Buying a Gen 1 Cooper

So, no issues with these engines then?

Billy2Jags said:

Hi all
I own a Gen 1 One D so I am familiar with the common interior, electrical and running gear faults but now I'm looking for a Gen 1 Cooper for my daughter.
I've seen one for sale which has done 98,000 miles and recently had a recon gearbox (common fault with midland boxes I believe) and a new clutch assembly, so what I'm asking is what to look for on the engine.
What are the common issues and is 98,000 a worrying mileage for one of these motors?
It's the standard 1.6 Cooper, not the S version.
Thanks :laugh:

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its like any car with age the older they get the more rubber parts will give in, the tritec engine is stronger than the r56 prince engines, if can afford the extra insurance the cooper s is the best one of the lot. can get some very cheap rag top ones, the super charged engines are just so much better and at some point could become collectable maybe.

Hi Mike and thanks for replying.
Insurance won't stretch to a Cooper S just yet unfortunately, but I'm sure it will one day.
So is the engine in a 2002 Cooper the tritec ?
Sorry if that's a dumb question but I need her to have a reliable car so don't want to take chances.

Billy2Jags said:

Hi Mike and thanks for replying.
Insurance won't stretch to a Cooper S just yet unfortunately, but I'm sure it will one day.
So is the engine in a 2002 Cooper the tritec ?
Sorry if that's a dumb question but I need her to have a reliable car so don't want to take chances.

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tritec 2001-2005 on tin top cars, cooper s rag top kept engine until 2008 then switched to prince engine. the only issue with the later cars was timing chain keep on top of that not bad engine go well not to bad on fuel,, the later ie after 2006 diesel runs the psa 1.6hdi engine its pretty good engine stick a remap on it goes very well and 70 mpg and insurance not to bad, worth thinking about

Sorry can’t help with the technical stuff

But I also have a 1st gen regular Cooper as my first car and I also got it with 98,000 miles

It’s now on 148,000 and zero engine related issues

It’s a perfect first car in my opinion

:big_grin:

Jackdaniel said:

Sorry can’t help with the technical stuff

But I also have a 1st gen regular Cooper as my first car and I also got it with 98,000 miles

It’s now on 148,000 and zero engine related issues

It’s a perfect first car in my opinion

:big_grin:

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the gen mini was a rover group brain child honda owned rover for a while as well was a lot stronger car than gen 2, but gen 2 was start of the governments forcing emissions laws and the EU pushing them tighter and tighter, hence why newer stuff is so much more a mine field of things failing due to being made as light as poss out of the cheaper materials etc, and dpf filters and closed cat and 02 sensors systems running on the very edge of whats possible for the money and the emissions produced.. thats why the older stuff runs for longer

Thanks guys.
What oil is best to help preserve the life of the midland gearboxes?

Perfect, thanks Mike