| If a mini is maintained properly, it is very reliable. Taking it for services ect...If you can get an extended warranty would be excellent cause you have no worry motoring.
To have stuff done cheaper for you, don't go to BMW/ MINI as they are very expensive, go to a good technician who knows about MINI.
In the UK, That price (8200 GBP) is very good for a 2006 with 20k miles on it. The MINI has a good thing that it holds its value so even if you had to sell it in the future, you won't loose a lot of money.
I donno alot about the R56 (which is your model) but maybe someone here can enlighten us with some technical stuff you should double check. | 
