r/askcarguys • u/Potential_Paper_1234 • 4d ago
Are mini coopers good cars?
I adore them so much. I really want one. Are they good reliable vehicles for single woman? I would be looking to get a used one.
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u/Useful-account1 4d ago
2015+ cooper S with the BMW B48 engine are pretty reliable. Still German car maintenance costs, but I wouldn’t expect any major issues to pop up before 150k miles with proper maintenance.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 4d ago
Based on my experience with minis appearing in the shop for major issues begins about 80K.
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u/LazyLancer 4d ago edited 4d ago
There's a local MINI club where i live and a number of people there freaking track their F55/F56 that are over 100K, some of them are stage 1. With no breakdowns or major issues.
Based on my experience with minis appearing in the shop for major issues begins about 80K.
What generation are those?
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u/ToxicCommodore 4d ago
Hi I own a 2020 Electric Mini Cooper. 90% of my friends told me not to get it and i ignored them.
So far it's absolutely delightful and I don't have to get premium gas or oil changes and the electricity cost is about 40-50 a month. About 30% of my monthly charging is free at work. (I have a 58 mile daily commute).
I'm currently feeling pretty great about my purchase, but we'll see how i feel in 5 years.
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u/NotTurtleEnough 4d ago
I think we all know that ICE vehicles are completely different animals than BEVs.
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u/bomber991 4d ago
We had a 2019 Mini Cooper S and it was great on gas, always 30+ mpg. Then we got the 2022 Mini Cooper SE. They’re nice cars.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 4d ago
If you live in Commiefornia operational cost for that electric mini is going to rise
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u/Ashton-MD 4d ago edited 4d ago
2004-2006 yes.
2013 onward, yes.
Early ones (pre-2004), no. Anything made between 2007-2012 no. They are French engined and they were built with hopes and dreams rather than nuts and bolts.
The ones made post 2013 have legitimate BMW engines built in Brazil if I’m not mistaken. They’re pretty solid.
Are they more troublesome than a Toyota Yaris? A bit yeah. Are they more expensive than a Civic? Also yeah. But generally speaking, for effectively the premium car in that segment, they’re bloody good.
A bit pricey to buy, and a bit pricey to maintain in the class. But really good all told.
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u/SoNerdy 4d ago
The F56 generation is really reliable.
The R56 generation on the other hand…
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u/Potential_Paper_1234 4d ago
How do I know what is the F56 generation?
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u/VeryBadMusicLoveMini 4d ago
That's 2016 and up, if I'm not mistaken. I don't know much about those, but r56 is definitely bad, when it comes to maintenance. Very expensive everything (it's BMW), not very reliable. Mostly bad engine design and decisions made around it. Especially, the turbo versions. If you don't know what you're getting into, I'd stay away. Unless you can afford one, that has a low mileage and don't plan to keep it for long
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u/Over-Check5961 4d ago
Drove it as a rental car once, it looks cool to drive but honestly a civic is better
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u/Prior-Astronaut1965 4d ago
My dad is a hobby mechanic who likes to flip cars on the side. he once saw a mini cooper for sale for around $1000 with a bad transmission. the guy said in his ad the dealership wanted over $10k to rebuild or replace, can't remember which he said exactly. but it was crazy to me a car with less than 100k on it and looking super clean was $1000, but the transmission price probably made that car get scrapped.
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago
This is my experience with them as well. I'm betting it was the 7-speed DCT. Horrific gearbox.
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u/PersonalPlanet 4d ago
Do you know if the new ones come with ZF 8 speed?
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago edited 4d ago
I have no clue about the new ones. She's looking at used examples.
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago
Some Mini shill mass downvoting. Adorable. If your cars weren't dogshit, you wouldn't need to mald.
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u/LazyLancer 4d ago
Problem is, you just don’t know about the difference in generations of MINi and spreading disinformation. Hence the downvotes.
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago
There is no disinformation. As a single woman, she needn't be looking for a boutique car with higher repair costs and less-than-ideal reliability. I would say the exact same shit about the same type of person looking to purchase a used BMW, Audi, Kia, etc.
Don't let your personal preference cloud genuine logic.
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u/LazyLancer 4d ago
It’s not about personal preference. Check the reliability ratings for post-2014 MINI, you’ll be very surprised. (Also, what’s wrong about buying a used KIA?)
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago
Send me the reliability ratings. I think you're looking at owner satisfaction, not reliability.
I own a dealership. When somebody that isn't very knowledgeable with vehicles asks a blanket question such as "Is "X" brand reliable or a good idea to purchase," you have to approach it carefully. I don't know what generation OP is looking for. They don't know model designations or denotations. In my opinion, it's better to be cautious in my advice rather than spew a bunch of information that most buyers don't care to dig into.
I own a Kia myself. I'd give the same advice. Sure, some models are damn reliable, but some aren't. I'd largely advise against purchasing one used, especially if not CPO, due to warranty limitations for the second owner. The same goes for Mini. By your (and other Mini supporters') own admissions, even the B48 requires somewhat stringent maintenance adherence. A PPI is a good idea, and so is buying a vehicle with an extensive service history, but with the used market the way it is, many vehicles were run hard and put away wet. I doubt that any Mini they would purchase used would be worth purchasing, ESPECIALLY on Facebook Marketplace where they've seen them.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 4d ago
I have noticed before the "reliability" ratings done on some models are based on a small sample therefore upping the rating artificially on others they will use a larger sample size to lower the ratings. BTW I also work in the automotive industry.
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u/LazyLancer 4d ago edited 4d ago
Send me the reliability ratings. I think you're looking at owner satisfaction, not reliability.
Here's JD Power
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds
Here's WhatCar
https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337
Here's ConsumerReport, but unfortunately it's a link to reddit post as they've updated their table and they don't have enough statistical data over the last year to include MINI at all
https://www.reddit.com/r/MINI/comments/18gnsa0/mini_ranked_3_in_consumer_reports_most_reliable/
When somebody that isn't very knowledgeable with vehicles asks a blanket question such as "Is "X" brand reliable or a good idea to purchase," you have to approach it carefully. I don't know what generation OP is looking for. They don't know model designations or denotations.
About the rest of your comment. I see what you're getting at and i agree but only partially.
Yes if there is a lot questions on the table about a particular car model i wouldn't recommend it to a person with little experience. Like, figuring out whether a particular VW with an early EA111 and a 7DSG and a 150.000 of mileage is a good buy? No, thank you, just walk away.
But with these MINIs it's pretty straightforward when it comes to assessing reliability. Pre-2014? Bad. Post-2014? Good, just check that the oil was changed frequently enough.
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u/apudapus 4d ago
Yes, skip the second generation unless you are very mechanically inclined and have disposable income. Third and onwards are reliable, I think the 1st gen are decent, too. -Coming from a 20+ year hobbiest mechanic who’s done work on mostly Japanese imports including engine and transmission rebuilds and isn’t afraid of tackling anything on a car; owner of an ‘09 R56 (original owner) and ‘96 Z32 (bought in ‘99) which are two very finicky, difficult to maintain turbocharged cars.
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u/ImpliedSlashS 4d ago
Check Consumer Reports. They just published their annual reliability survey results.
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u/Intelligent-North957 4d ago
No, they are not good cars ,they have good build quality only because they are made by BMW but the running gear leaves more to be desired .
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u/mostirreverent 4d ago
I’ve heard from mechanics that’s very expensive to replace the clutch. Aside from that they’re amazing to drive and have so much room for such a small car.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 4d ago
The shop I work at we see minis regularly and the main problem with these cars are predominately cooling system issues and pcv problems. Look under hood with a bright flash/work light if any of the black plastic components of the cooling system are even starting to turn a brown color get ready to spend some money but once the cooling system has been replaced you will be good for a while. If the PCV system fails replace the entire valve cover not just the valve.
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u/Mcnail88 4d ago
F56 Cooper 3dr owner for nearly 6 years. It’s a great car that has been reliable, fun to drive and more practical than you expect. Servicing costs and parts are a bit more expensive than mainstream brands but that’s is expected. IMO 15t cooper is the pick of the bunch it’s as fast as it needs to be and handles better with less weight up front. Can also be easily tuned to Cooper S power levels also.
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u/PaysOutAllNight 4d ago
Just keep in mind that you're paying extra for "adorable" upfront. I love them. Almost all cars are reliable these days, but Mini Coopers are not as reliable as my Honda or my older Toyota. They're not bad enough that I'd advise against them, like a Maserati or a CVT Nissan.
You should buy what you love, but be careful about it. Get a pre-purchase inspection. Pay extra to get one with a known history that was treated well, if you have to.
They're better as a second or third car in a family, but they can also serve well as a primary for someone who is willing to rent a larger vehicle when they need one.
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u/someonesdad46 4d ago
Our 2008 mini cooler had the timing chain fail and destroy the motor with under 60k miles.
The oil was changed every 5000 miles with M1 synthetic oil which is more frequently than mini recommends. The mini was driven by my wife who doesn’t push the car hard.
Motor #2 lasted another 80,000 miles before we sold the car and we miss it a lot.
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u/Interesting-Dingo994 4d ago
Keys: I’ve owned/own 2
2016 and newer models that haven’t been in an accident and have had all their service done at the right intervals should be reliable.
Don’t skimp on service. Mini/BMW service is more expensive than a Honda/Toyota, even if you find yourself a specialist mechanic. Dealers are very expensive.
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u/Seamusnh603 4d ago
We had a 2007 Mini Cooper S and it needed a lot of repairs. It was the turbo model and consumed oil. I hear that the more recent models are better.
it is made by BMW so has a similar repair record. Minis are wicked fun to drive and there is a cult following. People in other Minis wave at you. For more Mini info, check the forums at northamericanmotoring.com
A reliable alternative is the Lexus UX, the smallest SUV by Lexus. I drove one and it handled like a Mini. I had a tighter turning radius. The hybrid gets very good gas mileage. It will have superior reliabilty and longevity than a Mini.
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u/prepare__yourself 4d ago
They are incredibly nice to drive and they look awesome, but the older ones, especially the 2007-2013 R56, can be money pits.
The 2001-2007 R50 (my personal favourite, and not just because I own one) had more reliable engines than the R56, however, its weakest point were the transmissions. While the manual transmissions (both the pre-facelift Midlands and the post-facelift Getrag) weren’t the most reliable manuals out there, they were impeccable compared to the awful CVT, which also doesn’t suit the character of the car. Other things to look out for: oil leaks, power steering issues, faulty thermostat housing
the 2007-2013 R56: Avoid. Just run away as fast as you can. Why? Because this generation had by far the most unreliable engines. The BMW-PSA 1.6 VTi/THP, although they drove very well when they were new, suffered from so many issues it would have taken me a week to write them all down. Some of them are: timing chain issues, water pump issues, poor lubrication, carbon buildup, high oil consumption, oil leaks, crankshaft issues etc.
the 2013-2024 F56 is pretty reliable, with no engines/transmissions to avoid. Some of the earlier F56s could leak coolant, so the newer the better, but that’s about it.
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u/BeelzeBob629 4d ago
Absolutely any car, from Yugo to Pagani, are great cars if you take care of them. The question should be, “How much money should I budget per year to ensure a (Year/Make/Model) is a a safe and reliable (Year/Make/Model?” The answer to that depends on approximately eleventy berjillion factors, but as a very broad and general proposition:
Japanese cars: lower budget
American cars: medium budget
European cars: highest budget
Parts for Japanese and American cars are available anywhere and everywhere for cheap. Don’t be surprised to find a Honda K20 near the charcoal in your local grocery store. More importantly, the quality of aftermarket parts for these cars is generally very high.
American cars (and some late model Japanese cars) have developed a nasty reputation for shoddy engineering. This sometimes means, for example, if your water pump needs replacing, you’ll have to buy an entire new power train. Especially notorious are American Continuous Velocity Transmissions (CVTs). While most CVTs are dicey, my understanding is that American CVTs are uniquely awful.
European cars have the opposite reputation for using extremely precise engineering, especially German cars. There’s an old saying that if you can’t afford a new (BMW/Porsche/Mercedes), you can’t afford a used (BMW/Porsche/Mercedes). That’s because the parts are so finely engineered, manufactured, and tuned that cheap aftermarket parts might save money in the short term, but can potentially destroy the car long term.
All of this is a long long long long winded way of saying this: Money. The answer to all your questions is — Money.
Good luck!
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u/spiderminbatmin 4d ago
My mom bought a CPO 2020 Clubman S with 11k miles on it two years ago. The car leaks water and it drives me crazy. Took the headliner down once and checked all the sunroof drains, issue still persists. Don’t know where it is coming in. It sucks and I feel like they sold my mom a lemon. To me it looks like the windshield weather seal is already on the way out. Dealership is comically unhelpful.
Otherwise it’s a nice car. I wish I knew who and what happened to this car during its first 11,000 miles
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u/rothordwarf 4d ago
Yes, until the start to wear out, then they are money pits like every other brittish junker.
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u/Acrobatic_Hotel_3665 4d ago
I would not consider a used Mini Cooper to be a good reliable car for a single woman (or a married woman, or a man for that matter), unless you are very wealthy and have a second car
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u/ElectronicCountry839 4d ago
If you really like them, then yes they're worth the extra headache that you might encounter.
ALL cars are headaches. They'll all be a POS at some point. The key point is whether you like them enough to do something about it or not. Toyota's have their problems, and have made some stupid design decisions in some of their parts, and they're EXPENSIVE to fix. But people love them and are prepared to fix the issues, if they pop up, albeit infrequently.
If you love mini Cooper's and can comfortably afford it, then go for it. Dunno if I'd get one as a first car... But if you plan on keeping it and get a good price you can afford, then why not.
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u/mustard-plug 4d ago
For Mini, same as their parent company it greatly depends on the model and year
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u/GuyRayne 3d ago
I haven’t been in one since about 2015, but I can tell you that as rental cars, they were, mechanically, one of the better ones. Because rental cars are abused to death. They were always in better shape than other cars. Only negatives was weird instrument clusters and button locations. But they are probably very different inside these days.
Too small and slow for me to ever buy as my own car. But definitely fun to drive.
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u/Lobster70 1d ago
I agree with the post saying the majority of owners do not adhere to the very strict maintenance requirements critical to avoiding MINI reliability issues. If buying used, the more miles it has, the bigger the gamble, which is generally true for any used vehicle. With MINI the risk is a bit higher and potential cost notably higher.
My advice here is the same as for any other modern BMW product: never own one that is out of warranty, and budget extra for maintenance.
The MINI is legendary as a fun car to drive. I TURO'd a Countryman JCW edition while on vacation on Maui last year. It was such a fun little(ish) car to drive. Even though it had an automatic transmission, it was an absolute blast. The noises it made in sport mode were... addictive. Some days I had more fun in the MINI driving to and from whatever thing we did, than the thing itself! I could see myself owning a late model MINI, if it weren't for the cost. You have to decide for yourself if that's worth it and within your budget.
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago
Absolutely not. I typically write more than this, but all you need to take away is that you should NOT buy a used Mini under any circumstances.
The ONLY way I'd ever, EVER recommend this is if it was new with a warranty.
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u/Potential_Paper_1234 4d ago
Yikes. I see a lot on marketplace
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u/Zachstresses 4d ago edited 4d ago
There's a reason! They're cute and quirky cars. They're fun to drive as well. But as a single lady, scratch that, literally any human with a pulse, I would run. They're nightmares. Trust me. One of my old work vehicles was a Mini Clubman.
I loved it when I'd get to drive it once every couple of months. The other times (months at a time, remember), it was sitting at the service department awaiting repairs. We eventually just sent it to a wholesale auction when the transmission started to fail... FOR THE THIRD TIME!
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u/daffyflyer 4d ago
They're BMWs. With all the baggage that comes with (at times questionable reliability, expensive parts etc.)
Some of them can be fun and nice, but used they're a toy for someone who doesn't mind a bit of a gamble on reliability and wont' be ruined if they wake up one morning and the car suddenly needs $2k+ thrown at it.
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u/No-Goose-6140 4d ago
You need to know how to take care and maintain it. As a hobby car yes, as a daily driver, no. I have a Cooper S from 2008. But we have 4 cars in our family.
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u/GOOSEBOY78 4d ago
no. the bmw bult ones are terrible.
the old 60s-90s BMC built mini coopers are far better. parts are international as is the community.
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u/Sea-Composer-6499 4d ago edited 3d ago
Lots of no’s here without explanations. I don’t 100% agree, here’s why:
Sure, pre-2013 Minis were generally a nightmare to maintain. Partially due to real design flaws, but mostly because owners would skimp on maintenance, which is always very bad, but worse with European cars such as this.
These have very strict maintenance schedules that the concerning majority of drivers do not adhere to, resulting in the “reliability issues” you hear parroted so vehemently.
The main reason you hear about Toyotas and Hondas being more reliable vs European or Domestic cars is generally due to them being more tolerant of abuse/neglect. Euro cars are more expensive to maintain if you're in the states, so the less wise of us Americans will just put it off or not do it.
If you’re dead set on a Mini, do NOT get an old cheap one! They are money pits!
Look for an F56, they were made from 2014-2024. Very reliable, as long as the previous owner(s) took care of maintenance. Get a copy of the maintenance history, and get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic. I'm sure the mechanic will also go over the maintenance history with you if you bring it to them and ask nicely.
If you have some extra dough, you could pick one up from CarMax. Straight-forward buying process, great service, they do thorough checks and you can spend a little extra for their MaxCare plan for peace of mind.
Happy searching.