My 03 cooper has done a little over 125k :)

One question actually, those of you on 200 & 300k is that on the original engine & gearbox, or have you had replacements? Also what other things have failed in that time, and hows the rest of the car faring, ie interior, paintwork etc?

Just interested to know really as Mini's aren't reknowned for being uber reliable, and seem to have a lot of problems early on in life (ours has had a new flywheel & clutch at 34k) as they 'mature' do the problems stay the same or do they improve?

I can answer part of this question, not because I own a high mileage MINI, but because HWS let me ride in his MINI one day. When I got in, I was amazed! One would think that with 324,000+ miles, there would be some visible wear. Not the case at all. HWS' MINI was mint. In fact, it looked new.

Don't believe me? Just ask YellowMiniNewYork...I hear she saw, too: :cool:

HWS and YMNY in HWS' amazing MINI on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32738819@N04/3539912103/)

Sweet Young YellowMINI of New York
just comes to Milwaukee for a quiet Easter, -
then suddenly finds her picture on the Internet -
'Cruisin' with The World's Oldest MINI Driver
in The World's Most Experienced MINI !

Oh, Sure!! - It was FUN for me!
But, what if her Family - or her Boss -
sees how that nice girl spends her time
when away from home?

I'm just winding down here and will leave Chicago O'Hare for London Heathrow tomorrow.

I put on a couple hundred miles yesterday just so I could report a 'rounder number' to all the folks at the factory who built
this Great Car. So here's what the odometer looked like for a few moments when it clicked-over far from home.
Then I went outside to show the car as it's most often seen; - I don't bump into a lot of things - but, I Do Kill A Lot of Bugs!

You cant see them, but at 327,000 miles I did have to replace the Rear Sway Bar Links and Bushings that started making noise over big bumps. That's the only thing ever done to the suspension, front or rear - and it still handles as precisely, solidly and quietly as a new one. So, - one more thing I won't have to worry about for another 300,000 or so!

Oh, - those are still my 'Winter Wheels' and Snow Tires - it hasn't been Spring very long here!
But, I must change those back to the normal White 7-Hole Wheels when I return!

This thread is great, I can't believe the miles you're racking up. :D

Have a wonderful time in England, HWS! We want a full report upon your return. :biggrin9gp:

Not to worry, HWS, both my family & my boss seem to think that gallivanting all over meeting Mini owners seems like a normal thing to do. (If that gives any idea of how 'normal' they might be!) :D

I can vouch for the condition of HWS' Mini- it looks newer than mine! :) (2003, 85,000 miles)

really hope you have a great break in the UK HWS and I look forward to reading your comments.

all the vey best

Iain

Thanks, Paul, Iain, MadJohn and all for your Good Wishes - but, I really hoped I'd get to meet some of the many UK friends I've found on this thread - especially since the Big Celebration is kinda "right in your neighborhood". Now it looks like it will be just me - and a whole lot of other strangers.

That's not True!! One of the joys of this car is how it makes people with absolutely nothing in common feel like they've suddenly found something they want to share. So, I'm sure we'll all come home with more friends than when we started. I like that!!

Thanks, again!! See you soon!

ive got an 05 mini one D and its done 135 k in just over 3 years! i only got it in February this year and ive done about 4000 miles on it so god knows how the previous owner did so many miles!
its started to make a squeaking noise when i reverse now though... =S

maybe it's squeaking because it just wants a rest.............poor thing !!

Absolutely love this thread... Please update soon.

I've promised myself that I'll keep my MINI for years to come (especially with the disgusting new models now planned, I've got no choice!)

I've done 23,000 miles in 3.5 years - I have some catching up to do!

- It's been a Fantastic Summer!

"MINI United 2009" was beyond anything that any of us expected; - More People (over 25,000 happy owners) - More Cars (over 10,000 Minis and MINIs) - From More Places (even Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, etc..) - More Originality (Fascinating Paint Jobs, Graphics, Customization) - More To See (No one saw it all! I was On-The-Go for 3 Full Days and keep seeing pictures of things I missed!) - More Beauty (No! - Now I'm talking about The Girls!)

The tour of the MINI Plant was the Highlight of my trip! I was an Engineer; - and Auto Plants were the primary users of our automation equipment. So, I've been in many Auto Plants; - but had never seen anything like the MINI Plant at Oxford! Here, the product, the processes, and entire plant were all conceived and built after I retired. It was truly humbling - to see the amazing progress the manufacturing world has made - without me!

A Huge Sign facing the Visitor's Parking Lot declares: "MINI: Made in Oxford - Sold in 70 Countries"
Talk about "Stimulating the Economy" - That's how it's done! 800 Cars built every day for people who hover over computers agonizing that, "It's been 'Awaiting Shipment' for Three Days! What's Happening? Where's The Boat?? How fast can those things go??"

It was great fun flashing my '330,000 mile shirt' - and Thanking People in the MINI Plant for the amazing car they built for me! Operations in the Assembly Plant are 95% automated; - over 500 robots just 'keep going and going'. And those huge whirling 'car wash' style brushes are made of hundreds of Emu Feathers to remove the last remaining speck of dust before the cars are sprayed with their final color - Oh, only the Female Emu Feathers will do the job satisfactorily.

The second photo shows how an enthusiastic lady from The Milwaukee MINIs decorated my car for the Fourth of July Parade in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Actually, she can't prove my mileage is 'The Highest' - but, if anyone has any more, they didn't show up for that parade! There used to be another thread asking, "Who's The Oldest MINI Driver?" Actually, I think I was "winning" that one too; - but, there was some concern that if word got around that The Oldest MINI Driver was out there every day of the year driving The MINI with the Most Miles, everyone else would just stay home!

Yesterday, was my MINI's 7th 'birthday' and it just passed 340,000 miles. I don't have a shirt showing that, so, you'll just have to take my word this time.

I'll be leaving in about a week to join (hundreds?) of other MINIs at Copper Mountain, Colorado for the fourth "MINIs in The Mountains". That should be fun! I've always loved mountains - and driving in them; - but, I could never figure out how to make a living there.

I did attach pictures, but somehow they disappeared as I kept adding more and more words. I'll try again.

Thats birlliant HWS - congratulations on the world record :D And your car looks in such good condition too :eek: Whats the trick?:) How long for 400k?

great to here from you HWS, I was just thinking last night that we hadn't heard from you for a while, and I was going to post this morning enquiring about your whereabouts !!

interesting that you were impressed by the Mini factory, I'd love to see it now.

How do I count this?....Carfax comes with my new-to-me-Mini 2003....reads up to 108,000...accident and auction next....next entry..30,000..and I bought it reading 54,000 TMU..My guess is 120,000...or 162,000..So fun and the new tranny has been ordered before the title has gotten here...Funny thing is,,,it doesn't feel like a Lemon....Mysterious tranny noise (yes) and drives like a spitfire (yes)...Can't decide what the "S" stamped on my forehead stands for.Suggestions welcome...Barbara

sorry rockheron..............you've lost me

sorry rockheron..............you've lost me

Me too :confused:

yup...me three:red:

So, - I had the car washed today
just in case they have a beauty contest
for "MINIs With Over 340,000 Miles".

This should be great; - I Love the Mountains,
but, haven't driven in them for a long long time.

I did buy New Gas today and Checked the Tires; -
The Oil has already gone about 10,000 miles,
but, it's still 'right up there' - like always.
Everything Else Is Working - like always.
So, I guess we're ready!

Have a great time in the mountains HWS :D

Thanks, Mike.
With me "up in the peaks', and you 'down under'
we'll be further apart than ever.
Bed Time now.
G'night all!

The head gasket on my 2003 MCS has just given up at something like 179700 miles.
Currently waiting to take delivery of a spanking new GTT Stage 1 head, high-lift cam and a GRS intercooler, then off for a rebuild and a remap!

Should work a bit better after that lot!

Hi HWS' so your heading to 350,000 in a few weeks good going . Mine has been off the road for 8 weeks with major engine failure and turbo . cost £4000 to put right but its not right . got 233,000 miles on clock now .comming up to its 4th birthday at the end of October . I'm only running the old girl to Oct 2010 then scrapping or selling it for bits . should hit 300,000 by then .New car then ,looking forward to that .

. . . but, Hit 1 Big Racoon a couple weeks ago.

The miles seem to have taken no toll at all on the car's appearance, handling or performance; -
but, that Racoon really messed up the bumper, spoiler, grill, etc..
(I shouldn't complain - I'm sure I spoiled his day too)

I learned today that the new parts are in, - have been painted - and can be installed
as soon as I can let the body shop have it for a few hours.

And MadJohn, I'm really sorry to hear about your time and money consuming problems.
I'm still checking my rearview mirror though, sure that someday soon you'll be back there - gaining on me again.
I don't feel Driven - as much as Pushed

Shame about the bumper :(

Still thats one crazy mileage, even better considering you've had no major faults and the appearance is still similar! Now for 400k! I'd love to see it back at 000000!

Harold, don't let one raccoon stand in your way! :D I hope you'll be back on the road in no time.

I'm going to see 88,888 today if I drive another 20 miles. Still have a ways to go to catch up...

. . . and you'll want your camera ready again in another 11,111 miles.

But, at 350,000 I'll have no interesting numbers to watch for till 400,000.
(Oooooops - I almost missed that cute little number across the street!)

Don't take too long doing them 50,000 miles! Its great to hear someone with confidence - not terrified that its ready to be scrapped at 100k! Nice work :)