Mini Owners Thread (Was:Who here owns a Mini?)

Spleen Sauce · 3 Mar 2025 at 18:56

@CaptainRAVE hows the CarPlay implementation on the Mini? Does it still work well even with the round screen? Also, does it allow directions from Apple Maps to be displayed on the HUD?

I’m seriously considering one of these when we get rid of one of the big cars.

CaptainRAVE · 3 Mar 2025 at 21:40

Spleen Sauce said:
@CaptainRAVE hows the CarPlay implementation on the Mini? Does it still work well even with the round screen? Also, does it allow directions from Apple Maps to be displayed on the HUD?

I’m seriously considering one of these when we get rid of one of the big cars.

CarPlay unfortunately remains as a square in the centre, albeit a pretty large one. I think you only get HUD directions with mini navigation. That said, mini navigation isn’t much different to Google/apple maps and the added augmented reality feature is pretty cool.

pcfarrar · 3 Mar 2025 at 21:46

CaptainRAVE said:
Yes, it’s amazing in traffic (which is most of my commute home these days)!

The only time on my commute it hasn’t worked well is when it detects parked cars on the side of the road that it thinks are part of the traffic.

Sorry just realised you have the J01 Mini, that has radar so the adaptive cruise control is much better than the older F56 electric.

CaptainRAVE · 4 Mar 2025 at 18:36

pcfarrar said:
Sorry just realised you have the J01 Mini, that has radar so the adaptive cruise control is much better than the older F56 electric.

Adaptive cruise control is the dream in traffic. Used it a fair bit this evening.

Also enjoying digital key plus, so strange (but great) not having to carry a key.

Andy Pandy · 4 May 2025 at 12:43

Hi all. What screen wash do you use in a 2023 Mini? I’ve had the washer jets get clogged up for not using official BMW screen wash in my car so I presume Mini will be the same?

Thanks

CaptainRAVE · 4 May 2025 at 12:55

Andy Pandy said:
Hi all. What screen wash do you use in a 2023 Mini? I’ve had the washer jets get clogged up for not using official BMW screen wash in my car so I presume Mini will be the same?

Thanks

Prestone screenwash because it’s usually the cheapest. No issue so far.

Armageus · 4 May 2025 at 16:35

Andy Pandy said:
Hi all. What screen wash do you use in a 2023 Mini? I’ve had the washer jets get clogged up for not using official BMW screen wash in my car so I presume Mini will be the same?

Thanks

Bmw screen wash because it's often on offer on their eBay shop, and works out similar price to most other screen wash

mjt · 15 May 2025 at 22:20

It's that time of year again, and I've been eyeing up some R53/Convertibles.
Is this a stupid thing to do? They're so cheap these days, and parts are still plentiful aren't they...?

-edit (late) facelifts, obv.

rare · 15 May 2025 at 23:33

mjt said:
It's that time of year again, and I've been eyeing up some R53/Convertibles.
Is this a stupid thing to do? They're so cheap these days, and parts are still plentiful aren't they...?

-edit (late) facelifts, obv.

You can buy one cheap enough, they nearly always need money spending on them. Go for it, just buy the best one you can. Try and look at them underneath. They are getting on a bit now. I’m in the process of doing powder coated front and rear subframes on mine but while they are out essentially having the car rebuilt :cry:

Diddums · 16 May 2025 at 06:46

Top mounts and wishbone bushes are always the things to check, they love eating those.

nlel1975 · 19 Jun 2025 at 11:59

My niece is looking at a used Mini to replace the Smart Fortwo I sold her 6.5 years ago for a grand which needs to be scrapped. In that time she’s only serviced it twice so no wonder it’s shagged.

She’s looking at this one…

https://carz.je/products/mini-cooper-1-5-jcw-chilli-pack-3-door-automatic

Thoughts?

Cleisthenes · 20 Jun 2025 at 11:15

Are they really demanding that much money these days? My 23k mile 2016 cooper s was £13.5k 5 years ago!

Ignoring the price though, the XL nav is really good and modernises the cabin and the seats are really comfy (mine has both). The LEDs are really good too from my experience.

kona786 · 20 Jun 2025 at 11:21

Cleisthenes said:
Are they really demanding that much money these days? My 23k mile 2016 cooper s was £13.5k 5 years ago!

Ignoring the price though, the XL nav is really good and modernises the cabin and the seats are really comfy (mine has both). The LEDs are really good too from my experience.

Yup. Wake up and smell the used car market. It's been crazy post Covid.

thewanted · 20 Jun 2025 at 11:46

Cleisthenes said:
Are they really demanding that much money these days? My 23k mile 2016 cooper s was £13.5k 5 years ago!

Ignoring the price though, the XL nav is really good and modernises the cabin and the seats are really comfy (mine has both). The LEDs are really good too from my experience.

Crazy prices. Our almost new 2016 Cooper S 5 door was £17k in Feb 2017 with 4000 miles.

nlel1975 · 20 Jun 2025 at 12:29

thewanted said:
Crazy prices. Our almost new 2016 Cooper S 5 door was £17k in Feb 2017 with 4000 miles.

Thought this was a bit much too…

https://carz.je/products/smart-fortwo-coupe-0-9-turbo-109-brabus-premium-plus-automatic

I paid £15000 new with delivery miles in 2019 for my Smart Fortwo Automatic 0.9 turbo Cabriolet, granted it wasn’t a Brabus but still. Her money if she’s willing to pay that much it’s up to her.

Dangerous Dave · 21 Jun 2025 at 10:23

If you bought a Mini pre covid they are doing well price wise, in the process of selling our 2018 F56 we got at 3 months old and if the bids come in around the estimate it's lost approx 1k a year in depreciation which I think is is pretty good. Only needed servicing in the time we've had it so it's been a cheap car to run.

thewanted · 21 Jun 2025 at 10:37

Dangerous Dave said:
If you bought a Mini pre covid they are doing well price wise, in the process of selling our 2018 F56 we got at 3 months old and if the bids come in around the estimate it's lost approx 1k a year in depreciation which I think is is pretty good. Only needed servicing in the time we've had it so it's been a cheap car to run.

That’s the same depreciation curve as ours. Is yours also a manual?

I looked a few years ago and it seemed like the automatics commanded a premium.

Dangerous Dave · 21 Jun 2025 at 12:10

Ours is an auto JCW, it’s got a great spec so hoping it goes for over estimate which reading up a lot of them do.

nlel1975 · 22 Jun 2025 at 17:12

nlel1975 said:
My niece is looking at a used Mini to replace the Smart Fortwo I sold her 6.5 years ago for a grand which needs to be scrapped. In that time she’s only serviced it twice so no wonder it’s shagged.

Well she went ahead and bought that Mini. Got £400 p/x for her old used and abused 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion Turbo. If she had serviced it every year at say £300 or so then it would have been £1500 in servicing costs and the car would still be running sweet. Would have saved her £12k (minus the £400 p/x).

I think after 6.5 years she fancied something else anyway, didn't want another Smart had one of those already and the novelty had worn off.

gc123 · 22 Jun 2025 at 17:27

nlel1975 said:
Well she went ahead and bought that Mini. Got £400 p/x for her old used and abused 2007 Smart Fortwo Passion Turbo. If she had serviced it every year at say £300 or so then it would have been £1500 in servicing costs and the car would still be running sweet. Would have saved her £12k (minus the £400 p/x).

I think after 6.5 years she fancied something else anyway, didn't want another Smart had one of those already and the novelty had worn off.

if its the same smart you let her have cheap and they accused you of making money out of her, id be thinking thank goodness she didnt want mine (all that hassle again)