F55 Mini Cooper 5 door
F55 Mini Cooper 5 door
Author
Discussion

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
I thought I would start a readers car thread on the OHs and new runabout car. I’m quite pleased to see the bask of the Astra J we had.. Well built, but the 1.4 was completely hopeless for a car of its weight.

We did look at Corsas, and a later shape Citroen C3.
But she’s always liked minis, we didn’t think we could get one in budget, but we found this one, it’s a dark blue 5 door copper, to get the kids in and out of the back, and in Chilli spec.

It’s got 87000 miles, but 1 owner from new and seems to have been very well looked after, on the test drive, I was very surprised how well built, and rattle free it was, also the quality of the interior fittings. The 1.5 3 cylinder is a brilliant little engine, seems to be great on fuel, and seems to pull nicely in all gears.

It handles very well, and lovely gearbox, and also great steering feel, as the wheels are quite dinky, it also rides nicely too.

I can see my self using this quite a lot!

I will need to use some g technique c4 to respire the external black trim,





Edited by jamesbilluk on Saturday 26th August 18:51

Sammo123

2,143 posts

197 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
I’ve got the F55 Cooper S. Brilliant car for everyday use but also great fun on a B road blast or a track day!




jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
I’ve got the F55 Cooper S. Brilliant car for everyday use but also great fun on a B road blast or a track day!



That looks great! I can imagine how good that would be being the S as well, with the added power. Is that a 4 cylinder in the S?

Sammo123

2,143 posts

197 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
jamesbilluk said:
That looks great! I can imagine how good that would be being the S as well, with the added power. Is that a 4 cylinder in the S?
Yes it’s the four cylinder B48 engine. 190bhp standard so drags the Mini along quite nicely.

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
Sammo123 said:
Yes it’s the four cylinder B48 engine. 190bhp standard so drags the Mini along quite nicely.
Impressive amount that! Can imagine it goes very well with that l.

Greendubber

14,382 posts

219 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
My wife's had a couple of Minis of similar vintage and they've both been excellent cars, they were both Cooper SDs and we're an right hoot to drive.

I had the same engine yours has in a BMW 118i M Sport and it's was really surprising how well it went, I can imagine it goes quite nicely in a Mini!

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Saturday 26th August 2023
quotequote all
Greendubber said:
My wife's had a couple of Minis of similar vintage and they've both been excellent cars, they were both Cooper SDs and we're an right hoot to drive.

I had the same engine yours has in a BMW 118i M Sport and it's was really surprising how well it went, I can imagine it goes quite nicely in a Mini!
We did look at the SDs as well, but she doesn’t really do enough miles, I bet they’re amazing on fuel though!

Really is great fun, I love the thin windscreen too.

Really pulls well that engine, and not like any 3 cylinder I’ve driven before, very smooth.


macron

11,920 posts

182 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
Looks great OP!

My daughter is after one of these, she's in Bristol without OSP so the 1.5D is tempting as you're allowed a free parking permit thanks to the sub 100g co2, at the moment anyway. The 2.0 SD seems to be grunty, but being BMW I risk assuming has common BMW diesel problems?

The 1.5 petrol gets rave reviews, although she needs an auto, and I do wonder if it still pulls sufficiently with 4 people and hockey kit in... Let us know how you get on with yours!

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
macron said:
Looks great OP!

My daughter is after one of these, she's in Bristol without OSP so the 1.5D is tempting as you're allowed a free parking permit thanks to the sub 100g co2, at the moment anyway. The 2.0 SD seems to be grunty, but being BMW I risk assuming has common BMW diesel problems?

The 1.5 petrol gets rave reviews, although she needs an auto, and I do wonder if it still pulls sufficiently with 4 people and hockey kit in... Let us know how you get on with yours!
Thank you smile

I would highly recommend one,

Will let you know how we get on, we will probably do a trip with boot loaded with prams and such, and other seats,

Fuel economy wise, on the motorway it was high 40s/50mpg, and now main roads and towns it’s settled form to about 36 which isn’t too bad, it only cost £60 to fill, as it had a useful 9 miles left by the dealership! The car claims it will get 400 miles from that, so will see what happens.

We did look at the diesel, but with the milage we do they’ve always had DPF issues, I would still have that lovely XJ otherwise.

CABC

5,995 posts

117 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
I just got one too of similar miles and vintage. love the solid BMW feel of the package and sweet engine, but I'd disagree on steering feel. it has none!
butt dyno is still there in such a small car, but nothing through the rim (no pun intended).

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
CABC said:
I just got one too of similar miles and vintage. love the solid BMW feel of the package and sweet engine, but I'd disagree on steering feel. it has none!
butt dyno is still there in such a small car, but nothing through the rim (no pun intended).
It does feel really well put together,

I think I got excited about any steering feel, coming from the Astra hehe That was very vague indeed, this feels like a caterham compared to that..



Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 27th August 11:06

Sicario Wombat

2 posts

64 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
My first post on PH and here's my Cooper S.

Enjoyable car to drive but get rid of the run flats (if you have them).


jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th August 2023
quotequote all
Sicario Wombat said:
My first post on PH and here's my Cooper S.

Enjoyable car to drive but get rid of the run flats (if you have them).

Looks great, and lovely in that colour as well!

Alfahorn

7,800 posts

224 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Another F55 S owner. Mine is also a 66 plate.

I was in need of a new daily and wanted something practical, small and nippy. I prefer the ride and handling of the 5 door over the 3 door,

I’ve done 25000 miles in a little over 18 months in mine. It’s had 1 full service, front tyres and rear pads, that’s it.

I’d have another that’s for sure,

Breeks

113 posts

100 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Alfahorn said:
Another F55 S owner. Mine is also a 66 plate.

I was in need of a new daily and wanted something practical, small and nippy. I prefer the ride and handling of the 5 door over the 3 door,

I’ve done 25000 miles in a little over 18 months in mine. It’s had 1 full service, front tyres and rear pads, that’s it.

I’d have another that’s for sure,
Apart from the mileage - this pretty much mirrors my experience too - cracking little car.

Alfahorn

7,800 posts

224 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Breeks said:
Apart from the mileage - this pretty much mirrors my experience too - cracking little car.
A friend was so impressed with mine and my experience with it, he bought one as a station car.

macron

11,920 posts

182 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
jamesbilluk said:
Sicario Wombat said:
My first post on PH and here's my Cooper S.

Enjoyable car to drive but get rid of the run flats (if you have them).

Looks great, and lovely in that colour as well!
+1, fab username too!

jamesbilluk

Original Poster:

4,142 posts

199 months

Monday 28th August 2023
quotequote all
Alfahorn said:
Another F55 S owner. Mine is also a 66 plate.

I was in need of a new daily and wanted something practical, small and nippy. I prefer the ride and handling of the 5 door over the 3 door,

I’ve done 25000 miles in a little over 18 months in mine. It’s had 1 full service, front tyres and rear pads, that’s it.

I’d have another that’s for sure,
I would love to try an S,

I’ve been impressed with the practicality of the 5 door as well,