Is this price ok for an Automatic mini cooper s R53, 4500£ ?

[kazino]

Hi Chaps,
Looking for an r53 cooper s for my wife. It must be auto (and she doesn't like : silver, red, green. She likes purple, black, )

The market for automatics seems to be significantly higher than manuals, would this be a good price for one for her? It has damaged front bumper (needs respray and sanding/filler), laquer around fuel filler cap has peeled off, rust on area of paint above the numberplate on tailgate area.
The paint is very tired generally, needs a detail badly, normally I wouldn't mind (I used to be into detailing but don't have time anymore or learnt that it's better not to care so much but this needs a bit to get it up to scratch compared to simlar cars paintwork at least)
Asking 4500£
Is this a good deal, will I be able to sell it for 4k ish in a years time when she learnt how to drive and I'm planning to get her a 2014+ mini cooper s works

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-AUTOMATIC-MINI-COO...

Edited by kazino on Friday 16th October 13:12

[wisbech]

Personally I would drop down to a non S if it needs to be auto. We had one (auto S) and while a fun car to drive, the gearbox was fragile, couldn't seem able to cope with the power, and gave lots of issues needing a replacement. "Downgraded" to a Cooper, which was just as fun, if not as fast in straight line, but no gearbox issues

[kazino]

I see, only planning to run it for about a year. I would like to use it from time to time too so thought would stretch to the S.
Price wise, do you think it's fair price or very overpriced?

Will hopefully upgrade her to a 2014 mini next year once she's got used to driving.

[wisbech]

Sorry - no view on the price - hopefully someone else will comment

[twokcc]

Believe r53 autobox is CVT type and known for being fragile. Even tho a nice spec car I ignore whatever dealer says if gearbox goes pop he's not going to give you £4k for car..
Bought an driven a late 2006 r56 cooper(non s) auto which is a torque convertor box, drives fine but isn't particularly nippy, depends what your wife is expecting. As far as I know this gearbox is ok but up to mid 2010 wouldn't touch a cooper s because of engine reliability problems. A R56 Cooper auto would be a better buy than the car above but not many about and likely to be a poverty spec.

[twokcc]

Couple on autotrader with lowish miles (less than 60k)
Red lounge leather and sunroof 58 reg £5k 52k miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...
More poverty spec but has cruise 08 reg 45kmiles 1 owner
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...
HTH

Edited by twokcc on Friday 16th October 07:01

[kazino]

Nice finds, but colour is not appealing.
From what I read I heard it is the r56 engines are very problematic?

[twokcc]

Bought r56 cooper auto in 2009 late 2006 reg. Sold locally still going strong no problems with either engine or gearbox.

Its mainly the cooper s before mid 2010 that have the timing chain problems

I like the red leather one good spec with pano roof, upgraded alloys. Makes r53 that original ppster was thinking oabout seem overpriced . The r56 is far more civilized car than the r53 (and more economical) but at end of day is posters wife decision

[kazino]

twokcc said:

Bought r56 cooper auto in 2009 late 2006 reg. Sold locally still going strong no problems with either engine or gearbox.

Its mainly the cooper s before mid 2010 that have the timing chain problems

I like the red leather one good spec with pano roof, upgraded alloys. Makes r53 that original ppster was thinking oabout seem overpriced . The r56 is far more civilized car than the r53 (and more economical) but at end of day is posters wife decision

I see, so post mid 2010 will be most trouble free, that's pushing the budget much higher than the initial 2k I had budgetet for a r50 auto.
Will eventually get her a 2014+ mini once she's comfortable with the driving, she doesn't want it now as wants something that's she can bash about and not feel bad about it if it gets damaged, so if I got her a 2011 mini it's going to defeat the purpose of her wanting a cheap car to learn on

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Given a seemingly decent R53 manual can be had for £2k+, paying £2k+ premium for a rough sounding auto seems a bit OTT.

I have a 2008 auto Clubman (so a Gen2 R55) Cooper. Its not the quickest thing in the world, I'm not a massive fan of the gearbox vs the DSG in my previous car but overall, its ok. Flappy paddles help as in D its pretty lazy but using the paddles allow you to drive it much more enthusiastically.

Plus the Gen2 Minis are (in my opinion) a big improvement inside over the Gen1.

[Maracus]

kazino said:

Nice finds, but colour is not appealing.
From what I read I heard it is the r56 engines are very problematic?

Look for the N18 184BHP engine, it's the N14 175BHP that can be problematic.

As said, it's around mid 2010 that the change happened.

[Ungarsee]

I’ve got an R52 Cooper S auto. Was originally the wife’s who will only drive autos and couldn’t believe my luck when it turned out the Cooper S auto box for the R52 and R53 was the more reliable Aisin box. It’s the non S models that have the CVT box. Conveniently this made the S the ‘sensible’ choice!! They’re great cars and from what I’ve been told more reliable than the R56.

The one in the ad looks good but price seems punchy for the mileage. Other than that looks a good spec car.

[kazino]

Thanks chaps, will leave it alone and keep searching. Think will up the budget and try and get something newer without fear of getting the Mrs something problematic as she just wants something reliable and easy to drive