Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Jul 2013
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You'd prefer a sloppy change?
Test drove a Mini Cooper S today - seriously impressed
- Thread starter Hades
- Start date
No
No, I prefer a smooth change! Ideally something made by Honda who've pretty much perfected it but I'd take a Ford or VAG box over the (Renault iirc) gearbox in the mini.
You'd prefer a sloppy change?
No, I prefer a smooth change! Ideally something made by Honda who've pretty much perfected it but I'd take a Ford or VAG box over the (Renault iirc) gearbox in the mini.
I'd seriously consider test driving a JCW before settling for a Cooper S. The N18 later models do cost quite bit more, but the N14s aren't as scary as made out providing you keep on top of maintenance.
I've had mine for the past 18 months or so (just over 71k now) and its been fairly reliable during my ownership, even with the N14 oil drinking engine.
Replaced under warranty:
- Timing chain/death rattle
- Footwell Module (google this)
Early JCW's can be had for around the £10K mark and without any desperate need for practicality, there isn't much else out there that tops it, considering what you get for the money. What is your budget?
Providing the car has Full dealership service history, you can buy extended warranty from BMW/MINI. It'll be a lapsed policy, meaning it'll be noted that a period occurred where the car was not covered by the warranty, but as long as the paper work is consistent and you have evidence to show the car was serviced on time with mini parts etc fully comp cover (should you opt for this) will resume (as normal) a month after purchasing the policy.
General rule of thumb that premiums for vehicles under 60,000mls is far cheaper than cars over so would keep an eye out for that if you plan on having the vehicle covered.
I've had mine for the past 18 months or so (just over 71k now) and its been fairly reliable during my ownership, even with the N14 oil drinking engine.
Replaced under warranty:
- Timing chain/death rattle
- Footwell Module (google this)
Early JCW's can be had for around the £10K mark and without any desperate need for practicality, there isn't much else out there that tops it, considering what you get for the money. What is your budget?
Providing the car has Full dealership service history, you can buy extended warranty from BMW/MINI. It'll be a lapsed policy, meaning it'll be noted that a period occurred where the car was not covered by the warranty, but as long as the paper work is consistent and you have evidence to show the car was serviced on time with mini parts etc fully comp cover (should you opt for this) will resume (as normal) a month after purchasing the policy.
General rule of thumb that premiums for vehicles under 60,000mls is far cheaper than cars over so would keep an eye out for that if you plan on having the vehicle covered.
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Had a 2011 Mini Cooper S R56 for nearly 5 years and it hasn't missed a beat apart from 2 alloys cracking (both nearside), there are a lot of potholes around here though. Never had any oil issues. We have 2 kids and it's a bit of a squeeze with booster seats in the back when I'm driving them in it (I'm 6 foot 2) but my partner doesn't have the same issue. I don't mind driving the school run, but I wouldn't want to do long distance with them in the back, but we have a CR-V for a family car.
The Mini is a lot of fun and I'm struggling to think what we would replace it with apart from another one, had a look at 140i's but they didn't seem like a lot of car for the money considering you can get a 3 or 4 series for similar.
The Mini is a lot of fun and I'm struggling to think what we would replace it with apart from another one, had a look at 140i's but they didn't seem like a lot of car for the money considering you can get a 3 or 4 series for similar.
Correction.... It is impossible to read. There are alternatives though.
I currently own an R56 (this is my second mini). And I have to say that it is by far, the most enjoyable car I've ever owned. I sold my old m135i for one a few years back.
Ive had a few things done to my car. But even in standard trim it's amazing to drive.
I have absolutely no idea what I'll replace it with.... Probably a Porsche of some sort.
Yes would love a JCW and we did consider one. But if going R56 then it's a choice between a bottom market JCW and a newer, lower mileage, better condition Cooper S. The only must have option is a sunroof which reduces the available cars and pushes prices up. After a year it will become my wife's car and she really wouldn't use the extra power of a JCW anyway. My last car suffered engine failure so I would probably always be nervous about an N14 too. Absolute top budget is £9k firm.
The MCS we are seeing on Tues is a 2013, 41k miles, two owners, full BMW service history, retired gentleman, apparently in immaculate condition. But I never believe a sellers description until I see it myself as they are rarely in the condition which the owner describes.
The MCS we are seeing on Tues is a 2013, 41k miles, two owners, full BMW service history, retired gentleman, apparently in immaculate condition. But I never believe a sellers description until I see it myself as they are rarely in the condition which the owner describes.
I went to view the car today. I haven't (yet) made an offer for it, for reasons I will explain shortly. But overall I thought it was a great little car. It was in very good condition but not immaculate. There were a few minor marks but mostly they were indeed minor. The inside was immaculate. But there was a cluster of three quite bad stone chips on the front next to the mini badge. They were all quite obvious dents and so I would have to get them fixed for my own OCD. The car drove very nicely, had good all round tyres (different brands but good tread and OK brands) and full BMW service history. 45k miles.
The owner was in a nice area with several cars, including a Range Rover, and had also had the car serviced annually rather than waiting for the car to indicate when (I prefer this).
However there are two issues which have caused me to pause. The first is that he bought it in Northern Ireland three years ago and lives between there and here. He's recently moved back here full time and brought the car over here. But the problem is that when he's registered it here it has somehow put an extra owner on the car and it shows as him buying it on 1st October. So it has three owners rather than two and it shows as him only owning it a month. Of course it could actually be that he really has just bought it from Ireland in the last month and he may be lying to me. But I've asked him to look into it and if it was a mistake when registering over here then let me know.
The second issue was that there was a small amount of grease or oil near to where the gearbox is mounted to the engine. It wasn't a lot and I thought it may have been when the oil or other fluids were changed. I cleaned it up with a cloth and checked it again after driving. I couldn't see any repeat of it. I'd dismissed it in my own mind and probably not an issue and probably just caused by an oil change (there appeared to be a drain plug near it). But it's playing on my mind a little more now that I'm away from the car.
So I'm waiting for him to check with the DVLA to confirm what's happened with that V5 ownership change. I'm certainly not rushing into it although the car felt great and appeared to be very well looked after,
The owner was in a nice area with several cars, including a Range Rover, and had also had the car serviced annually rather than waiting for the car to indicate when (I prefer this).
However there are two issues which have caused me to pause. The first is that he bought it in Northern Ireland three years ago and lives between there and here. He's recently moved back here full time and brought the car over here. But the problem is that when he's registered it here it has somehow put an extra owner on the car and it shows as him buying it on 1st October. So it has three owners rather than two and it shows as him only owning it a month. Of course it could actually be that he really has just bought it from Ireland in the last month and he may be lying to me. But I've asked him to look into it and if it was a mistake when registering over here then let me know.
The second issue was that there was a small amount of grease or oil near to where the gearbox is mounted to the engine. It wasn't a lot and I thought it may have been when the oil or other fluids were changed. I cleaned it up with a cloth and checked it again after driving. I couldn't see any repeat of it. I'd dismissed it in my own mind and probably not an issue and probably just caused by an oil change (there appeared to be a drain plug near it). But it's playing on my mind a little more now that I'm away from the car.
So I'm waiting for him to check with the DVLA to confirm what's happened with that V5 ownership change. I'm certainly not rushing into it although the car felt great and appeared to be very well looked after,
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NFZ 4699
According to the DVLA it's first MOT was due April 2016 and it's not had any. That means either the DVLA isn't up to speed or the car has been overdue an MOT for two and a half years.
I'd be asking for records, although the more I learn about this car the more I think you'd be nuts to buy it.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk
Actually ignore that, according to this site the car is taxed and MOT'd, so it's probably the DVLA's error.
https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle
Thanks for the links. Useful. I believe MOT rules differ slightly in Northern Ireland and the two systems aren't completely connected. There do seem to be some anomalies most likely due to the move from NI to here. But in a world where minis a two a penny there doesn't seem to be a reason to go for this one rather than the next one.
He sounds like a car trader to me.
That did occur to me. Thanks.
As a previous early R56 (57 plate) owner, I'm fairly sure there were several different revisions of Tensioner, as it took several "attempts" for the issues to be completely fixed.
Definitely
Early one's definitely don't (as in the first I knew on one occasion was the oil pressure light coming on - not helped by the poor oil consumption and difficult to read dipstick
)Agree on the useless warranty part, but protection offered by the Consumer Rights Act and being able to put a deposit on a credit card (for additional protection) via a dealer are worth it on any car worth more than a couple of grand imo.
Not sure where the Renault connection came in - 99% sure they use a Getrag box.
Outside of enthusiast circles (such as here), replacing individual tyres seems to be something of the norm - as long as they are of reasonable brand (i.e. not the cheapest possible), then I wouldn't be too concerned, certainly wouldn't put me if off if everything else was ok. Just budget in to replace them
I think you're right with the cooper s. I thought the cooper had a Renault box though? Certainly the new one I test drove last year was pretty notchy?
Just for completeness, the seller of the car called me back. He says he spoke with the DVLA and the reason for the unexpected additional owner and change of ownership date in October was due to him transferring it from his company to himself.
However he wasn't able to offer any proof of this such as documentation that his company previously owned it. So, sadly, I think I will walk away from that one as the only evidence I have is that he bought it a month ago, whether that is correct or not. It's not exactly a rare car so another will come along.
However he wasn't able to offer any proof of this such as documentation that his company previously owned it. So, sadly, I think I will walk away from that one as the only evidence I have is that he bought it a month ago, whether that is correct or not. It's not exactly a rare car so another will come along.
so he was just wasting your time then, if it he did not disclose that when you visited him.
With the suggestion he was a dealer, is it difficult to establish if he had sold other cars on AT, or, where was it advertised ?
( checking reg on some of his other cars might have confirmed)
probably not a big careabout - Avg mpg looks like 30mpg .. what can they do on nsl roads ?