YACT: MINI Cooper S reliability?

[Xyclone]

Can any MINI owners enlighten me on their reliability? I'm interested in the 2007 Cooper S (new 1.6L turbo engine), but it's a first year BMW, so I'm about skeptical about its reliability. I am thinking if I should wait for the 2008 model to avoid some of the problems it might have. Thanks!

 

[Fritzo]

First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

Hmm, since BMW's mockronym is "Break My Wallet," I guess it's double the bad news?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

^
|
Utter effing FUD. Has the first year of the 335 been bad? it's not up yet but I don't hear anyone moaning.

The 1.6L turbo motor in the Mini is shared with the PSA group, if you worried about reliability...this may not help, as that is the Peugeot/Citroen group. :laugh:

Click 'Performance' link.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

^
|
Utter effing FUD. Has the first year of the 335 been bad? it's not up yet but I don't hear anyone moaning.

The 1.6L turbo motor in the Mini is shared with the PSA group, if you worried about reliability...this may not help, as that is the Peugeot/Citroen group. :laugh:

Click 'Performance' link.

Yeah we are not in the 80's anymore...you have DIY's putting turbos on everything pretty reliablly.

My wife wants a mini. We have spoke to quite a few with them and now have reported anything more than having to bring it back to a dealer when new for some adjustment or a plastic panel that was not to their liking.

My problem with it is I have pretty much a 2 seater, we use my wife's car for travel and moving stuff. A mini is not really that pratical for that purpose.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

^
|
Utter effing FUD. Has the first year of the 335 been bad? it's not up yet but I don't hear anyone moaning.

The 1.6L turbo motor in the Mini is shared with the PSA group, if you worried about reliability...this may not help, as that is the Peugeot/Citroen group. :laugh:

Click 'Performance' link.

Uh actually the 335 has had all sorts of issues due to the lack of oil cooler on the non-sport models...among other things.

Read up on some of the issues those have had.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: RollWave

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

^
|
Utter effing FUD. Has the first year of the 335 been bad? it's not up yet but I don't hear anyone moaning.

The 1.6L turbo motor in the Mini is shared with the PSA group, if you worried about reliability...this may not help, as that is the Peugeot/Citroen group. :laugh:

Click 'Performance' link.

Uh actually the 335 has had all sorts of issues due to the lack of oil cooler on the non-sport models...among other things.

Read up on some of the issues those have had.

Link me. The burden to prove the statement is upon you.

 

[uallas5]

I've got an '05 with 35k miles and the only prob I've had is a sticky door handle and a failed trunk latch. Both of which we're replaced/repaired no questions asked and at no cost by the BMW bumper-to-bumper warranty (even maint is included)

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Hmm, since BMW's mockronym is "Break My Wallet," I guess it's double the bad news?

Maybe when the above warranty runs out, but mine is 6 years, 100K miles so what do I care?

 

[iamwiz82]

We had two MINIs. Both had little issues like rattles and such, but no major issues.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We had two MINIs. Both had little issues like rattles and such, but no major issues.

This is the most I have ever heard from a MINI owner, too.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: RollWave

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

^
|
Utter effing FUD. Has the first year of the 335 been bad? it's not up yet but I don't hear anyone moaning.

The 1.6L turbo motor in the Mini is shared with the PSA group, if you worried about reliability...this may not help, as that is the Peugeot/Citroen group. :laugh:

Click 'Performance' link.

Uh actually the 335 has had all sorts of issues due to the lack of oil cooler on the non-sport models...among other things.

Read up on some of the issues those have had.

Link me. The burden to prove the statement is upon you.

Yeah, I am willing to bet these are race-related problems.

 

[holden j caufield]

they look like a blast to drive. Do guys look weird driving in them like they do in beetles and miatas?

 

[MysticLlama]

Friend of mine has a first year S.

Pretty good car overall, had to have a couple of computer flashes while they were working out software bugs, may have a similar issue in the new turbo car, may not.

The transmission also had the 1st gear synchro go out, but they replaced the whole transmission since they had one sitting on the shelf. Not sure what's up with that or if it's common or not. It was still driveable when broken, just annoying.

It's also got a weird clutch noise that happens sometimes now, and it's got about 40k on it, could be an adjustment though, he hasn't taken it in yet.

I think that's about it. And remember, his is a very early car, if the turbo has the same transmission and similar chassis to the others it should be mostly sorted out.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: MysticLlama
Friend of mine has a first year S.

Pretty good car overall, had to have a couple of computer flashes while they were working out software bugs, may have a similar issue in the new turbo car, may not.

The transmission also had the 1st gear synchro go out, but they replaced the whole transmission since they had one sitting on the shelf. Not sure what's up with that or if it's common or not. It was still driveable when broken, just annoying.

It's also got a weird clutch noise that happens sometimes now, and it's got about 40k on it, could be an adjustment though, he hasn't taken it in yet.

I think that's about it. And remember, his is a very early car, if the turbo has the same transmission and similar chassis to the others it should be mostly sorted out.

They are switching to a new 1.6L engine (now it's made by Peugeot), and using a turbo instead of a supercharger. Not sure about the transmission, however.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I have a couple of friends with Cooper S Works cars. One of them was the first Cooper S works in the world to be delivered to a customer, prior to the Geneva launch. Here's the video we did that caused trouble at BMW and at Cooper Garages:

Go to final Video - Contraband Cooper

He has had no mechanical issues, even with it boosted to 210hp (phase 2 reflash).

Japseye.com no longer exists, BTW.

 

[b0mbrman]

Parents vetoed the S2000?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

which mini is it? i think the 1st mini's 1.6 S-charged lump while abit of an old timer was pretty reliable and it pulled great...plus on that car the airscoop actually functions unlike on the new one.

the new mini looks a little more fugly IMO, its the grill....its too wide and fat, anyway the 1.6 in that is a new turbo engine designed in conjunction with Peugeot (it can be found in the new 207GTi), so its french and turbo charged.....nice recipe for going wrong there. the only person i know with a peugeot had his suspension collapse on the motorway lol. having said that, it'll probably be just as reliable as any other car in that bracket...it probably needs more frequent servicing though like most high powered cars do.

though nothing like the mistubishi FQ400... needs a service every 4k or something daft.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Parents vetoed the S2000?

They hesitated about it, and I don't want to mention it again. But, if by some miracle they say yes to a roadster, the S2000 is my top choice. I'm thinking now to buy a MINI or Altima/G35 (check my other YACT), and maybe buy a roadster in the future. I was thinking maybe a used $5,000 Mazda Miata MX5. But that's wishful thinking.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
which mini is it?

The new one (R56). Your friend's story is really intense... it looks like I should definitely wait for the 2008's if I get a Cooper S. At least there will be a few bugs worked out, eh?

 

[Xyclone]

Any other MINI owners?

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
Any other MINI owners?

Any night crew MINI owners?

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
First year of a turbo in any car is usually bad news (not an owner, but seen enough victims to warn you).

So there should be no issue with a Subaru Forester Sport 2.5XT?

 

[Xyclone]

Any others? This forum has a lack of MINI owners.

 

[ultimatebob]

Did you take one for a test drive yet? I did a couple of weeks ago, and it was a blast to drive!

The reliability ratings for the car are average (not bad, but not great), but keep in mind that this is a new '07 model. Since these cars are new, nobody really knows for certain.

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Did you take one for a test drive yet? I did a couple of weeks ago, and it was a blast to drive!

The reliability ratings for the car are average (not bad, but not great), but keep in mind that this is a new '07 model. Since these cars are new, nobody really knows for certain.

How was the size? A Cooper S looks like so much fun to drive, but given that I'm 6'2" I'd always thought there'd be no way I'd fit in it.