RE: Mini JCW & GP2 (R56) | PH Used Buying Guide

[MrBarry123]

Our Countryman (Cooper S with N18) was a nightmare, apart from when it snowed or we were parked somewhere muddy.

We owned it from 8k miles and despite regular servicing, the engine constantly sounded and performed like it was about to st itself. In 4 years of ownership and 50k miles, it chewed through 2 HPFPs, 2 coil packs and an injector.

The ride was also atrocious.

It’s saving grace was the ALL4 system. Unlike the system on today’s cars, it defaulted to AWD (50/50 front/rear split) on pulling away and then gradually reduced power to the rear wheels as the speed increased - at 80mph or so the car was FWD only. What this means was that it had a brilliant ability to work its way out of muddy fields and up snowy inclines that we never expected it to, even on its standard runflats. A better explanation is below.

https://www.motoringfile.com/2011/12/16/minis-all4...

[Dave-f28iw]

I've always like the R53 Mini with the supercharger whine. These second generation cars never looked 100% right to me. Just a bigger car and although with time you get used to them I still prefer the looks of the earlier car. However, I was stunned at the LONG list of MAJOR faults with these cars. Nevermind the RS6 being a brave pill, this would be a bigger pill based on price & performance. In effect you buy one on the basis of spending 3 to 4K on a new engine, turbo and a whole lot more or take a chance and scrap it when (it appears not if) it goes bang. I honestly don't know how BMW get away with selling crap like this. I'd of expected the Americans to launch a class action with these kind of issues!

[rigga]

Dave-f28iw said:

I'd of expected the Americans to launch a class action with these kind of issues!

They did
Timing chains and high pressure fuel pumps are covered till 100k I believe, in the UK, mini just say F U.

[ae2006]

Dave-f28iw said:

In effect you buy one on the basis of spending 3 to 4K on a new engine, turbo and a whole lot more or take a chance and scrap it when (it appears not if) it goes bang. I honestly don't know how BMW get away with selling crap like this.

Additionaly, i believe that there is a 0% chance that a lot of the faults did not occur while developing the N14 engine. BMW and Peugeot MUST have known that the thing will blow up in very different ways after a few years, they just decided that they don't care.

[SlowStig]

I loved the "British Alfa Romeo" comment, very accurate!

I have owned all generations of "modern" mini, R56 JCW, R55 JCW, F56 Challenge 210, R53 Cooper S and I agree with the article, I think (ignoring the engines for a moment) the R55/56 model is the best all rounder. Ditch the run flats and they make a very good car, I took my R55 to the ring and drove it back to the NW UK in a single run, aside from fuel and ferry stops without any aches or pains. The electric PAS is a good system, press the sport button to firm it up but otherwise its more than good enough to use daily.
The R53 I have currently is like being in a washing machine with some bricks. I haven't changed from factory suspension but from checking the build sheet, mine has been fitted with the sport plus suspension by the original sadist who ordered the car. However, on the plus side it does handle better than any other MINI I have owned and sounds the best with the supercharger and Miltek exhaust.

Regarding reliability on the R55/56...

Both of mine were JCW, 2010 cars with the N14 engine from main dealers. The first, R56, I owned for around 4 months before the engine grenaded itself and the dealership ended up buying it back from me as the engines were on a 3 week back order.
The second, R55, Ended up with everything under the bonnet replacing, turbo, short block, head, camchain, HPFP, gearbox, clutch, dmf etc. MINI eneded up getting the car bought back from me and replacing it for a BMW.

My F56 was ok, however all honestly it was like driving a BMW without the space. All the switchgear, iDrive etc just felt more BMW than mini in my eyes and didn't have the same feel when chucking it around either. Obviously personal preference and opinion but I understand why they are more popular, bigger and more refined than previous ones with fairly solid engines.


Out of all of mine, the R53 I have owned the longest and has only required servicing and tyres over the past 18k miles. It is an oddity as its one of the few automatics but as a daily (and ignoring the 30mpg average) its been a hell of a lot better than the R55/56 cars even though its not as fast or as cheap to run day-to-day.

[skidskid]

Maracus said:

Slightly off topic..... What roof bars are on yours?

Thanks

They're the official Mini ones, got them from a store on Amazon as new old stock. I tried Thule ones before but they were terrible, they have two supports in the front window and a long bar connecting to the rear roof bar. The Mini official one clips neatly into slots in the rain gutter. Well worth seaking out.

Edited by skidskid on Tuesday 5th May 13:23

[howardhughes]

Leins said:

It’s a GP1, and I met the driver at the Ring a couple of years ago. The car is relatively standard, but he has done a lot of laps of the place and is pretty handy behind the wheel. You should check out some of his other vids where he goes chasing 911 Turbos

Thanks for the info

[The1Driver]

I think the R56 Mini was and still is a great looking BMW Mini, well porportioned too!

I've owned two GP2s in the past, they've been the most enjoyable cars I've owned to-date. Apart from the odd damper refurb (had alot of trackdays) the car was perfect. I miss them everyday!


DSC01432 by Daniel Air, on Flickr

racetracker_5309952_79686 by Daniel Air, on Flickr

Edited by The1Driver on Tuesday 5th May 21:24

[howardhughes]

The1Driver said:

I think the R56 Mini was and still is a great looking car, well porportioned too!

I've owned two GP2s in the past, they've been the most enjoyable cars I've owned today. Apart from the odd damper refurb (took art in a number of trackdays) the car was perfect. I miss them everyday!


DSC01432 by Daniel Air, on Flickr

racetracker_5309952_79686 by Daniel Air, on Flickr

Great photos. Thanks for sharing

[vikingaero]

skidskid said:

Maracus said:

Slightly off topic..... What roof bars are on yours?

Thanks

They're the official Mini ones, got them from a store on Amazon as new old stock. I tried Thule ones before but they were terrible, they have two supports in the front window and a long bar connecting to the rear roof bar. The Mini official one clips neatly into slots in the rain gutter. Well worth seaking out.

Edited by skidskid on Tuesday 5th May 13:23

Just a few hints for the MINI roof rack. Being MINI they're not the best design - I agree better than the unsightly Thule version.

There are YouTube videos available and they say it takes around 30 minutes per bar to fit. Double that if you are on your own. Definitely get someone to help and hold one side whilst you tighten the other end. I found when I tried to install it solo, the other end would pop out and not seat properly. As such the roofbars are more of a permanent installation.

The T channel is wider than than Thule versions. Thule T fittings are (I think 20mm x 20mm square). The MINI roofrack are 25mm x 30mm wide. When I used Thule products such as the 591 bike carrier the T bolts would pop out on one side rendering the bike rack unit loose. Thule sell adaptors for the BMW MINI roofrack: TU696-1 - Roof box adapters: Thule 25mm x 30mm roof box aerobar adapters no. TU696-1 (fits BMW own brand bars)
1 x GBP 22.95 = GBP 22.95. They are available from Amazon, FleaBay or roofracks.co.uk

The MINI roofrack is near silent in use, unless you take off the rubber strip in which case there is a pronounced whistle from the T-track channel. Maybe buy a spare rubber strip.

And finally. Towards the end of my tenure with my MINI, the black galv on the ends of the bars had degraded and water from the roof would leave unsightly streak marks down the glass and bodywork.

[usualdog]

The Alfa comparison is spot on. The twin spark engine had a major cambelt design fault for its entire lifespan, but instead of developing a solution Alfa shrugged its shoulders and said "Change it more often"

Edited by usualdog on Wednesday 6th May 20:53

[okenemem]

i had about 3 of the supercharged ones, miss that whine

[mikeswagon]

okenemem said:

i had about 3 of the supercharged ones, miss that whine

Can't you remember exactly how many?