After reading through hundreds of posts I seriously have to reconsider my MINI order. My current car is a 1996 Mazda Miata with 100k on the clock and not so much as a single squeak or failure of anykind.

Can the MINI be considered reliable and well built? Hopefully I am reading about failiures that have only occured to a small number of the MINI population.

Are there any stories of MINI's with high trouble free miles? I know it's early but has anyone put large amounts of mileage on there MINI?

Also I read a post that said the MINI was manufacturered by Chysler. I thought the motor was a BMW/Chysler effort and the car was 100% BMW. Which is correct?

Thanks for the info!

 

Mostly BMW, motor by Chrysler (for now), and that's it. I personally would never have bought my MINI if I thought any more than just the motor was a Chrysler product, no matter how much I've always loved MINIs of all lineages. Feel free to post more questions as they come, we're happy to help!

Of course, to each his own, and the benefits of the MINI have to outweigh its drawbacks in order for you to make the best decision for you.

Good luck!
-Troy

 

List of my problems:

Seat stuck
Paint chipped
Steering column creaks
Bad wiring harness
Windshield chipped

Been in the shop for over a week now...

 

The MINI is a new vehicle, basically designed from the ground up. I have almost 10K on my 2002 S (August build) and have only had one problem, a leaking water pump. If you want to see a true lemon, go to a VW or Ford Focus forum. I think the MINI is a fairly low-trouble car considering it's newness. However, I do admit that the Japanese still have the market on trouble-free cars. I almost bought a Mitata (a couple of times) but really needed something that can make limited runs to Home Depot and such. IMO the MCS is the perfect blend between utility, sports-car, good looks and fun. To be honest, if you can deal with lack of hauling space and want a truely trouble-free but fun car, maybe another Miata is in your future.

 

10,500K miles since the end of January. My only problems.... thanks to the cruddy weather here in the northeast, I needed new wiper blades after 3 months, and the doors didn't always auto-lock every once in a while.

The car is BUILT by BMW in the original MINI plant outside Oxford, not Chrysler, yes the engine is from Chrysler.

Yes you are going to see a lot of complaints about maintenance and quality issues, becuase it gives people a chance to rant about their cars. That and it's much more interesting than reading, "I have no problems, nothing ever breaks." However it seems that owners of '02s did have a lot of teething problems. Most of these issues appear to have gone away for the '03s.

I think you will find that you MINI is no more or less reliable than any other car on the road.

 

Don't get me wrong I am not bashing the MINI before I even get it. One of the big reasons for even getting the MINI is becuase there is a good history behind it. Much like the Miata. The Miata was supposed to provide an alternative to the unreliable roadster of yester year. The MINI in my mind is suppose to do the same. Provide a reliable and safe replacement to the orginal Mini.

But facts are facts if Consumer reports comes back in another year and claims horrible reliability, our MINI's value and reputation will be greatly tarnished. Another car with a similar problem is the VW beetle. They got really bad reliability scores and it hurt the new Beetle's value and reputation.

I just want to get a handle on how bad the problems are. All we ever hear about are the MINIs that break. I am more intrested in the ones with lots of reliable miles and smiles.

 

>> utility, sports-car, good looks and fun. To be honest, if you can deal with lack of hauling space and want a truely trouble-free but fun car, maybe another Miata is in your future.


I forgot to mention the number one reason for getting the MINI! I have a family now and my wife and I use to goto Miata club events frequently. Now I want to drag the whole family to the events and the MINI is the perfect car for the job. Lots of active clubs and room for three!

Thanks for the responses!

 

rcase13,

Aloha and welcome to MCO-
Don't worry about reading all the posts of problems. Be aware and act accordingly. If you are worried that the car might stumble then read the thread on driving the CVT correctly to minimize hesitation. Most problems already have fixes. If there is no fix avoid the option that leads to the part that needs fixing.

>>After reading through hundreds of posts I seriously have to reconsider my MINI order. My current car is a 1996 Mazda Miata with 100k on the clock and not so much as a single squeak or failure of anykind.

In my opinion the MINI is a much better performance car than the miata. Trouble free? Depends what you mean by trouble. Sure there are known problems mostly minor. But is the trouble worn the price of admission for you? For most of us it is worth it. If you don't want to visit you dealer for any trouble then buy a Toyota but it won't do the same things a MINI can. I have a 2003 MCS and have had minor things come up (leak in coolant bottle that was replaced once) Otherwise 5200 miles and no problems.

>>Can the MINI be considered reliable and well built? Hopefully I am reading about failiures that have only occured to a small number of the MINI population.

The bulk of the cars are like my MCS. I consider it very well engineered, reliable and very well built. Can I find flaws? Sure I can but this past weekend we spent 3 hours looking at the undersides of various model MINIs with BMW master mechanics and most of the comments were positive. Except those comments that some such thing was "not as good as a M3 Roadster". Well duh?

>>Are there any stories of MINI's with high trouble free miles? I know it's early but has anyone put large amounts of mileage on there MINI?

Many. And they are not stories. Several MCO members have gone over 15,000 and up to over 20,000 miles already. Miniclo took a trip of 10,000 miles in a few weeks this summer. I had the leak in the coolant bottle but it did not affect any performance, just sprung a leak so I fixed it.

>>Also I read a post that said the MINI was manufacturered by Chysler. I thought the motor was a BMW/Chysler effort and the car was 100% BMW. Which is correct?

The engine was designed jointly by Chysler and BMW and is found on european Dodge Neons. US Neons have a larger engine. The engines are built in Brazil and the car is assembled in Oxford England. Does that make it 100% BMW?
I don't know how you define it. No car is 100% anything in this day when all the parts are made all over the place.
Check the dealer tag to see how much of the car is built in different places:Parts content is 5% US/Canadian 50%England and 20% Germany. Most of my parts are stamped with BMW.

You didn't mention whether you were interested in the Cooper or Cooper S so I kept this generic. There are things to consider specific for each model. First go out and test drive both and don't forget the CVT if that appeals to you. I bought a MCS but I should have spent more time with the CVT. Later I spent a full day in a stock CVT and it was very good. Get out there at Motor.

 

I don't think we'll ever hear as much about cars that have no problems as we will about the problem-plagued ones. These types of threads come up every once in a while, and there are always a handful of people who mention that they've got 10-15k on their MINIs with no problems. I've only put 7500 miles on my car since I got it in October, but they have been 100% trouble-free.

Keep in mind that the problems you see discussed on this site are mainly happening to very small numbers of people. The nature of this kind of forum, though, is that there is much more discussion about the exceptions to the rule, so the problems seem to be more prevalent than they actually are.

I am MUCH more concerned about the cost of routine maintenance as the car ages. I'm very wary of dealing with BMW dealers, but so much of these cars is electronically coded that there is often nowhere else for most of us to turn.

Also - the inconvenience caused by the problems with the MINI tends to be greater than for similar problems in other cars, because the dealer network here still does not have a decent inventory of parts on hand, and often people are left waiting weeks for parts to arrive from overseas. This should (theoretically) become less and less of a problem.

 

Hello rcase13 and welcome to MCO!

Couple'a thoughts:

online forums tend to give a somewhat skewed perspective, because most people would agree that problem posts are more likely that reports fo trouble free ops!

That said, the MINI is a brand new car assembled by a brand new company in a brand new plant. MINI is MINI, even if owned by BMW, and even if BMW had a hand in the design, it is a separate company and plant. The engine was designed in a joint venture between BMW and Chrysler, and is made at the TRITEC plant in Brazil.

IMHO the egine is actually one of the best things about the MCS, next to the handling.

I do think the MINI has both some design flaw issues and quality control issues. Some people have reported 20k trouble free miles, other have had 5k miles so riddled with problems that they have gotten rid of their car. I am somewhere in between. I have 14k miles on my 03 MCS, and have had enough issues to where I am holding my decision on whether to keep the car beyond the warranty period or not. Personally, when the warranty expires I may consider one of these three options:
1) keep my current MCS
2) Sell the MCS to get a new MCS, and hopefully get one that has fewer problems and is one of the more trouble free ones
3) sell it and get a different car.
Which of these I will pursue will depend on my next 20k miles.

Problems I have had:
shoddy electrical system: AC controls going blank, auto dipping function on windows going bonkers and requiring frequent resetting, one window quit working, motor and controller replaced. Instrument cluster replaced for malfunctioning temp gauge, and speedo had also gone nuts once.
Severly pitted windshield even though mine has not cracked as that of many other MINI owners.
Open issues: noisy 6-speed tranny (throwout bearing), as well as howling AC with strong engine vibrations when AC engaged.

All that said, I love the MCS, the handling and fun, and so to me it is currently (still) worth it in terms of hassles etc.. to drive such a fun car, but I am keeping my options open. You have to make your own call whether you want a fun car, or would like to bank more on a car with greater likelihood of high reliability. That said, you might get a MINI that is totally trouble free, and with other brands even the reliable japanese ones, you may be unlucky and get a lemon.

Cheers,
Markus

 

For a family of three- no problem. I have a family of 5 and three are from 12 to 19. The bigger problem is with driving the car with the two teenagers!

>>Don't get me wrong I am not bashing the MINI before I even get it. One of the big reasons for even getting the MINI is becuase there is a good history behind it. Much like the Miata. The Miata was supposed to provide an alternative to the unreliable roadster of yester year. The MINI in my mind is suppose to do the same. Provide a reliable and safe replacement to the orginal Mini.

The MINI is all that and more. Check the safety profile for the MINI- it is much better than most cars.

>>But facts are facts if Consumer reports comes back in another year and claims horrible reliability, our MINI's value and reputation will be greatly tarnished. Another car with a similar problem is the VW beetle. They got really bad reliability scores and it hurt the new Beetle's value and reputation.

The reliability is what the reliability is. I am not afraid of Consumer Reports. If they poll me I will tell them that in my 6 months with the car I have had zero problems except a leak in the coolant bottle which was fixed. So by their criteria that would give it all red dots for excellent. If 5% of the owners report a problem then that is very good and the car gets lots of red dots, if slightly more than 5% report the same problem then you will see some half red dots.
More than 18% getting a problem gets the dreaded Black dot and so forth. I'm not worried.

My 2001 Honda Odyssey has a slew of problems over and over and over, mostly minor, some electrical. Still drives OK and it is in such high demand that my dealer just sent me a letter that say they will buy back my car and give me 80% of it's sticker price at the time of purchase if I buy a new one. Right, Like I want to do that- I can sell it myself if the demand is that high. The car is OK, ratings are good but the reliability isn't there. And for a Honda it is no angel at being problem free. It's also no lemon.

>>I just want to get a handle on how bad the problems are. All we ever hear about are the MINIs that break. I am more intrested in the ones with lots of reliable miles and smiles.
The vast majority of MINIs are trouble free. A few with trouble get all the press. Check with your service agent and run down the list of things they see or not. Any Mini/BMW mechanic can tell you what is common. Mostly minor stuff. Occasionally there is a CVT problem, a wiring harness problem, an AC problem, a stumble problem. I have never had any of these.

Go for a test drive.

 

Well I guess I will stop worrying about this as much. If it's too bad I will just get rid of it. The resale is very good.

I'm getting a MC with 5 speed and all sorts of goodies. Should be a hoot to own. You'll have to forgive me I've had my Miata for many years now and it's impossible for me not to compare all cars to it. It just has one very large fatal flaw... No where for the little one to sit!!!

I like club activities. The Miata and now the Mini are some of the few cars that have a real following. The VW Beetle was great for a while but now with all the reliablitly problems the popularity of it has died off significantly. I know two people that were very excited about getting theirs and now they just want to get rid of it.

Thanks for letting me bend you ear!

 

It's the whole full moon / Street Lamp thing. If someone's MINI is fine, they don't tell the world, but if someone is having problems, they tell everyone... or as Cecil wrote on the full moon page, "Heads I Win, Tails Don't Count"

The only problem I've had with my MINI is a defective headlight bulb, and the factory putting a MC piece on the side of my MCS. and as you can see from my Sig, I have a July 02 buiild, which is sill first year for the MCS variant. The only way we are going to be able to see how reliable it really is is to wait 5/10years.

Rocketboy_X

 

Car by BMW
Engine by DAIMLER-chrysler (the Chrysler part is silent!), although the lump is used in PT Cruisers for the South African market.

 

I agree with Rocketboy. People only complain about the problems. I've had Alice since October 02 and the only problem I've had was that the sensor for the driver's seatbelt went bad and had to be replaced.
When I moved to the US and got sent to Detroit instead of San Francisco (bait and switch, don't ask), I was worried. After i got there, I realised that you might hear about 100 people being shot last year, but you don't hear about the 4 million that weren't. "Everything is fine" makes lousy news.

 

Bump, on Agro. I have had a few issues, but I would buy again, and again etc..
the car is a blast to drive and feels great. no one wants to read about how great
everything is all the time. we come here to help out issues to make the
perfect driving machine, eveyone is a bit pickey and we all want it to be
just right, which it may never be.. :smile:

so my .02 worth, buy, and get involved with MCO and groups, interact and have fun, modify if you want, I am having a blast.

 

Welcome to MCO. 1st off find a way to keep the Miata. Only time will tell if the reliability can compare. My 2 biggest complaints would be the turning radius is way to big for such a little car, and the throttle response does not even come close to what you are used to.

Good luck
And keep the Miata

 

>>Welcome to MCO. 1st off find a way to keep the Miata. Only time will tell if the reliability can compare. My 2 biggest complaints would be the turning radius is way to big for such a little car, and the throttle response does not even come close to what you are used to.
>>
>>Good luck
>>And keep the Miata

The turn radius does seem large for such a small car. It's the same as my Saab sportwagon! The Miata was 31' (oops there I go again!) You must forgive me i have been in Miata forums now for 6 years...

Your comment on throttle response does surprise me. I was actually looking forward to a better response because of the electronic throttle. Is this common among all MINI's or maybe yours just needs replacing.

I'm getting excited again. My order status just changed to "Scheduled for Production"

Does any one know how long each process takes on average?

 

>>Good luck
>>And keep the Miata

I forgot to add this in my earlier post. Absolutely I am keeping the Miata! I have a standard two car garage and I think I can get all three cars in at one time and close the door.

The neighbors will think I'm crazy. Course they think I'm crazy anyways for driving two tiny cars! They all drive SUVs of course...

 

Wait listed in March
Ordered beginning of December
Built in middle of January
Took deliver end of February

 

Well, I purchased a Miata the second year they came out and now I have a 2002MCS for almost a year.
The first year I had my Miata the brake pads needing replacing due to poor design, Mazda did a recall on that. I only had the car a year and half and had no other problems, except for the jerk who knifed the convertable top.
Now that my Mini will be a year old August 1st I consider the problems I have had minimal compared to most, although I have low miles, 5,700 to be exact.
In the first year I too needed to have the water pump replaced and that's the only problem I have had. That said, my windshield too like others is in poor shape, in fact the windshield on my 12 year old Mazda pick-up with 140,000 miles looks almost the same as the Mini windshield after 5,000 miles, go figure!
I have to agree with alot of what other's have said, its a relatively new automobile, if you are not what they call an early adoptor, you might want to wait a another year or two before buying.
I would like to add however, its the most fun of any car I have ever driven, including the Miata. Everything I have ever read about the Miata was true, it was really a fabulous car to own and drive, I was amazed at how close Mazda was able to get to how my older MG's would feel. The fun quotient on the Mini though is ten times what the Miata was. Good luck!

 

>>Can the MINI be considered reliable and well built?



It's a Horrible car and nobody wants one!!! They really suck!

I love mine!

 

I have an August 16, 2002 build MCS with 9,600 miles....almost problem free with the exception of 'the stumble' for which it appears there is a fix on the way. I believe that my experience is the rule rather than the exception and the fun
factor is off the charts. So, take a chance....the odds are in your favor.

 

My only comment to this thread would be to avoid the sunroof if you can part with it. It seems to be the most trouble related part according to the postings here. I have had significant issues with mine which is a July 02 build.

That said, I loved my Miata right up until an unlicensed 16 year old turned left in front of me... my first and hopefully only experience with air bags... It was never the same car after that.

Good Luck, feel confident in your purchase and welcome to MCO

 

>>My only comment to this thread would be to avoid the sunroof if you can part with it. It seems to be the most trouble related part according to the postings here. I have had significant issues with mine which is a July 02 build.
>>
What sort of issues ?