which model is the most reliable?
Discussion
Ok,so my 17yr old daughter is learning to drive in a mini cooper r53 I bought and having spent a fair bit of time getting right,which to be honest i didnt mind. Going forward, if the world settles down and she passes her test she will gain experience by driving this mini.In the near future I would like to change to a newer version,2 reasons ,probably a newer car is a safer car ,and her g/parents bought her a plate for her car ,little did they realise it cant go on her 2003 mini.So ,which variant is the better more reliable car,with less issues? Is the 1.4 petrol any good ,or the later 1.6 petrol or is the diesel 1.6 a better unit? What are the issues ?opinions welcome
agree,loads of choice out there.I just wondered if certain years/models were more troublesome or had bigger issues than other models. With the early r50 she has now ,it was the usual issues ,p/s pump,clutch ,heater matrix etc,etc
Driving wise ,local runs with a 120 mile run mid week,although if she passes I can see greater distances at first
Driving wise ,local runs with a 120 mile run mid week,although if she passes I can see greater distances at first
In that case both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 cars should be fine, but I would aim for the petrol over the diesel.
Gen1 - I would go for a 2005-2006 One or Cooper as these had the revised gearbox. The early ones had a midland gearbox which does fail.
https://classicsworld.co.uk/classic-car-price-guid...
Gen 2 - Again look at the One or Cooper both in petrol. These would be my choice as the interior is a lot nicer place to sit and you get a slightly bigger car.
In both generations spec is key and loads had options added by buyers from the dealership. Try and get a chilli pack as standard over the pepper, but lots of special editions out there like Hampton, Park Lane which do look good.
I would avoid the Cooper S (R53 / R56) as this will be too expensive for her to insure.
Gen1 - I would go for a 2005-2006 One or Cooper as these had the revised gearbox. The early ones had a midland gearbox which does fail.
https://classicsworld.co.uk/classic-car-price-guid...
Gen 2 - Again look at the One or Cooper both in petrol. These would be my choice as the interior is a lot nicer place to sit and you get a slightly bigger car.
In both generations spec is key and loads had options added by buyers from the dealership. Try and get a chilli pack as standard over the pepper, but lots of special editions out there like Hampton, Park Lane which do look good.
I would avoid the Cooper S (R53 / R56) as this will be too expensive for her to insure.
The R53 designation is the first generation Cooper S, so do you mean she currently has R50 Cooper instead?
Avoid the second generation (R56) Cooper S as the early engines (2007-2010) in particular are quite troublesome with timing chain issues.
Early 2nd generation diesels use a 1.6l from Peugeot; we’ve had one of these from new in an R55 clubman and the engine has been the most (only) unreliable part of the car. Later post facelift R56s have BMW’s own N47 diesel but that is not without its issues.
If you can afford it, I would suggest trying to get an early third generation car (F56) instead, from 2014. The One has a 1.2l three pot and the cars are much better built than the earlier generations.
Avoid the second generation (R56) Cooper S as the early engines (2007-2010) in particular are quite troublesome with timing chain issues.
Early 2nd generation diesels use a 1.6l from Peugeot; we’ve had one of these from new in an R55 clubman and the engine has been the most (only) unreliable part of the car. Later post facelift R56s have BMW’s own N47 diesel but that is not without its issues.
If you can afford it, I would suggest trying to get an early third generation car (F56) instead, from 2014. The One has a 1.2l three pot and the cars are much better built than the earlier generations.
Edited by chrisch77 on Tuesday 19th January 09:22
chrisch77 said:
The R53 designation is the first generation Cooper S, so do you mean she currently has R50 Cooper instead?
Avoid the second generation (R56) Cooper S as the early engines (2007-2010) in particular are quite troublesome with timing chain issues.
Early 2nd generation diesels use a 1.6l from Peugeot; we’ve had one of these from new in an R55 clubman and the engine has been the most (only) unreliable part of the car. Later post facelift R56s have BMW’s own N47 diesel but that is not without its issues.
If you can afford it, I would suggest trying to get an early third generation car (F56) instead, from 2014. The One has a 1.2l three pot and the cars are much better built than the earlier generations.
I have a R55 N14 and timing chains are huge issues, but I thought the N12 (1.6 Cooper) was a lot more reliable and didnt have the same issues? Avoid the second generation (R56) Cooper S as the early engines (2007-2010) in particular are quite troublesome with timing chain issues.
Early 2nd generation diesels use a 1.6l from Peugeot; we’ve had one of these from new in an R55 clubman and the engine has been the most (only) unreliable part of the car. Later post facelift R56s have BMW’s own N47 diesel but that is not without its issues.
If you can afford it, I would suggest trying to get an early third generation car (F56) instead, from 2014. The One has a 1.2l three pot and the cars are much better built than the earlier generations.
Edited by chrisch77 on Tuesday 19th January 09:22
I am not sure of the "generations", but have a 2012 Mini 1 Baker street. It has a great spec. I have the diesel which I use for teaching driving in. My miles are higher than the average person with a shed load of start/stop. It as you can imagine driven with "not so sympathetic" drivers.
The car has done some 176k. It would be now over 200k if not for "lockdowns"
It is still on it's first clutch. I have had no problems at all with it apart from finding yesterday the O/S window does not want to go up on a "one touch" press
I doubt your daughter will do the miles a day I would, so a petrol may be better for her. However they are a lot more thirsty than the diesels.
I would imagine the insurance may be very expensive for her solo as a first car, so would look into that first before buying
I am always looking out for a replacement should mine one day "die" or some plonker run into the back of it and owing to it's miles and age render it a right off for the insurance company. They made this one upto 2013 and I would buy another in a heart beat.
It has had a new battery in December 2018, so 6 years on a start/stop battery is good going.
Tyres and pads and disc's wear very well considering the amount of savage ABS emergency stops this car has done. Everything like those bits for me would have to be replaced as a wear and tear item anyway.
I would imagine a full service history is vital
I really like mine, it is a shame it is used as a learner vehicle.
good luck in your hunt
The car has done some 176k. It would be now over 200k if not for "lockdowns"
It is still on it's first clutch. I have had no problems at all with it apart from finding yesterday the O/S window does not want to go up on a "one touch" press
I doubt your daughter will do the miles a day I would, so a petrol may be better for her. However they are a lot more thirsty than the diesels.
I would imagine the insurance may be very expensive for her solo as a first car, so would look into that first before buying
I am always looking out for a replacement should mine one day "die" or some plonker run into the back of it and owing to it's miles and age render it a right off for the insurance company. They made this one upto 2013 and I would buy another in a heart beat.
It has had a new battery in December 2018, so 6 years on a start/stop battery is good going.
Tyres and pads and disc's wear very well considering the amount of savage ABS emergency stops this car has done. Everything like those bits for me would have to be replaced as a wear and tear item anyway.
I would imagine a full service history is vital
I really like mine, it is a shame it is used as a learner vehicle.
good luck in your hunt
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