Who here owns a Mini?

Got my first mini service due in my ownership (F56), Mini quoting £226.24 for a mini which seems pricey, through their website it's more like £195. Or they're offering £250 for the minor service and this cover's next years brake fluid change.

What are peoples experience with servicing their F56 Minis outside of the service pack? Mine has FDSH and I'm not sure whether it's worth spending the extra to keep it, I think it probably isn't but thought I would see what you wise gentleman thought first!
 
Cleisthenes said:
Got my first mini service due in my ownership (F56), Mini quoting £226.24 for a mini which seems pricey, through their website it's more like £195. Or they're offering £250 for the minor service and this cover's next years brake fluid change.

What are peoples experience with servicing their F56 Minis outside of the service pack? Mine has FDSH and I'm not sure whether it's worth spending the extra to keep it, I think it probably isn't but thought I would see what you wise gentleman thought first!
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How long are you keeping it?

How old is the car? Condition and good receipts and record keeping is what I look for in a used car. Dealer servicing is not what it used to be.

I have an f56 jcw and plan to keep it long term till electric. I have no intention of paying dealer prices and buy my own parts for my mechanic to fit and service. Probably @ half the price you quoted.

I carry out an oil change every 12 months / 10k.
 
kona786 said:
How long are you keeping it?

How old is the car? Condition and good receipts and record keeping is what I look for in a used car. Dealer servicing is not what it used to be.

I have an f56 jcw and plan to keep it long term till electric. I have no intention of paying dealer prices and buy my own parts for my mechanic to fit and service. Probably @ half the price you quoted.

I carry out an oil change every 12 months / 10k.
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Maybe a couple more years unlikely to be really long term.

It's a 2016 car with 48k on it. It's in great condition and a good spec (XL Media, LED lights being the main two I wanted but it has the upgraded leather too).

I was thinking that 50% is likely what it'll cost at a good indie, I assume they can reset the service messages and the like?
 
Cleisthenes said:
I was thinking that 50% is likely what it'll cost at a good indie,
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I bet it won't.

I've never found independent places to be half the price of the main dealer - often they are so close in price I see little point. Our 2018 Cooper has always been main dealer serviced - I didn't go for the service pack on this one - and I've never found it to be particularly expensive. It's very convenient and I'd need to see a significant saving before considering going elsewhere.

I don't think I've ever paid more than £300 for any service visit and that includes the major service it had last year.
 
thewanted said:
I messaged a BMW/Mini specialist a few months ago and they assured me that they could update the digital service record and clear any service messages.

I haven't tried them yet to know for certain.
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[TW]Fox said:
I bet it won't.

I've never found independent places to be half the price of the main dealer - often they are so close in price I see little point. Our 2018 Cooper has always been main dealer serviced - I didn't go for the service pack on this one - and I've never found it to be particularly expensive. It's very convenient and I'd need to see a significant saving before considering going elsewhere.

I don't think I've ever paid more than £300 for any service visit and that includes the major service it had last year.
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Booked this years minor service and next years brake fluid change for £250 so can't complain about that.

Frustratingly they don't do courtesy vehicles at my local but not too much of a pain.

Thanks for your advice.
 
Like @[TW]Fox I'll almost certainly stick with main dealer servicing for our F55. I really don't have the time nor patience to fight with a one-man band independent. Dealing with main dealers can be painful at times, but at least you have an enormous organisation to deal with to sort things out when they go wrong.
 
Got my R53 serviced at JonSpeed recently, plus couple other things:
Oil, plugs, filters etc.
Replaced seized sump something
Supercharger service
Tarox(?) Brake Pads
Rear wiper motor

Just over a grand, not bad.

Thrown on some Eagle F1s and took it to A Line for tracking but the tie rod end nut thing (??) on the front o/s has siezed so can't adjust :(



thewanted said:
Like @[TW]Fox I'll almost...
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To tag Fox you gotta hard code USER=43
 
So I've added to the Mini collection, I decided to break my R56 as I started to get engine issues and any that know the N14, I just couldnt be bothered and it was worth way more in parts. So I replaced it with a crash damaged 2015 F56 Cooper S as a project and have recently added a 2014 all4 Mini Paceman SD is another project:

2.0SD PACEMAN by James Baker, on Flickr


Got this super cheap as it has a seized engine but I have already sourced a replacement 2.0 N47 which are pretty rare in the Mini form, you can't use one from a BMW as there are subtle differences. Mileage is super low and this thing is spotless other than the engine. I want to get this back on the road and have some long term plans for this but for now its just to get it working. Again all the work will be recorded on my channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiHRzx1_4zHk-Kc49-z5jTEfK1i2985pk

2.0SD PACEMAN by James Baker, on Flickr

Of the F56 as mentioned this was crash damaged. I have a playlist over on my YouTube channel of the build so far: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiHRzx1_4zHmXtUGXGkQ5lc3qGn1xVy98

Untitled by James Baker, on Flickr

Again another low mileage example with decent spec, I decided to rebuild this with a face light front end, JCW skirts and will be going for the facelift rear end once I get time. This is now back on the road with that new facelift front end and recently fitted air suspension setup:

Untitled by James Baker, on Flickr

Untitled by James Baker, on Flickr

Out with the old leather seats:

Untitled by James Baker, on Flickr

In with the JCW alcantara seats:

Untitled by James Baker, on Flickr
 
Looking at buying an R55 Clubman as it's big enough for the dog and small enough for the missus to drive!

Someone I know is selling one which is slightly modified, and I will be slightly unmodifying it, but it seems well looked after. It's had quite a lot of owners though which is off-putting (9 in 12 years). He's had the timing chain done less than 1000 miles ago (car is on 90k) as well as replacing hoses, water pump, discs, pads, tyres fairly recently. New radiator, oil cooler and AEM induction kit and has been mapped.

Is there anything mechanically apart from timing chain to look out for on the N14? Its been de-coked when it was mapped and had the few things in the engine bay replaced.

s-l1600.jpg


s-l1600.jpg


s-l1600.jpg
 
Timing chain is the big one which sounds like its been sorted. Thermostats tend to leak on these and the coolant tanks crack with age. Decoking is recommended but again that's been done swell. Regular servicing is what these require, some tend to burn oil. Is it a genuine JCW or an S with a JCW body kit? As genuine JCW clubman are rare in R55 era anyway. That will look smart with that front bumper vinyl and headlight tints removed
 
tweedbean said:
Timing chain is the big one which sounds like its been sorted. Thermostats tend to leak on these and the coolant tanks crack with age. Decoking is recommended but again that's been done swell. Regular servicing is what these require, some tend to burn oil. Is it a genuine JCW or an S with a JCW body kit? As genuine JCW clubman are rare in R55 era anyway. That will look smart with that front bumper vinyl and headlight tints removed
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As far as I know it's a genuine JCW, 1 of 211. I'm assuming I'd need to get the VIN to 100% confirm it though?

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CLUBMAN - How Many Left?

Statistics for MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CLUBMAN.. See how many cars of any make and model are left on Britain's roads.
www.howmanyleft.co.uk www.howmanyleft.co.uk

Does seem there aren't that many around if it is a JCW.
 
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tsinc80697 said:
As far as I know it's a genuine JCW, 1 of 211. I'm assuming I'd need to get the VIN to 100% confirm it though?

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CLUBMAN - How Many Left?

Statistics for MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CLUBMAN.. See how many cars of any make and model are left on Britain's roads.
www.howmanyleft.co.uk www.howmanyleft.co.uk

Does seem there aren't that many around if it is a JCW.
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They are rare, if I remember rightly on the the V5 a factory JCW is listed as a John Cooper Works, if it says Cooper S its not a JCW.
 
tweedbean said:
They are rare, if I remember rightly on the the V5 a factory JCW is listed as a John Cooper Works, if it says Cooper S its not a JCW.
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Will find out on Saturday as I'm going to see it. Seems to have had a lot of maintenance/items that wear work done fairly recently (less than 1000 miles); clutch, fuel pump, timing chain, water pump, discs/pads and tyres.
 
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