MotoringFile Ask MF – When Do you Give Up on Troubled MINI?

If we are talking in general... Maybe... And who really cares about the complaints for "the seat belt rattles" or "I can' find the dipstick" and "My latte won't fit the cupholders". Yeah the "Death Rattle" on the R56 was kind of a big issue when the chain let go... But the F56 already has a major engine problem right out of the starting gate... Hope it doesn't take 5 attempts to get it right.... That will be a lot of engine replacements... Don't they do prolonged engine stress testing anymore?

MF.... Kinda posting some risky topics now aren't you?

 

I would give up on my MINI if I considered asking MF for an opinion.

 

Bingo. :lol:

...and wouldn't you know it -- the MF recommendation is to buy a F-series. Now there's a shocker. :frown2:

 

If the F-series wasn't so butt ugly I'd consider it. That 2.0 sounds tough, but that car.... It looks like the first couple Gen's ugly step sister, with her eyes too far apart and the Bubba from Forrest Gump lower lip.
My apologies to the F series owners for any ruffled feathers. Just my .02

 

Oh Man! My feathers are soooo ruffled! :cryin::cornut:
Hell, it took me several months of seeing it whenever I walked out the back door before I stopped cringing at that front end. The big difference between the crank bearing repair or engine replacement and the timing chain on the R56? Mini actually came out with the recall before they had a bunch of engine failures. Remains to be seen if it will be a long term fix or if it's a flaw in the design. Since I've just about got my new motor broke in I'm hoping for the former. As for running the engine on a test stand, they could have done it for days without any noticeable problem because the damage is caused by the clutch engaging and disengaging causing the crank to move in ways it was not designed to do. I guess that's why it only effects manual trans cars to date.
One thing I have noticed, is my mods are happening a lot faster than on my R56 because I'm not having to spend so much time and money on regular maintenance (T-stat, water pump, etc).
Another plus for the F'ing car is the interior. Once I got over them moving the window switches (haven't really gotten over that) and accepted that there's nothing I can do about the stupid gas gauge I really like the interior better than my R56.
I realize that being an F car owner I'm definitely in the minority on this forum, but I don't make any apologies about it. In fact, there is very little content on this forum that is specific to F cars. I just like the people and try on occasion to share what little knowledge I have when I can.
There, now. Feathers unruffled...

 

Good attitude Vets...

 

The F56 interior is heads and tails over any of the cars prior. It's a fantastic place to spend time.

The front has grown on me a bit.