Can I avoid Mini?

[anonymous-user]

Hi. New to pistonheads but looking for a little advice about the potential purchase of a 2-3 year old Mini. I'm after something that's a little more fun to drive than my current car and a Mini is a contender. Probably a relatively basic one with the 1.5 turbo petrol engine. I'm just looking for a fun little car but the wokey-cokey imagery & corporate BS portrayed on Mini's website is a real turn-off to me.

If I buy a used Mini, can a decent (non-specialist) independent service & repair it without issue, or is there 'Mini only' software and tooling required to maintain it properly?

[RaineyDays]

Plenty of good mini independents up and down the country that have access to upload the service records. Probably save a bit of cash too using them.

[Carguy44]

Go onto the carbuying thread on this site and start a thread with your wants likes and budget. People can then suggest possible makes and models of car for you.

[un1eash]

The only thing you may struggle to find is an independent that can update the Mini main server with the service history. Other then that any decent garage can maintain and fix MInis. With servicing being every 2 years and discounted after the cars 4 years old main dealer servicing isn't that expensive. It's the other routing maintenance they get you for, they wanted £300 just to replace rear pads on our Clubman and £75 for wipers, told them no thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks. I'm looking to buy around 3 yrs old & would like my local sole-trader garage to maintain it as I trust him more than the main dealers. I'm happy with the handwritten invoice he'll give me so not fussed about uploading service records to BMW/Mini but will this mean constant dash-lights on every time I get in the car or is there a way to self-reset service reminders on 2020-on Minis?

I tried a couple of reg-numbers on Mini's servicing website & with 'environmental charge' & 'standard scope' even a basic oil/filter change was over £300. That's the sort of wallet gouging that really turns me off the brand. That & the whole 20-something non-binary trans people they love to depict on their website. Seems they're just trying far too hard to be on-board with the 'current thing'.

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/owners/service-w...

[bearman68]

Jostan said:

Thanks. I'm looking to buy around 3 yrs old & would like my local sole-trader garage to maintain it as I trust him more than the main dealers. I'm happy with the handwritten invoice he'll give me so not fussed about uploading service records to BMW/Mini but will this mean constant dash-lights on every time I get in the car or is there a way to self-reset service reminders on 2020-on Minis?

I tried a couple of reg-numbers on Mini's servicing website & with 'environmental charge' & 'standard scope' even a basic oil/filter change was over £300. That's the sort of wallet gouging that really turns me off the brand. That & the whole 20-something non-binary trans people they love to depict on their website. Seems they're just trying far too hard to be on-board with the 'current thing'.

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/owners/service-w...

Service nags can be switched off using OBD stuff. There is a lot of aftermarket software that will be able to do this, but there are also services available that can use the MINI diagnostic website services to do everything that MINI could anyway, and sometimes more. For example, these services can be used to security programme used electronic security modules like a body control, which is something MINI would never do.
Very few reasons to go to the manufacturer for servicing.

[Maracus]

I found the Mini Servicing to be as cheap as an independent, if not cheaper once the car reached 4 years old (iirc) and the discounts kick in.

But for quality and honesty, I would use a trusted independent.

[un1eash]

Jostan said:

Thanks. I'm looking to buy around 3 yrs old & would like my local sole-trader garage to maintain it as I trust him more than the main dealers. I'm happy with the handwritten invoice he'll give me so not fussed about uploading service records to BMW/Mini but will this mean constant dash-lights on every time I get in the car or is there a way to self-reset service reminders on 2020-on Minis?

I tried a couple of reg-numbers on Mini's servicing website & with 'environmental charge' & 'standard scope' even a basic oil/filter change was over £300. That's the sort of wallet gouging that really turns me off the brand. That & the whole 20-something non-binary trans people they love to depict on their website. Seems they're just trying far too hard to be on-board with the 'current thing'.

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/owners/service-w...

Servicing may be £300 but it's every 2 years if your a low mileage user like myself. We leased a Qashqai before and although it had a service plan that cost £160-180 a year from a main dealer.

Have a look at AUC approved used cars, don't assume there all great but there are some good ones. I managed to pick up a 2018 pre OPF LCi JCW that just had a service, 4 tyres and rear discs and pads. I shouldn't need to spend any maintenance for a couple years now. You pay a little more but has minimum 12 months warranty, 12 months breakdown and MOT protection.

[worsy]

You'll likely find that a BMW specialist will also service Minis. We have two in town that both do that.

[Canon_Fodder]

Jostan said:

Probably a relatively basic one with the 1.5 turbo petrol engine. I'm just looking for a fun little car but the wokey-cokey imagery & corporate BS portrayed on Mini's website is a real turn-off to me.

Once you've got the car - and they are little and they are fun - you'll no longer need to bother looking at their website so that problem will disappear.

[anonymous-user]

bearman68 said:

Service nags can be switched off using OBD stuff. There is a lot of aftermarket software that will be able to do this, but there are also services available that can use the MINI diagnostic website services to do everything that MINI could anyway, and sometimes more. For example, these services can be used to security programme used electronic security modules like a body control, which is something MINI would never do.
Very few reasons to go to the manufacturer for servicing.

So basically if I'm following you right, there's nothing special about a Mini that a decent indy shouldn't be able to deal with? It's just another car to them, same as all the rest?

I ask because £300 at a main dealer for an oil & oil filter change on little city car would otherwise indicate some mystical super-duper technical features and specialized tooling requirements that only Mini's best of the best elite mechanics are trained to deal with.

Incidentally, I presume OPF is a petrol engined particulate filter? Anyone know if the 2019-on Mini 1.5 turbo has this and does it cause any issues? Also wondered what LCI was however the internet seems to suggest it's just some wky BMW speak for a facelift?

The more I read online about Minis, the more I'm being put off buying one. Corporate BS and 'consumer lifestyle products' aren't really my thing but my kids are keen for me to get something a little less embarassing than my '13 reg Jazz.

[Maracus]

LCI - Life cycle Impulse - aka facelift!

More BMW/MINI acronyms to cherish

[nickfrog]

Jostan said:

I tried a couple of reg-numbers on Mini's servicing website & with 'environmental charge' & 'standard scope' even a basic oil/filter change was over £300. That's the sort of wallet gouging that really turns me off the brand. That & the whole 20-something non-binary trans people they love to depict on their website. Seems they're just trying far too hard to be on-board with the 'current thing'.

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/owners/service-w...

A minor service for my 2017 JCW is £200 all Inc at my local BMW dealers. Cheap enough as interval is 2 years. I could probably save £50 by going indy but then it does affect resale value rightly or wrongly and compromises good will out of warranty.

As for your reservations about the woke image, personally I hadn't noticed but perhaps it is because I don't care that much about the marketing thing . They are very popular cars across a hugely diverse cross section of society and good fun to drive. The triple engine is an excellent choice. The current shape is also now just big enough to be used as a ”normal” and versatile car.

[un1eash]

I think your reading into this too much, go test drive one, if you like it and the price is right then buy it. FYi Minis are not cheap for what they are and nearly everything is an optional extra.

[N111BJG]

Apart from first service we had my wife’s 2017 convertible serviced by an independent throughout its time with us (sold in Dec 22)
They were able to do all electronic recording of service history etc.
I don’t think they would have been able to update software, but nothing was required.

[bearman68]

Jostan said:

So basically if I'm following you right, there's nothing special about a Mini that a decent indy shouldn't be able to deal with? It's just another car to them, same as all the rest?

Yep, though they are needlessly complicated beasts, as they are made by the Germans

I ask because £300 at a main dealer for an oil & oil filter change on little city car would otherwise indicate some mystical super-duper technical features and specialized tooling requirements that only Mini's best of the best elite mechanics are trained to deal with.

Yes, all Minis are sprinkled with fairy dust to stop the plebs working on them. The rest of us are too thick to understand how to do oil changes.

Incidentally, I presume OPF is a petrol engined particulate filter? Anyone know if the 2019-on Mini 1.5 turbo has this and does it cause any issues? Also wondered what LCI was however the internet seems to suggest it's just some wky BMW speak for a facelift?

No idea, too thick to understand unexplained acronyms.

The more I read online about Minis, the more I'm being put off buying one. Corporate BS and 'consumer lifestyle products' aren't really my thing but my kids are keen for me to get something a little less embarassing than my '13 reg Jazz.

Have you though about either changing your children, or explaining to them that they can drive what they like when they pay the bills?

[The test driver]

Jostan said:

That & the whole 20-something non-binary trans people they love to depict on their website. Seems they're just trying far too hard to be on-board with the 'current thing'.

Wow!

[anonymous-user]

Stopped by Mini on my way home to arrange a test drive for next week. Will see what I make of the car and then decide. Hoping for a fun little go-kart and a bit of character and hoping it's not as bland as most of BMW's other products seem to be.

[Canon_Fodder]

Jostan said:

Hoping for a fun little go-kart and a bit of character and hoping it's not as bland as most of BMW's other products seem to be.

OP I'm afraid to say that everything is likely to seem bland after the style and excitement of your Honda Jazz

[N111BJG]

Jostan said:

Stopped by Mini on my way home to arrange a test drive for next week. Will see what I make of the car and then decide. Hoping for a fun little go-kart and a bit of character and hoping it's not as bland as most of BMW's other products seem to be.

You are likely to be disappointed. Apart from the performance aspect, over the past few years Mini’s design team must have disbanded, or maybe their current mission is make the cars look more bland and certainly less colourful.