Buying a Used Mini

Makushr1 · 10-12-2010, 08:25 AM

Hey guys, I'm looking for some info on Minis, I figured this is a good place to start. My girlfriend is looking to go back to school (dental school) next year. She currently drives a 2008 Highlander, which she wants to sell to get rid of her car payments.

She's looking at a couple minis. They are 2005-2006 with about 50k miles. So, my question is, how reliable are minis? Do they break down often? Are they pricy to fix (I assume they are)? She's going to be back in school for a few years without an income, so she wants something that isnt going to cost a ton to fix. Additionally, I doubt she will be putting more than 10k miles/year on it.

She's also looking at civics. They would be around the same miles and and same year. I feel like the civic would be a) cheaper to fix and b) more reliable. She really wants a mini tho, so if they are fairly dependable, she'll accept a little risk with the mini rather than the civic.

Thoughts?

mtla4 · 10-12-2010, 08:33 AM

Going to school I'd rather be logical then emotional. I would go with a civic

fun ticket · 10-12-2010, 08:37 AM

x2 on the Civic. Buy what she really wants when she graduates and starts fixing teeth. Good luck to her.

Silver-Bolt · 10-12-2010, 08:42 AM

Our 2005 Cooper-S was bought back as a lemon. ECU issue on some 05-06 Cooper and Cooper-S that Mini has/had no fix for. Our was towed 5x to the only dealer in our state. There are many out there running flawlessly but when ours was bought back they also bought 4 more that same week.

Makushr1 · 10-12-2010, 01:08 PM

Anyone else have any experience with a mini, preferrably '05-'06? Looks like Silver-Bolt had a bad one. Is that common, or are they generally dependable? I'd be willing to bet the Civic will be more dependable, but if not by much, she may be willing to accept that for a 'cuter' car...

epbrown · 10-12-2010, 02:27 PM

From everything I've heard, the 2007+ models are much more trouble-free than the R53 (?) models; it's the route I would go if I were Mini shopping.

akack79 · 10-12-2010, 03:07 PM

Bought a 07 (R56 model and 07 was the first year of current generation Mini fyi) Cooper S with only 23,000 miles back in June.......all I have to say is thank goodness it had 1.5 years of warranty left.

Issues I was aware when I purchased the car (both issues repaired under warranty):

1) water in passenger front fog lamp
2) front chrome trim was loose

Problems that occured during my brief ownership:

1) front airbag crapped out - entire airbag replaced
2) thermometer measuring temp of car went out - again replaced
3) homelink mirror indicator light went out - replaced with new one
4) one of the brake sensors went out - replaced

Hella fun car to drive but once the warranty ends early next year will be getting rid of it for a Honda or Toyota. If your gf decides to buy one be damn sure it's CPO or still has warranty.

It has been 5 weeks since my last OBD error...............knock on wood.

car_fan · 10-12-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makushr1

Anyone else have any experience with a mini, preferrably '05-'06? Looks like Silver-Bolt had a bad one. Is that common, or are they generally dependable? I'd be willing to bet the Civic will be more dependable, but if not by much, she may be willing to accept that for a 'cuter' car...

My "06MCS" has been solid 45K on the odo, no mechanical issues. I had one of the A Pillars replaced to address a whistle noise at highway speeds, and an armrest replaced. If you get one do yourself a favor and ditch the runflats, cars rides 10x better without

10-12-2010, 08:25 AM	#1
Makushr1 Lieutenant 114 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sedan Auto Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (2)	Buying a Used Mini Hey guys, I'm looking for some info on Minis, I figured this is a good place to start. My girlfriend is looking to go back to school (dental school) next year. She currently drives a 2008 Highlander, which she wants to sell to get rid of her car payments. She's looking at a couple minis. They are 2005-2006 with about 50k miles. So, my question is, how reliable are minis? Do they break down often? Are they pricy to fix (I assume they are)? She's going to be back in school for a few years without an income, so she wants something that isnt going to cost a ton to fix. Additionally, I doubt she will be putting more than 10k miles/year on it. She's also looking at civics. They would be around the same miles and and same year. I feel like the civic would be a) cheaper to fix and b) more reliable. She really wants a mini tho, so if they are fairly dependable, she'll accept a little risk with the mini rather than the civic. Thoughts? __________________ 2008 Montego Blue E90 ll Custom K&N Dual Cone Intake ll Aluminum OEM Pedals ll 25% Tint ll M3 Spoiler To Do (Cosmetic): Black Line lights, Lux 4.0 Angel Eyes, 19" CSL HyperBlack To Do (Performance): Exhaust (still undecided which brand), SSTT, FMIC (unsure what type)
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10-12-2010, 08:37 AM	#3
fun ticket Private First Class 143 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2017 Ford Raptor Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tampa, Florida iTrader: (0)	x2 on the Civic. Buy what she really wants when she graduates and starts fixing teeth. Good luck to her.
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10-12-2010, 08:42 AM	#4
Silver-Bolt Captain 27 Rep 805 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Melbourne Red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Z4 35is [9.00]	Our 2005 Cooper-S was bought back as a lemon. ECU issue on some 05-06 Cooper and Cooper-S that Mini has/had no fix for. Our was towed 5x to the only dealer in our state. There are many out there running flawlessly but when ours was bought back they also bought 4 more that same week.
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10-12-2010, 01:08 PM	#5
Makushr1 Lieutenant 114 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sedan Auto Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (2)	Anyone else have any experience with a mini, preferrably '05-'06? Looks like Silver-Bolt had a bad one. Is that common, or are they generally dependable? I'd be willing to bet the Civic will be more dependable, but if not by much, she may be willing to accept that for a 'cuter' car... __________________ 2008 Montego Blue E90 ll Custom K&N Dual Cone Intake ll Aluminum OEM Pedals ll 25% Tint ll M3 Spoiler To Do (Cosmetic): Black Line lights, Lux 4.0 Angel Eyes, 19" CSL HyperBlack To Do (Performance): Exhaust (still undecided which brand), SSTT, FMIC (unsure what type)
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10-12-2010, 02:27 PM	#6
epbrown Colonel 60 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: BMW M Coupe, Porsche Boxster S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	From everything I've heard, the 2007+ models are much more trouble-free than the R53 (?) models; it's the route I would go if I were Mini shopping.
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10-12-2010, 03:07 PM	#7
akack79 Brigadier General 142 Rep 3,161 Posts Drives: '18 F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: T E X A S iTrader: (18)	Bought a 07 (R56 model and 07 was the first year of current generation Mini fyi) Cooper S with only 23,000 miles back in June.......all I have to say is thank goodness it had 1.5 years of warranty left. Issues I was aware when I purchased the car (both issues repaired under warranty): 1) water in passenger front fog lamp 2) front chrome trim was loose Problems that occured during my brief ownership: 1) front airbag crapped out - entire airbag replaced 2) thermometer measuring temp of car went out - again replaced 3) homelink mirror indicator light went out - replaced with new one 4) one of the brake sensors went out - replaced Hella fun car to drive but once the warranty ends early next year will be getting rid of it for a Honda or Toyota. If your gf decides to buy one be damn sure it's CPO or still has warranty. It has been 5 weeks since my last OBD error...............knock on wood. __________________ 2018 F80 M3 6MT ZCP Last edited by akack79; 10-12-2010 at 03:19 PM..
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