Mini reliability?!

[Carguy44]

I'm looking at buying a mini (2015 ish 2.0 JCW hatch F56 I think) but every time I mention getting one people tell me about all the issues that they have! From what I understand this is just the older cars and the newer ones are much better? Has anyone had any experience of this generation?

Thanks

[chrisch77]

The current (F56) generation is leagues ahead of the older R series models when it comes to build quality and reliability. The most common complaint I have seen is people getting hot under the collar about the rubber door seal wearing a line in the paint of the door shut!

[vikingaero]

Agree the F is better than the R.

Still wouldn't buy one though. Owning a R and the horrific design//lack of engineering has put me off MINIs for life.

[ScoobyChris]

Mine (R56 I think) was excellent to drive and reliable for the couple of years I had it from new, but boy did the interior squeak and rattle.

Hopefully the later cars addressed that!

Chris

[Carguy44]

Sounds like they are much improved then, which is good to hear.

[Shappers24]

No build quality issues with my 2012 R58 but reliability is another matter.

Led to believe the newer F models are much better. Only engine issues I’ve read about is after high HP remaps.

[Carguy44]

I guess mini must have worked a lot on reliability after the previous generations then! They do still have a bad reputation which I guess will take a couple more generations to fix!

[carface_837]

I've seen survey results that say the F series models are fairly reliable. Having had 2 R56s though I'd never touch another again. Terrible build quality and awful reliability.

[Jamescrs]

Wife has a Mini Countryman Cooper S with the same engine and (touch wood) it has been faultless.

[Carguy44]

I guess if the new one is reliable then what the old one was like doesn't really matter.

[chrisch77]

Think of the F series MINI as a BMW wearing MINI clothing, whereas earlier R series were effectively Rover developed products.

[ecs0set]

vikingaero said:

Agree the F is better than the R.

Still wouldn't buy one though. Owning a R and the horrific design//lack of engineering has put me off MINIs for life.

R56 is a dog but previous R50-53 wasn't too bad.

[DT1975]

We have three F56 Coopers in the family. A 2014 on 68k, a 2015 (from new ) on 32k and a 2018 on 33k. They all have the 1.5 3 pot . No issues of note touch wood, easy to DIY service (Just done oil, plugs, air filter rear pads and discs on the 2018), parts are also reasonable.

[Carguy44]

Sounds like things have really moved on with these newer minis and nothing much to be concerned about which is good to hear. The 2.0 engine I believe is straight out of a BMW, so that should be ok. The car will get very light use, so that should also help. I need to go and sit in a few now and test them.

[Craig]

I've got a Dec 19 F56 JCW with 20k miles bought in the summer from a main dealer. Just had to have the heater matrix replaced under warranty which I've heard has happened on a few other cars (worth Googling). Glad this was done under warranty as it's a dash out job and would no doubt have been £££ otherwise. Apart from that, build quality and reliability have been good - no squeaks or rattles.

[Brett748]

My mum had a beautiful high spec R56 Cooper S for 3 years with the N18 engine but still she had a fair few bills and the engine management light came on each season.

She got fed up eventually and got an Auris Hybrid.

They are a really cool car though, I wish I’d bought it from her as a second car.

[Carguy44]

I didn't see much online about F56 heater matrix going wrong, is it a common fault?

[Carguy44]

I've just Googled and the N18 was in the older car, which I'm definitely not going to get. These newer cars appear to be reliable.

[Earthdweller]

Got a 2017 one

No real issues at all other than egr valve recall and a new boot lock

No rattles or anything still feels perfectly tight approaching 60k miles now

[Canon_Fodder]

Carguy44 said:

The car will get very light use, so that should also help. I need to go and sit in a few now and test them.

OP no real point in getting a JCW for 'very light use'. What do you want from the car?