Looking at 2005-2007 Mini Cooper S

I'm considering buying a 2005-2007 Mini Cooper S convertible for my grandson.

Cars that are semi-local to me are:

'05  automatic, 46000 miles $7800.

'07 sidewalk edition 133000 mi. some engine mods ( I don't know what yet) 6 spd  $5750.

'05 125000 mi.  spd $6500.

The '05 with 6 spd is the only one I've actually seen (walk around) & it looks good.  All these cars are on Raleigh Craigslist & photograph well.

I'd be doing routine maintenance myself.  I understand that replacing waterpump is an unpleasant job.

I'd appreciate your wisdom about these cars in general, or if you want to look at Raleigh Craigslist at the specific cars  & comment, I'd appreciate that too.  I'd like to the Craigslist ads but I'm old & don't know how to do so.

Thanks very much.

In reply to M2Pilot :

Did you look through the buyer's guide over at  MotoringFile? There's a nice little list of issues which affect all Minis that you'll want to ask the owners about.

I haven't but I will. Thanks

Don't buy a 2007.  First year of the 2nd generation.  It has massive problems that weren't fixed until about 2010.

I have heard that automatic MINIs (either CVT or TC type) are to be avoided if at all possible.

That being said, I personally know 2 people who have MINIs of this vintage - S models - and both have had serious problems with misfires and other issues.

Ask if the supercharger has been replaced. The issue isn't the supercharger itself, but the PTO that drives the water pump from the back of the supercharger. The gears can fail and the water pump stops turning, resulting in engine failure. Listen the engine idling and see if you can hear any untoward noise from the PTO. I caught mine with a stethoscope and had the supercharger changed out before catastrophic failure occurred. That cost $1500, so shop carefully. The specialty shop where I get my work done will tell you that the second generation cars keep them in business. The owner and staff drive first generation cars.  

Now some unsolicited advice.... if you would like your grandson to have a nice little convertible get him a Miata. They're far less costly to own and maintain. I own a CooperS and a '99 Miata. The Miata has needed fluids, brake pads and a timing belt over the last 11 years, the MINI has cost me around $3000 over the last 10 years. Both have 125Kish miles and both were purchased used with 60K ,or so on them.

Don't forget about the harmonic balancers that fail every 50k miles, the plastic thermostat housing that warps and won't stop leaking (and the $50 thermostat in it), the brake sensor that has t be replaced if the pad warning light ever comes on, the little electric fan on the lower cross member that dies and allows the power steering to overheat, the serp belt tensioner that does $300 in damage if the belt ever breaks (and the $75 special tool required to change the belt), the plastic supercharger tubing that spontaneously develops holes, the plastic clutch throwout housings that overheat and bind,  the door lock cables that pop out internally and disable the internal door handles.... We had a 2005 S model 6pd from 50k-100k miles. One of the most fun vehicles I've ever driven and the most likely to get me arrested. Also probably the worst engineered vehicle I've ever owned.

Buy him a Miata. 90% of the fun of the MINI, 10% of the repair hassles, 100% easier to work on.

ultraclyde said:

...the brake sensor that has t be replaced if the pad warning light ever comes on...

Not to pick on one item out of your list, but that's how those work.  At least on BMWs it is.    When the pad wears down enough, it wears through the plastic insulation and completes a circuit that triggers the pad light.

They're about $15, there's one per end of the car, and you replace them as part of the brake pad service.  They clip in, connect to the harness, and that's it.  I don't really think of that as an engineering failure.

ojannen said:

Don't buy a 2007.  First year of the 2nd generation.  It has massive problems that weren't fixed until about 2010.

The convertible was based on the 1st generation cars from 2005 to 2008 and didn't switch over to the second generation until 2009.

Duke said:

ultraclyde said:

...the brake sensor that has t be replaced if the pad warning light ever comes on...

Not to pick on one item out of your list, but that's how those work.  At least on BMWs it is.    

Exactly my point. Leave it to BMW to design a sensor that is destroyed in the sensing and then costs you money to fix it, all while convincing people that's a perfectly acceptable answer.

In reply to ultraclyde :

OK, I guess.  I'm already in $60 for pads and $100 for rotors (every other time)... an extra $15 and 45 seconds is perfectly acceptable to me.

I have a 2006 automatic vert.  The valve body on the auto trans in the S models is a known weak point.  Plus MINI calls the fluid "life time" so it likely has not been changed.  The VBs start to fail at about 40k miles and a high percentage will fail.  I would avoid an auto unless it has already had the valve body changed.  The CVT in the non-S is also to be avoided.  Just go with the standard 6 speed, it is more fun anyway.  Or get a Miata.

I have owned mine from 50k miles to 85k miles over 5 years.  It has needed:

2x auto trans valve bodies

Oil pan gasket

2x crank sensor o-ring

exhaust rotted out

power steering fan

coolant reservoir

cooling fan replacement

struts

front control arms

strut bearings and mushroomed tower fix

rear brake caliper frozen

dashboard light bulb

oil pan drain plug

currently needs to fix another oil leak and the front sway bar bushings are done (pain to fix)

Not terrible, I made money on the after-market warranty that I bought.  It covered the trans, oil leaks, strut bearings and control arms.

In reply to ultraclyde :

My Lexus ls400 had brake wear sensors that worked the exact same way. 

Once again, both of my MINIs have been reliable and nothing like what people here are talking about.  My '06 S (which I consider to be the best year reliability wise), was pretty bulletproof the 3 years I owned it (60k to 100k).  The person who bought it from me now has 150k on it and only one failure, a coil pack or some kind of mount I believe, I can't remember.  I did do the thermostat and it was not a big deal, plus a few preventative maintenance items.  In fact, I drove the thermostat leaking for a bit before I replaced and even that wasn't a huge issue. 

My current daily is a 2012 R56 S and it has also been reliable.  I also did coil packs on this one last year, but that is it and was also simple.  I've put 24k on it in the past year and it now sits at 63k overall. 

I know everyone here says Miata, and I've had at least a half a dozen of those, but we tend to gloss over their issues.  They too have things to look out for.  In fact I've been stranded by several Miatas, but never a MINI.  Not to knock a Miata, I love them too, but MINIs get such a bad rap and most of it by people who haven't had them.  Granted some on here seem to have had their share of issues, but I have never experienced them and most of my friends with them are nowhere near what gets posted on here either.  Sure they are not a Honda, but they are no different than any other German car in terms of what to look for.  You do have to be prepared to spend a bit on them to keep them up, but if you can do any of the work yourself, it's not so bad. 

DeadSkunk said:

Ask if the supercharger has been replaced. The issue isn't the supercharger itself, but the PTO that drives the water pump from the back of the supercharger. The gears can fail and the water pump stops turning, resulting in engine failure. Listen the engine idling and see if you can hear any untoward noise from the PTO. I caught mine with a stethoscope and had the supercharger changed out before catastrophic failure occurred. That cost $1500, so shop carefully. The specialty shop where I get my work done will tell you that the second generation cars keep them in business. The owner and staff drive first generation cars.  

Now some unsolicited advice.... if you would like your grandson to have a nice little convertible get him a Miata. They're far less costly to own and maintain. I own a CooperS and a '99 Miata. The Miata has needed fluids, brake pads and a timing belt over the last 11 years, the MINI has cost me around $3000 over the last 10 years. Both have 125Kish miles and both were purchased used with 60K ,or so on them.

Grandpa, I truly agree on the Miata part. However, If you would like some other options to buy, please PM me/ Txt - 404-200-SevenSevenSeven4,  and I can search for what you specifically want through the Wholesale Auctions nationally.

Good Luck!

In reply to M3Loco :

Thanks for the advice & offer of your services.

Thanks y'all.  You had made me reconsider the wisdom of a MiniCooper & while reconsidering & narrowing my choice down to Miata or Prius, a "free" '01 Accord came along.  Needs tires & perhaps timing belt replacement but other than that, it's good to go.  The price is right & it should be a decent car for a beginner.