Hi All
I am thinking about buying a used Mini Cooper r50 but i'm worried about extra expenses such as parts, services(do i have to go to BMW) I currently have a SEAT Cordoba and have just spent a whole day trying to get replacement locks and actuators for which is really hard as SEAT dealership closed down in Australia in 1999 so the wreckers is the only option as its a 1995...so i'm thinking about a car that would be newer therefore more reliable and easier to get parts for....but i am on very low funds so wanted to know if i'm going to have to save a month before i can fix anything that goes wrong as it is a BMW after all....how about aftermarket parts....i would go for a cheaper car but i like having a car that is a bit different....are the Mini cooper r50's faulty in anyway....have any of you bought a used one with about 160,000 or 110,000km on it...Please help its a big choice to make and i'm stuck. Thank you for any advice you can share

Hi,

I really think this is an impossible question to answer, any car you buy second hand depending on how old if no manufacturer warranty remains could have issues, there are a number of factors to be considered, where you are buying? private sale or dealer? does it have full service history? was it serviced from a main dealer? how many previous owners? i really could go on and on here , also an engine can have problems with the way a previous owner drove the vehicle like clutch or gearbox. I have yet to hear of any car that is problem free.

For a car out of warranty there is no need to use original manufacturer parts but as i have found out with my Mini sometimes the original price for the part is not far from what some people are asking second hand! so always shop around, get original manufacturer price first then see what you can get it at elsewhere. For example i was searching for a door actuator for my Mini, ebay and other sources were asking about 69 pounds ( $108.56 ) and this was for a 5-6 year old part!!! brand new from Mini it cost me 89 pounds ( $140.02 ) i have also found this with other parts i have bought.

Just take your time and always spend within your budget and have some spare just incase! Don't spend your limit and then your stuck! Also if you buy from a dealer with extended warranty always read the small print as most are not worth the paper its printed on!

Good luck :)

Hi All
I am thinking about buying a used Mini Cooper r50 but i'm worried about extra expenses such as parts, services(do i have to go to BMW) I currently have a SEAT Cordoba and have just spent a whole day trying to get replacement locks and actuators for which is really hard as SEAT dealership closed down in Australia in 1999 so the wreckers is the only option as its a 1995...so i'm thinking about a car that would be newer therefore more reliable and easier to get parts for....but i am on very low funds so wanted to know if i'm going to have to save a month before i can fix anything that goes wrong as it is a BMW after all....how about aftermarket parts....i would go for a cheaper car but i like having a car that is a bit different....are the Mini cooper r50's faulty in anyway....have any of you bought a used one with about 160,000 or 110,000km on it...Please help its a big choice to make and i'm stuck. Thank you for any advice you can share


I love my R50. It has 50K miles on it and is a 2003. I haven't had too many problems with it other than some minor things to fix and a tune. I bought it for just under $12,000US. Mine has a CVT, but hasn't had any issues yet, I also plan on maintenance is regularly so I don't have problems.

I'd say it depends on the car. Some second owned cars are amazing and have little to no problems and some are lemons. Depending on year, mileage, how hard its been driving and if its been taken care of well. I would take your due diligence with your test drive and really test it a bit to make sure it preforms to your own standards.

I hope you find a MINI you'll love! :biggrin:

Couple of Mini Buyers guides here:

MotoringFile MINI R50/R53 Buyers Guide (http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/)

Buying guide : MINI 2001-2007 | AROnline (http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2011/08/19/buying-guide-mini-2001-2007/)

Purchased my Cooper brand new in 2004, it's been FAB. :D

I bought my 2002 R50 in August for about $15,000AUD, with 125,000kms on the clock. It hadnt been serviced in almost 40,000km's, and needed all new brakes and disks, and a good service. But since then, it's been awesome! I absolutely love it! It's a real dream to drive.

I hope you do, and everyone says its the right thing to do... I bought one yesterday!

2003 cooper in silver, 17 inch 8 spoke and 61k.
Dual air con and cruise control.
Hope to pick it up next weekend once all the paperwork etc is complete.

I'd say no mate or at least dont get a r50, cvt auto - been an expensive ownership

Got my R50 new in 2005:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/6889637356_462c44145b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/6889637356/)
MINI's first day 1.16.05 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/6889637356/) by jimmy_racoon (http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmy_racoon/), on Flickr

here she is same spot, same MINI, 100,000 miles later:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7035733617_29697ce136.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/7035733617/)
Ready for More! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/7035733617/) by jimmy_racoon (http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmy_racoon/), on Flickr

If you take care of her, she will last!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7035732741_1096807a17.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/7035732741/)
Six Figures! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_racoon/7035732741/) by jimmy_racoon (http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmy_racoon/), on Flickr

I bought a 2004 R50 in january this year ... NO REGRETS THIS CAR IS MY LIFE however i'll be honest with you we had to do a $5000 repair in april with bmw. Lucky for me my Father paid (im only 18 car was a gift for my 18th... i pay for all my after market extras though haha)

They replaced power steering pump/fan, alternator, battery and some cables. In future we won't be going to bmw for fixes they rip you off hard but oh well. (lets hope there isn't too many more dramas anyway haha) THIS REPLACEMENT IS COMMON THOUGH I seen it on this site when i was researching about what happened to mine. occured at around 65,000kms i think.

I'd say no mate or at least dont get a r50, cvt auto - been an expensive ownership

I have a 2005 Cooper with CVT that I bought new and have driven to close to 70K km and no problems. I have had ALL the service done by BMW and they have given excellent service. The total cost of all service less gas is $4,200 for nearly seven years ($600 per year). The car acts and looks like new and I would be more inclined to say "Yes" buy the r50 if it looks well cared for and you enjoy what you see. As to the CVT it come with paddles, lots of fun, with one exception, my wife loves it so I seldom get to drive.........sob

There will be fors and againsts from everyone as to whether or not you should buy one based on their experience with their own.
You could buy a peach or a lemon, the risks are there with any secondhand, its your choice