some of these posts are scaring the crap outta me. did i buy a timebomb?

i fully understand how the internet has a way of distilling problem areas. so i guess i'm looking for reassurance that the mini is not a POS compared to other cars.

i've had zero problems with mine so far ... save for the odd noise at 90 mph.

 

Gary, I wouldn't worry at all. I'm not.

Like you said, the internet gives people who DO have a problem a very large voice. Unfortunately, the people who have MINIs that have NO problems are nowhere near as vocal as those with problems. Nobody gets home from a spirited drive (1 out of 100s) and says, "hey, I'm gonna jump on NAM and tell everyone how I have never had a single problem with my car."

The car is under warranty, and BMW is the parent company of MINI. BMW is not known for making crap, they are known for making some of the best cars in the world!

Rest easy my friend, you bought yourself a sweet ride, not a timebomb.

 

tick tock tick tock...

I'm just kidding I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

My car is 1 & 1/2 years old. Considerable flogging. No issues, no problems, no squeeks, no rattles.

Enjoy

 

My MCS is 5 years old and 100% problem free.

 

If the clock is counting backwards it's a time bomb, make sure you are not around when it reaches 0.

Otherwise enjoy the car, I've had no problems yet. I had some issues back with my 02 but nothing that wasn't fixed under warranty.

 

I'm on my 3rd Mini and only one was a dog. Mini stood behind it and replaced it.
Both the parent company and dealership ultimately have been upstanding.

Time will tell if the R56 is merely having teething issues or if there is a pattern forming.

 

My MCS has just turn 31000 and (Knock on wood:impatient) not a problem todate! Next Question, would I buy an R56? Maybe next year or the year after. But I am in no hurry.

 

"Car enthusiasts'" websites are great! However, every problem discussed on them becomes gets magnified 100 fold, to point where even if you don't have a problem with your car, you get scared that your wheels are about to fall off. I bought a Saab 900S convertible and except for a very expensive problem with the roof, it was bullet proof and a dream to drive. However, if you spend enough time reading about Saab NG 900s on saabnet.com, you will begin to believe bought the most unreliable car in the world. Not to say that Saabs are the most reliable car around but they are more reliable than just about any car built in the 60' or 70's.

 

Yes it is a Bomb. It starts of costing you $20K-$30K and BAM next thing you know you have $10k in mods, then you have to buy another one. Then you will want a Classic Mini. Then you start collecting them. You start driving cross coutry to go to the big get togethers.

 

The noise at +90 seems to be widespread, but we can't talk about it here.

 

Well, I'd think that you can talk about it, as long as it's on the track or some other controlled environment, so that the excessive speeds are legal.

However, I may be misreading the rules on that one.

 

There are a few roads in Arizona and i belive in Calgary that have no posted speed limit, we can talk about going 90+ on them.... and also about a noise.

 

You bought a British car. It would be wise to carry tools and add the Roadside Assistance number to your phone's contact list.

I'm happy every time it starts.

 

I have been somewhat vocal (or whatever the keyboarding equivalent of that is) about issues here and there with my car, but they are minor things. MINI is actually a very reliable car with, for the great majority, minor annoyances. Don't worry. Enjoy. It's the rasta way.

 

Once in a while, you see a thread like this, and it triggers those folks with no problems at all to speak up.

If only I were one of those happy owners!

Every time I get mine back from the dealer, I am optimistic that I can make it to the next routine dealer service. Every time, I am disappointed. And I've just barely hit 21K miles!

As much fun as he can be to drive, I feel that I have to baby the car in the hopes of not breaking anything for a while...which really ruins the experience. I just don't know how much longer I can keep him

 

I had 22k trouble-free miles with my 2005 MCS. I just traded for a 2007, so I'm hoping the pattern continues!

 

Your probably asking the wrong people. Since the tolerance of "quirks" may be high for MINI owners, you really need to be asking that of those who dumped their MINIs because of problems.

But wait, hmm, you can't do that. So I would think your going to get very biased answers? maybe?

 

I loved my aunts 05 and her 07 convert. As for the 07 R56 I had for three weeks and traded in, well... it wasnt the greatest egg.

It seems the R56s have much more vocalized quirks being it is a fairly new model, but we havent had problems with the previous Coopers in my family. My car was such a nuisance, that after 1600 miles I got rid of it. It was fun, but not worth the trouble for me as I bought it for commuting and pleasure second. Cute car though...just really quirky. Im happy with my choice in parting ways with Mini for now. Maybe when the right classic one comes along and I am done with the SVX project, we'll see .

 

the R56 is a new vehicle and of course is prone to more problems that a car that has been produced for several years, that's a given, but there is another issue and that is Mini's service isn't really experienced with the new R-56 and problems that seem like a simple fix aren't so simple on a new and unfamiliar car. Pretty much every fix on an R56 is a new adventure for the mechanic.

I've had three visits related to my sunroof, they are now replacing it. The mechanic has learned alot from my car so the next time the same problem happens with another mini he should be able to fix it in one visit.

I don't like being the guinea pig but this issue will improve with time.

 

Right there with ya!!!!

 

This problem with a short or something causing DSC to go out and cause the wipers to behave erratically except when the car's actually running seems like the most widespread issue.

I'm confident they know what it is, confident there will eventually be parts, but I'm also confident I'll be driving the loaner for a while longer. I am glad they didn't say "here, take the car back, we fixed the other things, we'll call you when we have parts" because I don't trust callbacks from car dealers or repair places except when it's "your new car is here, please come in and fork over lots of cash".

 

i just took it to 110 today and no noise is heard.

 

and there are some worrysome issues with slightly higher frequency than you should expect, but "timebomb" isn't a word I'd use to describe anything on the new Minis. The R56 seems to have a few teething issues (the body control module getting wet being one of the most common I've heard. That's when you car electronics act posessed!) so we won't know for a while if it's just growing pains or what.
The worst is the CVT in the 02-06 Minis. The frequency of post warranty failure is climbing, and there's no cheap fix. Other than that, nothing worthy of note..... If you're really paranoid, you can always get an extended warranty!

Matt