R56 Looking to buy a 2013 R56; brand new to the MINI scene!
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 5
Looking to buy a 2013 R56; brand new to the MINI scene!
First port on this forum coming from the Fiat 500 forums/scene as I do have a 500 Turbo at the moment but i’m looking to upgrade very soon. Currently looking at a 2013 Mini Cooper S R56 with the N18 motor. Has 47K miles on the clock and a very extensive Carfax report with all maintenance reported by BMW San Francisco (counts up to 35 reports).
I know the early R56 models with N14 motor has very consistent problems regarding the high pressure fuel pump, timing chain, etc. and i knew to steer clear from those. I ran the VIN and it looks like it was the N18 motor produced in 11/2013. Test drove the car and it rode very nicely and was a blast to drive with the paddles (it’s an automatic by the way since i’m always in traffic in CA). Now my question for everyone is shall i go for it? Dealer is asking for $10K and i’m split between that and a ‘15 500 Abarth with 16K miles for $12K but carfax reports front and rear damage 2 years ago.
and just some misc. questions while i’m on this post; how’s insurance, maintenance, and just basic ownership costs? With it being BMW built, i’m expecting the worst but i can attempt doing most of it myself. thanks for the help in advance!
listings: https://shift.com/car/c168130
https://shift.com/car/c170993
I know the early R56 models with N14 motor has very consistent problems regarding the high pressure fuel pump, timing chain, etc. and i knew to steer clear from those. I ran the VIN and it looks like it was the N18 motor produced in 11/2013. Test drove the car and it rode very nicely and was a blast to drive with the paddles (it’s an automatic by the way since i’m always in traffic in CA). Now my question for everyone is shall i go for it? Dealer is asking for $10K and i’m split between that and a ‘15 500 Abarth with 16K miles for $12K but carfax reports front and rear damage 2 years ago.
and just some misc. questions while i’m on this post; how’s insurance, maintenance, and just basic ownership costs? With it being BMW built, i’m expecting the worst but i can attempt doing most of it myself. thanks for the help in advance!
listings: https://shift.com/car/c168130
https://shift.com/car/c170993
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 8
From: France and Reno/Tahoe
The MINI looks like a great find. As a point of reference on price, we paid $13k for a 2013 Cooper S with 31k miles last July. There were cheaper ones out there, but the one we bought ticked all the boxes for must have equipment, color combo, no body work, regular oil changes, garaged... Was worth the extra couple of grand to me, plus there was no tax since it was private party sale between NV residents which saved several hundred dollars at the DMV.
Anyhow, the 2013 is going to be your most sorted out year for R56. I tend to feel better purchasing from a private party who can show maintenance receipts, particularly oil changes at a reasonable interval (no more than 10k, the closest to 6k the better). The BMW / MINI OCI is a bit long for this type of engine in my opinion. I consider that an engine that has had MINI recommended OCI or longer, or where the wrong oil was used, could be a ticking time bomb, even if it's the more robust N18.
Other than that, it's the perfect city car and I would take it over the Fiat any day. The R56 is our third MINI and 13th or 14th BMW, so it's pretty much the devil that I know. If you are going to DIY, then they're not too bad to work on and there is a ton of DIY info available making it much less intimidating and cheaper to own. Not sure where you are in the Bay Area but if you need a shop in the Oakland / Berkeley area PM me. Used to live there for 17 years. Same if you're Santa Rosa / Healdsburg.
Good luck with your search.
Anyhow, the 2013 is going to be your most sorted out year for R56. I tend to feel better purchasing from a private party who can show maintenance receipts, particularly oil changes at a reasonable interval (no more than 10k, the closest to 6k the better). The BMW / MINI OCI is a bit long for this type of engine in my opinion. I consider that an engine that has had MINI recommended OCI or longer, or where the wrong oil was used, could be a ticking time bomb, even if it's the more robust N18.
Other than that, it's the perfect city car and I would take it over the Fiat any day. The R56 is our third MINI and 13th or 14th BMW, so it's pretty much the devil that I know. If you are going to DIY, then they're not too bad to work on and there is a ton of DIY info available making it much less intimidating and cheaper to own. Not sure where you are in the Bay Area but if you need a shop in the Oakland / Berkeley area PM me. Used to live there for 17 years. Same if you're Santa Rosa / Healdsburg.
Good luck with your search.
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 211
Likes: 15
From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
35 entries on carfax, such as what?
can you post them here?
id be curious with that low of miles what made it go into the shop 35 times.....that seems alarmingly high to me. - even oil changes every 5k would would only be 9 oil changes.
i just got my 1 owner, '13 S model on black friday weekend and love it, with 117k on it.
from the look and feel its was highway miles, and saw very little snow from the lack of any under body wear. which is amazing given it came from chicago and i'm in iowa.
i unfortunately saw very little action on car fax or anywhere else for service outside of a few oil changes. - which was the first thing i did after getting it and finding the jerk car lot didnt even try changing the oil and it was dangerously low.
can you post them here?
id be curious with that low of miles what made it go into the shop 35 times.....that seems alarmingly high to me. - even oil changes every 5k would would only be 9 oil changes.
i just got my 1 owner, '13 S model on black friday weekend and love it, with 117k on it.
from the look and feel its was highway miles, and saw very little snow from the lack of any under body wear. which is amazing given it came from chicago and i'm in iowa.
i unfortunately saw very little action on car fax or anywhere else for service outside of a few oil changes. - which was the first thing i did after getting it and finding the jerk car lot didnt even try changing the oil and it was dangerously low.
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