Hi everyone,


First time posting here though I have lurked quite a while. After owning a non S for years, I'm ready to take the plunge and go fora Cooper S Hardtop. There's a local car for sale in my area that fits my budget, but I'm just a bit concerned. I just don't want to end up with a lemon.

The vehicle is a low mileage car with a good amount of options included. To me the red flag is the slightly lower price (in comparison to the market value in my area)

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...6288/overview/

Are there any precautions, I should take? Are these models (2011) plagued with known issues, such as premature parts failure?

I'd appreciate any feedback and thanks in advance.

 

Only known issue is the high pressure fuel pump. Even though the 2011 has the better N18 motor they didn't switch out the problematic Continental high pressure fuel pump for the better Bosch unit until 2012.

There are several reasons a car could have a lower than average price. Maybe it was in a fender bender, maybe it's been sitting on the lot a while, also the reputation earlier MINIs have of being unreliable kind of sunk the resale of the brand as a whole.

 

The older N14 motor had:
1. Timing chain/grenade
2. Intake coking that needs walnut blasting
3. HPFP (now under 10 year 120k warranty from MINI)
4. Plastic thermostat fails randomly
5. Turbos can fail at 70-100k
6. Turbo oil feed line leaks at 80k or so
7. Oil filter housing gasket leaks

N18 (2011) has all but 1 & 2. Note not true for JCW and convertible that use N14 until '13.

But, still a lot of fun to drive. I bought my '11 clubby now at 32k knowing all that.

 

As far as I know the issues with the turbo and oil feed line can be pretty well mitigated with oil changes at the proper interval. Only cars I've heard of turbos failing are very high mile cars or ones that came off lease where the owners didn't take car of them.

I bought my 2011 with 22k on the odometer. Stuck to 7500 mile oil changes and recently came down to 5000 miles. My turbo is still plenty healthy here at 81k.

 

Is there a list of parts for the N14 that should be changed before assumed failure points at certain known mileages?

 

I've read to change the vacuum pump at 75k, when it fails it can be a engine killer

 

Confused on MINI warranty extension on HPFP for 2011 Cooper S Clubman. Will MINI USA cover my failure at 7 yrs but less than 60,000m?? hradgolf

 

I know more than a couple people in our MINI Club that experienced turbo failures at 80-100k. One again at 160k. A trusted source confirmed that is a common failure mileage range. The waste gate actuator wears so boost can't be held at expected levels and that is sensed. Throws a code. That part can't be replaced by itself, so new turbo is needed. The oil feed line had two issues confirmed by my dealer. Coking of oil starving the turbo that an added heat shield was created to help with (don't know if it did. And note the installation of it on my year 2011 was not in the TSB, but I asked for it and they installed it. Might want to ask for it too). secondly, a rubber o-ring that allows a slip joint of two tubes on top of the turbo that gets old, and leaks.



Since your post was Oct 2017, curious if you bought it! If so hope you love it!
Best to you!