1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Why is everyone's Minis Broke or breaking?

  1. dawnmac72

    dawnmac72 New Member

    Jun 17, 2010
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    Almost 34k on my 2010 and still going hard.
     
  2. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
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    May 18, 2010
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    Sugar Hill, GA
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    Honda = B O R I N G. I used to own Honda's also, back in 1991 when they had some style and were at the peak of their customer service high. They never made me smile like my MINI. Actually, NO other car has been as enjoyable as my MINI. Including my 330ci. If there is a close second, it was my 1981 VW Rabbit, and that was just because I prepped it and auto crossed the p*ss out of it... :D
     
  3. Person Moved On

    Person Moved On New Member
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    Oct 31, 2010
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    I've put 10k on my Clubman since I got it last October, and other than a faulty water pump (warranty covered it) it's been running like a bat out of hell.


    Still grinning from the morning commute....
     
  4. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

    Jun 24, 2009
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    Not gonna convince anyone to buy a MINI :prrr:

    Any issue I've had has been self-induced.
    Most MINIs are fairly reliable when you don't mess with them :biggrin5:
     
  5. 2hondafreaks

    2hondafreaks New Member

    Aug 3, 2011
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    Wow! What an outstanding and amazing response from all of you! I'm not here to bad mouth Mini's. I just need help convincing me to break brands. I've been with Honda for a couple decades (I'm late 30's old) and Honda is now making unbelievably bland cars. Consumer Reports just hit Honda upside the head a couple days ago.

    Anyway, I'm currently searching for a MCS and I'm not sure if I should get the last of the first gen, or the beginning of the current gen (fi vs. di (direct injection)). I've read that there are issues with the first gen that were resolved before the 2nd gen came out and I think I like the first gen because they look lower in stock trim. I think a supercharger might be a bit more reliable vs. a turbo to but that's not even worth debating.

    Please help me with your recommendations of year,mileage, and options. I sincerely appreciate everyones help! Thanks so much!
     
  6. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

    May 4, 2011
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    Columbus, OH
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    Ugh. :eek:ut:
     
  7. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    May 6, 2009
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    Poor MM, just doesn't get out much Rae. :nonod: :lol:

    Jim
     
  8. OldBlue

    OldBlue New Member

    Sep 7, 2010
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    Die Shop Coordinator
    Cleveburb, OH
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    My '07 Justa has 49k miles on it, and I've had a couple minor problems fixed under warranty. It's been the most fun car I've ever owned, even more fun than my Miata (by just a hair!).

    My SO's '05 Honda Element has 85k miles on it, and it has needed a few repairs as well, though not many considering the mileage. Is it reliable? Oh yeah. Is it boring? No question. Would I rather drive it over my MINI? Not a chance in..... well, you know where.
     
  9. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
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    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
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    I have a 2010 MCS with 45,XXX miles. I daily drive the car as well as attend track-days regularly (about 1 to two times a month) and autocross. I would argue I am harder on the car than 90% of owners. I have had two issues:

    1) Dual mass flywheel problem caused by poor assembly at the factory. I made it 34,000 miles on it. Warrantied and replaced whole assembly (clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, throwout bearing) in two days.
    2) Timing chain tensioner bolt backing out. Bolt & seal replaced. Oil cleaned-up. Warrantied in one day.

    This car is STOOPID fun to drive everyday. It's a blast on the track. It's certainly not the fastest thing out there but I enjoy myself every time I'm on track. (BTW, I am stock on street tires; no tune, no suspension bits, just the way the factory built it.)
     
  10. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
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    May 22, 2010
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    +1
     
  11. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

    Jun 12, 2009
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    Durham, NC
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    That number's closer to 99.5%. MINI delivered 216,000 cars worldwide in 2009 alone. 0.5% = 1100 cars. M/A has 4400 users. So people who track their MINIs regularly are in a very very small minority. People who care enough to talk about their cars online with virtual strangers are a slightly larger minority, but still a relatively small number of people.

    So if you hear us complaining about something, that's cause we're the ones paying attention.
     
  12. CharlieVictor

    CharlieVictor New Member
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    Mar 29, 2011
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    Consider that this is a concentration of people talking about issues with their MINIs; you aren't seeing all of us with no problems.

    Just my $.02
     
  13. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
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    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
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    ...?! :eek6: I'll be honest but I've never done the math, so-to-speak. That's nuts. :crazy: I guess it's like 99.5% then. :Thumbsup: :ihih:
     
  14. 2hondafreaks

    2hondafreaks New Member

    Aug 3, 2011
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    Your $.02 is worth about $20. Thanks for the feedback!
     
  15. Putttn

    Putttn New Member

    May 29, 2010
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    Spokane, Wa
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    I've had 4 Minis and each one has been a ton of fun for me. I'm a bit older than most here and have owned a car dealership and even though my dealership sold high end Cerman cars i can honestly say in all those years I never really enjoyed driving any of the new or used cars we stocked. Then one day i made the mistake of driving a Mini and these have been the best. I've had my share of "issues" but the joy I get from looking at and driving them is well worth the price of admission.
     
  16. JMC40

    JMC40 Well-Known Member

    Sep 1, 2010
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    Yup my Civic may have gone 276,000+ miles (with no real issues), before I sold it. But it never made me smile the way my MINI does!!
     
  17. Sideways

    Sideways New Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Motorer and footwear Extrodinaire!
    Above the Border^^^
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    Dont forget brake dust...just another silly consumer complaint that gets recorded on this survey.

    +1 for the 2006's
    I am on my second 2006 as I traded my Cooper in 2009 with 130,000kms on the clock for an MCS... which also now has 130,000kms on the clock...
    Thermostat replacement on both, add oil when low (Don from WRR always says check it anyways) and enjoy many miles of motoring bliss
     
  18. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
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    May 18, 2010
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    Love my '08. Fast as snot with the JCW upgrades...
     
  19. 2hondafreaks

    2hondafreaks New Member

    Aug 3, 2011
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    You guys/gals have been great! If all goes as planned I'll soon be 2MINIFREAKS. Thanks to all of you for taking your valuable time to respond!
     
  20. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    Sep 18, 2010
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    Retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief
    The Great Irrigated Desert of Central CA
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    My car is an '05 and didn't break for the 1st year of my ownership at 50+K and beyond. It's it the shop now (5 weeks) because a dumb broad ran a stop sign and hit me. I hope to get back behind the wheel tomorrow morning...