Our new MINI Cooper S
Our new MINI Cooper S
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Discussion

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
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Picked this up last Wednesday from Manchester, bought it from Williams MINI, through their MINI Cherished scheme, as such we've got 12 month warranty etc etc, had the wheels refurbed, some scratches sorted and a grey/black coloured Union Jack style vinyl decal removed from the roof before we picked it up.

Just got back from a few days in Cumbria visiting the family, and my brother in law wanted to try out his snow foamer! It worked a treat, but sorry there aren't any after pics, the first few are from when we landed in Cumbria, so a thin coating of traffic film.

The car is a R56 turbo charged Cooper S (it was already debadged, something I like), and it has so fr behaved well. Comfortable enough on a long run, yet fun on the minor roads. Seems quicker than it's 175bhp would suggest.




va1o

16,111 posts

236 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
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Looks good, nice spec you have there thumbup

I've been considering buying one of these for years now and they are more appealing than ever now used prices have settled down. The timing chain issues worry me a bit though.

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
va1o said:
Looks good, nice spec you have there thumbup

I've been considering buying one of these for years now and they are more appealing than ever now used prices have settled down. The timing chain issues worry me a bit though.
Me too, but we have a 12 month warranty so hopefully should be okay if anything goes wrong. It pulls like a train, but I have just spent the last 4 years driving a weezy 1.8 Focus!

nickfrog

25,255 posts

246 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
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Great buy !

They're great cars and timing chain issue shouldn't be a worry if you have a MINI Extended Warranty, which is the same as the Cherished warranty and can therefore extend it after the 12 months, very good value too.

I've been running one for 18 months and yes I had the timing chain changed under warranty.

I would strongly advise to swap the run flat tyres for non run flats ; it transforms the way the car handles, particularly over bumps.

I am struggling to believe it only outputs 175hp, as it feels more like 200hp. I've heard that many cars come with that as std indeed.

It feels as quick in a straight line as the 2.7 987 that it has replaced.

NadiR

1,071 posts

176 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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That's lovely OP, have you considered the SC pulley upgrade?

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Any recommendations for tyres? It's wearing Continental runflats at the moment with plenty of tread to see my through to next year hopefully. Looking at the prices I can see the ride/handling are not the only advantages of swapping to non run flats!

M159V8

2,540 posts

175 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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I love them wheels, much prefer them over the R56 Cooper S-Lites, they just seem much 'bulkier' than the R55 S-Lites

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
NadiR said:
That's lovely OP, have you considered the SC pulley upgrade?
Is this not for the earlier supercharged Cooper S?

nickfrog

25,255 posts

246 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
AndyT77 said:
Any recommendations for tyres? It's wearing Continental runflats at the moment with plenty of tread to see my through to next year hopefully. Looking at the prices I can see the ride/handling are not the only advantages of swapping to non run flats!
The non-RF are more grippy/tractable thanks to normal sidewalls.

I have switched to Conti Sport Contact 3* non-rf. The * refers to BMW/MINI approval which is a bonus and means they come in the correct load rating (84) unlike many 205/45/17.
They came top of a EVO tyre test and are about £100 at Camskill. Run-flat tyres actually sell for quite a lot on ebay part worn so actually, the quicker you switch the more money you get out of them, not to mention the massive handling/ride quality upgrade.

Btw, are you the Andy from Bedford I spoke to a few days ago about my MINI (white roof)?




iacabu

1,402 posts

178 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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AndyT77 said:
NadiR said:
That's lovely OP, have you considered the SC pulley upgrade?
Is this not for the earlier supercharged Cooper S?
Yes it is, no supercharger on this model.

Looks good OP, the girlfriend is picking up her new Mini on tuesday but I wouldnt mind a quicker one for myself

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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Nickfrog, not me i'm afraid. Thanks for all the +ve comments so far.

123GO

22 posts

161 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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Congrats for the new car.I must say a very good decision,the car looks awesome and also the specs are superb.Time to hit the road and grab the attention.
Cheers

AndyT77

Original Poster:

1,755 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
123GO said:
Congrats for the new car.I must say a very good decision,the car looks awesome and also the specs are superb.Time to hit the road and grab the attention.
Cheers
Thanks 123Go!