Yellow, with a black top and full glass moonroof. Lots of options too. People think it's only a few years old it's in such great condition.

BTW, during the "Scare" I found a guy in the UK who rebuilds / exports the CVT trannys, would have been $2400 US shipped. If anything goes wrong in the near future thats the route I'll take.

 

A friend of mine has a 2002 justaCooper. This month he went over 500,000! Regular maintenence (+ 2 valve jobs) only.

 

It's just the CVT showing its age, my car does what you experienced. I switched the spark plugs and coils as well, felt like it helped at the time but sure enough the stumble is there. Especially when going from park to drive

But it's still running strong

 

My '03 MCS has 100,524 miles on it. Plan on driving her until she can't go anymore!

 

109,846 on my '04 R53. put them all on myself!

 

Hehe Congrats on all miles have done

Here is a few of my pics of my 2003 Mini Cooper, from our recent trip.
(97,000 miles)

 

My 2003 r53 is almost at 126k. Everything has been pretty healthy with it. Before me, the owner replaced the PS pump, but that was the only major repair. Still on my original clutch, too! Our other MINI, 2005 r53 is at 182k on a rebuilt engine because of a faulty tune.

 

I have 116,000 miles on my 2003 MC (non-S). I bought it used in 2007 with about 45K miles so I've driven it more than the original owner.

My power steering pump quit working but rather than replace it, I took it out and cleaned about 2 lb of copper/graphite dust out of the workings. It's still a bit noisy but 2 years later still going.

My clutch release bearing failed at about 105K miles and I had a local independent shop replace it and the clutch for about $2100. He said the clutch was at least 75% there and really didn't need to be replaced but I said do it while you have it out.

My R65 Midlands started whining on deceleration about 2 months ago. I rebuilt it myself and found that the main bearing on the output shaft had failed.

About the only other issue is that my drivers-side electric door lock doesn't work but I just use the key.

 

My 2002 MC has 210000 miles. I have done the brakes twice, had the front wheel barings replaced at 160000. I LOVE my mini though yesterday got the sad news that I need to rebuild the tranny and I am struggling with should I or just move on to a new Mini.

 

I have a couple of questions for you:

[] With that many miles, what is the body like? Is it rusty, turning into a Fred Flinstone-mobile...?

[] Are you happy with the car, or are you tired of old-faithful?

[] What sort of tranny is it, and how much will it cost? Remember, even automatics can be converted to manuals for less than the cost of a rebuilt automatic I hear.

Just remember, a car payment is a nuisance for a long time, but repairs on a car that owes you nothing are somehow easier to take sometimes... Unless cancer has gotten the body so bad you get wet when it rains, maybe keeping your old friend is not such a bad idea...

I think we ALL would be interested in seeing what a car with that many miles looks like. Mine looks like new and has almost 136,000 miles on it... i would definitely keep mine if it gave me that good of service. Newer is not necessarily better always.

Let us know what you do.

Wayne

 

I love my 03 MC R50, the newer ones just are not as cool since they are more mass-market friendly. Even if I had to replace it, I think I'd be looking for a nice R50 rather than a new one. Besides, my R50 is loaded and a new one with similar options is pushing $30K.

If you've been over 200K miles on the original tranny, you've done really well. As I can tell you, rebuilding it yourself is certainly a bigger job than an oil change but doesn't take any special skills or even much in the way of special tools. I know it's possible to approach the point of no return on a high mileage car, but that would be when your average monthly repair bill is exceeding the cost of a new(er) one.

 

Here's the failed bearing from my R65 Midlands rebuild project. This is the inner race on the output shaft roller bearing. (The bearing at the differential end of the shaft.)

The rollers looked good and the outer race was also smooth. Not sure what might have cause this. The oil I drained out was clean, there were almost no metal pieces in the case, and I really don't ever drive it hard.

My guess is that it's just fatigue-related. As I understand common roller bearing failures you get metal fatigue due to repeated load and eventually you get some pieces flaking off. Those pieces can sieze the rollers and cause them to slide rather than roll and you get this sort of damage.

Anyway, I have all new bearings in the unit now and I replaced the fluid with full-synthetic Red Line. So I'm hoping that's the last I'll have to mess with the transmission...

 

P.S. If you DO decide to sell because its "used up", maybe you should give me/us first-crack at it cheap.... never know, I could use another Mini for my wife! hahahahahahahahaha

 

I am currenty at 114k on my 04' S, First clutch is just starting to go, but i have done the lower control arms already and the front axle had to replaced (not the car's fault, just live in an area with wicked potholes), brakes once, and my AC compressor burned out already, but other then that running strong. Glad to see people getting 250+ and still running strong and still on the fence about ditching their minis!

 

The body is in great shape just a few nicks on the hood from many miles of sanded winter roads in Maine. It's a 5spd manual, and I got a few folks getting back to me on estimates. I have never replaced the clutch and will do both at the same time if I go with repair option.

Not tired of the car at all and I like others here like the R50 better than the newer models, though I have only driven the 2011 model and only once. I call this car my working' Mini because it carries my dive gear, tanks, field gear, hauls the bike, dogs, and whatever else's I need. It's no sunny day driver and we been places some jeeps have never been

No this is a financial decision if I went with my heart this Mini would be in my drive for another 200K.

 

 

Yup, i tend to like the first gen looks better then the 2nd or 3rd gens. Im sure a number of you have tried the newer models and glad to here some prefer the 1st gens. ^-^

Being the only mini cooper around here in the city lately is nice, from the stares and pointing, and comments, it's nice Just wish i can see and meet more mini's on the road, n ones who don't just look away from you while passing you (tend to notice newer models owners do) is just plain rude -_-

N i laugh when i see people in even mini's stop at a POS Gas Station :D

By the way INDI Blue Rocks for older models :P (Hope you all enjoy the pictures i post up too!)

 

2003 MC R50, almost 116K miles.

 

pic in my gallery, 02 MC R50 136k. still ticking!