Upfront statement: I LOVE the 2007 MCS, but I HATE the fact that I've had to take mine in for 3 clutch/flywheels (and now needing a 4th), and a slew of little annoyances ranging from slow auto window, sunroof noise, hatch open light staying on, "hidden" CD door adjustment, etc. in the 13 months I've had mine. Yes, I know that one gets "influenced" into thinking they have nothing but problems when one is a regular reader of this board, and those with trouble-free cars aren't posting how wonderful they are here.
MINI is buying mine back, but I'm hesitant about buying another given my experience. Does anyone know of a good reliable objective source that reports on how cars compare in terms of reliability and other problems? I'm not talking about driver satisfaction. I'm talking about the irritants that come w/ apparently sloppy builds or poor materials. Your thoughts?

 

I'd say this is highly unusual...most '07 MINIs I know of have been essentially rock solid, in spite of some early build sorting out. If you like MINIs at all I think you can be relatively sure about getting another one. I believe there were some high reliability ratings cited in that USA Today report currently foating about.

 

Mine will be a year old in June and its been perfect never been back to the dealer.

 

besides a fog light and a washer jet my car has taken all the punishment i deliver to it.

 

I guess you were just unlucky, I have mine for a year now , no problems to talk about.

 

sounds like you need a auto trans

 

I've driven stick shifts for many years with no problems, so I don't think it's my fault this time, especially since many others have reported the infamous 3-2 squeal. It's nice to see a few who have had zero problems of any kind with their MINIs. Still, a quick perusal of this particular "Stock Problems/Issues" area shows a lot of problems that people are having. Again, some minor, some major. So back to my original question: Do ALL new cars (meaning brand) have these problems??? The anecdotal "Mine is fine" is nice to hear, but where can one go to look up reported statistics of repairs for various new vehicles?

 

Surfblue says; +1! One year old this month, nothing but drive it easy/hard/you name it with no issues. 07 MCS

 

I'd take a new car from them. It's obvious that you got a rare rotten one from the factory, but the grand majority of them seem to be working fine. I'd give it a second chance... but if the second one turns out the same, then dump it and never look back

 

These cars are highly rated. Even CR rates them above average. Maybe you should stick with a Honda. I had a Honda and had big problems with it bought new (don't get me started on Honda).

 

Learn to rev-match on your downshifts.

--Dan
Mach V

 

You can look up different items here:
http://www.carcomplaints.com/ or here:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...aintsearch.cfm
and there is another that sends me bulletins, but I cant for the life of me remember what it is, and its not in my email trash can right now.
Good luck with which ever car you end up with. I think you unfortunately ended up with a fluke. The only things I have done with my 6 year old MINI is have the shock mount on the passenger side replaced(fairly common with runflats + sport suspension to fail), the radiator overflow tank was weeping around the seam (also common), and my airbag light is on because of a defect in the wiring which is covered until 150,000 miles (in case someone else with an out of warranty car has the same problem).

 

OK, here is a place you can go to rate new cars:
http://www.theautochannel.com/fpmenu...tesbymake.html
You just scroll down, pick you car, and follow the reviews, etc. for that make.
Then there is always:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...-406/overview/

 

MiniMoMir - Consumer Reports is the only independent source for reliability rankings that I trust. The annual auto issue (April 08) should still be on the newsstands. As for those who intimate your clutch and flywheel issues are due to operator error, that's just mean spirited sniping, as they couldn't possibly know the particulars of your MINI problems. I think the fact that MINI is buying back your car suports the general notion that it's a lemon, with an issue that can't be fixed. Good luck on whatever car you decide to get to replace yourMCS.

 

Surfblue, observing from the cheap seats, says politely...
I would like precise answers to these questions:
1. How many miles total on the car?
2. At what mileage figure was each clutch/flywheel thrashed and replaced?
3. What was the dealer's diagnosis for EACH clutch/flywheel failure? (it is not like a dealer to do the same job four times with the same recurring problem coming right up again and not being able to diagnose the cause)
4. What type of driving do you do? Don't be concise on this answer. Spell it out in detail, please.
I would CERTAINLY take a new car, as they are offering. The fact that the dealer and BMW/Mini is offering a new car at this point is a heavy sign that the problem IS with the car, and they are absolutely confounded/stymied by the repeating failures. I cannot imagine this scenario repeating on a second car.
I say, GO FOR THE NEW CAR!! Remember, MOST Mini owners have reasonably bulletproof and reliable cars. These forums bring in the problems. The majority of owners are out driving. MANY owners NEVER see this forum at all, and aren't even aware of it.

 

1. 10,200 miles in 13 months.
2. & 3. A few thousand miles between each replacement. Two times for 3-2 downshift squeal, once for "gurgling" sound when clutch peddle out in neutral, silent when down. 3-2 squeal returned only a few hundred miles later. Increased to once every 20 downshifts. Recently not happening at all. I took it in when it was making the noise, but they said not to worry about it since it was being bought back anyway.
4. I drive two miles and back to work daily. I don't push it really hard. I shift at 3,000 to 4,000 in my weekend driving. Downshift at 3,000 when I'd hear the squeal. It would do it every 30 or so times. Sometimes long stretches w/out a sound.

Lemons ARE out there. I would love to have the same car w/out the problems. Not just the clutch problems, but the little things, too. We'll see. I'm not saying "no" yet.

 

Thanks for that info. One thing: I thought the problem was more of a "catastrophic" clutch/flywheel failure, not noises. There's a big difference, but that doesn't make what was going on with your Mini right. I read your response to mean that the car actually drove and shifted properly, but made strange noises as described. As to lemons...they happen with ALL marques. I had a friend who bought a new Viper $$$ that had to be lemoned. I've read of Corvettes lemoned. I'd still take the new car. Your odds of this happening again are pretty long.
If I lived two miles from work, I'd find a way to ride my bike. I used to do a twelve mile round trip daily for many years. Then again, I see you are in Los Angeles, and even up here in NorCal the streets are hardly safe for bicycles anymore.
One more time: TAKE the new car! Whatever you go to next is going to seem pretty boring after the Mini. Good luck! And keep us posted on your decision.

 

Is the car lemon yellow?

 

I only got the Automatic for two reasons:

WIFE!

NYC Traffic!