Mini Cooper

[parimento1]

I was looking into buying a new or slightly pre-owned Mini Cooper base model. Do any of you guys own one, and if so, how are they for reliability? Are parts hard to come by, other than from the dealer?

 

[DB_Cooper]

Google the "rattle of death" for Mini's Timing chain and tensioner are very frail..when they go..it seems to take out the valves, pistons and cylinder walls. BMW knows they have a problem. It would be better if they failed under the warranty...they don't very often.

A friend of ours just got the bad news. Tensioner failed and took out the engine. $6000 or more to fix..2009 model with 80k miles.

 

[NHGUY]

MINIs have had a hard time.The early ones used Chrysler/Neon based engines,some years have had electric power steering fires....now the timing chain thing.Frankly I would steer clear.If you want small/Tiny,the new FIAT 500 looks like a promising model.

 

[LoneRanger]

Get a Hyundai Veloster instead.

Agree with above posts. MINI's are cool little cars but I'd only own one that was under warranty, and then you need a dealer to be reasonably near your area.

 

[parimento1]

wow that sounds like a disaster...I am surprised that the 2009 model with the updated engine has that problem. Also 6k sounds like a lot for a little 4 cylinder engine! One thing I can tell you is that for a small car it is built very very strong. Probably why it costs so much. The Fiat is brand new in the US so I am not sure how it is as a car. I test drove the Yaris and it is a very uncomfortable car to drive; the driving position is very bad. I drove the Fiat and loved it, also drove mazda2 and thought it was OK. I will test drive the Scion XA and XD and see what I can find. Thanks for your help

 

[cadfaeltex]

I had one with the first gen engine. I'm sorry I sold it. It didn't give me any trouble for the 5 years I owned it. No some have had trouble with that timing chain but not sure how many. Go to www.northamericanmotoring.com and take a look around. It's a really good MINI forum (at least it was when I had mine) with lots of info.

 

[DB_Cooper]

The Mini is at the stealership..the owner is having it towed to an independent Mini repair shop..that will save a grand or two.

 

[cchase]

Aunts Mini Cooper had to go under the knife for the timing chain. Dealer also had to take the engine apart to de-carbon it as it was apparently bad enough it would barely run (with under 30k)...