Advice please Mini Cooper S Owners

[Physiorog]

Hi Guys and Girls of the 'New Mini' PH world

Some advice would be nice please!

I am thinking of changing my current car (Mk4 Golf GT TDi 130)for a Cooper S just wondering what they are like to own and any issues that you have found?? What are the running/service costs like?? What should I look out for??

Any good advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks fellow PHers!

Rog

[nottyash]

Well,
We have a 54 plate JCW which i bought with 1 remaining free service on the TLC package.
Its due in about 1000 miles (43000) and the local dealer offered to upgrade to the TLC XL which gives another 3 years free servicing for £300. Bearing in mind if we were keeping the car the next one is in 20000 miles or 2 years and it costs more than £300 (Just, and thats the inspection 2)
I reckon a good Indy would be a lot cheaper, though i am tempted to keep it Mini serviced for future re sale.
Ride is hard, probably down to run flats.
Does about 31MPG on longer runs.
Goes well, very impressive for a 1.6, but the thing i hate about it is its lack of grip. It just brings up the traction control light and cuts power. It really needs a LSD, an option ours doesnt have, That said handling is fantastic, there seems to be no limit on how quick it corners.
Interior is plasticky, although nothing has actually broken.
They do seem to keep there price well, we have probably made if anything.

[DanGT]

As sead the newer turbo is a lot better on fule. Having driven both cars you get almost 10mpg more out of the newer turbo.

[Physiorog]

[quote=riwiho
Few questions from me in order to help you:

Do you know which Cooper S you are considering? (The reason I ask is that they are v.different vehicles)
- R53 supercharger (2002 - 2006). This was face lifted in 2004 (I think) from 163hp to 170hp
- R56 turbo (2006 - present)

Thanks all for the positive and prompt responses!

I'm looking at a 2004 '04' plate Cooper S, so would be a R53, has chili pack and is quite low mileage (44k) for age, one previous owner.

I'm expecting a drop in mpg from my GT TDi, but my journeys have changed to more local ones than big journeys and the GT is not cost effective for such short journeys and traffic. Plus fancied a bit of fun for a bit and the Mini seems to cover all the bases I need!

Just need to get married now next weekend and then see how the bank account looks!!

[cannedheat]

riwiho said:

Physiorog said:

Thanks all for the positive and prompt responses!

I'm looking at a 2004 '04' plate Cooper S, so would be a R53, has chili pack and is quite low mileage (44k) for age, one previous owner.

I'm expecting a drop in mpg from my GT TDi, but my journeys have changed to more local ones than big journeys and the GT is not cost effective for such short journeys and traffic. Plus fancied a bit of fun for a bit and the Mini seems to cover all the bases I need!

Just need to get married now next weekend and then see how the bank account looks!

Well it will be the face lift version (170hp). Make sure it has everything that you're looking for, one nice thing about buying a Mini is that there is a wide choice. Identify what you want from the car (aero body kit, heated seats, JCW performance kit, cruise control, hi-fi upgrade etc) and shop around.

Congratulations on the wedding. Enjoy

Will it be a facelift? I thought the facelift came out for the '05 MY i.e late 2004. That'd make any facelift a 54 at the earliest.

Defo worth getting a facelift car if the budget can stretch. The gearing is shorter so combined with the 7bhp power increase the car is quicker. It also looks nice with the projector xenons and smoother bumpers plus a nicer interior.

[HDog]

Actually it was July 04 that the facelift cars were fist registered.

I have an '04' plate facelift R53.

The quickest way to tell is to look at whether the central rear light in the bumper is clear (early model reversing light) or red (facelift model fog lamp)

Cheers!

[Physiorog]

HDog said:

Actually it was July 04 that the facelift cars were fist registered.

I have an '04' plate facelift R53.

The quickest way to tell is to look at whether the central rear light in the bumper is clear (early model reversing light) or red (facelift model fog lamp)

Cheers!

awesome advice for a quick check! thanks!

[cannedheat]

Oh and to answer the OP a bit better.

Insurance can be high due to the way the MINI is sold. As you pretty much buy a base car and then add options or packs as required, insurers seem to treat this as a modified car - especially when you start mentioning bigger wheels/aerokits/front spots/rear fatory tints...etc

As previously stated, the earlier 'R53' supercharged MINI likes a drink. Mine (a 2005 car) averages about 28mpg in normal driving and I can get about 38mpg on a long 70mph 6th gear motorway run.

The car is so much fun to drive. It positively encourages you to drive around the outside of people on roundabouts or out-drag them down slip roads. Once the 'charger starts screaming, combined with the fruitier exhaust on facelifted cars, it sounds great!!

The MINI is prone to rattles which the hard ride doesn't help. There are guides on the numerous forums on how to cure some of the main ones but some you'll just have to live with.

The ride is firm.

The breaks are adequate at best.

It's more like a 2+2 than a 4 seater - not really suited if you're carrying back seat passengers often.

The facelifted cars have a different engine map on the over-run so pop and bang more than the earlier cars.

There are plenty of tuning and modifying parts available, both from MINI/BMW and 3rd parties.

[gonzales]

I run a 52 plate R53 MCS and absolutely love it. Best thing to check on the car is the service history and if there has been an issue with the power steering pump (I think this is only on the pre-facelift models though).

Check out www.totalmini.com, there is plenty of further info on there.

The ride is hard but the road holding is fantastic. Most people think the run flats are a pain but when you get a puncture they are a god send. The options list is so amazingly long chances are there are no two minis the same in the UK so decide what you want and what you can live without in terms of options.

My car was a demonstrator and as such has every option known to man on it, there are several I wouldn't bother with though: factory sat nav - its a faff and worse than a tomtom; cruise control - actually uses more fuel than your right foot does most of the time; and a few others. Ones I couldn't live without are the multi function steering wheel, climate control and full leather seats.

[Physiorog]

gonzales said:

I run a 52 plate R53 MCS and absolutely love it. Best thing to check on the car is the service history and if there has been an issue with the power steering pump (I think this is only on the pre-facelift models though).

Check out www.totalmini.com, there is plenty of further info on there.

The ride is hard but the road holding is fantastic. Most people think the run flats are a pain but when you get a puncture they are a god send. The options list is so amazingly long chances are there are no two minis the same in the UK so decide what you want and what you can live without in terms of options.

My car was a demonstrator and as such has every option known to man on it, there are several I wouldn't bother with though: factory sat nav - its a faff and worse than a tomtom; cruise control - actually uses more fuel than your right foot does most of the time; and a few others. Ones I couldn't live without are the multi function steering wheel, climate control and full leather seats.

Thanks mate, again good advice!! This is why I love being a PHer!

I salute you all!

Now can you all pray for sunshine on saturday (15th August) so my wedding can go by being dry!? Then the 'boss' will be even happier for me to change the car with our honeymoon fund........or not!!lol

[JJCW]

I've got an '05 plate r53 JCW sub 40k that i think i'm going to have to part with in the next month or so - let me know if you'd be at all interested

[997c2scab]

JJCW said:

I've got an '05 plate r53 JCW sub 40k that i think i'm going to have to part with in the next month or so - let me know if you'd be at all interested

Hi JJCW, I am currently in the market for a JCW - Can you send me any info on what you will be selling and an idea of cost?

[JJCW]

997c2scab said:

JJCW said:

I've got an '05 plate r53 JCW sub 40k that i think i'm going to have to part with in the next month or so - let me know if you'd be at all interested

Hi JJCW, I am currently in the market for a JCW - Can you send me any info on what you will be selling and an idea of cost?

Emailed

[Farky]

Physiorog- I was kinda in the same posistion as you a while back. Having owned Diesels for the past 10 years, i was also worried about the fuel consumpion on a MCS if i were to get one. Theyre are thirsty wee buggers.
I had a Fabia vRS, exact same engine and box as your Golf, achieving 45mpg+, even when driving hard. But these cars lack driver feel!!! Anyway, i searched and searched for the MCS i was looking for, bought it and have NEVER looked back!!!!!
On a long run, 70mph with the cruise on i achieve 40mpg, but then when i picked it up from servicing the other night and kicked its teeth in i saw 21mpg when i got home!!! lol!!! My point is, that for me, you forget all about the mpg because the car is so much fun to drive!! The feel of these cars is AMAZING!!! The noise of the charger, the handling, the feel etc etc. I must admit though that the runflat tyres are utter ste!! Honestly, they have no grip in the wet whatsoever!!! I'm going to change them very soon.
Insurance for me going from the Fabia (grp 9) to the MCS (grp 16) was only a extra £70 per year, so that was a bonus!! Yes, tax and fuel is more but like i said, you forget about that as soon as you drive it.
Also, for me, the car is brilliant to drive on the mway, very quiet, and will be even smoother when i junk the horrendous runflats!!
For me, the R56's lack 'character' they dont have that go-kart feel to them, they feel just like any other car to me, while my car (face lifted 54 plate) drives like nothing else i have ever driving (apart from my Father-in-laws 997 Turbo!!)
Depends what year you go for, but i have just been offered the TLC XL from the Main Dealer i bought it from for £300 so i'm going to take that as its well worth it when you consider that the Inspection 2 service is that price alone!!
Anyway, i've babbled on long enough, just thought you'd like a review from someone who has owned a similar oil burner to yourself!!

[Intolerant]

Farky said:

I must admit though that the runflat tyres are utter ste!! Honestly, they have no grip in the wet whatsoever!!! I'm going to change them very soon.

We've got a 53 plate Cooper S that we got from new. In the last week of August 03 whilst the car was being prepped and the stickers being added etc, i got the dealer to swap the wheels off my car (that had crappy Dunlops on) with the wheels on another new car that had my preferred choice of Pirelli run flats on. The problem with the dunlops is they don't grip, they're rubbish, the end. The pirelli's are much better. If people complain about run flats its usually about the hard ride, not the grip. Anyway, 6 years and 34,000 miles later and the car hasn't missed a beat, i've only ever replaced tyres and wiper blades, other than that, nothing. Boring simple reliable maintenance. Just had to change the brake pads now.

My suggestion, buy one! Don't worry about the fuel or even the tyres, just buy one and if you can find one with pirelli's on that'll be even better.

[Farky]

Intolerant said:

Farky said:

I must admit though that the runflat tyres are utter ste!! Honestly, they have no grip in the wet whatsoever!!! I'm going to change them very soon.

We've got a 53 plate Cooper S that we got from new. In the last week of August 03 whilst the car was being prepped and the stickers being added etc, i got the dealer to swap the wheels off my car (that had crappy Dunlops on) with the wheels on another new car that had my preferred choice of Pirelli run flats on. The problem with the dunlops is they don't grip, they're rubbish, the end. The pirelli's are much better. If people complain about run flats its usually about the hard ride, not the grip. Anyway, 6 years and 34,000 miles later and the car hasn't missed a beat, i've only ever replaced tyres and wiper blades, other than that, nothing. Boring simple reliable maintenance. Just had to change the brake pads now.

My suggestion, buy one! Don't worry about the fuel or even the tyres, just buy one and if you can find one with pirelli's on that'll be even better.

Its the Pirelli's i have on just now. Porbably the worst tyre i've ever had on a car tbh. All imho.