Buying a mini automatic

[fizio]

Hi, I am looking to buy a used mini for a new driver and was thinking about a mini one or Cooper from around 2012-14 that would be available for 5-6k. Having 'had a chat with chatGPT' I was advised that the older mini auto gearboxes were not great and it was best to go with a 2018 spec as that was 7 speed bmw. Unfortunately these are more like 10k+ so not within budget. Any advice on auto mini's as thats the one essential feature (plus parking sensors).
Appreciate any feedback

Edited by fizio on Wednesday 11th March 18:00

[scrw.]

Run a MCS auto mapped to about 230bhp, it has currently lost 4th gear but I think the extra torque did for it. It is a decent box other than me breaking mine (I was chasing a v8 Mustang when it died)

[fizio]

scrw. said:

Run a MCS auto mapped to about 230bhp, it has currently lost 4th gear but I think the extra torque did for it. It is a decent box other than me breaking mine (I was chasing a v8 Mustang when it died)

I have absolutely no idea what this means..

[daydotz]

The 14-17 used a torque converter auto apart from potential issue with a torsion spring in the gear selector "secure vehicle against rolling" they pretty reliable as is the fxx series although they over 6k

I'd have also said look at the mini one 1.2s but they even more than Cooper's

Edited by daydotz on Thursday 12th March 15:33

[BUG4LIFE]

I own an auto 2011 Mini Clubman. Auto is fine. Works as you’d expect a slush-box from that time to work. I like it. Mine is a Cooper S and has paddles (the weird BMW push pull paddles), which can be fun to use on a windy road. Yes, newer auto boxes will be faster etc but I’d recommend an R56/55 with an auto. Not sure if the Mini One/Cooper has a different gearbox to the S though?

[BOR]

daydotz said:

torsion spring in the gear selector

Funnily enough, I replaced mine last month.

Time consuming. Not incredibly complicated, though.

[fizio]

BUG4LIFE said:

I own an auto 2011 Mini Clubman. Auto is fine. Works as you d expect a slush-box from that time to work. I like it. Mine is a Cooper S and has paddles (the weird BMW push pull paddles), which can be fun to use on a windy road. Yes, newer auto boxes will be faster etc but I d recommend an R56/55 with an auto. Not sure if the Mini One/Cooper has a different gearbox to the S though?

Thanks and I am looking at a few 2014/15 cooper's and they seem to be going for around 5-6k at 80-90k miles. I am also trying to see if there is a buyers checklist for when I go and view some - most seem to be on ebay rather than auto trader so I plan to be more suspicious..

[BUG4LIFE]

Try the groups on Facebook too. There are loads for Mini’s. There’ll be lots of buyers guides online too. You could definitely find a good one for your budget - though auto’s are a lot rarer than manuals obviously!

[DaveyBoyWonder]

My old R55 was an auto - for pootling around it was absolutely fine. If you wanted to get a move on then I used the paddles more than any other auto I've ever had as it was a little slow (espcially coming out of a turbo DSG equipped car before it).

[r159]

fizio said:

BUG4LIFE said:

I own an auto 2011 Mini Clubman. Auto is fine. Works as you d expect a slush-box from that time to work. I like it. Mine is a Cooper S and has paddles (the weird BMW push pull paddles), which can be fun to use on a windy road. Yes, newer auto boxes will be faster etc but I d recommend an R56/55 with an auto. Not sure if the Mini One/Cooper has a different gearbox to the S though?

Thanks and I am looking at a few 2014/15 cooper's and they seem to be going for around 5-6k at 80-90k miles. I am also trying to see if there is a buyers checklist for when I go and view some - most seem to be on ebay rather than auto trader so I plan to be more suspicious..

A colleague at work got a 14 plate auto Cooper for his daughter to learn it, great car (picking up a manual one for my son this weekend).

[stevemcs]

BOR said:

daydotz said:

torsion spring in the gear selector

Funnily enough, I replaced mine last month.

Time consuming. Not incredibly complicated, though.

I’ve got ours to do

[Mark-ri571]

Just looking at selling my elderly mother’s 2014 1.5 Cooper Auto that she bought new in 2014 and only done 19,000 miles !