I am almost ready to buy my first mini one D. However as a BMW owner I expect good reliability. My current car after 72000 miles hasn't even had new brake pads / disks. Apart from servicing costs and a spot of rust caused by vandels trying to prise off the boot badge it's been a dream.

I notice though that lots of people seem to have recurring reliability issues. I am wondering if in your experiences are the 2005 face-lifted models more reliable and if the Diesels reliabiliy is different generally to the petrols?

Obviously the rattling boot lids and leaking A pillars, cracking windscreens under stress won't be much different between variants (well would they?); what about the power steering pump which is a different system between the different fueled vehicles? I've read a post where 25% of mini drivers have had one or more faults with the power steering? It did not specify which variant though.

I've also read plenty of gearboxes and clutches failing - and BMW charge replacement after just 14000 miles. Well - BMW could have the keys back permanently if they tried any sharp practices like that on me. They wouldn't get away with that on 3 series - which are not <much> more expensive that a fully loaded mini anyway!!!

Any comments generally about creaks? Chinese torture comes to mnd - it's my biggest bug bear but I've never had any in the 3 3series I've all owned from new.

I must admit people seem to love the brand so much they are 'putting up' with faults that after 10 years of BMW ownership would just not be acceptable to me - however cute the car looks.

I'm thinking I should wait for the Mini Two (2007) and hopefully the issues will be addressed. What do you think?

Rattles, you will almost defenitely get one, on my latest it is the speaker grille that rattles, they are not built to E46 3-Series standard - but then neither are the new E90's built to E46 standard..........

Not heared of any issued with engine or gear-box problems. The engine is a Toyota unit so will last forever, and the gear-box the 'tougher' 6-speed unit, also used in the CooperS, to cope with the extra Torque. There are OneD's on MINIcherished with 70K miles on them, take a look! I've never had any issues.
The gear-boxes on the Petrols tend to be weak, I know of someones gearbox on a One going at 50K miles. they have a 'new' Getrag 5-speed now, I think all of the failures were when they used the 'old' Midland (British Layland, ha, ha) 5-speed box. MINI switched to the 5-speed getrag at approx. April '04 I think, or it could have been September.

Not heared of any problems with the power steering, it is a hydraulic system on the OneD, whereas the Petrols used some whiney (I think it sounds good) electro system - don't ask me to explain the systems, I wouldn't be able to. I've never had any steering issues and i'm on my 3rd OneD.


Overall, keep your current BM till '07 and 100K miles, and get the Cooper diesel - however this will have the new jointly developed by PSA&BMW engine in it & who knows if it will be better built or worse than the current model - only time will tell!

Rattles, you will almost defenitely get one, on my latest it is the speaker grille that rattles, they are not built to E46 3-Series standard - but then neither are the new E90's built to E46 standard..........

Not heared of any issued with engine or gear-box problems. The engine is a Toyota unit so will last forever, and the gear-box the 'tougher' 6-speed unit, also used in the CooperS, to cope with the extra Torque. There are OneD's on MINIcherished with 70K miles on them, take a look! I've never had any issues.
The gear-boxes on the Petrols tend to be weak, I know of someones gearbox on a One going at 50K miles. they have a 'new' Getrag 5-speed now, I think all of the failures were when they used the 'old' Midland (British Layland, ha, ha) 5-speed box. MINI switched to the 5-speed getrag at approx. April '04 I think, or it could have been September.

Not heared of any problems with the power steering, it is a hydraulic system on the OneD, whereas the Petrols used some whiney (I think it sounds good) electro system - don't ask me to explain the systems, I wouldn't be able to. I've never had any steering issues and i'm on my 3rd OneD.


Overall, keep your current BM till '07 and 100K miles, and get the Cooper diesel - however this will have the new jointly developed by PSA&BMW engine in it & who knows if it will be better built or worse than the current model - only time will tell!

Top review:D you should change your name to Clarkson;) :p :D

Oh to have Clarkson's job............................. Thrashing round tracks & the World in fast/slow/big/small cars:D , or sitting at a desk doing design drawings on CAD:( . What a hard decision that would be :confused: - Would take me less time to decide that than it takes for an air-bag to be deployed! :D

Right back on topic now please........:D