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Author Subject: Mini Cooper S
bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #1
Anyone had any experience with them?

I don’t really like them much but the GF seems pretty set on buying one.

We only have space for one car so if she gets one the 182 will have to go and I’ll have to drive it.

She’ll be spending around £5k so is looking at 03ish with 70-80K on it.

I’ve been told by my mate that the pre 04 ones suffer with gearbox failure but unsure if this is common.

I know ill look a bender in it but if its fun to drive I don’t really care.

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Posted 21st Dec 2011 at 17:15
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jcphat

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Post #2
Had an 02 back in the day and it was very good fun-the larger wheel option will ensure you become pals with your dentist and osteopath. Run flats ride like a bag of spanners. When the front tyres are part worn it will tramline under braking and that is quite scary.
On smooth surfaces it is close to Karting fun.

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Posted 21st Dec 2011 at 17:24
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #3
jcphat wrote:
Had an 02 back in the day and it was very good fun-the larger wheel option will ensure you become pals with your dentist and osteopath. Run flats ride like a bag of spanners. When the front tyres are part worn it will tramline under braking and that is quite scary.
On smooth surfaces it is close to Karting fun.


Yes if we buy one with runflats they will be getting ditched.

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 21st Dec 2011 at 17:26
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Batesy86

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Location: Canterbury

Registered: 12 Dec 2011

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Post #4
bennn wrote:
Anyone had any experience with them?

I don’t really like them much but the GF seems pretty set on buying one.

We only have space for one car so if she gets one the 182 will have to go and I’ll have to drive it.

She’ll be spending around £5k so is looking at 03ish with 70-80K on it.

I’ve been told by my mate that the pre 04 ones suffer with gearbox failure but unsure if this is common.

I know ill look a bender in it but if its fun to drive I don’t really care.


Pre-02/04 were midland gearboxes, pretty poo. Later than that will be a Getrag and these are pretty decent.

As standard they're OK, smaller pulley and they're a bit better. The suspension is pretty crap as standard too. They're quite heavy cars aswel and not the quickest but they are fun don't get me wrong. (I worked for 2 years at Lohen New MINI Specialists).

The later turbo'd cars were quicker and more skitty and more fun, same engine as the 207 gti (my gti-6 kept up with one the other day though). But obviously they're more expensive.

If you're going to look at some PM me mate I can tell you where to look and where they are prone to having probs!
Posted 21st Dec 2011 at 21:15
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #5
Cheers i will PM you when we've found one.

When you say pretty poo is it a case of them being noisy / unpleasant to use or are they likely to fail?

She only wants to spend £5k so a turbo mini is out the question and i dont think shes going to get a facelift either.

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 08:18
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phil19gti

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Location: Altrincham

Registered: 17 May 2004

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Post #6
Power steering pumps were quite a common failure on early Mini's. I believe there was a recall in America but not over here.

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 08:49
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nashy

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Registered: 13 Aug 2004

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Post #7
Only experience of them was a later turboed model around donington, I can happily report they're pretty decent when being pushed. They might look a bit mincey, but I can easily see how much fun they'd be on the road, very chuckable Yes

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 09:06
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barry.rs

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Location: South West

Registered: 03 Apr 2003

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Post #8
My wife is on her second cooper S now as she likes them so much.

The first was a 02 that she owned for 5 years pretty much trouble free; the only part i had to replace in that time was the passenger central locking motor.

Her new one is an 06 late supercharged one as she preferred the supercharged version to the turbo.

My only advice would be to make sure you hold out for one in the right spec. as first time round they were still pretty scarce at reasonable money so it was quite basic; second time around we held out for the right colour and one with pretty much everything on it.

Also avoid full leather on a car of that age; they stretch right out of shape on the minis and look rough imo; material or half leather is best.
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 09:23
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bennn

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Post #9
Cheers for the input.

She’s set on a grey one and likes the JCW kit other than that she’s not bothered about toys etc but we’ve seen two locally which we are going to have a look at.

Mini 1

Mini 2


I’m leaning towards the first one because its nearer, has a lot of the extras and it’s a 1 owner car but she prefer’s the second one as it’s got the kit despite the fact the interior looks like it belongs in a hospital waiting room, so were gonna see those 2 to start with.

She went to see the first one yesterday but It wasn’t there as it was having a new clutch fitted (apparently it lived in London so perhaps down to traffic rather than hard use).

I thought it would probably be worth paying a bit more for a facelifted one but she doesn’t want to.

Not really bothered about mileage as we do so little I don’t think it would be worth her paying more for a low mileage car.

Do these have cambelts? and is there big service I should watch out for? Both being around 80k I was wondering if there is a service / big bill on the cards and that’s why people have got rid?

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 10:27
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Batesy86

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Location: Canterbury

Registered: 12 Dec 2011

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Post #10
No cambelts, chain driven. The aux belt needs changing around 60/70k as part of an 'Inspection 2 Service" so make sure this has been done! Check the exhaust if it's standard, it WILL rot around the rear boxes.
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 10:36
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #11
Right, I'm assuming the exhaust costs an arm and a leg aswell? Is the aux belt a big job?

I've also heard these are shit on fuel, not really an issue I just found it surprising.

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 10:47
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gman

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Location: Didcot

Registered: 25 Oct 2007

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Post #12
Yep, supercharged ones are around the mid-20's or below if thrashed often. Turbocharged ones are very economical though.

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 12:24
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #13
Shocking. We only do about 100 miles a week so no biggy really though.

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 12:50
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atterz

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Location: Stafford

Registered: 18 Feb 2011

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Post #14
Somebody needs to drop that new 1.6T engine into a 6!

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 12:52
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Batesy86

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Post #15
atterz wrote:
Somebody needs to drop that new 1.6T engine into a 6!


It's not a very good engine IMO.

Can't remember, we used to charge about £90 for an OK second hand system, you'd be better off taking a hit and getting something stainless, although the way the system is designed they are quite pricey and some equally as shit (Milltek)
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 13:39
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barry.rs

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Post #16
Its not the exhaust that fails; they last a long time its the brackets that attach the box to the car. These rot out and cost around £40 each and are a little awkward to fit.

I would guess there is a reason there are no pictures of the interior in the first link being described as full leather and the blue is certainly an acquired taste.
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 13:49
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #17
barry.rs wrote:
Its not the exhaust that fails; they last a long time its the brackets that attach the box to the car. These rot out and cost around £40 each and are a little awkward to fit.

I would guess there is a reason there are no pictures of the interior in the first link being described as full leather and the blue is certainly an acquired taste.


Yep now you've mentioned it that may be the case, she said she asked the chap what the interior was like and he said its not mint - after a valet probably 7/10 (so in used car sales terms its probably f*cked LOL)

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 13:53
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

Registered: 05 Sep 2008

Posts: 2,705

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Post #18
Batesy86 wrote:
atterz wrote:
Somebody needs to drop that new 1.6T engine into a 6!


It's not a very good engine IMO.

Can't remember, we used to charge about £90 for an OK second hand system, you'd be better off taking a hit and getting something stainless, although the way the system is designed they are quite pricey and some equally as shit (Milltek)


It'll be her car and it will be staying standard i think.

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 13:54
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barry.rs

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Post #19
Looks quite nice; again leather has stretched a bit



3 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 86,000 miles, Red. Stunning example 2 previous mature owners not Raced Or Rallied.Great spec which incliudes :- Gravity Leather heated seats,Auto Air con,Zenons, Chilli Pack, White roof with S emblem,CD player,Chrome Pack/Dash, Xenon Headlamps,Harmon Kardon Speakers.I POD Connectivity, Multi function wheel,Tints,etc etc. Service History Stacks of Bills. Lovely condition inside and out 86000 miles. £4,695

Looks to have climate, cruise control and visibility pack as well

Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 14:09
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barry.rs

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Location: South West

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Post #20
Im sure this could be had within budget



I would want some better pictures before driving the distance to look at it though.
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 14:28
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bennn

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Location: Shrewsbury

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Post #21
Yeah thats the sort of spec i'd like but shes more bothered about what it looks like.

I dont think she would like that one as she told me she hates red, white roofs and the non standard alloys LOL

The white one looks quite tidy though!

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Cherry Red 306 HDI
Championship White Integra DC5 Type R
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 14:44
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chrisd306

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Location: Perth Scotland

Registered: 26 Nov 2005

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Post #22
Hate these we have a customer that has one and she hates it now to, needed a supercharger and a pas pump/rack and has has loads more problems I liked them untill watching my mate do the charger!

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 14:54
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barry.rs

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Location: South West

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Post #23
The wheels on the red one are standard ben; they were an optional extra and called Bullet iirc.

My wife was the same; it was either dark silver or black eyed purple regardless of spec the first time round but the toys were more of an issue second time round.
Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 15:02
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ian7675

Techno Viking

Location: Gloucestershire

Registered: 12 Oct 2007

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Post #24
I knew a BMW tech who said they're awful and fall to pieces. Those are his words, I have no experience of them.

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 15:12
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xaero1

Senior User

Location: Edinburgh

Registered: 31 Aug 2009

Posts: 835

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Post #25
A friend owns one and had some kind of engine issue under warranty so the garage fitted a few small optional upgrades free of charge including a carbon fibre dip stick. My mate told them to put the steel one straight back in because he'd heard horror stories of the CF ones shattering and messing up engines.

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Posted 22nd Dec 2011 at 15:20
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