I have a 2004 Mini Cooper, which I love. It has 102,000 miles. Recently, I have had some bits and pieces happen/need repair that really add up. Around $3K if I do it all.

- Heat A/C motor - $1100K+
- Oil Pan Gasket - $400 +
- Drivers side window motor $380 +
- Battery - $180 +
- Rear brakes /Rotor $400
- $100K service $200

The list goes on...

Anyway, I was considering some of these things, but then I talked to a mechanic friend of mine who lives in the UK he said "Trade it in!"

He was surprised that the transmission hadn't gone out already. And believed that it would almost definitely go out soon. And other very expensive repairs would likely follow. Car is worth around $6.5K for a trade in according to KBB.

Please can experienced mini owners way in! Should I trade this one in? Should I buy a later model mini? I can't afford a new one, but I want to get something that is not going to have me throwing good money after bad.

Thanks!
Smudger

 

S model or not? 5 or 6 speed manual transmission, or CVT?

 

Sounds like dealer pricing......you have spent almost 2x what you should have for a few things....
If it is a cvt....that is a $6500 problem....so might be time to unload it....a shame, most of the common stuff is fixed for the next person!!

 

Thanks for the replies. It is not the S. Base model, 5 speed manual, with the sport package. I don't go to a dealer - I am in a small town, and I believe there is only one company here that repairs minis.

 

- Heat A/C motor - $1100K+

$1,100,000 seems high for a description I don't understand

- Oil Pan Gasket - $400 +

seems high but may be in line for a dealer price - ain't never had this problem ..

- Drivers side window motor $380 +

I recently paid $200 for one in a Honda ... not that complicated IF you know what to do


- Battery - $180 +

Kidding, right?


- Rear brakes /Rotor $400

Again, kidding? Nothing special about MINI brakes and average cost is around $150 an axle (plus parts, the rotor could take this up .... and performance parts could make the OEM $400 look cheap) Bring to my house and I'll do the rears with parts you bring for lunch....


- $100K service $200 .... huh?

 

Well, depends if you,like the car. Last I check any new car will depreciate a couple of grand when you buy it. The oil pan likely can be ignored for a while if you want to save money. That tranny should be fine. I assume the motor you are talking about is what moves the air in the car. Entire dash needs to be pulled to do that and it is a big job. 1100 may be a few hundred high, but not totally unreasonable. 2 grand may be the cost to keep you going for a few years.

 

The 5 speed midlands tranny on pre 2005 is not the best stick, but the later ones seem to last much longer than the early ones, espically if driven nicely and not thrashed.....
In all honesty it sounds like the local shop is charging you to lean on your car....many of the things you list are things that can be "lived with" till you ca't....owning an older an older car is like triage...you look at wht items annoy you suffivently or can kill the car, and fix it....other stuff you monitor....the oil pan gasket is a good example....it can weap for years....and for some folks tge drip requires a fix...others, just more frequent oil level checks....and a piece of cardboard with some sand in your driveway...watching till it worsens.
A "newer" car will have expenses too...if not repair then deprecation at the least, and more insurance and maybe a payment....so good luck, have just remember, have fun in whatever you decide to do!!

 

LOL $180 FOR A BATTERY?!

All of that pricing is ridiculous. If you did the work yourself it wouldnt even cost half as much and would be much more rewarding.

 

I found Pelican parts has reasonable pricing on most anything Mini. The I was looking at replacing my battery and found an Interstate for around 125. The Mini dealership said buy it they couldn't get close to that price, Mini uses Exide batteries. As far as brakes go Turner motor has a complete set of rotors and pads for all four corners for 319. The only transmission issue I have read about are for the CVT, but you may need to replace the clutch when it starts to slip.

 

The midlands 5spd has a less than perfect reputation for reliability. The getrag 6spd is nearly bulletproof though.