Learn me 09 Mini Cooper Clubman ESSSSS

So I'm shopping for another car on the cheap to commute in about 75 miles each day. It's mostly country roads and highway so I'd like another stick and something fun to drive.

There's a 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman S available through a private seller with 150,000 km on it for $4200 CAD, I know there are better cars for my needs but I've always been attracted to these cars, the few I've driven/ridden in have always been a blast. I DIY all my repairs right now and am not afraid of an as is special. I'm familiar with BMW's up to around these years so I'm sure that will help.

Will I come to hate this little car constantly pulling the front end apart to fix something or will the charm outweigh that? Can I beat the 24 mpg I normally get in my 07 Legacy Wagon or will I constantly be wanting boost and that will go out the window.

There's also part of me that wants something that will PAX well for Autocross and I don't think this is it (not sure why a 2850 lbs car with 172 HP is in the same category as an Elentra N, Focus RS, current BRZ/GR86 etc.). The current BMW is an absolute blast on course but with everything I've done it falls into Xtreme Street A and I get killed on PAX.

Budget is around 5k Canadian - this is the car in question.

Thanks!

Friends don't let friends buy 2007-2010 turbo minis.  The mid cycle refresh around 2011 came with an updated engine that fixed many of the weird mini-only problems.  I think you can get 30mpg combined with some highway miles in your commute.

They are absolutely buried in street as you mentioned and street touring in evo/sti/corvette/m3 class.  You could probably win the local events but I wouldn't plan on competing for the pax championship.

Google "Mini Cooper death rattle".   Make some popcorn, pull up a chair and get comfy... it'll be a long read.

Buys car, a week later, "How do I K-Swap my blown up Mini?" ...and I'm back in Xtreme Street lol.

E90 BMW's are landing in that price range, I'm probably better off looking in that direction.

I have an 08 cooper S clubman.

Yeah, I had to replace the timing chain and guides at 90k miles. No big deal. Lots of other cars need timing chains or belts replaced. 

They are quicker than they have any right to be. They handle great. They are fun to drive. They get good gas mileage.  What more could you ask for?

adam525i said:

 

E90 BMW's are landing in that price range, I'm probably better off looking in that direction.

Hell yeah.  Specifically ones with the N52.  I have a 328xi 6spd that I bought used.  The previous owner took proper care of it.  The car is at 283k miles and if I put tape over the odometer you would swear it has 83k miles or less.  It runs perfectly. 

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

adam525i said:

 

E90 BMW's are landing in that price range, I'm probably better off looking in that direction.

Hell yeah.  Specifically ones with the N52.  I have a 328xi 6spd that I bought used.  The previous owner took proper care of it.  The car is at 283k miles and if I put tape over the odometer you would swear it has 83k miles or less.  It runs perfectly. 

My Dad is still driving an 06 330i with the N52/6 speed and around 200k miles and the same thing. For someone like myself doing the work I think I could keep it pretty tight for a long time.

Trent said:

I have an 08 cooper S clubman.

Yeah, I had to replace the timing chain and guides at 90k miles. No big deal. Lots of other cars need timing chains or belts replaced. 

They are quicker than they have any right to be. They handle great. They are fun to drive. They get good gas mileage.  What more could you ask for?

I looked through the repair on FCP Euro's site and it didn't seem too bad considering what needed to be done. I wouldn't be afraid to take that on myself, if I found a car that was good for now going into knowing what I'll need to do eventually isn't the worst thing. After all, I drive a Subaru now lol.

I think the hardest thing for me is how everything is crammed into a small space. The E28 is super easy to work on and the Legacy has this massive hood with this little engine so there is room to get at everything.

It only takes about 20 minutes to put an R56 into "service position" which pushes the front bumper out 4 inches

It looks scary to some folks but it is as simple as removing the fender liners, bumper skin, a few clips and then 4 M14 bolts. After that you can push the front end out.

I have a 2009 Cooper S Clubman also, I ordered it new so I wouldn't have to take and pay for options I didn't want such as the sunroof. That said mine has been almost completely trouble free. I did have the rattling timing chain replaced under warranty at 50K, since then it hasn't made a peep, (MINI warranted these way into the model's life, chances are  this car has already had it done, and it won't require further t-chain work.) With the vin your local dealer can tell you if it's already been done.

Mine currently has 112K miles on it and the only other thing I've done is the t-stat - which is a total PITA to do but does not require you to put  it in service mode. The PITA part is the plastic pipe that runs under the intake from the t-stat to the water pump. The end gets brittle and breaks off in the water pump, and you have to fish it out, usually by removing the intake - the other issue with this repair is the cost of parts from MINI - crazy high, but you can get everything you need for 1/3 or less off the net - Amazon, Ebay or any number of parts places, and I could find absolutely no difference between their parts and the OEM stuff.

The other thing people claim with these direct injected motors is the need to clean the intake valves due to oil/carboning.......I did my own at 50K and there were some deposits on them, but nothing too bad, I just checked mine again and at basically 70K since I last did them, they look fine so I didn't bother.

If you buy it do make sure to use good synthetic oil ( I use Mobil1, 5 qt jug from Walmart on sale for $22 or $26 regularly), and make sure you check it frequently till you determine the use pattern. Mine goes thru a quart every 2500 or so - I change at 5K/one year intervals but if you drive a lot you can easily take that out to 7500.....just make sure you keep it topped up.

I really like mine - this is the longest I've ever kept a car - and plan to keep it forever. It's super useful with the extra length and the fold down seats, fun to  drive, handles great and does get good mileage - way better than 24! On long trips I can get 34-35, unless I'm running 80+ out in the west where the speed limits are so much higher....then it drops down closer to 30.