Hello All!
I'm a former R53 Cooper S owner. I LOVED that car, but finally gave up at 194,000 miles. After some post-traumatic financial stress with the Mini repairs, I went with a different brand and... needless to say, it is no Mini.
I've been on the hunt for a very specific color (spice orange/silver top) +mods (low mileage, R58 Cooper Coupe (S or JCW), 2013-2015 N18 engine). I found one that, while not the desired color, fits most everything else.
QUESTION: I'm really, really nervous about what the maintenance future/costs may be if I go back to Mini. For you long term owners, would you provide any insights on common issues or major repairs that you've experienced and I might expect? (my old mini had, among other things... a couple power steering failures, fan, constant coolant/exansion tank failures, and drank oil like crazy at the end).
Sadly, I'm not a mechanic, so any repairs would be done by a shop and paid out of my pocket.
Appreciative of any guidance you can provide.

 

I'm on my second R58, upgraded an S to JCW(both n18), and have very few issues and neither one consumed much oil.

 

Excellent! Thank you, SneakyBaron (love the name). Mind my asking how many miles on both R58s you owned/own?

 

S was around 75-80k. Got the JCW at 8k and now at 40k.

 

Great! Thank you! I appreciate your quick reply. And beautiful mini, btw! Thank you!

 

We're on our 3rd MINI. The current one a '15 R59. It is still under warranty for 3 more days ...... (purchased new off the lot in '16 where it had sat for a year) There have been zero mechanical issues ... car has only seen standard scheduled maintenance. Current miles around 43,000 (haven't even changed brake pads yet which IME for a MINI is UNUSUAL ..... they still look good having checked just today .... getting there but not critical by far)

Previously had an 07 S hardtop (N14) for approx 100,000 miles. Only 'significant' out of warranty repair was thermostat housing ... standard maintenance stuff

first was an early 2002 (GEN1) S which had several issues out of warranty and we had the car for well over 100,000 miles .... bad coolant tank, fan resistor (twice), lower control arm bushings .... but IMO you kinda expect this on a new model and PLUS that on a 'new make'

None of mine have consumed oil ... I check regularly and seldom need to add and I do changes by the computer (long interval) ... once out of pre-pay maint' I usually DIY at home (Mobile 1 and MINI or MANN filter) but I DO NOT drive very hard and the R-59 is Mrs daily driver ... not mine.

editorial comments:

The Coupe and Roadster did not sell well and that's why they were discontinued ... they have their fans but be aware that they probably won't age well in the long term price wize: My opinion ... OTOH SOME think they will become valuable collectors items ..... folks who want a two seater and especially a roadster are hard to steer away from the Miata which is a fantastic machine .... I drove mine for 12 years ....

MINI or Mini ..... I'm Bi MiNual ... have both and I think the difference in the name is significant

MINI


Mini

 

Thank you, Capt_bj! I really appreciate your detailed response. Thank you.
HA! And yes. MINI vs Mini. Love your cars and colors! Particularly the original model! Have you updated it to drive in 'the modern world'? You're very lucky.

My '04 R53 MINI looked like your old Dark Silver/White bonnet, plus custom stripes See below - sorry I can't find my earlier photos. This was when I sold it.
Maintenance was a bit more like your '02. To be fair, I kept it a long time, and most extreme expenses occurred post 150,000 miles...with the exception of fan and power steering. I had my first brakes at 60,000. I'm pretty proud of that. I think it's partly because I downshift a lot.

It's good to hear that MINI seems to have improved some of the trouble spots.
I tend to keep my cars a long time, so I'm not too concerned about resale value. Just maintenance and a little concerned if I'm going to feel too cramped in it, as it would likely become my daily driver. Although, I think I would have so much fun in it, that it wouldn't be bothered by the small space.
I finally tested a Miata. Loved the drive, but I didn't enjoy feeling like I'm lying down and really don't like having a wall immediately behind me. At least in the Coupe, there's some room behind the seats and a place to put small bags.
Thank you, again!

 

I recently traded in my 2014 JCW Coupe with 47k miles on it for my 2020 JCW Clubman. The only thing I had to have replaced was a battery (wouldn't hold a charge, did not fail). Otherwise it was fine the whole 6 years I owned it.

 

Great. Thank you for your response! Hope you enjoy the JCW Clubman.

 

Particularly the original model! Have you updated it to drive in 'the modern world'?

It has a 6 point roll cage (bolt in) ..... not for bling .... self defense!


but the most significant added safety item is probably this:


this set of 5 air horns let me alert folks who may not have seen me and my little car .... a LOUD horn is something I learned in my motorcycle days

 

OMG. That's great! I love the wood on the dash. And the horns are great!
Yeah, I remember using my horn a lot in my old MINI. Not quite as little as that guy, though! Thanks for the pics. What a joy it must be.