See my sig...

After 3.5 years of ownership and a crapload of mechanical repairs (what is it about first week of August builds?) Ive decided now is the best time to trade up to an R56. My R53 has been nothing but a major headache after about 4K, and when I sold cars the general rule is that new cars that develop problems do so in the first 30K or so.

Thought about an extended warranty, but after seeing how pricey they are, Ive decided to forego this and start over....

Interest rates are down, build slots are plentiful, and the reasle value on this car has held up nicely. I think it's time to exorcise all the Rover demons out of my life and get something that's 100% BMW. While the love affair with my R53 has soured, Im not soured on MINI mostly because my dealer is awesome.

Any other former R53'ers out there that converted over to R56?? Love to hear yr stories!!

 

Well, I'm an R50 owner and I've been nothing but thrilled w/ my R56 (also a Cooper). Very different and very much the same.

 

I own an R53.. love the car.. I have about 26000 miles on it, have not had any major issues.. and only in for its routine service.. knock on wood it will stay that way. We did buy an R56.. it's my husbands.

 

My 03 R50 is about to turn 100K miles, now I'm going for the next 100

We are thinking of getting a Clubman, but the 05 Cabrio will be the MINI that gets swapped out.

Mark

 

Hmmm... now that you mention it, I could think of a few possibilities. It's when many Europeans are thinking about vacation, and when the factory is changing over or starting up the new model year.

 

My '05 R53 has 84,000 miles on it. No major issues. Having a blast with it, and now that I've got it modded to where I want it--I have no desire for any other MINI. When I've got the money I'll be going the 2.0L route with Jan to further increase the fun quotient of my R53. =)

 

Former R53 & R50 owner here.My R56 is a second week of August build and still trouble free after 36k.

 

89,000 combined miles on our MINIs and not a single major issue <<knocks on wood>>.

Sounds like you may have bought one of those rare MINIs, sequence.... a lemon.

Don't blame you for getting out from underneath that R53. Hope the R56 is better to you.

 

I had a 2003 R53

Problems:
Air bag light. I think I was in the shop about 6 times for that.
Strange shreaking noise in first gear (which was never resolved)

Now i have a new R56 and the problem I have is that the computer tells me that I need all my brakes changed at 25 k but in fact I have oodles of brakes

oh well price you pay for great driving experience

 

I traded R53 for R56 at 81,000 miles, the week my power steering pump cost $1000 to replace. R53 had JCW, Dinan suspension, Nav, so much fun. Dealer gave me 13k to trade, I went base model S and extended the warranty. I do miss the tighter turns, but not the bone chilling bumps.

I had just about every problem everyone else had with the R53, yet still went back for more. Knock wood the cold start affliction doesn't come my way.

 

Had an 02 R-53, 04 R-53 JCW add-on, and an 06 R-50. Presently have both an 07 R-56 MCS, and an 08 R-55 MCSa. The 04 was a hoot, but I really like the ride and drive of the new cars. The turbo engine gets great mileage and pulls hard. I may actually keep the 07 more than two years.

 

Gee, that's quite an endorsement, UJ!!!

 

We're thinking along the same lines. We started with an 04 R50 (MC), then added the 05 R53 (Quentin). We didn't have any significant problems with him thought an would have been happy keeping him, the wife really didn't want to let him go.

However we did swap the R50 for an 07 MC R56 (Tristan), it was the six speed that was the main driving force behind that. I'd always wanted a six speed cooper, then the refinements MINI had made made getting an R56 even more compelling. After we get him I start think the R56 is even better than the R53, and the contrast in control feel made having a mixed pair awkward, so eventually we swapped Quenting for an R56 MCS (Shawn), so we could have a matched pair.

So far I like the R56s a lot, Shawn is not yet broken in so its difficult to compare them, but both styles of R56 are great, though if I could only have one I might go for an MC, but I'm waivering on that.

 

No wavering for me!!!