High Mileage MINIs

[plaztik]

Quote: Originally Posted by iain cooper (original)

plaztik, you must be very patient keeping your mini 5 years with the ongoing problems you've had............................I would have got rid about 4 years ago !!! well done

Well, as I mentioned, I really did enjoy this car a lot. It was easy (albeit inconvenient) to deal with bad reliability when I had a warranty. But, once the warranty expired and the really bad things started to happen, I just had to fix them and move on. The unfortunate thing is that I got laid off from my job, so I was unemployed while dealing with the really bad, non-warranty items. Now, I am still trying to get on my feet so I can get a new car.

My optimism for motoring never faltered, but I just had to come to the realization that a MINI was probably not a wise repeat investment for me at all, based on its shoddy reliability.

[plaztik]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid (original)

Really? I thought his list was pretty picky - other than the engine failure.

I know many people (myself included) with much larger lists of issues. And I was dumb enough to buy another MINI when my 2003 had an unfortunate incident at a race track. So, I now have a 2007 MCS for daily driving, and am rebuilding the 2003 Cooper as a track / weekend only car.

Interesting, snid. You must have a much higher tolerance for car problems than I. As I see it, nobody should ever encounter the problems I did on a brand new car. I don't think I was picky about anything. I've owned Fords that had better reliability, fit, and finish than my MCS.

An engine failure 128 miles after the warranty expires is catastrophic too. There's nothing picky about that, because that should never happen...ever.

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by plaztik (original)

An engine failure 128 miles after the warranty expires is catastrophic too. There's nothing picky about that, because that should never happen...ever.

Yeah, I agree about that one. And I admit that I am willing to overlook problems on my old Cooper that many people would not.

But, listing things like brake and clutch wear as "nobody should ever encounter the problems I did on a brand new car" is asking for people to disagree with you... they're wear items. They wear out. Yes, a clutch at 50,000 miles sounds early. Mine lasted 100,000 miles and was still working well enough. Brakes wear out - plain and simple.

[plaztik]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid (original)

Yeah, I agree about that one. And I admit that I am willing to overlook problems on my old Cooper that many people would not.

But, listing things like brake and clutch wear as "nobody should ever encounter the problems I did on a brand new car" is asking for people to disagree with you... they're wear items. They wear out. Yes, a clutch at 50,000 miles sounds early. Mine lasted 100,000 miles and was still working well enough. Brakes wear out - plain and simple.

I see where you're coming from. 17k is way early for brakes, and 50k is way early for clutch though. The other chronic problems I mentioned are also part of what people shouldn't have to deal with.

It's unacceptable to me...
When a car repeatedly breaks its own windscreen.
When 5 years of service still can't keep coolant from leaking.
When my sunroof doesn't function as intended.
When bits of my car fly off when driving.
When my doors won't seal because the windows stick outside the molding.
...and on and on.

I'm not bashing all MINIs here. I'm just reporting on the experiences I had with mine.

[maymini]

Just ticked over the 160000 miles today in mine (I recon there another 100k left in her yet as well.

[madjohn]

Well I dont think I'm a patch on some of you high milagers ! Mines a late 2005 55plate mini1D
I have almost 145,000miles on clock . I will have 180,000 by the time my 3yr warranty runs out ! I'm running it till I get 250,000 on clock by early 2010 !


158,000MILES On clock now

[ViscountCharles]

Quote: Originally Posted by plaztik (original)

Unfortunately, I can report that, in my experience, a MINI just won't ever make it to 100k miles+.

110,000 miles in my launch MCS. Apart from a few niggles during the warranty (new clutch inside 10k miles, boot latch that took almost 2 years before it was completely sorted), the only thing that has broken in the last 4 years is a headlight bulb (granted it was an expensive Xenon headlight bulb, but I can live with reliability "problems" like that).

[Jinkster]

78,000miles One Diesel - head gasket went a few months ago, had it changed for £200 from Sytner Sheffield (mini dealer) and now have 18months warranty on it. Currently covering 80miles per day with it.

Spot on!!! Not interested in changing it!

[Liz1966]

I've had my Cooper since Oct 2001 currently at 74,000 miles, love the car & looking to trade in for a new convertible soon.

The only 'problems' I've had are very minor niggles that occurred on the early cars e.g.
Fuel gauge goes done very quickly for first quarter & then goes done more slowly.
Boot needs to be slammed when closing.
Front seats are a bit fiddly to move.

It's a great car!

[Darthbladerni]

My car is a 2001 One with almost 50000 miles on it.

I have no problems with the car whatsoever.

There is only one rattle and it is the dashboard vs windscreen one