[scho06]

Ok so, I bought my MINI this past December and abolutely love this car. It is the most fun I''ve had driving a vehicle. I've always been a Honda/Toyota person. Owned a 80 Celica GT, Del Sol si, and S2000. When I drove the MINI, I knew that was exactly the car I was looking for.......Honda or Toyota did not make such a performance vehicle with a hatch......so knowing that a MINI may not be as reliable, I was willing to take the chance. I did consult with a few friends that have owned MINI's and had great things to say about reliability. This was important considering I'm coming from NH, which is about an hour from the closest dealer. So I ended up buying and 06 MCS that Herb Chambers found in Virginia which matched my criteria (they stopped taking orders due to the 07's coming out).
Well, I didn't get 3 miles off the lot before the first incident. Flat tire indicater came on.....checked the tires and they visually looked OK, figured the flat tire indicater hadn't been set correctly. Got home and one the tires was about 10 lbs low. Closer inspection revealed that the rim had good ding in it as well (not from me). Car was delivered from VA, so somewhere between there and here. No big deal, I was putting a set of winter wheels on anyway. I drove back down to Boston dropped off the wheel and they gave me a new wheel and tire. No issues for the rest of the winter.
About a month ago, started to notice that my felt liner in the glovebox started to peal up. Plastic piece from the door that slides over the top seemed to catch on it and peal it back. Not to long after that, no cold air from the AC. Made an appointment to have it checked. 2 days before bringing it in to be looked at, I hear a pretty good rattle from the engine bay and behind the passenger side wheel.
So, at my appointment they replaced the glovebox. They did not have the parts for the AC (compressor went) so that didn't get fixed, and replaced my engine mount, stating that this is a common issue (which I have heard from other MINI onwers recently) and that was the rattle that I heard. So with out a loaner car to give me, due to an "issue" with the new '07's, I had to make another appointment to come back for the AC.
Made the appointment, again within 2 days of the appointment the rattle was back (happened during the NHIS event this past Thursday). Figured great, I broke another engine mount. Went in for the appointment, and they fixed the AC. They also concluded that the rattle was not an engine mount, but something to do with the pulley for the AC compressor. Ok, so good, engine mounts aren't as fragile as I thought.
Now, today, 3 days after being in Boston AGAIN, my keyless remote went dead. Came out from work to get in and nothing. Figured the battery somehow died and needed to be charged. I drove home (about 40 minutes) still didn't work. Wife's key works just fine, so I definately have a dead battery...................sigh. I'm hoping that they can somehow just mail me a new key, but somehow doubt it.
So is this unusual for this many problems with an 06 MINI? Will this be then end of issues for a long time? I hope so.........so far the they fun factor (and smile factor) have out weighed the issues, but the issues are gaining ground quickly.......

scho

[Sheenabea]

Sorry to hear you are having some unfortunate issues with your MINI.

I actually have a VERY unfortunate "build" related incident and I just chalked it up to the car being an English (technically German) made car and that EACH and EVERY one is different and unique.

I didn't even have the car a whole two months when the shifter had problems engaging into first after sitting in idle (say at a red light). Brought it in, they thought it was loose bushings and tightened them up and sent me on my way. Two weeks later, the shifting problem was back, and I was back at MoP only to find out that there was a "factory defect" with first gear, and that I would need a NEW TRANSMISSION! The car is only about 4k miles old mind you. So, thank God this was under warranty, so I brought it in, they put in the new (remanned) tranny and now it runs like a charm... even better than before.

Someone on the forums here said once, you can tell they are each hand built, because each has its own quirks and problems. I get rattling all the time with my MINI... just a casualty to living in NE on crappy, banged up roads.

I definitely understand the little "issues" are frustrating, but if these little problems really outweigh the enjoyment of driving the car, then certainly don't torture yourself. If you want a car with absolutely no variations from car to car, then get a Toyota, as a friend pointed out to me, they are designed NOT to be individually unique.

I hope this helps with the frustration! All us MINI owners know/feel your pain.

-Sheena

[holdenontoit]

7 windshields
steering column(complete)
wiring harness(complete)
clutch and flywheel
power steering fan
"o" rings in mount for oil filter hsg
all replaced under warrentee

door lock module (driver's side)
2 sets of tires
split harness for power steering fam and main cooling fan
2 sets of brakes and rotors
main engine oil seal
various sensors ( 02,etc.)

soon to be replaced: belt tensioner assembly and new bypass valve.

I guess this is why you don't get a first year car huh? And with all these trials and tribulations, there's not a day that goes by that i regret having bought this car.Go figure,and I too was a Honda person(4 civics with roughly a half a million miles between them)

[Venno]

My 03 cooper at 36k had issues with power steering...the pump was having so much fun motoring that it refused to turn off...the Tech guys said that it burnt out and thats why it wouldn't turn off....but i think it just didn't want to go to bed...anyway, Road side picked the car up drove ti almost 2.5 hours to the nearest dealership (towne) and not even 20 hours later had her back in my drive way...not a penny cost to me... up to 48 k and not a problem.........my '06...only problem was that the fill gas composition of my xenons was screwed up...put too much sodium in it (i design lamps...aka "light bulbs")....had a pinkish tint to them...so i returned it, they fixed it...it was an improvement ..not 100%but I learned to live with it figuring that Its just me that's screwed up and not the fill gas
...wish u luck though...that must be really frustrating

[scho06]

Thanx for sharing your thoughts all. It's so true that this car is something special, it just has such a personality of it's own. Never had a car that made me smile by just looking at it (not even driving it). It's like scolding a puppy for shredding your favorite shoe. How can you get mad a such a cute face?

[jwardell]

Would you rather have a car that has some personality quirks, or one that is reliably boring?
They are british-made afterall and though german designed, the cost-cutting wins. The engines are tough, so all you have to worry about are the little things, which is nothing to the priceless joy the car brings to your life every day.

Besides...if we were "normal" people we wouldn't care about or notice half the issues we annoy our poor service departments with!

[scho06]

Well, I wouldn't say the S2000 was boring, it was a hell of alot of fun. Not too many times you'll get into a production car that revs to 9K RPM. But the MINI is even more fun than the S2K. What's not fun is having to drive an hour each way to get stuff fixed, but I knew that going in. In the end (so far) it's been worth it. Plus I like to walk around Boston anywho....(just not every weekend )

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Would you rather have a car that has some personality quirks, or one that is reliably boring?
They are british-made afterall and though german designed, the cost-cutting wins. The engines are tough, so all you have to worry about are the little things, which is nothing to the priceless joy the car brings to your life every day.

Besides...if we were "normal" people we wouldn't care about or notice half the issues we annoy our poor service departments with!

[snek]

This may not help any, but why don't you go to Peabody and cut your trips to the dealer in half?

[holdenontoit]

Quote: Originally Posted by snek (original)

This may not help any, but why don't you go to Peabody and cut your trips to the dealer in half?

and get MUCH better service to boot!

[snid]

One of my keys died. It wasn't the battery. I replaced that battery and it still didn't work. The remote part of the key is toast. You can replace the battery in the key yourself, there are instructions in the owner's manual.

[bethandlouis]

When I bought my car it was the best decision I've ever made. Even at 88K miles, it's still the best decision I've ever made. There have been a few problems though, I won't lie.

My visor has been replaced 3 times, doesn't like to stay in the little hookey thing.
Steering wheel was replaced, leather was peeling off of it.
Intermittent window washer fluid not working, this problem fixed itself though.
One of my tires wears unevenly and no one can figure out why.
and a few other ticky-tack things like windsheilds (rocks) and flat tire warnings (both false and true). All of those don't compare to having to replace my transmission at 62K miles. Just out of warranty. But the folks at Peabody went to bat for me and I only had to pay half the cost of replacement (still about $3500) but it was half. Thanks again MINI of Peabody!

[Bonnie Blue]

My '03 MCS hasn't been too much trouble--nothing major yet to be replaced. It has over 80K now. I got to speak up for it, it saved me recently. The other morning I was driving to work in the break down lane (allowed during rush hour on 128/95 between Rt 24 and 9). I have to keep an eye out for the cars merging into the road, sometimes they don't yield like they are supposed to. I got caught between a pick-up truck and a landscape truck merging into the breakdown lane. It was either slam on my brakes or accelerate out of the situation. I chose to accelerate and beep my air horns. I got out of it real fast. I don't think the stupid landscape driver knew what he was doing!!

[snek]

My favorite situation is when you come around an on-ramp and there is someone stopped in front of you - because they don't understand the principle of merging...

[AntiqueCarNut]

Scho06:

All i can tell ya' is that these kinds of issues are typical of European-made vehicles - any of them - cars or motorcycles. I've owned several, Saab's, Volvo's; BMW, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia motorcycles. These are not Japanese driving appliances - and unfortunately these kinds of things are part of the price of admission for driving a truly fun vehicle.

For nearly hassle-free driving (and if you can stay awake from driving such a boring vehicle) you're back in a Honda or Toyota. So, for get that!

On the dead key thing - I had a key that would not work, mysteriously, one day. The key's battery is supposed to charge while in the ignition. I use this key every day and somehow it lost its memory. MOP reprogrammed it for me and it's been fine since.

[MisterMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by snek (original)

This may not help any, but why don't you go to Peabody and cut your trips to the dealer in half?

From my experience MoP have a much better service department than Herb Chambers. So not only will you reduce your travel time but you will probaby get better service as well.

I guess I've been lucky with my MINIs. My 02 MCS had to have a new wiper relay and the truck latch broke. My 06 MCS has had a few creaks and rattles fixed, period.

[MisterMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Besides...if we were "normal" people we wouldn't care about or notice half the issues we annoy our poor service departments with!

Very true.

[scho06]

Didn't get treated very well from sales department, actually wasn't happy with them at all. Thought it would translate to service. Does MOP have loaner cars??

Quote: Originally Posted by snek (original)

This may not help any, but why don't you go to Peabody and cut your trips to the dealer in half?

[jcsinnh]

Nope but, if under warranty, you get an amazingly cheesy rental which will make u love your MINI even if it's broken down on 128 at 3AM

[chiliredstella]

Just had my '06 convertible down in for the first oil change and had them look at my transmission- you have to shove it into first and it usually grinds into reverse. The service department agreed that there is a problem but didn't fix anything- just told me to bring the car to a complete stop- wait 4 seconds- then try to shift... hmm.. sounds a bit fishy...but all my other "little" details were addressed like the boot open light coming on at random times.. needed a new switch. The car definitely had her little quirks..

[jwardell]

Is it a Cooper or an S? Those symptoms are standard features of the newer cooper transmission. It doesn't have syncros or something like that. The first car I leaned to drive on was exactly the same.