cooper S buyers info sought

[y2blade]

im looking at changing car in the new year and tbh i didnt realise how affordable the cooper S's were until i saw one for sale localy over the weekend


any common issues to look out for with the S model?


all info and feedback greatfully revieved as always

thankyou in advance

Chris

[pbarlow0032]

We've had ours for 6 months from new, we've now done just over 5.5k miles, roughly 2.5k of which was down to South of France and back.

Its a great car! Nothing has gone wrong with it, we average 40mpg, about 43 mpg on the long run through France (at 80mph). We got the TLC servicing pack thrown in for free also.

Its certainly not a slow car, but can be quite uncomfortable on back roads because of the run flat tyres.

We're almost certainly selling ours in the new year, as it just isn't getting used (company car, fuel card etc).

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[minimanAC]

y2blade said:

im looking at changing car in the new year and tbh i didnt realise how affordable the cooper S's were until i saw one for sale localy over the weekend


any common issues to look out for with the S model?


all info and feedback greatfully revieved as always

thankyou in advance

Chris

There was a lot of initial issues with the early MINIS. Rattley dashboards/interior parts, notchy gear changes (sometimes new gearboxes needed), steering pumps failing, iirc the fuel cap/surround was recalled at some point. The list goes on. The good news is most issues have been resolved. Your best bet is going to mini2.com and having a good read up.

[y2blade]

minimanAC said:

y2blade said:

im looking at changing car in the new year and tbh i didnt realise how affordable the cooper S's were until i saw one for sale localy over the weekend


any common issues to look out for with the S model?


all info and feedback greatfully revieved as always

thankyou in advance

Chris

There was a lot of initial issues with the early MINIS. Rattley dashboards/interior parts, notchy gear changes (sometimes new gearboxes needed), steering pumps failing, iirc the fuel cap/surround was recalled at some point. The list goes on. The good news is most issues have been resolved. Your best bet is going to mini2.com and having a good read up.

im on there now

thanks

[Bungleaio]

Watch out for a squeely clutch, it only usually happens when the car is cold and you are pulling away in 1st gear. Apparently is is due to it having a dual mass fly wheel, I've had mine replaced under warranty but it hasn't cured it, BMW have also changed the oil in the LSD to try and sort it but it's still there. It can be quite loud as I've seen people look round when it's done it. I don't think its a problem, more of a characteristic but it annoys the hell out of me.

The super charger makes a glorious sound - this is what I will miss the most when I sell my MCSC

[Marki]

I have had mine for 2 years and 50,000 kms and the only problem i have had was a broken clamp holding the tail pipe on

[y2blade]

cheers guys
im having a look at a 52 plate one with "chilli" pack fitted on sunday


what's included in the "chilli" pack?

http://www.broadoakcanterburymini.co.uk/used_mini/...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 12th December 09:34

[Bungleaio]

It has varied over time but essentially the chilli pack on the S includes. glove box, passenger seat height adjustment, air con, xennon lights.

[y2blade]

Bungleaio said:

It has varied over time but essentially the chilli pack on the S includes. glove box, passenger seat height adjustment, air con, xennon lights.

cheers

i'll take some piccy's of the one i look at on sunday

[Byff]

y2blade said:

cheers guys
im having a look at a 52 plate one with "chilli" pack fitted on sunday


what's included in the "chilli" pack?

http://www.broadoakcanterburymini.co.uk/used_mini/...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 12th December 09:34

Is that the Blue one? I know it's a main dealer, but Christ on a bike £10495 is a lot of money.

I've got an 02 plate MCS and I'd only expect to get about £8k for it and thats with the sat nav, parking distance sensors, panoramic sunroof etc..

[y2blade]

Byff said:

y2blade said:

cheers guys
im having a look at a 52 plate one with "chilli" pack fitted on sunday


what's included in the "chilli" pack?

http://www.broadoakcanterburymini.co.uk/used_mini/...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 12th December 09:34

Is that the Blue one? I know it's a main dealer, but Christ on a bike £10495 is a lot of money.

I've got an 02 plate MCS and I'd only expect to get about £8k for it and thats with the sat nav, parking distance sensors, panoramic sunroof etc..

i wont be spending £10k on a 52 plate...im going to have a look and drive that is all


i can buy the same model/year/spec with less miles for £7.5k privately

[Byff]

Nice one.

[GTS Turbo]

sorry to hi jack the thread but i'm also considering a cooper s soon. i've heard the early ones suffered problems but does anyone know what year these small problems were sorted out?

[y2blade]

the 52 plate cooperS i looked at was very nice,didnt drive it as i really didnt have time to spend in it! family comitments all day yesterday as i had a hospital visit to do aswell

[matt21]

if you budget can stretch id be tempted to go for a facelift. i had a prefacelift and had more problems and not as well built. facelifts came in in july 2004 to coincide with the convertible. S got a nicer sounding exhaust and an extra 7bhp

probably about £10k tho for an early one

[matt21]

pbarlow0032 said:

We've had ours for 6 months from new, we've now done just over 5.5k miles, roughly 2.5k of which was down to South of France and back.

Its a great car! Nothing has gone wrong with it, we average 40mpg, about 43 mpg on the long run through France (at 80mph). We got the TLC servicing pack thrown in for free also.

Its certainly not a slow car, but can be quite uncomfortable on back roads because of the run flat tyres.

We're almost certainly selling ours in the new year, as it just isn't getting used (company car, fuel card etc).

Let me know if you have any other questions!

how on god's green earth did you average 40mpg in a Cooper S?!?!

[pbarlow0032]

I wasn't trying particularly hard, honest. I don't do much stop-start driving, and i drive like a pansy (i'll say it for you!).

We used to have a Cooper S convertible, and we got about 25mpg out of that!!

[GTS Turbo]

out of interest what kind of mpg can i expect from a supercharged cooper s? what do you guys get on average say

[Byff]

My computer has an average of 29.8mpg.

On a motorway, it's a lot higher - had it over 40 with some careful driving, but that supercharger whine is soooo tempting.

I spent ages looking for mine - I wanted the full panoramic sunroof and the sat-nav because I like the balanced look of having two instrument binicles. Plus the sat-nav comes in handy every once and a while. Of course I'm having the pee took out of me because it also has reversing sensors - on a Mini FFS, who the hell would spec that?

Mine will be in the classifieds soon - blantant plug over. lol.

[matt21]

bought it with 10,300 on the clock 18mths ago now done 37,800. since then averaged 31.4mpg worked out properly although since I stopped my lenghty commute in June over the past 3k it has been just 30.14