Looking at a mini cooper s 2009-2011

[CaveyH]

Hi,

This forum has added a lot of information and has been really helpful, so if this is seen as clutter I will delete.

I am currently looking at mini cooper s (2009-2011) I have a budget of between £7 - 8000. I am also looking at ford fiesta 1.0 zetec s ecoboost as well.

For anyone who has driven both what would you recommend?

And more specifically to the Mini are these age and generation minis seen as unreliable? Do they have big problems?


Thanks!

[CJ1]

The Cooper S had a facelift in 2010 with new bumpers, but most importantly a much more reliable engine. Make sure it has the N18 engine and not the old N14 engine that was very unreliable. Just google Mini N14 Problems.

[Maracus]

As said above, make sure you get an N18 184BHP, generally introduced after July 2010 builds.

If the High Pressure Fuel Pump hasn't been replaced, it will fail! Poor starting, followed by rough running then the 'half power' symbol eventually comes on.

The other issue that can affect them is a leaky rocker cover gasket.

We've had our N18 since November 2013, it's been the most reliable car we've owned in 30 years.

[itsnotarace]

N18's suffer just as many issues as N14s in the earlier cars to be honest. Just budget for timing chain replacement, decoke, high pressure fuel pump and water thermostat housing and you'll be fine. In otherwords budget 5-6k for the car and 2k to bring it back to good-as-new condition

[Maracus]

itsnotarace said:

N18's suffer just as many issues as N14s in the earlier cars to be honest. Just budget for timing chain replacement, decoke, high pressure fuel pump and water thermostat housing and you'll be fine. In otherwords budget 5-6k for the car and 2k to bring it back to good-as-new condition

Really not heard of many, if any issues with the N18 variant. Whereas the N14 is well known for it's timing chain/oil consumption issues.

Speaking from 6 years of experience with our N18, it burns no oil between changes and has only cost us a high pressure fuel pump (£300), parking sensor (£15) and Rocker Cover Gasket (replaced under extended warranty) over and above regular servicing and consumables - Front pads and discs, oil change at least every 7.5k.

I would not want an N14 variant when the N18s are cheap enough.

[GaryF]

I've had an N14 JCW for almost eight years and it has been very reliable. I think you can be lucky or unlucky.

We have an N18 Cooper S in the family as well for a similar period and it has been just as reliable. To me, it sounds more like a diesel though...

[itsnotarace]

Maracus said:

Really not heard of many, if any issues with the N18 variant. Whereas the N14 is well known for it's timing chain/oil consumption issues.

N18 has the same issues as the N14 really, although the timing chain guides and tensioner had revisions for the N18 it's not solved the problem entirely

https://www.pscautocentre.co.uk/blogs/mini/mini-n1...
http://www.motoringfile.com/2018/02/12/mini-cooper...

The other common faults are the same as the N14 such as water pump failing, HPFP failing, thermostat housing cracking, crank oil seals leaking etc etc

As always it comes down to how well the car has been maintained, oil levels checked regularly, and so on

[pangster79]

itsnotarace said:

N18 has the same issues as the N14 really, although the timing chain guides and tensioner had revisions for the N18 it's not solved the problem entirely

https://www.pscautocentre.co.uk/blogs/mini/mini-n1...
http://www.motoringfile.com/2018/02/12/mini-cooper...

The other common faults are the same as the N14 such as water pump failing, HPFP failing, thermostat housing cracking, crank oil seals leaking etc etc

As always it comes down to how well the car has been maintained, oil levels checked regularly, and so on

Agree!! - I would rather have a well cared for N14 than a thrashed and abused N18.. at the end of the day they are fairly decent engines.. they sold hundreds of thousands of them and like in every other case - you only hear about the failures.. and the issues.. a lot of which are down to have they've been looked after, serviced and maintained.. almost every engine will have technical upgrades or improvements made - so just make sure you factor in for these and maintain the engine well and they won't cause you anymore problems than any other car..

I recently picked up a 2007 Mini Cooper S myself - 57k, FSH, 3 owners (last one for six years) in the right spec I was looking for (chilli pack, lounge leather, panoramic roof, metallic grey with gloss back roof and mirrors and like new crown alloys) - it's in a lot better condition than some of the N18 cars I was looking at.. and I got it for a decent price (and have factored in a chain, guide and tensioner replacement).. fantastic drivers car - great feedback and I actually prefer it to driving my Golf R..