Mini's, and the home spanner man

[pcn1]

I know nothing about these, apart form horror stories of hi maintenance costs etc, of the copper models.
But my daughter likes them, so have they improved, is there a model that's ok in recent years and can most of the servicing be done if not be me then by a local spanner man, not the main dealer ?
Or are they best avoided

Cheers

[Discendo Discimus]

Classic Mini or BMW?

The classics could be fettled by my 3 year old, the BMW takes a bit more understanding but there's nothing there that the average home mechanic can't sort out.
They have a reputation for engines going pop, not sure if that's just the S models though.

[E-bmw]

Discendo Discimus said:

Classic Mini or BMW?

The classics could be fettled by my 3 year old, the BMW takes a bit more understanding but there's nothing there that the average home mechanic can't sort out.
They have a reputation for engines going pop, not sure if that's just the S models though.

Engine issues are far more commonly associated with the various S models.

ETA.
Having had a previous generation "S" I can add that while there is very little space in the engine bay for working, they are not especially different to working on any other modern vehicle.

Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 12th February 09:03

[TwinKam]

Nasty things, fun to drive, but I hate working on them, they are cynically made with image prioritised over good design/engineering. I can only speak for the petrol engined ones, I don't allow my customers to buy diesels.
The very early ones (R53 shape) had Chrysler engines, last seen in the Neon, avoid.
The middle years (R56 shape) saw a dire Peugeot engine in there, marginal & really tricky to bleed cooling system with an electric thermostat that has failed on every one I've ever seen, and a ridiculous electric 'clutch' set-up for the water-pump drive, that also fails. Front end has to come off for anything major eg clutch, and they leak oil like sieves, nasty. And they corrode underneath like Mazdas. Water leaks into the boot, but then it does on a lot of cars.
The later ones (F56 shape) were better, having BMW's own engine, but with that comes those nasty electric dipsticks..
Having said all that, Mrs T has had three 'S's, R56 & F56, but never kept beyond 3 years old, they don't age well.

[pcn1]

I'm thinking a 5 year old model
Petrol
Auto

[tommobot]

I've an N14 engine'd R56 Cooper S clubman, circa 2009.

Its a really nice car, i've refreshed the whole front end supension wise, and it drives lovely down the road.. and fantastic brakes.

The gearbox is lovely, car itself is lovely, but the engines are just ste - I read the horror stories, the can't all be that bad... No, they are..

Engine swap easily do-able on a driveway, once the front of the car is off (about an hours work) most jobs aren't too bad in the engine bay tbh..

I'm holding onto it for a touch longer, in the hope that K-Swap kits for the R56 era mini's become available at a reasonable cost as I genuinely really do like the 'car'

[pcn1]

I'll do some research on the later F56 models, they are the better cars ?

[chrisch77]

pcn1 said:

I'll do some research on the later F56 models, they are the better cars ?

Yes, much better build quality than the earlier R series. I describe the F series like a BMW dressed up in MINI clothing, whereas the earlier ones are of Rover descent, and tainted by dodgy French collaboration engines in the R55/6 era.