Considering a Cooper D, anything to watch out for?
Discussion
2010 is the year they facelifted them, so you'll have a choice of PSA diesel (from launch until September 2010), or BMW diesel (Sept '10 onwards).
Easiest way to differentiate them from the exterior is the lower front bumper and the slightly different indicator scuttles;
Pre-facelift
Post-facelift
Or the interior, when all the switchgear changed from silver to black;
Pre-facelift
Post-facelift
In my experience, the BMW engine is a nicer engine, more refined and more flexible. They do have DPF issues if only being used for short trips though, and their fuel economy is not quite as good as the PSA engine. I've not heard of too many issues with the engine, but mainly because the oldest engines aren't yet 4 years old.
The PSA engines do suffer from a few issues, it's the same as used in other hatchbacks (Peugeots, Citroens and a few others). I've heard of premature turbo failure, sludging of oil ways, DMF & DPF issues.
The car itself is usually pretty strong, at 4 years old you shouldn't have any issues. During the facelift, the quality of switchgear was improved, and the Sat Nav went from DVD based to HD based, and is far more effective.
Easiest way to differentiate them from the exterior is the lower front bumper and the slightly different indicator scuttles;
Pre-facelift
Post-facelift
Or the interior, when all the switchgear changed from silver to black;
Pre-facelift
Post-facelift
In my experience, the BMW engine is a nicer engine, more refined and more flexible. They do have DPF issues if only being used for short trips though, and their fuel economy is not quite as good as the PSA engine. I've not heard of too many issues with the engine, but mainly because the oldest engines aren't yet 4 years old.
The PSA engines do suffer from a few issues, it's the same as used in other hatchbacks (Peugeots, Citroens and a few others). I've heard of premature turbo failure, sludging of oil ways, DMF & DPF issues.
The car itself is usually pretty strong, at 4 years old you shouldn't have any issues. During the facelift, the quality of switchgear was improved, and the Sat Nav went from DVD based to HD based, and is far more effective.
No problem 
I probably would chose the facelifted car, but your wants/needs might fall in line with the specification of the other two.
If you can, drive them both back to back to see which you prefer. If you're buying from MINI Cherished, then you'll always have warranty to fall back on should you need it. To be fair, with the age of car you're looking at, the issues mentioned r.e. the PSA engine above may be some way off in the future.
I probably would chose the facelifted car, but your wants/needs might fall in line with the specification of the other two.
If you can, drive them both back to back to see which you prefer. If you're buying from MINI Cherished, then you'll always have warranty to fall back on should you need it. To be fair, with the age of car you're looking at, the issues mentioned r.e. the PSA engine above may be some way off in the future.
downstairs said:
I'm thinking about a Clubman Cooper D purchase. I've not had a Mini before, but I'm really considering it now. It'd be ~2010 car, by my budget - so what do I need to know or look out for? Fanks!
I'm in the same boat as you but for the Frau, not me. Have you bought one yet? She's quite keen on a diesel Polo but I keep turning her back to a Mini because they just look a bit more fun. She's also dead set on a diesel for economy (60 mile commute each way).Osinjak said:
I'm in the same boat as you but for the Frau, not me. Have you bought one yet? She's quite keen on a diesel Polo but I keep turning her back to a Mini because they just look a bit more fun. She's also dead set on a diesel for economy (60 mile commute each way).
I'm not sure the diesel would win in the cost stakes; I'd have to get a spreadsheet out and have a play. When we had an R56 Cooper petrol which used to return 45 quite easily on a steady commute of 60miles round trip.12TS said:
Osinjak said:
I'm in the same boat as you but for the Frau, not me. Have you bought one yet? She's quite keen on a diesel Polo but I keep turning her back to a Mini because they just look a bit more fun. She's also dead set on a diesel for economy (60 mile commute each way).
I'm not sure the diesel would win in the cost stakes; I'd have to get a spreadsheet out and have a play. When we had an R56 Cooper petrol which used to return 45 quite easily on a steady commute of 60miles round trip.I had an R56 Cooper petrol on 15" wheels that averaged in the high 40s. I did hypermile once on the M4 one Sunday afternoon when I'd underestimated the time/miles and had to get home without a fill up available. Stuck to 50mph with a tailwind and the computer was saying 99mpg half the time; estimated range on getting home (over 40 miles) was 70 miles - more than when I'd started!
sad61t said:
I had an R56 Cooper petrol on 15" wheels that averaged in the high 40s. I did hypermile once on the M4 one Sunday afternoon when I'd underestimated the time/miles and had to get home without a fill up available. Stuck to 50mph with a tailwind and the computer was saying 99mpg half the time; estimated range on getting home (over 40 miles) was 70 miles - more than when I'd started!
What's a hypermile? (Seriously, I don't know what that means!)Osinjak said:
It's a good point, Frau sent me an email today telling me that a work colleague has a 1.6 Mini which costs £40 to fill up and she can get 400 miles out of a tank, does that sound right to you? I confess I know nothing about Minis and if we can get a petrol with similar economy to a diesel I'd rather have one of those.
The diesel will be more economical; it will however cost more to maintain and more to service, it could also cost more to buy. Hence my spreadsheet comment. Depends how much you care about these things.IIRC the R56 has a 50 litre tank (11 gals) so @ £1.30/litre it would cost £65 to fill up and would do 495 miles on a tank @ 45mpg.
12TS said:
The diesel will be more economical; it will however cost more to maintain and more to service, it could also cost more to buy. Hence my spreadsheet comment. Depends how much you care about these things.
IIRC the R56 has a 50 litre tank (11 gals) so @ £1.30/litre it would cost £65 to fill up and would do 495 miles on a tank @ 45mpg.
Yeah, running a diesel just now so aware of the costs, etc. I'm not massively fussed but would go back to a petrol quite happily for the reasons you say, wife is undecided. If the costs are marginal, the it would be a petrol.IIRC the R56 has a 50 litre tank (11 gals) so @ £1.30/litre it would cost £65 to fill up and would do 495 miles on a tank @ 45mpg.
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