So I have had my baby now for 3 1/2 months. I just crossed the 11K mile mark. I thought for the benefit of the new owners what my impressions have been so far.

The mini has performed very well. I have the MC with auto tranny and have had no problems mechanically. I followed the advice in the owners manual and have now rotated my tires twice (At the 5K intervals). I have the 16" Goodyear runflats and they are quite grippy on the road.

Traction:
The tires have performed well. I keep them inflated to about 36psi. During the slush / snowy El Cajon pass weather and rain over the last month, the mini has had excellent grip. Never any handling problems.

Transmission:
The autobox still shifts smoothly and the sport mode allows for a spirited ride. When on the highway, I just slip her into M/S and put her into 6th gear for excellent cruise.

MPG:
I drive 80 miles each way to work. I live at about 3300 feet elevation and work in Downtown L.A. I average about 36MPG. The ride to work averages closer to 42 MPG. I primarily use Shell V Power gas and have not noticed any sluggishness that I have experienced with other cars using cheap gas. I have not had to use any injector cleaner in the tank.

Defects:
The first day I picked up my mini, the washers wept. I have a small stain on one of my bonnet stripes. There is one stuck pixel in my Navigation display. Other than these minor issues, my mini is perfect.

Overall:
Overall, this has been the most fun I have ever experienced with a car in my life. My mini makes a long commute fun. Due to vacation traffic and me getting off work at a normal time for a change, I spent nearly 4 hours getting home. My mini made it not only bearable but fun. While some have had issues with their minis, I can without reservation recommend a mini to anyone who drives. The mini handles the mileage with ease and I am enjoying the whole motoring experience. I expect to take her in for her first oil swap in about 6K miles. (According to the OBC). I will fill you in on my first service experience after I do so. I will take her to where I bought her, South Bay Mini in Torrance.

Jim

 

That is a lot of miles in 3 months.
Other than the tire rotation have you done any other maintenance type stuff? like oil changes, wiper blade replacements, etc?

Edit:
oops, sorry, the "I get my first oil service in 6000 miles" part didn't register on my first read through, sorry.

 

Nice report!!!

I've had my manual Cooper for 8.5 months and can report the same flawless performance. I drive almost solely around town and am getting just over 40mpg consistently....pretty amazing. The car has been absolutely rock solid and a total blast. Coming from an '03 Cooper, I find all the amenities, finish, and function of R56 to be superb and the ride quality much easier to live with yet shockingly good when pushed...it is one of the nuances of the car that one appreciates more and more with time. Frankly, there are lots of little tweaks like this...the more time I spend with them the more I'm duly impressed. MINI did a truly amazing job with this car!

I, too, had a niggle or two that had to be sorted out initially via the warranty (which I have found to be excellent both on this and my other MINI). A piece of belt trip was delaminating (replaced), some DSC sensors replaced (lots of folks wound up w/ this), and a software upgrade (CEL light)....all minor and easily dealt with.

Bottom line...the car is a 100% and the new Cooper engine is fantastic! I can't imagine an automotive dollar better spent.

 

Just turned 7000 miles last night and can also report satisfaction. I did have a problem with the sunroof getting tweaked and stuck partially open. Mini of North Scottsdale replaced the entire unit under warranty and after a couple of good rains, no leaking observed. Solid, fun car all around.

 

I HAVE 8,999 MILES AS OF THIS MORNING ON MY MCS. PURCHASE 11/07, I CHECK THE OIL EVERY 2500 MILES OR SO, THE LEVEL NEVER CHANGES BUT THE COLOR IS TURNING A SLIGHTLY DARK AMBER. AVERAGE 31 MPG DAILY COMMUTE. TOOK A LONG DRIVE FROM SAN DIEGO TO OREGON AND AVERAGED 36 MPG AT 72 MPH, COMPUTED AT FILL UP NOT THE OBC! i TYPICALLY GET OVER 400 MILES PER TANK UNLESSS I'M DRIVING VERY AGRESSIVE. NOT A SINGLE MECHANICLE OR COSMETIC ISSUE. THE ONLY COMPLAINT IS HAVING TO TALK TO EVERYONE ABOUT HOW I LIKE THE CAR.

 

Jim, just an FYI, the weeping washers can be fixed by your dealer. It's a known issue. They install check valves in the lines near the nozzles. I had the same problem. I wish I was able to drive my Mini as much as you drive yours. I'm barely pushing 2k miles in 3 months.

 

I'm at 13K and have had zero problems. Took a 2,000 mile trip to Boulder, CO recently got 34.7 mpg overall, quite excellent IMO. I get 29-30mpg in town. The car is a blast to drive, I'm happy with the audio system (unlike some-bd ears help I guess), the BT phone works great. And I love the seats.

 

This is all great to hear. I've put 1300 miles on her in two months (it's winter here, you Southwesterners have all the fun) and I'm looking forward to a problem-free future with this beauty.

I've got a quick off-topic question for you Californians ... are you all millionaires? Because there are a lot of job opportunities in my field there, my wife and I were recently browsing CA real estate on the web and were astounded by the astronomical prices of seemingly modest homes on small lots. Yikes!

 

halifax
were not all millionaires but some industries pay much more out here than anywhere else, for example the $25 an hour technician in Texas makes $32 an hour here. The tech in Texas can purchase a 2,000 square foot hom on an acre for $140,000 and the San diegan pays $600,000 for the same home on a 6,500 square foot lot. Part of our pay here in California is in sunshine and rain free days

 

Halifax:

Cost of living in Southern Cal is close to Fairfield county in Conn. For what its worth the housing market is pretty slow in San Diego now. Not a bad time to move.

The sun always shines too!

 

Our cars and houses look the same as you can see from my pic and t18's pic!

 

I've got 16,000+ on mine, and it's scheduled for its first official change Tuesday. I'm still showing about 8,000 until due on the OBC, but it's one year, and that's the other rule. Of course, the oil's been changed a couple of times at home.

I've had a few minor things go on, but nothing bad, especially for a week 3 car. We were the pioneers! The biggest things included a reprogramming for the cruise control, persistence in getting the secret compartment installed (a problem only for the earliest cars), and the SZL went out. That's pretty much it. Oh, new wipers and headlight adjustment. That sort of thing.

I do want a replacement arm rest. Apparently there is a plastic part underneath that breaks. Don't know what, but when I called for my appointment my SA seemed to know exactly what I need.

 

Lucky for us Texans y'all think it rains here. We do get a few (about 3) days a year where it's really cold but other than that, you can fly VFR here 360 days a year.

 

I've had my six speed manual MC now for exactly ten months. It has been flawless. I had the secret compartment rattle fixed. Had an intermittent idle problem that went away with fuel system cleaner and a switch of brand of gas and that is about it. Get excellent mileage, about 35-38 around town depending upon how much is stop and go driving in traffic. The car is truly amazing.

Gokartride, you are getting 40 in town, can you describe how you drive, fuel octane/brand, etc. I drive conservatively and can't quite get to there. Although on an interstate trip I got about 44 mpg going 70 with cruise.

 

hey sk8brd!
I left Texas 20 years ago and only go back under protest!

 

Bwahahahaha! You must fight to the death! There can be only one!

Seriously, that is crazy, and I wish I had something more intelligent to say about it.

The weather in TX is not so bad. I think the trade-off in housing prices evens it out. Unfortunately, shortly after T18DRYVER left, a lot more people moved in. They're nice enough, but I remember the first traffic jam I sat in as a passenger. I was 11. They're an everyday thing now.

11K here as well, the only issue yet of mention is an A/C connector came loose from the compressor, diagnosed and re-connected under warranty. The car feels more like it is attached to me every day. I turned .10 seconds faster in 1/4 mile times this weekend than I did last time at around 3k. It seems to wear very well.

 

Hence why I travel 80 miles to work (Live in Victorville, Work in L.A.). My 5 bedroom house ran only in the low 300's. Beats 600 + down the hill.

I have not changed the oil myself but have checked the level. I am also religious about checking tire pressure. I don't want to buy new tires before I have too. (Also the rotation is important). I also have added BMW washer fluid. I keep a gallon of Mini coolant in case I realize any evaporation. So far so good!

 

Do you happen to know if this is fixed on 08s?

 

I'm not sure. It would be easy to check, the check valves are inline right before the nozzles. Do you have an 08? Snap a picture.

 

is there a check valve for the rear washer as well when they do the retrofit?

 

It was supposed to be fixed for late model 07's, so I can't imagine that it'd still be an issue on the 08's.

 

Won't have mine for another 2-3 weeks, just thinking of various things to check when the car comes in.
Good to know.

 

Mine was a week 36 build. While it had some of the post August updates, it didn't have the fixed sunshades or this nozzle fix.

 

I just noticed one of the pixels on my Nav screen is burned out. It's going to the dealer in a couple weeks for that and also the dampener for the lower glove box failed. They said getting the Nav screen replaced under warranty would not be an easy process.

 

I have only 1100 miles on my 2012 Cooper. Purchased 12/26/2011. No problems, and I really punish those 175/65/15 tyres in the corners.