Common Mini Faults

[cdgill241184]

I purchased my 54 reg mini cooper 2 years ago and whenever something goes wrong with it and it goes back to the dealer they always say ahh that problem is a common fault with the mini cooper. firstly I had my stearing pump go while driving to work resulting in the car going into the gaurage for a new pump, then replaced the brake pads twice within 4 months resulting in another trip to the gaurage when they told me the front disks had worped needless to say new disks installed. Then last week I noticed a puddle underneith my car after I left it over night, checked the water levels and the coolant was empty, refilled a could of times with the same problem, back to the dealer again and a new radiator installed, with the dealer saying that the corner of the radiator on the mini always corrodes away causing a leak.

Dont get me wrong I love my mini cooper and will be getting and will be getting another 1 but im just a little disapointed with all the common faults.

[pete3055]

Sorry about all your woes , but persevere ! The pump is a common fault but you should really try alternatives apart from dealers !
My pump failed : Dealer Price £500, local garage £250 ( sent away for part exchange on refurbed one ).
Leaking Radiator : Dealer Price £650 , local garage , no charge , used Radseal and that was 10K miles ago !
Service 1 : Dealer Price £270, local garage, £90
Service 2 : Dealer Price £120 , local garagae £60

Brakes: Dealer £180, local garage £90

Thats my experience to date and it doesn't affect your warranty under some new EU guidelines . Watch out for your rear wiper attachment ! It often corrodes and Dealers want upwards of £150 to replace whole assembly ! I did mine for 10p using a bit of rubber hose. I've really found mine to be very reliable and cost effective for repairs away from dealers . Only 2 sets of front brakes in 85K and on second back set from 80K. Its an 03 Cooper

[cdgill241184]

Cheers for the advice mate and will look out for the rear wiper. Hopefully after christmas will be upgrading to a new cooper or cooper s, which had to be put on hold due to buying a house

[eenemini]

'05 R50 (26,000 miles/ 41843 kilometers) Only prob I have so far is a coolant leak somewhere near the fire wall. Mechanic says it is the overflow container cap, but I'm not so sure. I read somewhere that this is common among Minis. Anyone else got this?

[bensidewalker]

I've just had my car in to Scotthall because I was filling up the windscreen washer fluid and noticed that the expansion tank for the coolant was completely empty. Last year when the weather was freezing I noticed the same thing and my thermostat and expansion tank were found to be faulty and replaced. This time Scotthall couldn't find anything and charged me nearly £100 for diagnostics! They left a pressure gauge in overnight but couldn't detect any sort of leak. They did say, however, that if a mechanical failure is detected at a later stage which is related to the loss of coolant fluid, they will refund the diagnostics charge. I don't understand why coolant is lost at all, as in most cars you don't really need to check the level, as it is a closed system? Does anyone know how often I should be checking the level? and do I need special coolant for the MINI or can I just go to Halfords etc and get any old one?