'15 Mini Cooper

[Bailes1992]

My Wife has been debating replacing her trusty Dacia Logan MCV for the last year or so. She settled on a Mini Cooper or Cooper S in Red to match her '97 Mini that's currently undergoing some restoration work.

We looked at a few '16 to '18 models in our budget but they weren't the best examples and generally seemed unloved or abused.

I found a '15 Mini Cooper with the Chilli pack and Excitement pack at our local Mini dealer. It was a bit older than we were hoping for, but It had just 47k on the clock, full main dealer service history and came with 12 months BMW warranty.

The car has the 1.5 3 cylinder turbo 'B38' engine. From what I've read, these seem pretty stout with very little IVD or timing chain issues. The service/oil change intervals here in Europe on these engines are every 2 years or 18,000miles. This car had had an OCI every 2 years as per the schedule which works out to around 10k miles OCI. Every 2nd oil change the car has had spark plugs and an air filter. In addition, the car had a brake fluid change at 3 years old and every 2 years thereafter.

As you can see, the car is almost in an as-new condition despite being nearly 8 years old. A testament to it's previous keepers!

I plan to reduce the OCI down to 6 months or 5k with M1 FS 0w40. I may even try some Amsoil Signature Series 0w40 in this at some point. That said, I've no idea what the dealers have been using but the engine appears to be immaculate internally.

The only thing I've done so far is give the steering wheel a good scrub because it was a little bit glossy, and I don't like glossy leather...

 

[Kira]

A nearby family has only black and red vehicles.

Best of luck with yours.

 

[RooflessVW]

Awesome! I bet it rips.

My '05 S remains a highlight in my vehicle history.

 

[Bailes1992]

Awesome! I bet it rips.

My '05 S remains a highlight in my vehicle history.

It is surprisingly sprightly. More so than the 136bhp stated output would have you believe.

That said, the engine almost feels held back a little, especially as the revs build. Past 5000rpm or so the engine feels very flat.

I did some research over the weekend and a remap will take these up to ~185bhp or so and over 200bhp if coupled with an exhaust, intercooler and intake mods.

 

[CharBaby]

I drove a buddy's Mini Cooper S(2013-14/IDK?) and I really liked it. I though that the seats were comfortable for a small car and the car hit all of my buttons. It too was red.

 

[Finklejag]

Those seats look nice but I would not fit into them. I’m only 5’7 but have a broad back. I wanted a Focus ST with the Recaros but couldn’t fit into the seat.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Those seats look nice but I would not fit into them. I’m only 5’7 but have a broad back. I wanted a Focus ST with the Recaros but couldn’t fit into the seat.

You would fit.

My wife's '09 Mini was one of the few cars that I didn't have the seat all the way back and I'm 6'-5" 250. That being said, calling the Mini a four seater is just silly and I feel as though they should have had a two seater option with a rear shelf for luggage or a dog.

Nice car BTW.

 

[Finklejag]

I fit fine in the current Mini’s. I’m talking about those high bolster sport seats.

 

[Bailes1992]

So the dealer did a major service prior to us taking delivery of the car. This service was actually 6 weeks overdue which is why there is a triangle next to some of the items...

That said, I'm always dubious so wanted to check for myself.

Air filter brand new...

I tried to look at the spark plugs but it seems they require a 12 sized spark plug socket. But the plug looked good from above (if you can even tell anything by looking at it from above?

I suppose I can take some comfort in the finger prints on the top of the coil pack where it's obviously recently been pushed back into place...

I'm pretty confident then it's had it's full service as the dealer advised. I think I'll give it another oil change in the next couple of weeks and also swap out the MTF as I doubt that's ever been done.

I also took a look at the intake valves with a cheap borescope. There is IVD's but they seem to be very minimal. The head itself seemed very clean as did the valve. The only place I could see any IVD's were on the valve stem. I may try one of the aerosol products you spray down the intake to see if it helps keep them at bay.

 

[RAR]

Enjoy your Mini…

My preference is for the “S” models, but the turbo 3 cylinder isn’t bad either.

If you do your own service, invest in a Mini capable scanner to allow you to reset service indicators yourself, register batteries and the like.

I’m not certain on the turbo 3, but I know on my N14 turbo 4, I plan for annual walnut blasting of the intake valves to remove carbon deposits. I now do it every August or September. I have my own blasting setup so it’s just my time and $30 for the fine walnut shell media. If I don’t have any, since a package of it goes a long way.

Lastly, change the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles… do not let it go longer. Mini recommends long change intervals but in real world conditions, that oil is spent way sooner, not to mention the filter. I know, guys on here love going 20,000 miles between changes and even reuse filters. Do not do that with these turbocharged Minis.

 

[Bailes1992]

Back in November I put a brand new set of Michelin Crossclimates on my Wife's Dacia.

Michellin CC2's Fitted!

When we purchased my Wife's Dacia Logan in January 2021 it came with a set of Continental Eco Contacts fitted in the factory 185/65/R15 size on steel wheels. Unfortunately, the tyres had between 2-3mm on them, and the rears which were the originals were starting to crack between the tread...

bobistheoilguy.com

I kept the old wheels and tyres in the loft space in the garage. So before we sold the car I swapped the old wheels and tyres back on and kept the wheels with the CC2's on.

The Mini left the factory with 195/55/16's and these nearly new CC2's are 205/55/16's. Close enough!

So now the Mini is wearing a set of matching CC2's! The slightly wider sidewall does seem to have made the Mini a little smoother, quieter and does fill the wheel arch a little better.

I also picked up it's first jug of oil! I've decided it'll be living on M1 0w40 FS on 5k or 6 month OCI's. The M1 0w40 I've picked up seems to be an older jug (dated July 2022?) and carries API SN and no LL04. This was £43 for 5 litres from Halfords with my trade card.

 

[vavavroom]

I bought my 2015 R59 Roadster S with the N18 engine with just 5k miles on it 2 years ago. I now have 54k miles on it. Enjoy yours. Minis are a lot of fun to drive.

Someone will probably misinterpret what I wrote.

 

[DrummerOld55]

Very nice! I recently purchased my fourth MINI convertible. Previous cars included an 06 & 05 JCW (outstanding cars) and an 06 S with the disastrous automatic transmission. My new car is a 21 JCW convertible. I’m impressed with the technology jump! Keep motoring…

 

[Randol]

Nice, I have a 2020 F56 that I really like.

 

[Bailes1992]

Interesting that this thread got pulled out of the grave on Friday.

My Wife actually sold this car after 3 months as it was just too small. Trying to get the kids in and out of the car seats in the back when it was chucking down with rain was awful. That said, I was gutted to see it go as it was such a hoot to drive.

It got replaced with a '14 Ford B-Max (don't think you got these in the US?) which has been a brilliant car for the 6 months or so that we've had it.

On Friday my Wife ordered a brand new MG ZS which should be being delivered in ~3 weeks.

Haven't lost too much money changing cars. We paid £10,000 for the Mini and told it for £9,700. Then paid £6,500 for the B-Max and part exchanging it for £6,100. The MG ZS is on a PCP finance deal with 0% interest for £129/month for 24 months and then we can either hand it back or purchase it for £11,700.