Hey everyone. First post on NAM. I'm doing the legwork for my mum, who's interested in buying a 2009 Clubman S (R55) with 106,000 km (65,865 miles).

After searching the internet for a while, the common problems on the Clubman S seem to be:

• Timing chain and tensioners
• High pressure fuel pump (HPFP)
• Water pump
• Engine rattle in cold weather
• Windows (opening and closing in cold weather, and sealing)

So my main question is what problems should be expected on a manual transmission, non-diesel, non-turbo 2009 with high mileage like this?

The full details of the Clubman S in question are right here.

Thanks!

 

Clutch.
Carbon build-up.

 

Insist on being provided the name of this car's previous owner. A much better source for info in my opinion.

 

What can one do with the previous owner's name to find out more info about the car's history?

 

Check the service history at a MINI dealer to see if the updated tensioner or entire timing chain guide assembly was replaced. (this is the rattle on cold start, also low oil level will do this too).

HPFP is a longer extended warranty, no concern to me.

Aux water pump was a recall and other coolant issues are usually thermostat housing, semi-common but can be noticed before catastrophic.

Carbon is inevitable so as long as it idles good and runs fine now I wouldn't worry.

Look into an extended warranty company that your mom's local MINI dealer either sells or works with regularly. The clutch is a consumable and may need to begin saving for as it could go any day, have already been changed, or go another 60k miles (sry km would be more). Doesn't look like a bad car and has decent options (xenons, factory aero kit, auto air, sunroof, heated seats, etc) I would look at the BC stalk and cycle through the service that the OBC recommends and see how soon it'll need brakes or other services.

And this is a turbo-ed car, you had mentioned it was non-turbo.

 

talk to the previous owner about the service history....if they are clueless they might not have taken very good care of it....like followed the factory recommended oil change intervals.

My '09 Clubman has 106,000 highway miles on it. Original clutch, did the walnut shell cleaning at about 95,000 miles just because I was getting nervous.

Only other issues not mentioned above is a new valve cover and a seat heater replacement ($600 at the dealer).

 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your help here. A big part of me wants to ignore this '09 Clubman S with high mileage, and go for an older one with lower mileage.

 

This isn't high mileage at all. I thought the same thing and bought an '02 with 38.8k miles on it 2.5 years ago. I got rid of in 14 months later, 4 trips to the dealer for $11k in repairs (extended warranty FTW) as it had just sat and was never exercised, tons of crap broke on it. It's a crap shoot and miles don't mean everything.

 

For me, the issue is how it has been driven. I would take the car to an independent mechanic who works on MINIs. He (she) should be able to tell you about scheduled and expected maintenance issues.