JCW MINI - Take 2!

[SlowStig]

After buying a JCW hatch last year, I ended up with all manner of issues with it and ended up getting an e90 330d, which, after possibly the worst dealership experience you can imagine for a BMW main dealership, resulted in me changing out of it and into a different car again. This time, the car is a JCW Clubman. Not to everyone's tastes but ticks enough boxes to keep me quiet enough. The car is an odd specification as the previous owner decided on nearly all the options except a sunroof or spotlights afaik.

Spec is:
Visibility Pack - Headlights which turn with the front wheels
Media Pack - Sat nav, DAB, Bluetooth streaming etc
Harmon Kardon Audio
Heated front windscreen
Electric mirrors with auto dim
Black heated leather interior
Alcantara steering wheel


Since picking her up, I have been to Scotland twice, Germany and all over the North-West and Cumbria, other than a massive list of warranty replaced parts, it's been smooth sailing...

Here she is, complete with random shots in Germany...









Plans are currently up in the air as the amount of things that have been replaced under warranty have made me a little bit dubious about doing any mods, as the car has been more fragile mechanically than my rattly old metro.
Hopefully will get to some Sunday Services and NW meets if she stays out the dealership workshop for long enough, but after reading and following LOH's journal on his GP2, I have taken a bit of inspiration and going to try and keep tabs of what I do and where I go with the car!

[John Boy 616]

I always found mechanical issues were my previous minis main issue, yours looks great and pretty much the perfect spec if i were ever to go back to minis

[Clubman270]

Good to see another FJCW Clubby here on PH

Sure I've seen you on the MINI forums too?

[SlowStig]

Clubman270 said:

Good to see another FJCW Clubby here on PH

Sure I've seen you on the MINI forums too?

Yeah I am on minitorque, I just seem to spend more time on here and it's easier to keep track of!

I can't fault the guys at lloyds Blackpool, they literally set the standard for good customer service. Compared to my previous dealer who I wouldn't trust with a fisher price tool kit!

Current list of parts replaced/fixed:
-New short block
-head stripped, blasted and rebuilt with new valve stem seals
-new camchain and tensioner
-new turbo
-new rear clippers
-wheel bearings
-window mirror motors
-gearbox input bush

To be replaced:
-gearbox
-another wheel bearing


Concerningly mini doesn't seem to yet think my car is past the point of repair so everything has been done under warranty but it's basically like having a brand new car now!
-gearbox

[SlowStig]

Update time!

Nothing exciting sadly, just more parts replaced under warranty.

This time;
Gearbox
MAF
Wheel Bearing
idrive controller


Some fun Mini facts for my MINI;

14 Dealership visits
12 Warranty claims
900 Miles driven just to and from the dealer
14k worth of parts(roughly) fitted, not including labour
1 Slightly fed up owner!
BMW/MINI don't seem to care either, so now the sum of the parts is worth more than the car

[Patch888]

Your mini looks superb, I had no idea that new(ish) minis suffered such massive issues, hope BMW pull there finger out.

[CallorFold]

SlowStig said:

Some fun Mini facts for my MINI;

14 Dealership visits
12 Warranty claims
900 Miles driven just to and from the dealer
14k worth of parts(roughly) fitted, not including labour
1 Slightly fed up owner!
BMW/MINI don't seem to care either, so now the sum of the parts is worth more than the car

That's an interesting ownership experience to say the least! Can you claim the 900 miles back in fuel

[irish boy]

Massive issues with your first mini, then with your bmw, and now with this mini. Either you treat a car really badly or are massively unlucky. Don't think I've had more than 3 or 4 warranty claims in 20 years driving, which includes plenty of bmw's and 2 minis.

[SlowStig]

irish boy said:

Massive issues with your first mini, then with your bmw, and now with this mini. Either you treat a car really badly or are massively unlucky. Don't think I've had more than 3 or 4 warranty claims in 20 years driving, which includes plenty of bmw's and 2 minis.

The general consensus is that I am just really unlucky, I don't see the point in spending money on something which is then not looked after. This MINI was supposed to be a keeper to run for the next 3-4 years but with all the issues I doubt that I will be keeping it much longer than another year unless BMW offer a buy back solution.

[clarki]

Very unlucky. I'm currently running an '08 Cooper S. Just turned 55k miles and tbh it still feels like a new car. Don't like the ride on the runflats and the mpg isn't great but no faults/rattles and the interior is a nice place to be.

Do like the look of your car though, red deffo suits that shape.

[J4CKO]

We bought one last week, took it back the following day, no oil or water in the engine when I checked so, your list of failures sounded like it was about to come true, I am guessing that the engine was ripping through a litre every thousand miles, god knows where the coolant went. Basically 46,000 miles and it was looking like a money pit.

The ride was shockingly bad, a horrendous combination of run flats, sports suspension and 17 inch wheels.

I love the looks but I wouldn't bother again, we bought a 1 litre Fiesta yesterday and it is preferable to drive, it corners well but has some suspension.

[SlowStig]

From what I have read up, it seems to be mostly issues relating to the useless N14 engine. With the latter N18 lumps, the issues are more limited but knowing my luck I would probably somehow break that as well.

I think that I should volunteer to be an automotive tester for BMW as it seems like the guys they had when they developed my car could have done with the assistance!