At 3 years, 6months, 42,000miles; having had my MINI in the dealership shop 11 times, 8 for warranty repairs, and soon brakes which the dealer quoted $1200 (F&R); I am wondering:

Is it time to trade? or should I just do the brakes myself (which I can do) and hope for the best. Maybe most of the trouble has happened. I am just thinking that maybe I am at a point, and have had enough things break, maybe I should get rid of this car.

If I do the brakes myself, does anyone have any recommendation for rotors and pads. I checked www.buybrakes.com and they have a set of dimpled and slotted rotors and EBC red stuff pads for $762.

Any advice on brakes?

 

Shop around, that is still a little high on the price. 1200 at the dealer is normal...

Check out Way or Outmotoring as well.

As for the rest of your problems, there is not much to say other than the choice is yours. I have had my 06 from the beginning and it has been a great car.

 

Red Stuff is a popular low dust pad and for normal street use you don't need the more expensive slotted or drilled discs. All that surgery is for is to displace heat from competative driving. Check out the various vendors listed in the Vendor Directory and look for any specials they may be running. Replacing the discs and pads is routine for ANY shop that has a lift and a few tools if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. If you've a MINI club in your area, I guarantee there's a guy or two who would be keen to help you for a share of your beer.

 

Check out Autoanything.com they had powerslot rotors and EBC red Stuff pads for your car for $633.00 They also have a full setup from StopTech with drilled/slotted rotors, Stainless steel Brake lines and Stoptech pads for $540.00 Can't beat that deal for great quality from Stoptech.

 

$1200 for brakes? Run away from that dealer and never go back. If you can do your own brakes, you'll save a lot of labor charges. The parts are up to you. Are you looking to match OEM performance or to upgrade, and if so, why? I went with Akebono's to reduce brake dust, and they've been great for that. I've been happy with partsgeek for those. You could get pads and rotors (Centric) for about $250.

But, the first thing you should do is to check whether you really need them. A lot of dealers will tell you to perform maintenance work before you need to. And if you find they're premature on the brakes, start to question what other repairs they had you do that might not have been necessary. Perhaps with a dedicated, honest mechanic, you won't have to do quite so much work on your car.

 

man that stinks, my MINI dealership are ripoffs, I go to Detroit Tuned and they treat me like a King I must say. Try an independent shop or find a MINI private shop around your area, unless you do it yourself.

 

Do the brakes and keep it.
Here is a great and reliable brake kit we have that will save you a bunch.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-red...-cooper-s.html

 

$1200 is way too much. I went to an independent shop that specializes in MINI and paid $700. If you can do it yourself, parts will probably be around 400-500.

 

Reading between the lines, and the general tone of the post, it sounds like you're not thrilled about keeping the car and maybe you'd be happier with a new one.

 

You can do way better than $762 for rotors and pads. I picked up new e-coated high carbon steel (125 series) Centric rotors for the front and back, EBC Yellowstuff for the front, and EBC Redstuff for the back for roughly $250. If you've got a few hours and have ever changed brakes on any cars, this car's brakes are easy to replace. Unless you are really committed to sporting, I wouldn't recommend the yellows. They require quite a bit of heat to come into their element (like a hard stop from 80 heat). They're not too bad while cold, but Reds are more friendly and less noisy.

Here's what I got:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-am-i-set.html

--Matt

 

That $1200 quote is about the same as a Honda (Civic Si), VW (Golf GTI), or Mazda (Miata) dealer would quote for the same work (pads, rotors, fluid change).

Dealerships are not the place to go for brake jobs (or much else out of warranty) if cost is a prime consideration.

 

Nice kit.

 

If you go to Autozone/O'Reilly's/Etc., decent OEM quality Euro-spec pads and rotors are going to cost you a bit less than $300. Caliper tool and wheel stands $75 +/-.

The WM kit above looks like a great deal. Changing pads and rotors isn't too difficult.

 

For me it would depend on what the car went in for. Normal recall stuff and nit-pick detail work (Trim and such) vs major mechanical stuff. If you hang around forum's enough you will be scared to drive any car. Forums are full of problems and only a few "good" posts. It's like watching the local news before going to bed. Since you've already taken the brunt of the depreciation, my vote is to keep driving it. Enjoy it and don't look for stuff to be broken.

Any halfway decent independent mechanic can do brakes for 1/2 of what the dealer wants. (the dealer will put in 4 new brake sensors for $50 each but I'm sure not all are worn through, or maybe none a tall)

I'm sure you can do it yourself with one nice Saturday afternoon and a six pack of beer. Put the ball game on and wrench away.

Drive it like you stole it!
My 2 cents.

 

First step, determine whether you really need brakes front and rear. Check amount of remaining pad, and take a caliper to the rotors. I only replace rotors every second pad change. Then, either go with what Way has recommended, or try www.minipartsmass.com for great price on OE parts.

 

Many thanks to all who responded. As you may note by my post count, I have been here a while; and from this and other car and motorcycle forums I know that most of what is posted are problems, and yes reading a forum and thinking the posts represent the majority would keep you from buying.

My warranty issue were not major: the main water pump, turbo water pump, cam chain tensioner, cracked oil filter housing, convertible top issues, etc. I have never spent a cent on repairs and have been treated very well by my dealership staff. Cincinnati MINI always has Starbucks coffee and my favorite donut waiting for me (don't tell my wife). And I like my R57. I haven't had many cars I looked forward to just taking out for a drive with no destination in mind - just like I do on a motorcycle. Maybe the problems and the almost 4 years were giving me the "new car itch."

I have done brakes on many of my cars and motorcycles, mostly Hondas, so I have no problem doing it. I was surprised by the $1200 quote though. I have never had a quote for a brake job before. I went to "Tire Discounters" and got a quote of $620 and I know they do good work. They did not look at the brakes as I just asked for a quote for everything. I really like the WMW kit and when the time comes will most likely go that route.

But...this morning I pulled all 4 wheels off and looked at the brakes. I now assume the dealer did not look at the brakes but just used the FOB info and the mileage for their determination. I say that because my front pads are a little more than 60% worn and the rear maybe 20%. The front rotors do have a ridge on the outside edge ~ .030". I think I have probably 20,000 miles left on the front and probably 40,000 on the rear. Of course I am not a "brake rider" and I do down-shift a lot when slowing and my brakes have always lasted longer than most folks.

So again I thank you all and I will probably just keep on motoring and quit worrying. Oh and BTW, I noticed that the wear sensors were only on the left front and right rear. I guess that is standard but I did expect to find them on all 4.

Sorry for being so long, but I tend to be talkative, and I guess "typeative."

 

Yes, you have the correct number of sensors.

 

So go ahead with your best plan, figure you've just saved (pocketed) that 1200 bucks and use it for a fun MINI motoring getaway.

 

Do it yourself and save some coin.

 

A few month ago I got all 4 brake disc, brake pads and new sensors replaced by my mechanic. He was able to get me the original ones Mini use.. paid AUD$1200 all up installed and fluids flushed.

I didn't bother getting a quote from Mini, but definitely ask around.. anywhere is cheaper than Mini!

 

I just replaced the front pads and rotors on my wife's base 08 mini. she just uses it for daily commuting, so I didn't bother with performance parts. cost me about $130 for OE quality Beck Arnley rotors and Monroe pads (come with replacement sensor) from Amazon.

For your 09 S, it would come to $138.82 for the same parts.
Pads

Rotors

I verified the part numbers at:
http://www.beckcatalog.com/
http://www.monroebrakes.com/catalog/e-catalog

 

I was quoted around 800, at a local bmw/mini specific repair shop. I chose to do it myself.

I ended up with centric rotors from motoringwerks, they were running a sale a couple weeks ago and i think still may be.
Then i got EBC Greenstuff pads from Way, as well as sensors. My rear was the only one worn out so now I have an extra sensor for next time.

2 Hours later, and ~$300 new brakes and rotors. First brake job I have ever done, had an experienced friend to help guide, but overall pretty easy! Just make sure you have the caliper piston tool for the rears!

 

Just ordered zimmermann rotors front and rear along with akebono euro ceramics for $300 shipped after $15 coupon code (save15) from partsgeek...good deal i think. now just gotta put them on.

 

Idk to be honest. 8 times for warranty work in 3 years and a few months? Is it just me or does that seem like a lot?

I know these cars have their issues, as does any other car company but that doesn't mean we should just lay over and say, "this part failed, oh yea that's normal for this car."
I feel like that's a load of bs. My R50 has 102k miles and no problems. Just regular maintenance of fluids and filters. If I had experienced tons of problems first time around I probably would have just traded it in for something more reliable. But since that wasn't the case, I purchased an 2012 MCS, and so far no problems. If the individual car has a list of issues, it would make financial sense to get rid of it.....it is just a car at the end of the day.