Long time lurker... first time caller...

I need a lil help from you fine people. I have read over several posts, and have an idea of maintenance costs and reliability. But, I'm going to ask the masses again a few repetitive questions.... right after a lil driving history:

I commute to New Orleans everyday, about 150 miles round trip, 5 to 6 days a week. 80%+ of that drive is interstate, of which I would say the last 10 miles is in moderate traffic. I currently drive a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. I set the ol' cruise control on 65, and putter along, watching the passerbys visually express their view on my slow driving. But, the difference between between 75mph and 65 mph is about 4 miles to the gallon, or 40/50 miles to the tank (hey, when gas was $4 a gallon, I was trying to get as much out of each tank); and puttering along at 65mph results in about 35 mpg. Currently, I take my Vibe in for an oil change every 5000 miles, and 200,000 miles later, I have had absolutely no issues. Oh, and I ferry my 3 and 8 year olds to school each morning; and soccer ***** or baseball equipment depending on the season.

So, I ask you:

1) Will a Mini Clubman be able to make a 150 mile commute everyday for the next 10 years with oil changes/check ups every 5000 miles?
2) Can my "independent" mechanic work on said Mini Clubman?
3) Will I need to take it to a dealership once a year to have the on board computer reset? If so, are all BMW dealerships qualified, or just select ones?
4) Have the Minis had any recurring problems over the past few years?
5) Actual milage from those who are driving long distances?

Please don't flame me. I admit, I did not do an exhaustive search of the site, but I looked at many posts. Soon, I will need to buy another car (because there's never too much debt), and my wife and I want something a lil different. Presently, I am leaning towards another Vibe only because of the reliablity I have experienced with our current one. But, a Mini would be sooooo much cooler...

Thank you for you input...
hjwii (never seen a popcorn smiley before)

 

First I must say I hope you join us in the Motoring Experience, it is great fun.

to answer your questions:

1. Definitely - of course any car even a Vibe can have problems,its a matter of luck i think these days.

2. I would suggest that you get the Bently manual when it come out, No maint costs for first 36,000 miles due to BMW Groups great warranty and customer service (except maybe a few oil changes they will ony do them whent he car saiys it needs to be done, my mini has 13,000 + and it still thinks it can go anohter 17,000 be fore the next oil change, i cahng it every 6000 mile)

3. there are instructions on this site how to do it yourself. BMW dealers are not currently set up to do work on Mini's and will not as they coudl loose thier franchise.

4. a cold start issue that some think is very bad, very noisy when it first starts, i had a nissian that sounded the same way and got over 400,000 out of it without any engine work, so i'm thinking that it is really not that big a problem

5. i drive 12 miles each way to work in my clubman s and average 32-33 miles to the gallon durring the winter in new england and 34-35 dring the summer. Long trips are my weekend speciatliy (skiing in VT or ME) and at 65 - 70 i get 38-39 all the time onthe long 5 hours trips to Sugarloaf ME for skiing.

If you get a non s then your milages will be higher

Myself (5'6" and my girlfirends 19 year old son (6'3") and two of his 6+ feet tall friends took the Clubamn to ME, 5 hours each way with no complaints about room. Ski's and frozen cooler were in the roof top box and boot bags (4) were in the back with a small cooler for drinks and snacks and i cousl still see out the rear window just fine.

I also personally find the car much more comfortable than my 2003 525iT wagon.

The best thing you can do is to go test drive one.

And just remember one thing. For every complaint on this forums about a Mini there is probably 10,000 + out there that do not have problems. You always here about the bad and very ralery about the good.

The only problem i had was a door sill pealing, and the horible sound fromteh HiFi Stereo. Mini fixed the doors sill and i replaced the speakers which made a very big difference.

Good luck with your adventure into a new car.

 

Always an adventure when looking for a new car.. especially in today's economy ...

Thanks for the info...

 

2009 Clubman S loaded with a ton of options with almost 10,000 miles in just under 4 months. 130 mile per day commute 33 avg 40 0n the freeway. not a single problem with the car so far

 

Clubman non S. Weekly commute of 500 miles, so about 2000 a month(generally more with roads trips, etc.). No issues as of yet with 4500 miles. Oh and averaging 36mpg with 50/50. It dips to 33 mpg when I do get spirited though.

 

Have 2008 Clubman S 6 sp with 16,000 + miles on the clock. Drive about 100 miles roundtrip per day. 90% Interstate and drive with tach slightly under 3000 rpm which is about 69 mph. Computer shows 40.3 mpg total overall. Haven't had the initial oil change yet. This is my third new Mini S and have
racked up at least 150,000 uneventful miles in them. The best thing is I want to drive everyday. After all these miles they still make me grin.

 

If you're going to be putting 3,000 miles a month on the car and most of it will be interstate driving, think twice before you let the dealer talk you into buying an extended service agreement. Highway driving causes the car's computer to *really* stretch out the service intervals, often to 22,000 miles, 24,000 miles, or even longer.

I've got about 49k miles on my car now, and it's only "come due" for *two* services so far (at 13k and 33k). The next service isn't going to come due until about 54k, and that one will only be an oil change.

So, if I had paid the ~$600 to extend the service agreement from 3/36k to 4/50k, I would have gotten absolutely nothing for my money, since I won't have come due for a single service between 36k and 50k.

Even if I had extended the service agreement all the way to 75k, all I would have gotten out of the extension would be the oil change at about 54k - the next service after that probably won't be until 76k or 77k.

Just something else to consider.

 

hjwii,

Great post! I'm a prospective buyer too and I'm also interested in the answers to your questions.

 

My '07 was delivered 15 months ago new and currently has 63,000 miles with oil changes every 3k by myself and scheduled changes from the dealer. No problems at all to speak of.

 

08' new in Aug. 18.5k smiles so far. I did one oil change myself and dealer just performed first service. Mixed hwy/city/country road driving. OBC mileage is 31.4. I dont watch other pass me LOVE the car, no problems except my ipod cable cut out intermittently. Dealer replaced during service no problems.
BTW-love my heated seats...
Car is awesome to drive, I enjoy getting into it every day.
If you like cars and driving...you will wonder why it took so long to replace the vibe.
Regardless, good luck with your choice.
John