F56 Mini questions

[ChrisH72]

After several months of going round the houses I think I’ve settled on the idea of a Mini. It’s a car I’ve always liked but never owned and it’s different enough to my current car (fiesta ST) to make it worth changing.

Question is which one? So I’m looking for any advice and owner opinions.

Budget is around my car plus 10k. I’ll ask for part ex price when the time comes but I’m fairly sure it won’t be great. I’m in a position to buy a car then sell mine for hopefully around 8k so total budget is 18k. I could go more but would rather not and I’m happy to go a bit less but it has to feel like an upgrade from the Ford.

The variation in spec with the Mini is typical BMW with barely any two being the same. Much of it doesn’t bother me but I would like the big screen with Nav and also heated seats as I’ve used them a lot in mine and would miss them. Not sure if these things were part of a pack or something. Oh and it must be manual.

I’m quite interested in the 2018 facelift Cooper S sport. Like the black track spoke wheels and most do seem to have heated seats. Here’s a local one I plan to see tomorrow if it’s available.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...

I’d like to drive that one but probably not buy. Miles are a bit high and I think it’s a bit over on price. Terrible photos without even having been washed which puts me off. But it’s at the local Mini dealer so a test drive should be easy enough. They also have a JCW.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210251...

I’m not interested in that as it’s low spec and not keen on colour but it’d be interesting to compare.

A JCW is also quite tempting but I have reservations. On the plus side I love how they look with the 18’s and the seats are very nice. I’d happily go a bit older and have noticed they start around 15k. Not easy to find with heated seats and the rest but something like this looks okay.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303235...

Or maybe this but it’s a bit further away.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303024...

I’ve been told the ride is very poor on 18’s with runflats. How would that compare to a mk7 ST?
My old E92 was on runflats and I never had a problem with them so I’m not too sure it bothers me. I am aware that you can get a JCW on 17 track spokes but they all seem to be low spec without the proper seats and hardly any with heated seats I really want.

So a JCW or a facelift Cooper S Sport. Any thoughts welcome.

[Toolslinger]

Hi Chris
I went from a mk 7st to a cooper s,Mine was 17 plate only extras chilli pack and visual boost.
Ride was much better than the st,17 inch wheels on the mini.led lights superb almost too bright.
Fuel consumption 37 st,33 mini.Reliability excellent.
Test drove the Jcw obviously faster,ride on a par with the st,now the massive difference the brakes,They are on a
Different level to the cooper s.Didn’t buy a jcw,Too much of a stretch financially.
If I was in the same situation again would go for a second hand jcw, my cooper s was brand new.
You can get the jcw with variable dampers,but it is rare,maybe worth a try if you can find one.
Only sold the mini due to grandkids,now in a 5 door mk 8 st.
Any more questions feel free to ask.
Good luck with the search.

.

[ChrisH72]

Excellent thanks for that Toolslinger.

I'm happy with the ST performance wise and a cooper s is on a par so should be fine. I wonder if the extra power of the JCW would be all that noticeable day to day?

Still undecided on the infotainment. My ST3 has Nav but I never use it. In the 3 years I've had it I've never even bothered to connect my phone. Tech doesn't interest me much in cars, in fact I only really listen to radio and that's about it. Our main family car has no screen at all so if we need Nav we just use a phone mount which is fine by me. The main issue I have is I don't want to end up with a car that's hard to sell if it doesn't have the screen.

Never heard about the adaptive dampers.

If the ride is no worse than my ST then that's fine for me.

[twokcc]

Damper control is available on coopers -hers one very rare order and cheaper than what you are lookinf for

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...

[ChrisH72]

twokcc said:

Damper control is available on coopers -hers one very rare order and cheaper than what you are lookinf for

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...

It’s certainly a decent spec and low mileage. Service history looks good but I can’t get an MOT check as the reg on the tag in the cup holder doesn’t seem to work. Downsides are 5 owners, I’m not too keen on those wheels and thunder grey always looks like primer to me. Usually I like grey but it needs to be a nice shiny metallic.

The other issue I have is that my Fiesta is a 66 plate and apart from having fairly high miles (78k) is very well sorted. Paying an extra 5k for a 14 plate Mini feels a bit wrong. Sounds silly but it is what it is. Psychologically I’d rather have a car from 2017 onwards so it at least feels like an upgrade. Unless of course it’s a really lovely JCW in which case slightly older is okay.

Should be able to get to the local dealership today which will help.

[twokcc]

Just given as an example- nice spec pano roof wide screen sat nav ,leather and head up display but 5 owners would put me off.
When I was looking found a really nice high spec manual with adaptive dampers but decided to hold out and go for a facelif(2018) with the 7 speed DCT box,
No adaptive but ride better then my R56 cooper S- cant compare it to a ST fiesta never driven one.
Go od luck with searc

[Toolslinger]

ChrisH72 said:

Excellent thanks for that Toolslinger.

I'm happy with the ST performance wise and a cooper s is on a par so should be fine. I wonder if the extra power of the JCW would be all that noticeable day to day?

Still undecided on the infotainment. My ST3 has Nav but I never use it. In the 3 years I've had it I've never even bothered to connect my phone. Tech doesn't interest me much in cars, in fact I only really listen to radio and that's about it. Our main family car has no screen at all so if we need Nav we just use a phone mount which is fine by me. The main issue I have is I don't want to end up with a car that's hard to sell if it doesn't have the screen.

Never heard about the adaptive dampers.

If the ride is no worse than my ST then that's fine for me.

When I was looking Chris cars without visual boost or media pack we’re definitely cheaper,If you’re looking 18 plate facelift onwards then visual boost became standard.If I was in you’re position I’d definitely test drive a jcw,for me the brakes are a dealbreaker.

[ChrisH72]

What is visual boost?

I've noticed that not all cars with the big screen have Nav. To be honest I'm not really sure what you get. Must admit it's a lot simpler looking at Fiestas, just pick the ST3 which has everything and it's job done. Except performance pack I guess, even that's a faff but nothing like the Mini.

I went to Sytner Mini this morning. They have their used stock lined up outside but no sign of the cars I'd seen listed on AT. Mostly autos and some absolute fantasy sticker prices. I've never felt comfortable with the big posh dealerships and as nobody approached me I left it.

On my way home I passed a small garage that I've bought from before. They had an E class convertible out the front which is a car I've considered in the past so I stopped for a look. Great little place who are happy for you to take unaccompanied test drives as long as you hand over your license. Sun was our so why not? I took a wafty drive in a 350cdi and it was very nice indeed. Much as I enjoyed the drive it did confirm to me that I really do want a small manual and that actually a convertible isn't necessary. It's good to rule things out and I much preferred driving home in my ST.

So the next plan is to visit a car supermarket where I can hopefully drive a JCW. There's this one not far away.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023020840...

Love the colour. Like the price too. No heated seats sadly and no Nav although I don't think Nav is a deal breaker for me. Can't get there until Friday and I don't want to be leaving deposits on cars I probably won't buy. Luckily they have 3 JCW'S so I'll calk them Thursday pm and see what's available to try.

[12TS]

We had 4 minis, never a JCW three were Cooper Ss. I’d say that the S was fast enough, it lacked the outright speed of my 340,but it was nimble and fun. So it was probably more usable.

Spec is an individual choice, as you’ve noticed they’re all a bit different. We liked heated seats, nav and HUD.

One of ours had adjustable dampers and all it did was make it even firmer. I’d say decent RFT and 18s would be ok. Our latest one series doesn’t have RFTs and it is nicer.

I think at that budget I’d buy on condition rather than spec.

[12TS]

FYI there’s about a £3k spread on cars bought to retail based on our minis, so your haggle may get you £1k off. The warranty from a main dealer is valuable, if they do go wrong they can be expensive to fix.

[ChrisH72]

Hmmm yes I'd forgotten about BMW running costs. I did get burned with my 3 series out of warranty so I would really want to be covered.

The Fiesta has cost me very little in 3 years. Most I've spent was a couple of hundred quid on discs and pads. I imagine those JCW brakes cost a bit more.

[stevemcs]

We have a cooper s auto convertible with pretty much every option.

For me Media XL is a must, I prefer the auto as the manual isn’t the best.

If you want to modify it then anything past nov 2016 mini won’t sell you the JCW tuning kit.

We have 17’s and no runflat, if you want 18’s keep away from runflats and go with a set of aftermarket team dynamics pro race.

We have the adaptive suspension and I cannot say it does much. heated screen is nice, Harmon isn’t worth it, you do need the led lights too.

A works 210 would be a good car.

[nickfrog]

I have a low spec 17 JCW. Only have visual boost without Nav. Doesn't bother me as the screen is not in a great place compared to putting my phone on a magnet and using Google Maps.
I only have rear sensors, climate and paint on top of that.

But for me it's the std spec of the JCW that I like: the seats, the brakes and the LED headlights (although of course MCS often have LED lights and even occasionally the seats, but not the brakes which was kind of a deal breaker for me).

In fact I was more bothered about stuff I didn't want: sunroof, 18' wheels, armrest, auto, darkened rear windows, RFT tyres and adaptive dampers.

I really like the manual actually, even the gear stick is higher than on the S and quite close to the wheel, great detail.

I would only buy an approved car for the warranty although you can add it to a car outside the network but it costs more when you renew which makes it a sort of false economy.

I suspect the JCW will hold its value better. In fact they're difficult to find AUC as they seem to sell very quickly too.

Edited by nickfrog on Monday 27th March 23:56

[Toolslinger]

Hi Chris,on pre 18 plate cars visual boost was the middle spec screen you could spec,It was smaller than the media xl.I specked it because it also gives you a better audio,with the amp under the passenger seat.As Steve says if you decide to go with a jcw on 18 inch wheels,ditch the run flats it will transform the ride.Just noticed the car you linked to on auto trader has visual boost.

[Nelka]

Worth bearing in mind that the JCW has upgraded engine internals like stronger pistons, etc.

[cerb4.5lee]

I had a F56 Cooper S with the 17" wheels without runflats and I thought the ride/compliance on a B road was really good(it was still a bit jiggly in town though). I threw £5k worth of options at mine(cross punch leather/HK/arm rest/heated screen and front seats/small screen with nav etc), but obviously you don't get any of that cost back when you chop it in though. Paid £25k for it new in 2017 and I only got offered £10k trade in in 2021 though(I managed to squeeze £12k out of them in the end though because I refused to buy the M4 unless they gave me £12k for it).

As Nick mentioned the brakes aren't great on the Cooper S, so it is definitely worth going for the JCW if you enjoy driving enthusiastically I reckon.

[ChrisH72]

This one looks quite good although not my favourite colour I must admit.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022093002...

They're few and far between that tick all the boxes so might take some time.

[nickfrog]

ChrisH72 said:

This one looks quite good although not my favourite colour I must admit.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022093002...

They're few and far between that tick all the boxes so might take some time.

Seems like a good example and good spec. Quite a few miles for the price though and no warranty. I would question why the last service is amber. Might explain why it is outside the network.

[Toolslinger]

nickfrog said:

I have a low spec 17 JCW. Only have visual boost without Nav. Doesn't bother me as the screen is not in a great place compared to putting my phone on a magnet and using Google Maps.
I only have rear sensors, climate and paint on top of that.

But for me it's the std spec of the JCW that I like: the seats, the brakes and the LED headlights (although of course MCS often have LED lights and even occasionally the seats, but not the brakes which was kind of a deal breaker for me).

In fact I was more bothered about stuff I didn't want: sunroof, 18' wheels, armrest, auto, darkened rear windows, RFT tyres and adaptive dampers.

I really like the manual actually, even the gear stick is higher than on the S and quite close to the wheel, great detail.

I would only buy an approved car for the warranty although you can add it to a car outside the network but it costs more when you renew which makes it a sort of false economy.

I suspect the JCW will hold its value better. In fact they're difficult to find AUC as they seem to sell very quickly too.

Edited by nickfrog on Monday 27th March 23:56

Nice car Nick,exactly the colour and spec I was looking for.

[nickfrog]

Toolslinger said:

Nice car Nick,exactly the colour and spec I was looking for.

Cheers. It took me a while to find it. Bought it at 22k miles in December and amusingly it was only 30 miles from me. They advertised it 2 weeks before getting it and I asked to see it unprepped the day it arrives. I had to pay full price for the first time in my life but they probably priced it a little low as it was immaculate Inc the wheels and even had 4 new P Zero and new front pads. As it turned out I asked them not to prep it as I assumed they would wash it with a brick.