Discussion
Can any owners share their experience of owning the new 2024/25 F66 Mini regarding reliability, problems etc thinking of going back to a Mini after owning new Cooper S and JCWs R56 models 10 years ago, both cars suffered from numerous faults from build issues/panel alignment to annoying dash rattles, seats creaking, sunroof motor failure, engine overheating and more, both spent many days in the workshop.
Can't comment on the F66, but in terms of reliability we've had a few different MINI's in recent years. All from new, kept for a couple of years, but without wishing to tempt fate, none have caused any issues so far and build quality is pretty good...
2017 F56 Cooper SD
2019 F54 Clubman Cooper S
2021 F56 JCW Hatch
2023 F60 Countryman Cooper S Sport
Not entirely convinced by the styling, but will probably have a look at the F66 JCW at some point and see if I like it "in the flesh"
2017 F56 Cooper SD
2019 F54 Clubman Cooper S
2021 F56 JCW Hatch
2023 F60 Countryman Cooper S Sport
Not entirely convinced by the styling, but will probably have a look at the F66 JCW at some point and see if I like it "in the flesh"
As others have mentioned, mechanically the F66 is very similar to the F56 which itself was seen as a massive improvement over the R53 in terms of build quality.
The major change for the F66 is the interior with most of the functions now housed within the central screen rather than having physical buttons.
The major change for the F66 is the interior with most of the functions now housed within the central screen rather than having physical buttons.
Very happy with my JCW level 3 - seems very solid & well built, fast enough, the tech which has trickled down from high-end BMWs is great (AR satnav, adaptive cruise, adaptive lights, HK stereo, topdown view when parking, massage seat!), quite darty but a very firm ride.
It’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!
Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!
It’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!
Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!
Edited by AndyDubbya on Tuesday 7th January 23:10
AndyDubbya said:
Very happy with my JCW level 3 - seems very solid & well built, fast enough, the tech which has trickled down from high-end BMWs is great (AR satnav, adaptive cruise, adaptive lights, HK stereo, topdown view when parking, massage seat!), quite darty but a very firm ride.
It’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!
Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!
Thanks for the info: AndyIt’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!
Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!
Edited by AndyDubbya on Tuesday 7th January 23:10
Been a Mini fan all my life having owned at least four variations of the original Mini and avidly followed the design and launch of the BMW version ordering a Cooper S. 12 months before being released and then another S and JCWs which were both very problematic, JCW order is now in for March delivery, White/Red (level 2) Lap Spokes without the £800 tyre option its more for the wife as already drive a RS Audi but fingers crossed its a good one this time.
Edited by Iceblue on Friday 10th January 18:10
No worries 
If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...
That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!
If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...
That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!
There’s also this brand new red JCW, which is suspiciously cheap (£4,668 off!) for a level 3 and doesn’t appear in the official Mini stock list for that dealer as far as I can tell. Might be a way of getting calls - “sorry sir, that car’s sold but we have other slightly more expensive ones”…
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025010777...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025010777...
AndyDubbya said:
No worries
If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...
That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!
Was offered a stock car same spec. but decided to wait till March with the sh--- weather at the minute, seems a ridiculously good discount on the other one I would be very wary why or like you say just to get interest negotiated 8.5% on mine.If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...
That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!
Hi, we have just bought a new F66 Cooper S with OS9 software. I have a couple of issues that I am very unhappy about.
I was told the SatNav was based on the Google Maps database with a BMW overlay that updates every 10s or so. Effectively real time. I have the subscription electronic digital package. It does not seem to have a complete dataset for enforcement camera locations. Do they all arrive eventually? Today it had no idea that an essential road I needed had been closed. A look at Google Maps and it showed that it was closed for a defined length. Why does the Mini not know about it? And better still plan an alternative route, I actually needed to divert well in advance, of course, there was no advanced signage.
Another issue is with the forward parking sensors. Are they supposed to recognise brick walls, pedestrians and the rear of the vehicle in front. If I cruise into a parking space, beeps only start as I am in the red zone, about to hit something. Only then does the display come on and show just how close I was getting. Reversing out it seems to identify everything, but the brick wall.
On other non-Mini cars there has always been a smooth transition from cruise to crawl mode when beeps sound and the display illuminates to show all peripheral obstacles. This car seems to be just plain wrong!
It is going in the garage on Monday but I am expecting some BS to the effect that “it is performing to BMW MINI specifications and tolerance.”
Please will you tell me your experiences.
I was told the SatNav was based on the Google Maps database with a BMW overlay that updates every 10s or so. Effectively real time. I have the subscription electronic digital package. It does not seem to have a complete dataset for enforcement camera locations. Do they all arrive eventually? Today it had no idea that an essential road I needed had been closed. A look at Google Maps and it showed that it was closed for a defined length. Why does the Mini not know about it? And better still plan an alternative route, I actually needed to divert well in advance, of course, there was no advanced signage.
Another issue is with the forward parking sensors. Are they supposed to recognise brick walls, pedestrians and the rear of the vehicle in front. If I cruise into a parking space, beeps only start as I am in the red zone, about to hit something. Only then does the display come on and show just how close I was getting. Reversing out it seems to identify everything, but the brick wall.
On other non-Mini cars there has always been a smooth transition from cruise to crawl mode when beeps sound and the display illuminates to show all peripheral obstacles. This car seems to be just plain wrong!
It is going in the garage on Monday but I am expecting some BS to the effect that “it is performing to BMW MINI specifications and tolerance.”
Please will you tell me your experiences.
Mini don't use Google maps for data they use here mapping mini in my experience only provides traffic & closures/roadworks on major roads
I've done many miles with mini apart from the scenic routes it's been fine even knowing a road has reopened while I'm heading towards it my biggest gripe is actually with Google maps their has been a significant closure of a major junction & google doesn't agree it's closed
I've done many miles with mini apart from the scenic routes it's been fine even knowing a road has reopened while I'm heading towards it my biggest gripe is actually with Google maps their has been a significant closure of a major junction & google doesn't agree it's closed
Hi, thanks so much for that explanation. I was told by the salesman the the MINI system was based on Google maps database. It clearly is not and now having read about Here We Go Technologies, I can see why the In-car system is such a disappointment. It is basically taking you back to about 2010 Garmin or Tom Tom technology with a fixed map database updated by a small number of vehicles on the road. So, often well out of date.
Google is real-time dynamic as every Android user is automatically feeding back bits of data about delays. It is also scanning databases for posted road closures, camera locations etc.
Summed up by saying one system is highly effective, but the one in the MINI is pretty useless.
Their biggest claim is that it is better when in remote areas. I have driven across swathes of deserted France and Spain and not once have I lost Google Maps, or Waze, even when BBC Radio was not available. It follows that big queues tend not to happen in remote rural areas.
Google is real-time dynamic as every Android user is automatically feeding back bits of data about delays. It is also scanning databases for posted road closures, camera locations etc.
Summed up by saying one system is highly effective, but the one in the MINI is pretty useless.
Their biggest claim is that it is better when in remote areas. I have driven across swathes of deserted France and Spain and not once have I lost Google Maps, or Waze, even when BBC Radio was not available. It follows that big queues tend not to happen in remote rural areas.
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