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

Vince said:
Yea of course. It cost a few quid shy of 5k, has 85k miles but also only 1 owner before me and a full main dealer service history. It's had stupid stuff that it probably didn't need done like a new timing chain, guides etc at about 80k, as well as some suspension work at the same time.

It felt tighter and more together than some I drove so yea the millage although higher than I wanted wasn't a concern. My thoughts after a few days are that it's a lot of car for the money.
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Perfect, thanks a lot! That's bang in my budget and as you say, you seem to have found a goodun.

Is there anything in particular you've been looking out for, or just the usual decent service history and no obvious problems?

Edit: Oh, and Cooper rather than Cooper S, right?
 
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Zeebedy said:
Got home late, late last night, so didn’t do much in the way of photos, will update soon.

Car drives great , the double edge sword though is I like it doesn’t have heads up display, the silly centre armrest and a panoramic roof. This is because it’s essentially a base spec cooper s works. The only few things I wish it has was the leather (not just the alcantara finish on the seats), and the Harman kardon sound package, the speakers are good, but not crazy good or anything.

Will update soon.
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The panoramic roof is overrated, nice to have, but I only look out of it while the car drives itself in traffic. Arm rest is surprisingly comfy, but again, I could live without it. Heads up display should be standard imo, that I’d struggle without.
 
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manic111 said:
Perfect, thanks a lot! That's bang in my budget and as you say, you seem to have found a goodun.

Is there anything in particular you've been looking out for, or just the usual decent service history and no obvious problems?
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There are probably better people on here to answer that but given it's a chain engine I just had a listen out for the chain slap with some revs and made sure it didn't sound off. Had a poke around underneath and noticed that it's got all new cv gaters and two new droplinks and just checked the stuff that was recently changed to make sure it lined up with history.

For me the 5k budget was a decent budget that could have got me into an earlier S but it's not for me really it's for the wife more than anything but I'm having a blast on it.
 
manic111 said:
Perfect, thanks a lot! That's bang in my budget and as you say, you seem to have found a goodun.

Is there anything in particular you've been looking out for, or just the usual decent service history and no obvious problems?

Edit: Oh, and Cooper rather than Cooper S, right?
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Yea this one is a cooper. Honestly though it's got a decent amount of poke for what it is. Plenty to have some fun with that's for sure.
 
Vince said:
Yea of course. It cost a few quid shy of 5k, has 85k miles but also only 1 owner before me and a full main dealer service history. It's had stupid stuff that it probably didn't need done like a new timing chain, guides etc at about 80k, as well as some suspension work at the same time.

It felt tighter and more together than some I drove so yea the millage although higher than I wanted wasn't a concern. My thoughts after a few days are that it's a lot of car for the money.
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Only downside I can see is the stereo but think they are easy enough to replace with the nav screen / carplay etc
 
Armageus said:
Only downside I can see is the stereo but think they are easy enough to replace with the nav screen / carplay etc
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Honestly I'm not interested in nav so wasn't even on my list of options that were deal breakers. I rarely ever use it but I can see it would be an option people might be wanting.
 
Vince said:
Honestly I'm not interested in nav so wasn't even on my list of options that were deal breakers. I rarely ever use it but I can see it would be an option people might be wanting.
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I don't use it in our countryman but it makes the central display look a bit nicer imo ;)

1760035345559.jpeg
 
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Armageus said:
I don't use it in our countryman but it makes the central display look a bit nicer imo ;)

1760035345559.jpeg
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Oi yours has got buttons mine is missing, hand em over pal. :cry: But yea I agree that does look nicer. With my budget I didn't see any with the fancy screen.

On another note that little 3 cylinder turbo in the cooper is brilliant. Honestly I didnt do all that much research before buying, it went a bit like this. Receive tax reminder for Clio, oouf check MOT, it runs out at the end of the month. I sat for 15 mins considered if I could be bothered getting it through another year then spent the next few hours on auto trader. 2 days later I picked it up after looking at only a few cars. Didn't look at engine power or stats or even really what it was, just wanted a relatively reliable run around and fancied one of these.

I was kinda expecting something marginally better than the Clio but this is in a different class honestly I didn't really enjoy flogging the Clio around but am having a blast in this.
 
I'm new to Mini hunting. So I was looking at the R53 because I like the idea of a supercharger, but is the R56 a safer bet?

Are there pros / cons to each to be aware of?

What's considered high mileage on either of these?
 
kinger8938 said:
So I was looking at the R53 because I like the idea of a supercharger, but is the R56 a safer bet?
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I wouldn't say the R56 was a safer bet - if anything it has more common issues (mainly timing chain or direct injection coking related), however the R53 is an old car now (so will have usual age related issues like potential rust, things being worn and cheaper replacement parts being used etc)

The R53 was from 2001 to the end of 2006, with a facelift occurring mid 2004.

The R56 was from November 2006 to the end of 2013, with a facelift LCI in mid 2010. The LCIs have a slightly revised engine which is a little more reliable, but still not great.

2014 onwards will be the F56 will is the 2.0 BMW B48 engine, and widely regarded as much more reliable.



Regardless of which model you go for, always buy on condition and history rather than just mileage - a low mileage one with no evidence of regular servicing wouldn't be great, and with them being small/fun often bought as 2nd cars, runarounds etc so may have been abused on short journeys etc, so check e.g. interior condition for excessive wear etc.
 
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Armageus said:
I wouldn't say the R56 was a safer bet - if anything it has more common issues (mainly timing chain or direct injection coking related), however the R53 is an old car now (so will have usual age related issues like potential rust, things being worn and cheaper replacement parts being used etc)

The R53 was from 2001 to the end of 2006, with a facelift occurring mid 2004.

The R56 was from November 2006 to the end of 2013, with a facelift LCI in mid 2010. The LCIs have a slightly revised engine which is a little more reliable, but still not great.

2014 onwards will be the F56 will is the 2.0 BMW B48 engine, and widely regarded as much more reliable.



Regardless of which model you go for, always buy on condition and history rather than just mileage - a low mileage one with no evidence of regular servicing wouldn't be great, and with them being small/fun often bought as 2nd cars, runarounds etc so may have been abused on short journeys etc, so check e.g. interior condition for excessive wear etc.
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Thanks for the tips. Not sure which to aim for just yet.

This one is up local to me, looks alright
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Frx2NsfkX/

Seller said

Was just recently serviced. Been service every 6-10k miles. Was used as a commuter vehicle. Had the clutch done at 50k. Aux belt done and coolant tank done after that.
 
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kinger8938 said:
Thanks for the tips. Not sure which to aim for just yet.

This one is up local to me, looks alright
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Frx2NsfkX/

Seller said

Was just recently serviced. Been service every 6-10k miles. Was used as a commuter vehicle. Had the clutch done at 50k. Aux belt done and coolant tank done after that.
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Doesn't look too bad - it's an LCI, and Clutch being done is a plus point as obviously one of the more expensive jobs on any second hand car.

Only negatives for me are a few of the little cosmetic parts (e.g. black headlight rings, steering wheel badge, rear badge, black bonnet intake [although that's not in at least one of the pictures?]) - but again just a matter of personal choice and easily rectified.
 
Armageus said:
Doesn't look too bad - it's an LCI, and Clutch being done is a plus point as obviously one of the more expensive jobs on any second hand car.

Only negatives for me are a few of the little cosmetic parts (e.g. black headlight rings, steering wheel badge, rear badge, black bonnet intake [although that's not in at least one of the pictures?]) - but again just a matter of personal choice and easily rectified.
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No I agree, I don't like those parts either and assume they are aftermarket? I'd return to standard and refurb the wheels to silver

Is clutch being done a good thing at that mileage? Or should it be a concern as to why it needed doing?
 
None of the R series car are a safer bet really. I'd rather have a 1.5 F56 Cooper to be honest - unless you were fine with it being a 'project car'.

Didn't realise there was a Mini thread. Had my F56 JCW for almost a year now, sorted a few bits like a suspension refresh on the front end due to a cracked spring and new rear shocks, new discs and pads (not sure if I like the Pagid Street+ front pads but I need to bed them in properly), new rear calipers and braided hoses. Had to get a garage to fit new rear hard lines as they were seized and corroded up.







 
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