Mini Coopers are Crap

[Thales of Miletus]

The Mini Cooper has to be the crappiest car of the last twenty years. When comparing durability, cost of repair, warranty, and original cost, it is an epic fail of a car.

Th e Powertrain Warranty - 4 years 80,000 kms. Pathetic.

The Cost of replacements - Engine $9,000, Tranny $9,500

Defects effecting durability - Engine failure at 40,000 kms, transmission failure at 100,000 kms.

The car is half quality and half shit. And the shit half is mega expensive to repair. For example the Oil Turbo line is not shielded from turbo heat, it cost $90 for the hose and $800 in labor. To change the water pump you have to take off the front of the car.

In summary don't but a Cooper S or any mini.

Below is an image of the thermostat housing. Nine hoses and two electrical connections.

French Engineering at it's finest.

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/C_is_for_Cookie/401895_x800_zpsbbbjdorx.jpg (http://s1375.photobucket.com/user/C_is_for_Cookie/media/401895_x800_zpsbbbjdorx.jpg.html)

[sheik_yerbouti]

This news story which came out last month came to mind.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bmw-s-mini-coopers-labelled-junk-as-owner-hit-with-10k-engine-repairs-1.2948855

[roll_over]

no way I think the land rover freelander is the worst, I was so surprised to see one still driving yesterday

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Same goes for Fiat 500's. Quirky but absolute junk. Its unfortunate for those who buy them that do not do their homework.

The original BMW minis had awful headgasket failures and they never really made them anymore reliable as the years went on.

[The_Penguin]

So not much different from the old ones. I had two 70's Minis, stupid expensive to repair, and a pain in the ass to DIY. Fuel pump was on the back of the engine, Braille method would work if you'd done a few. And those F(*&ing carbs!

[ToXicXxX]

Gotta love them BMW group thermostats... Big ass pineapple covered in pipes.

[CanmoreOrLess]

Originally posted by sheik_yerbouti
This news story which came out last month came to mind.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bmw-s-mini-coopers-labelled-junk-as-owner-hit-with-10k-engine-repairs-1.2948855

I read the entire story. How is it a problem for BMW Canada when someone buys a used Mini from a non dealer and it is out of warrantee? Fuck people expect to be coddled and protected from their own decisions in life. Blame everyone, you'd expect and understand it from a five year old, not some blob of an adult. Cry me a river.

[Thales of Miletus]

Originally posted by ToXicXxX
Gotta love them BMW group thermostats... Big ass pineapple covered in pipes.

I have to wonder what they are thinking when they design crap like that?

Is it the engineering schools in Europe?

Land Rover, Mini, are both crappy vehicles that came off of design tables in the same region.

You would start to think that the British can't build a car, but the Rolls seems to buck that theory.

I think what makes Mini the worst is their absolutely terrible customer service.

[CanmoreOrLess]

I'm not sure why Mini is getting the shit-storm, the last couple of years look to be a fine purchase according to Consumer Reports. Posting an owner experience from the Gunsmoke era is hardly accurate of modern times. It is a BMW, hardly shocking that it is costing a few bucks for maintaining the vehicle. Owners know this going in and don't bitch about it. Not like a gun was held to your head pre purchase.:

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp85/kamakurakid/Consumer_Reports_-_New_Car_Preview_2014_pdf.png (http://s400.photobucket.com/user/kamakurakid/media/Consumer_Reports_-_New_Car_Preview_2014_pdf.png.html)

[ToXicXxX]

Originally posted by Thales of Miletus


I have to wonder what they are thinking when they design crap like that?

Is it the engineering schools in Europe?

Land Rover, Mini, are both crappy vehicles that came off of design tables in the same region.

You would start to think that the British can't build a car, but the Rolls seems to buck that theory.

I think what makes Mini the worst is their absolutely terrible customer service.

Sometimes things on paper are different then when actualized. Germans love to over-engineer things to squeeze as much efficiency out of them as they can.

Ever tried replacing a thermostat in a E9X? It's a riot... Especially coupled with that silly electric waterpump.

Rolls are also built by BMW. We actually coded the Rolls Royce navi startup animation onto an F30 for fun. Was neat.

[corsvette]

http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/MINI.html

As far as the most engine issues in a car built in the last 5 years? The Mazda CX-7!

[Thales of Miletus]

Originally posted by corsvette
http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/MINI.html

As far as the most engine issues in a car built in the last 5 years? The Mazda CX-7!

Yup, But Mazda has a great warranty program.

JD Power just rated Mini as the worst used car.

When you combine a motor with a known defect, with a company that knows about the defect but won't recall it, you have a very sad situation for those who bought the car.

The CVT transmission in the Mini has been a complete failure as well.

At least you can put a Vtec engine in the old pre 2000 minis.

I honestly think that BWM should be forced into buying the cars back.

But as most of us know, the lemon laws in Canada are very weak to non existent.

Amvic or Camvap won't even go after BMW.

[Vr4Whore]

I also thought the freelander was the biggest piece of shit...

[Thales of Miletus]

Originally posted by Vr4Whore
I also thought the freelander was the biggest piece of shit...

That one was crap too.

I often wonder who does the reviews on vehicle, because if you look at the Freelander, some site rate it as a gem.

[AndyL]

reviewed online by people trying to sell them :)

"see it's reliable - it's on the internet it must be true!"

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by Thales of Miletus


That one was crap too.

I often wonder who does the reviews on vehicle, because if you look at the Freelander, some site rate it as a gem.

Most sites use year 0 to 3 as their "reliability" scale, lol.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

JD powers initial quality is valid for some people but shouldn't be advertised as a primary reason to buy a vehicle. The first 90 days not much happens unless its a total lemon. I like the Trade in Quality Index, it aligns with my experiences as a technician for the past 10 years.

The FJ cruiser and 5th generation 4runners have been the most reliable cars I have seen. The trade in value page aligns with that.

JD Powers is a terrible freaking reference.

http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/quality.htm

[roll_over]

The freelander sold to the European market had a different engine and transmission that was solid but once they brought it over here they changed it. That's why it was so highly praised but that changed real quick

[Darell_n]

Go rent a Car2Go Smart car and it will change your outlook on the Mini.

[ToXicXxX]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok


Most sites use year 0 to 3 as their "reliability" scale, lol.

Breaks, sometimes breaks, and indestructible?

[zipdoa]

Based on the Audi allroad scale of unreliability, r56 coopers are a strong 1/10

[ddduke]

Originally posted by Darell_n
Go rent a Car2Go Smart car and it will change your outlook on the Mini.

You're comparing apples and oranges. Look at the price difference between the mini and smart. They're not even close when it comes to size. The smart is an ultra economic city commuter, the Mini isn't.

[r3ccOs]

I enjoyed driving the mini, but my buddy's wife bought a Mini with the base 1.6L and the thing self detonated...

required a new engine and it was a 5k lift for a refurb and stranded them in Kelowna

With all the hot hatches out there... I'd say the GTI is still the one to beat, and nobody has yet to truely beat them with the balance of praticality, quality, and driveability

[rage2]

Originally posted by CanmoreOrLess
I read the entire story. How is it a problem for BMW Canada when someone buys a used Mini from a non dealer and it is out of warrantee? Fuck people expect to be coddled and protected from their own decisions in life. Blame everyone, you'd expect and understand it from a five year old, not some blob of an adult. Cry me a river.
There's a known problem with Mini engines where the timing chain stretches then snaps, resulting in a replacement engine. In the US there's a TSB for it, none in Canada, and Mini Canada is refusing to acknowledge the problem. In the US, if this is deemed to be the issue, the engine is repaired/replaced under good will even after warranty. All the engines are blowing at under 100k miles, some as early as 20,000 miles.

My parents just paid for a new engine on their Mini after it happened to them. What pissed me off what I kept telling them to sell the car because this is a known issue, they refused, and got fucked haha.

[zipdoa]

Also, I should mention I convinced my girlfriend to buy an R56 Cooper S. Needless to say, she's now my ex-girlfriend.

[msommers]

Friend of mine had a Cooper. Thing was in the shop all the time, kind figured she got a lemon at first but did some looking and send like reliability are not their strong suit.

[D'z Nutz]

Yeah it's too bad about the reliability issues. The Cooper S's are really fun cars to beat around in.

[killramos]

My buddies had his 03 cooper for 5 years and 60k and he hasnt spend a cent on it outside of oil, brakes and tires from what i understand. He doesn't take great care of it and he knows there is something wrong with the head gasket or soon to be wrong but so far nothing's happened. He plans on just junking it when it stops running.

Fuck i hate sitting the back seat of that thing :nut:

[rage2]

The older minis were fine. My parents had an older one that had really no problems through 150k kms. Problem was they upgraded to a newer one. The engine blowups are 2007-2010 models.

http://www.forthepeople.com/class-action-lawyers/mini-cooper-timing-chain-lawsuit

[tawheed]

Yeah the Pre-07s had their own huge laundry list of issues but that wasn't one of them, haha.

[JustinMCS]

I owned a 2005 Mini Cooper S that I loved. I had to replace the power steering pump, that was about the only major thing. Had some other gremlins, but was super fun for the time I had it. I owned it for about 3 years.

[mgwatson]

Loved my R53 (2003) MCS. Modded to 235fwhp sans problems for 100,000kms. R56+ MINIs are hideous and the buck would stop right there for most, let alone the reliability issues.

[zipdoa]

Originally posted by mgwatson
Loved my R53 (2003) MCS. Modded to 235fwhp sans problems for 100,000kms. R56+ MINIs are hideous and the buck would stop right there for most, let alone the reliability issues.

Problem is, everything aside the motor is better. That and the sunroof - but I'd get a hardtop. I've never been so comfortable in such a small car. R56's can get the seating position so low that I have more headroom in the Mini than my Allroad.

[M.alex]

am I the only one still trying to figure out WTF all those inlets and outlers are for :rofl:

[CanmoreOrLess]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz
Yeah it's too bad about the reliability issues. The Cooper S's are really fun cars to beat around in.

In 2009, I had a deposit down on a 2008 S, it was so nice to drive in the city. I backed out as the interior was just too small (need 4 doors) and having had a BMW previously and being on a first name basis with the local Victoria BMW specialist it just felt iffy.

Bullet dodged as I'd still have the car today.

[01RedDX]

.

[zipdoa]

Originally posted by 01RedDX


My cousin spent close to double what he paid to keep his Allroad running, i had no idea the mini was this bad.



It happened at 4 years 60k km so probably just out of ptrain warranty, i would be pretty pissed.

German Reliability: The Greatest Myth Ever Sold to American Car Buyers (http://dougdemuro.kinja.com/german-reliability-the-greatest-myth-ever-sold-to-amer-1572026115)


For this reason, I have taken to measuring automotive reliability on a scale I've dubbed the "Audi Allroad Scale Of Unreliability," which rates cars based on how close they are to the original Audi Allroad in terms of potential for random four-figure maintenance bills.

:rofl:

[88CRX]

Had no idea the mini or the all road were that bad :nut:

The more you know!