My apologies if my Search failed me - as I could not find a definitive "High Mileage Thread" for the 1st Generation Minis (R53) I'd like to propose one. I'd suggest that high mileage means approaching 100k miles or more, and that the worth of such a thread is that folks shopping used, or folks seeking to keep their Mini happy over the long term, might find other's experiences useful.

There are many threads that tackle this, so first let me offer a Directory:

Descending order by recency of the last post...
Here are some pics of my 2003 Cooper with 125k miles -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=138321
6 years later the MCS continues to impress! -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=131893
High Mileage... What to Expect? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=130340
05 MCS with 86k miles, good to go? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=130249
70,000 Miles!!! -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=128215
100,000 count down -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=73305
question about 100,000 or more milage -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=123807
Problems with high mileage MCS? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=122884
100,000 Miles -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=114113
Mileage on your 2004 MINI -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=104894
Is this high mileage for MINI - I want to purchase from independent person -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=98355
High Miles MINI? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=89211
Who has high mileage on their Mini? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=88144
300,000 mile MCS -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=85043
High Mileage and using a Mini as a commuting car? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=79882
High Mileage Mini... Bad investment? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=79151
High mileage MINI - concerns? -> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=78334

So we've started 17 threads in the last year and a bit, and as the 1st gen cars age I should think interest in this specific topic will increase. Would it make any sense to start a "High Mileage / Maintenance / Reliability" Sub Forum under the "1st Generation Minis" Forum?

And here are some worthy additions for those that seek Mini immortality...

CVT:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com....php?p=2091957

And the R53 Supercharger threads [M45 Eaton]
Supercharger Failure 2003 MCS (R53)
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=101578
Rattle : Supercharger / Water Pump
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=74674
Supercharger replaced at 105k miles
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=137905

and some updates since my original post...
Celebration:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=135359
And deliberation before buying a 140k used MCS:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=high+mileage
And a Non - S Cooper - the original and unadulterated!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=139877

and another thread with apparently similiar purpose (or three):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=155835
and my favorite - the "keep forever" thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=155415
and most recently "Reliability with miles & age... "
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=1#post2514762

and they keep popping up - with increasing frequency!
"150,000 Miles, What will yours look like?"
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=109548

and another...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-heads-up.html

and don't miss this one! https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ile-mcs-4.html



Cheers,
Charlie

 

Seems like a good idea to me....it'll have to happen eventually. I certainly hope R50s are included...or is this tasteless R53 elitism going to continue into the next decade!?!?!

 

unintended!!!! just ignorance

I meant 1st Gen - not elitist!

 

cool thread idea, so whos got the most miles in here, im at 75K

 

103+k

I know I'm not the highest

 

2005 MCS with 76,000 miles (2nd owner)--96 miles a day commute-6 days a week. Since I've owned it for the past year and 3 months, have put on 40,000 miles.



Other threads
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=2062643

From 2002
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ead.php?t=1991

From 2003
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=18700

From 2006
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1147583

 

Okay....but I still think it is a good idea. With more out-of-warranty and pre-loved MINIs out there a whole new set of issues is going to emerge.

 

Shhhhhhhhh!!!!! Don't say that too loudly.

 

I do think a section for high mileage cars makes sense.

But, we don't need another thread where people just tell us how many miles they have.

My 2003 has been sitting for the winter (after an on-track crash) and miles are going on my new 2007 instead. But hopefully the 2003 will be back in action soon. Although, it won't resemble a "normal" MINI a while lot once the work is done.

 

Thanks to all for the feedback, and the additional threads that were referenced! Does anyone know what process exists whereby a SubForum might appear? Of course we'd have a "most miles contest" thread in there, but my notion was to gather maintenance and reliability information for shared reference.

There is an enourmous collective memory here, ranging from early posts about the PS cooling fan and the weatherstripping rust issues to emerging topics centering on stock drivetrain reliability predictions and experience. Id focus on the high mileage knowledge, not trying to overlap with the existing and active SubForums for Stock Problems/Issues, nor the others.

For example it seems that some conventional wisdom assigns fixed lifespans to certain components (the 100k supercharger bang is one for example) that I'm skeptical about, but also interested in.

I'm married to the car - just ask my wife - and I don't finish paying the bank for another 23 months. At that point I shall have about 140k miles, and I fully intend that the car shall be trouble free at that point.

So my selfish agenda is just to make it easier for other folks in my predicament to nurse their loved ones to continued good health over the long haul.

Also I'm too lazy to repeatedly sample over twenty threads in diverse subforums to get the insights I seek on preventative maintenance.

Do I have any more seconds on this notion? Would one of the blessed souls that administer this digital community weigh in with a bit of feedback on process perhaps?

If it's a bad idea - so be it. I have those often enough.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Sounds like a good idea to me.

*signs petition*

 

another interesting thread just appeared having to do with high mileage - this one contains some aspersions on the longevity of the CVT transmission!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=2091957

 

Put my name on the petition!
-skip-

 

HWS, who posts in Miniusa OL has over 258,000 on his 2002 as of a few days ago. From his posts, very little work has been done. He is in his 80's and just the miles he has put on his Mini is more miles than most will do in a lifetime.

 

Does anyone have any shots of that odometer? That is insane milage to have with very little work done.

 

signing petition as well. would love to see it for our cars. could be very helpful.

 

added another supercharger thread to the index

 

I'm at 100,500 today...It's a great idea!


I have a ghetto fix for worn out engine mounts if anyone is interested...it cost me $1.50 and no more engine bouncing around...why the hell should anyone buy poly engine mounts or dampeners...

 

the CVT link is not working. this is the one i shall follow very closely.

 

+1

 

123,000+ miles and still going strong!

 

just a bumps, as Search does not appear to find this thread to well any more...

high mileage Mini, reliability, maintenance, older Mini, buying older Mini, what could go wrong

 

just bumping - I want to keep this thread on my radar since "Mints" isn't old enough for high miles...YET. THanks!

 

Added a new Supercharger thread to the index

Cheers,

Charlie

 

As someone who plans to drive my MINI 100,000 + miles I find these threads very informative. With many of our MINI's reaching high miles a high mileage forum that addresses the problems & joys of a high mileage MINI would be very valuable.

Thanks for doing the work of compiling these threads together Charlie. Now if we could get a high mileage forum started so we don't lose them it would be great.

While we are on the subject of new forums, hows a how to or DIY forum sound?