Hi everyone!!

I'm thinking of getting a used Mini Cooper S!! But I read some bad things about having problems with the gearbox, and a lot of other small common problems, like strange noises etc.
Then I read something on the web, that from 2004 onwards, a different gearbox was used, which is a lot better then the older one...now I'm a bit confused, which Cooper to buy...I allready found out, that at the end of 2004 there was a "model change", with e.g. having the speedometer and the rev-meter right behind the steering wheel, and all other infos on the large middle "display"...but what else differences are there?!?!
And what year/modell should I get?? I'm on a certain budget, and I found out that a Mini from the end of 2004 would be the maximum I could afford...
I hope anyone can help me out...

Thanks in advance and greetings from germany!!

 

It seems my friend, that you have some mixed information.
As far as the gearbox goes, the 2005 and later gearbox has lower (higher numerically) gears, to help the "get up and go".
As far as the speedo is concerned, if the MINI you are looking at has navigation or the chrono pack, then the speedo will be moved next to the tach behind the steering wheel.
Good luck finding a MINI, and welcome.

 

personally id recommend a 2004 or later mini, mainly due to the fact that those should have a substantial amount of warranty left, plus i remember when searching for mine i learned 02 and 03 cars werent to great on JD power quality surveys, but 04's and later had moved up in quality quite a bit.

remember that 05 and later though are post face lift so they have the shorter gearing and optional LSD possibly, plus 5 hp, but (IMO at least) they are not as good looking as the pre 05's also an 04 will prob be cheaper, just based off of the fact its older (though the whole mini range has very good resale value and an 04 may not be substantially cheaper than an 05)
if you really get to the point of deciding if an 04, or 05/06 model is better there are many threads that list the diffs between them, etc.

also although the 05's and later have shorter gear ratios than 04's and earlier it doesnt necessarily make them better. many people will tell you the shorter gearing is easier to start off with but also causes more "buzz" on the highway compared to the longer 04 units, in the end its more of what ratios really float your boat more and are more suitable to your lifestyle

thats my .02, enjoy and hope to hear about you motoring in the future

 

05+ all the way baby!

 

First: thank you very very much for all that detailled information!!

I think when I said a "2004" Mini, I meant a late 2004 model, which is a "2005" model allready, am I right? If yes, what month in 2004 were the first of them sold to the public? How can I "see" that it is a 2005 model? Is it that the 2005 model got a few more horsepower? (It's 163hp and 170hp here in germany)

I don't care that much if the gear ratios are longer/shorter, I just read that the newer ones have a better gearbox, which doesn't make any problems at all...is this right?!?!

And are there "typical" problems these "Facelift" Minis have?

Thanks again for all your help, I *might* go to my dealer today and test-drive a mini...

 

I'd get a 2005 or 2006 if I had my choice. There are just a few nice refinements and the build quality is a little better.

I say that by comparing my 2003 MCS with my wife's 2006 Cooper. Her MINI just seems a bit more solid, but my MCS has always been one fantastic car too.

In the end, I would find one that still has the remaining factory warranty and spend a few thousand bucks to extend that warranty. Then it doesn't really matter what year it is.

 

I just found out that all Cooper S from 09/2004 on have the 170hp engine, so these are the "2005" models, right?? I think I'll go with one of them, because there are only little differences in price to older models with 163hp!!

Anyone can tell me, if the Navigation system can be installed afterwards, or will it be a lot of work/hasle to install it?
And what other options should the car have?!?! I saw that there are hundreds of options for the mini, but I have no clue, whiche ones are a "MUST", and which ones are just "nice to have"... :-)

 

The 5spd Cooper gearboxes from (I think) 02-04 were the ones with the problems. The 6spd Cooper S boxes and the 05-06 5spds are fine. Personally I'd get an 05-06 for all the little updates they did in those years. Primarily the LSD, but the rest of it is nice too.

IMHO must haves are:
LSD
Multi Function Steering Wheel
Heated Seats

In that order. I would get the Xenons, but I could live without them.

I wouldn't get:
NAV - aftermarket is better and you would lose the center speedo
Leather - aftermarket is better

 

You can get an 05/06 with the center speedo, the only time you get the speedo above the steering wheel is if you order nav or the chrono pack. I don't like either of those options.

Here's a list of differences between our 04 and our 06

design of vent for temp sensor on auto ac
more power
lower gear ratios
*LSD
taillights
headlights
rear fog light moved
grill chrome
washer level light
rear washer lever feels nicer
blinker is louder
3 spoker wheel
mp3 cds
passenger airbag will auto turn off
garage door opener
lights auto off and on
rear view mirror bigger
*anthracite headliner
exterior door handles improved
door armrests bigger
led in inside door handle
clock moved to speedo
ambient lighting above dash
3 piece dash panels
dash is a single piece
tach plastic attached to upper sttering column
*anthracite tach ruing
*anthractite parking brake lever
storage by parking brake
key shape
key opens jsut the hatch
oh sh** handle for front passenger
side flip down visor for driver
tiedown points on the backs of the rear seats
map lights for front seats
exhaust note
rear wiper sprayer
red button on top of dash is no longer red
locking glove box
rear cupholder is bigger
*seven dashboard paint
climate control missing off button
climate control **** different
light for cubby in front of shifter
gas door hinge
seatbelt chime
antenna base is larger
radio **** is larger

 

Good list early apex! Keep in mind when shopping used cars not all of the listed items will be on all cars do to various options the car could be equipped with.

 

Good point. I added a * to all the changes that are option specific. I believe everything w/o a * should apply to all 06s, and possibly all 05s.

 

A lot of it without * is still optional... auto headlights, garage door opener etc.

 

Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth. The JCW Mini's are more fine-tuned in the later years as well, so if you decide to look for a JCW, then it might be a good idea to look for a 2005+. Happy Trails!

 

I'm not sure when the change occured, but I think the later 2005s have a smooth grille surround(the trim around the grille). The tail lights are also different on the '05s and '06s

 

my recommendation above all.. .buy from a MINI dealer. I am not certain if this applies to germany, but beginning this month, MINI now offers Certified PreOwned vehicles which carries factory warranty for another few years, dare i say 3? Not sure here so someone can correct me... but from my MA (motoring Manager), it was matching what BMW's offer for their CPO program.

There are just too many refinements not to recommend an 06 if budget permits. I would also recommend a post 05 model at the very least. I personally love the 3 spoke steering wheel.

Best wishes and welcome to NAM.

 

Any and All years are exceptional for the Cooper S.

 

Ah, nice to hear that all the Cooper S boxes were fine...I wasn't able to do a test ride yesterday,because the car was allready out for a ride, but today I'll have the ride for me!! Can't wait to do it though...and I found out, that I'll get a 20% rebate at a certain BMW/Mini dealer, which is only like 30km away, because the company I work for made a special deal with them...so maybe I'll head over there, and have a look what cars they have over there..it's only on used cars, not on new cars, 20% on new cars would be a bit too much...

But maybe they have some nice 2005 coopers there...

I'd like to have some navigation system in there, if I don't take the factory one, what other (good looking) options do I have?!?! I don't want to look it like it has been installed afterwards, with wires messed up everywhere, you know...

Thanks again everyone for your help!! :-)

And I don't care about all the changes from the 02 to the 05 model, but it really seems like the worked on a lot of parts to make the car better...I read a few bad things about the first cars, having issues with strange noises etc., but the newer ones (2005 and onwards) don't have these problems any more....