2010 Mini Cooper S

[Tallerton12]

Hi all,

Looking for a new car for the mrs, something cheap and cheerful (around 3.5k), I will also be insured on the car so want something a little bit fun. My first thought was a mini cooper s but i am aware there are some years to avoid, so just wanted some advice.

I found this on auto trader and thought it looked decent, any thoughts?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608064...

[silentbrown]

History is weird.... Current owner seems to have bought it in April 2025 with an expired MOT, and only got it tested in two months ago...

Also only did 10 miles in the previous year?

[scot_aln]

Isn't that dealer money (with some warranty) for a 16 year old S?

[trevalvole]

It's got the PRINCE engine, and was produced around the time they swapped from the N14 to N18 version, so one of the first things I'd do is find out which version it has.

[21TonyK]

Realistically ANY R56 mini is going to be looking for a new timing chain and probably clutch at that sort of mileage.

People get hung up on N14/16/18 engines but at that age they all need looking after, that one is an N18.

Other things to look for is white or blue smoke on hard acceleration/deceleration which a lot will say "valve seals" but is often a bit more and is something you live with or spend more on to fix than you expect. Sluggish low end performance is often VANOS solenoids which can be a very quick and cheap fix.

I've killed off two minis with chain issues but still have a 2010 R56, I'm hunting for a newer clubman right now and will be looking for an LCI Cooper S or JCW in the spring.

They're not that bad.

(Another weak spot on the S is the high pressure fuel pump)

Edited by 21TonyK on Tuesday 29th September 17:21

Edited by 21TonyK on Tuesday 29th September 22:50

[Tallerton12]

21TonyK said:

Realistically ANY R56 mini is going to be looking for a new timing chain and probably clutch at that sort of mileage.

People get hung up on N14/16/18 engines but at that age they all need looking after, that one is an N18.

Other things to look for is white or blue smoke on hard acceleration/deceleration which a lot will say "valve seals" but is often a bit more and is something you live with or spend more on to fix than you expect. Sluggish low end performance is often VANOS solenoids which can be a very quick and cheap fix.

I've killed off two minis with chain issues but still have a 2010 R56, I'm hunting for a newer clubman right now and will be looking for an LCI Cooper S or JCW in the spring.

They're not that bad.

Edited by 21TonyK on Tuesday 29th September 17:21

Is there anything else you would recommend in the 3-4k price range?

[21TonyK]

Tallerton12 said:

Is there anything else you would recommend in the 3-4k price range?

In terms of minis there are several keen owners on here will probably add their thoughts. But basically if you are looking at an R56 the later the better as the engines did become less prone to chain wear. However, all of the engines do need the same regular maintenance which is largely ignored as the cars get older.

By the time the car is 10+ years old and on 80K or more the chain needs replacing as if it goes that will almost certainly knacker the engine so either finding one already done or budgeting for it ASAP is prudent.

Find a decent mini garage near by. They aren't the easiest of cars to work on and some garages will make a big deal of relatively simple jobs because of this. This is why people say they are expensive to maintain. They aren't if you do the basics yourself and have a good mini tech. to do the in depth bits.

[ZX10R NIN]

Abarth:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609166...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608104...

208 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603281...
DPetrol%26make%3DPeugeot%26min-engine-power%3D150%26model%3D208%26postcode%3Dgu14%25207hx%26price-to%3D4000%26sort%3Dprice-desc%26year-from%3D2010

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607073...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510207...

Fiesta ST 3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609125...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609196...

Zetec S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609146...

[trevalvole]

ZX10R NIN said:

208 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603281...
DPetrol%26make%3DPeugeot%26min-engine-power%3D150%26model%3D208%26postcode%3Dgu14%25207hx%26price-to%3D4000%26sort%3Dprice-desc%26year-from%3D2010

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607073...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510207...

These have the PRINCE engine too, though they are newer and therefore may have more reliable versions of it.

[ZX10R NIN]

trevalvole said:

These have the PRINCE engine too, though they are newer and therefore may have more reliable versions of it.

They're much more reliable & they only share the block which was also updated.

So it's a Prince in the same way a Cossie engine is a pinto.