2007/8 Cooper S - What to look for?
Discussion
Hi everyone - first post on the Mini forum.
I'm currently looking to buy a Cooper S as a daily driver. Looking through the classifieds, my budget will likely net me a 2007/8 car. As I'm not really familiar with the cars (other than having driven one, briefly, a couple of years ago) I was hoping those more knowledgeable than me could give me some advice on what to look for.
Things I'd like to know if possible are:
1) Do the cars have any major mechanical issues that can rear their heads? If so, are they resolvable or are they out of all proportion to the value of the car?
2) Are there any smaller components that regularly fail or are likely to need replacement that I'll need to budget for at purchase time?
3) Are there any 'essentials' spec-wise, without which the car would be difficult to sell-on?
4) Are the run-flats as bad as I think they might be (the ones on my g/f's old Z4 were dire) and worth replacing with 'real' tyres?
I'd also be interested to hear from people who've modified their cars. What's required to achieve meaningful improvements in performance from both the engine and suspension?
If modding is worthwhile, can anyone recommend a tuner who actually knows what they're doing (i.e. understands there are mechanical limits to an engine/turbocharger/clutch/gearbox etc. and it's not just about how much boost you can get the electronics to allow before everything else falls apart)!
Sorry for so many questions and many thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to reply.
Ian
I'm currently looking to buy a Cooper S as a daily driver. Looking through the classifieds, my budget will likely net me a 2007/8 car. As I'm not really familiar with the cars (other than having driven one, briefly, a couple of years ago) I was hoping those more knowledgeable than me could give me some advice on what to look for.
Things I'd like to know if possible are:
1) Do the cars have any major mechanical issues that can rear their heads? If so, are they resolvable or are they out of all proportion to the value of the car?
2) Are there any smaller components that regularly fail or are likely to need replacement that I'll need to budget for at purchase time?
3) Are there any 'essentials' spec-wise, without which the car would be difficult to sell-on?
4) Are the run-flats as bad as I think they might be (the ones on my g/f's old Z4 were dire) and worth replacing with 'real' tyres?
I'd also be interested to hear from people who've modified their cars. What's required to achieve meaningful improvements in performance from both the engine and suspension?
If modding is worthwhile, can anyone recommend a tuner who actually knows what they're doing (i.e. understands there are mechanical limits to an engine/turbocharger/clutch/gearbox etc. and it's not just about how much boost you can get the electronics to allow before everything else falls apart)!
Sorry for so many questions and many thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to reply.
Ian
Edited by Ian_UK1 on Wednesday 18th June 13:23
Hi Ian
I have owned various Minis over the last 12 years. Currently have a 2007 Clubman S, which touch wood has been pretty good reliability wise.
Mine likes to drink oil (approx. 1 litre per 900 miles!!) - so keep a close eye on the oil level as this is a common issue. There is no real fix for this which I know of. I have had the timing chain tensioner replaced for a later (2010??) version. There are some horror stories about this with total engine failure - but I 'think' this is rare. There are a couple of vocal people on pistonheads reporting about this.
Runflat tyres? I have had run-flats and non run-flats fitted to mine. Depends what you want. RFT : security in case of flat tyre, better road feel. Non-RFT : more compliant ride, cheaper, grippier. This is my personal opinion which others disagree with, but I actually prefer the RFTs!
Options - I have part leather, sunroof, aircon on mine. I have the basic stereo - which is a mistake as it is awful, a mate has the full leather which I find makes the interior much plusher.
Very brief and probably missed loads but HTH
Mike
I have owned various Minis over the last 12 years. Currently have a 2007 Clubman S, which touch wood has been pretty good reliability wise.
Mine likes to drink oil (approx. 1 litre per 900 miles!!) - so keep a close eye on the oil level as this is a common issue. There is no real fix for this which I know of. I have had the timing chain tensioner replaced for a later (2010??) version. There are some horror stories about this with total engine failure - but I 'think' this is rare. There are a couple of vocal people on pistonheads reporting about this.
Runflat tyres? I have had run-flats and non run-flats fitted to mine. Depends what you want. RFT : security in case of flat tyre, better road feel. Non-RFT : more compliant ride, cheaper, grippier. This is my personal opinion which others disagree with, but I actually prefer the RFTs!
Options - I have part leather, sunroof, aircon on mine. I have the basic stereo - which is a mistake as it is awful, a mate has the full leather which I find makes the interior much plusher.
Very brief and probably missed loads but HTH
Mike
Heavy oil consumption is normal, coking up inlet valves due to direct injection which can make the engine lumpy and bring up fault codes, cam chain stretch which is not helped by the oil consumption issue, research death rattle. need to be vigilante on checking oil very often, high pressure fuel pumps can fail, sunroofs won't work in warm weather as the frame gets warped and sticks. electric windows loose memory so drop down when should be shutting .....prob think of some more.
Thanks for the replies.
All the items that have been mentioned make for frightening reading - as is often the way on Internet forums! If all the cars suffered from several major issues, then surely there'd be no enthusiasts for the brand out there? I'm therefore guessing that most people's experience is just enjoyment of the car and not having too much trouble with them?
From what I've read so far though, even the 'major' problems don't seem to be as bad as the various forums would seem to suggest. The worst item seems to be the cam chain 'death rattle' but even this doesn't seem too serious if caught early. The whole chain/guide cartridge looks (relatively) easy to remove and replacement kits are available - including the chain, guides, tensioner, bolts, gaskets and cam/crank lock tools - for about £350 + delivery and tax. Expensive, but not 'throw-the-car-away' money. As a DIY, replacement could easily be done in a day, so the prospect of this problem developing wouldn't stop me buying. Strangely, despite all the forum chat about this problem, I don't ever remember seeing ads stating the cam chain has been 'done'. Odd!
I will be starting to look seriously for a car next month - if anyone's looking to sell a 'sorted' Cooper S of the right age, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Thanks again
Ian
All the items that have been mentioned make for frightening reading - as is often the way on Internet forums! If all the cars suffered from several major issues, then surely there'd be no enthusiasts for the brand out there? I'm therefore guessing that most people's experience is just enjoyment of the car and not having too much trouble with them?
From what I've read so far though, even the 'major' problems don't seem to be as bad as the various forums would seem to suggest. The worst item seems to be the cam chain 'death rattle' but even this doesn't seem too serious if caught early. The whole chain/guide cartridge looks (relatively) easy to remove and replacement kits are available - including the chain, guides, tensioner, bolts, gaskets and cam/crank lock tools - for about £350 + delivery and tax. Expensive, but not 'throw-the-car-away' money. As a DIY, replacement could easily be done in a day, so the prospect of this problem developing wouldn't stop me buying. Strangely, despite all the forum chat about this problem, I don't ever remember seeing ads stating the cam chain has been 'done'. Odd!
I will be starting to look seriously for a car next month - if anyone's looking to sell a 'sorted' Cooper S of the right age, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Thanks again
Ian
I bought a 2007 57 plate MCS last November and I have never owned such a terrible car. I'll list everything that went wrong it to make things easier:
- Drank oil for fun
- Seemingly incurable rattle of death
- Horrendous ride
- Various interior rattles and squeaks
- Electronic steering rack gave in at 66k
There's probably more but I've since flogged the car and its various problems on and tried to forget about the 6 months I owned it for, hateful thing!
- Drank oil for fun
- Seemingly incurable rattle of death
- Horrendous ride
- Various interior rattles and squeaks
- Electronic steering rack gave in at 66k
There's probably more but I've since flogged the car and its various problems on and tried to forget about the 6 months I owned it for, hateful thing!
Oil thirst, timing chain tensioner weak, chain stretch, tensioner pads breaking, vanos rattle, are the most inconvenient. Who knows where the oil goes but you don't see many smokers, but they'll use everything that normally shows on the dipstick when you're not looking. Some electrical bits, cooling fan staying on at random, various eml warnings, rear brake calipers stick sometimes, knock from rear suspension maybe arb bushes, avoid sunroofs, window motors are sometimes a problem, dsc faults sometimes, turbo housing cracking, oil feed to turbo clogging, cylinder head filling with condensation and cam sensor failure, rusty camshafts - on non turbo, water pump operating arm rattle/wear etc, cat noises/rattle blah blah
People like them though haha
People like them though haha
Wow I'm looking at getting back into a Cooper S. Seen what I thought was a great spec 09 with tons of options but now worried about the sun roof and the host of issues.
It's at a main dealers would anyone reccomend requiring the known issues to be checked (and potentially corrected) before I pick it up?
It's at a main dealers would anyone reccomend requiring the known issues to be checked (and potentially corrected) before I pick it up?
Don't take everything you read as representative. We bought a 57 plate Cooper S from a main dealer. Peace of mind 12 month warranty.
None of the items seem as has been said 'throw car away money' even if they do occur. There are many many owners who experience no problems to speak of.
Remember the Internet is a great source of info but it also attracts lots of "it's great" and "it's crap" comments, as people like to endorse or otherwise things they purchase.
Generally the Mini seems well sorted and I wouldn't worry.
None of the items seem as has been said 'throw car away money' even if they do occur. There are many many owners who experience no problems to speak of.
Remember the Internet is a great source of info but it also attracts lots of "it's great" and "it's crap" comments, as people like to endorse or otherwise things they purchase.
Generally the Mini seems well sorted and I wouldn't worry.
Whenever looking at cars and/or reading reviews online, remember that nobody usually goes on the internet to say how well something does what it was designed to do.
Regardless of the problems the car's have, get one with a manufacturers warranty and make sure the car is upto scratch within the first 12 months. My JCW has had a new bottom end, head rebuild, camchain, tensioner, clutch, DMF, all within 3 months of buying the car. The previous owner was inept at checking oil and damaged the bores by running it low.
Go in with eyes wide open, the warranty is very good and so far, I haven't had to pay anything towards the repairs the car has needed.
Regardless of the problems the car's have, get one with a manufacturers warranty and make sure the car is upto scratch within the first 12 months. My JCW has had a new bottom end, head rebuild, camchain, tensioner, clutch, DMF, all within 3 months of buying the car. The previous owner was inept at checking oil and damaged the bores by running it low.
Go in with eyes wide open, the warranty is very good and so far, I haven't had to pay anything towards the repairs the car has needed.
Thanks for the responses, reason for my concern stems from my lotus Elise which between the dealer and i we spent 28 months and 5k repairing (rebuilding) after what looked a fairly clean 3 year old car from a main Scottish dealer.......
Im off now to have a look at it, cant test drive till next week as they've said new tyres are going on etc but will poke around.
tbh i cant wait to be in a fun car again after having a well spec'd diesel 1 series.
Im off now to have a look at it, cant test drive till next week as they've said new tyres are going on etc but will poke around.
tbh i cant wait to be in a fun car again after having a well spec'd diesel 1 series.
Biggriff said:
I had an Elise so I sympathise. Mine had an alarm and immobiliser that seemed unfixable.
If you want a bit more hardcore have you thought of a JCW?
Budget is capped and I need an automatic so my wife can drive it from time to time so tbh low mileage / well spec'd cars lean towards a S not JCW.If you want a bit more hardcore have you thought of a JCW?
My thoughts are to put a different back box on a S so it sounds a bit more purposeful but I'm happy enough with the looks.
Tbh it's not going to best my previous cars just be fun enough on my commute.
CooperS said:
Budget is capped and I need an automatic so my wife can drive it from time to time so tbh low mileage / well spec'd cars lean towards a S not JCW.
My thoughts are to put a different back box on a S so it sounds a bit more purposeful but I'm happy enough with the looks.
Tbh it's not going to best my previous cars just be fun enough on my commute.
We bought an N18 MCS in November 2013 from a MINI dealer. It too had to be an auto due to my wife's medical condition. I use it for my commute to work 3 days a week and find it economical and comfortable enough on a 90 mile round trip, especially in any stop start traffic. I see mid 40s with not too much effort. Ours has heated leather and Bluetooth. My thoughts are to put a different back box on a S so it sounds a bit more purposeful but I'm happy enough with the looks.
Tbh it's not going to best my previous cars just be fun enough on my commute.
We paid under £12k for it, 3 years old and 28k. It appears to be holding its value well, maybe due to the rarity?
The idea of a more meaty exhaust is very tempting
CooperS said:
Budget is capped and I need an automatic so my wife can drive it from time to time so tbh low mileage / well spec'd cars lean towards a S not JCW.
My thoughts are to put a different back box on a S so it sounds a bit more purposeful but I'm happy enough with the looks.
Tbh it's not going to best my previous cars just be fun enough on my commute.
We bought an N18 MCS in November 2013 from a MINI dealer. It too had to be an auto due to my wife's medical condition. I use it for my commute to work 3 days a week and find it economical and comfortable enough on a 90 mile round trip, especially in any stop start traffic. I see mid 40s with not too much effort. Ours has heated leather and Bluetooth. My thoughts are to put a different back box on a S so it sounds a bit more purposeful but I'm happy enough with the looks.
Tbh it's not going to best my previous cars just be fun enough on my commute.
We paid under £12k for it, 3 years old and 28k. It appears to be holding its value well, maybe due to the rarity?
The idea of a more meaty exhaust is very tempting
Biggriff said:
Fit the JCW exhaust then. Bit fruitier and won't invalidate any warranty
That's my thinking although akrapovic or milltek would be nice.Wife has green lighted car, exhaust and lowering springs (car needs a bit of stance)
The car in question has dimond cut alloys which three out of four need work. Do I press on getting them re cut or get a shadow grey bit like the new M6 wheels?
Hello
Just looking at buying my fiancée a cooper S as a daily drive, looking at 2008, so an early turbo model. This will be her first “new type” mini
All the above makes very interesting reading, one thing I have noticed is quite a few seem to have new clutches and fly wheels??
Having owned a 1.9 cdti vectra I know all out dual mass fly wheel failure and the costs! Is this a real issue with MCS
Looking around and only a few seem to have the cruise control option, is there any other options to look for or avoid?
I do, or should I say did after reading this the large sunroofs?
Been offered a 2008 cooper s with new clutch and fly wheel, just over 50K miles for £6000, very plain inertia and no options fitted.
Many thanks…………..
Just looking at buying my fiancée a cooper S as a daily drive, looking at 2008, so an early turbo model. This will be her first “new type” mini
All the above makes very interesting reading, one thing I have noticed is quite a few seem to have new clutches and fly wheels??
Having owned a 1.9 cdti vectra I know all out dual mass fly wheel failure and the costs! Is this a real issue with MCS
Looking around and only a few seem to have the cruise control option, is there any other options to look for or avoid?
I do, or should I say did after reading this the large sunroofs?
Been offered a 2008 cooper s with new clutch and fly wheel, just over 50K miles for £6000, very plain inertia and no options fitted.
Many thanks…………..
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