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Mini Cooper R50/R53 (2002-2007)
lamsterSydney, NSW
- 13 reviews
Mini Cooper S Cabrio R52 Sidewalk
Buying a Mini is a lifestyle choice. It afords you the opportunity to join car clubs and meet nice mini people. My Cabrio is a special edition, noting major has gone wrong however I would recommend keeping regular maintenance especially in the oil department. Supercharger is very characterful. Roof works perfectly and is the outstanding feature of this car. This model is the ultimate version of the Mark 1 modern minis designed by Frank Stevenson.
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TomislavGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
- 8 reviews
- 11 likes
MINI COOPER-MAXI PROBLEMS
well,where should I start..For the Love of my Daughter I bought this LEMON when she got her License..Water pump.Thermostat,Overheating,computer troubleshooting,Automatic faults of simple battery change,left shock absorber changed twice,still noisy..changed the remote key-does`nt unlock after rippoff from BMW,heater blows only on one side(passenger)..Can-Cup holders-useless,Boot so small cant fit even a slab of beer,,,Only good thing a can mention is a Cheeky-Atractive look and a lot of eyes are watching you at the lights..Guys,Girls,FATHERS exc...Read more
ept the Look,this Car got nothing else to Offer You...I can only say that Peugeot 1,6 petrol engine is very economical..Interior is plastic toyish looking,seating low but comfy,,,End of my Experience DON'T BUY IT....
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GreggSydney
- 7 reviews
Great car if maintained properly
Overall it's a fun great car. BUT
* don't get the auto (will fail)
* Manual 5 speed box will fail UNLESS you change the gearbox oil every 30k's. Mines busted and this can cost more than the car to fix. The 6 speed S box is fine. Just got a new box and will start from scratch knowing it's looked after. Only buy one thats had regular oil changes or recently been replaced.
* bushings and engine mounts are bad, BUT if you replace them all with performance (urethane) once it's better than new handling.
It can be cheap to get parts if you find ...Read more
online yourself and use an honest BMW trained mechanic, or ridiculously expensive through other mechanics (as it's tricky to get things apart). So suits someone who's a little savvy. Great to drive, easy to park, and the back seat fold flat so surprisingly practical.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Find out how Mini Cooper R50/R53 compares to other Hatchbacks
Know better, choose better.
Never buy a cooper s with auto
My wife has a 2006 Mini cooper s with automatic gearbox. It has only 77000 kilometers and has just been quoted $11000 by gold coast Mini to replace the gearbox.
If you look all over the web its a major issue, started jumping gears, then shunted to the next gear then failed completely and went into limp home mode.
Mini (BMW) charged $450 just to put it on the diagnostics and then confirmed the $11000 replacement which is ridiculous.
No explanation as to why, what other alternatives their would be, etc, etc.
I would never buy another Mini if they only last less than 80000ks.
Just a joke.
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Maximum smiles per gallon
I bought my '02 Cooper 5 speed manual used about a year ago & I completely love it! It's incredibly fun to drive, looks fantastic & returns good fuel consumption. The gear shift is a delight, as is the direct steering, excellent brakes & ridiculous levels of grip! Surprisingly roomy inside - I'm 6'1" & have plenty of leg & head room - it's a surprisingly capable load lugger when you need it.
A word of caution to those who are especially financially sensitive: don't expect this car to have Japanese levels of reliability & cost efficiency. While...Read more
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Do not buy one.
2002 Mini, probably the most unreliable car we have ever owned. It's badly made, cheap and nasty - you can knock the accelerator pedal off with your foot, unbelievable. I am frankly gobsmacked BMW have sold so many of these. Replacement parts - eye wateringly expensive and difficult to obtain, gearbox made out of paper or something I think, alternator made out of compacted snow. Seriously BMW, you should be ashamed of yourselves.
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Mini Cooper S
Very fun car to drive. I love driving it in and around the city, so easy to park etc. The mini has such surprising performance for a small car, helped by the supercharger. Long drives in the country can be a bit of a spine cruncher due to the stiff race car like suspension. Not using run flat tyres on the mini does improve the ride however if you get a flat your pretty much walking or talking about the weather with a tow truck driver. Plenty of bonus parts now available online for added performance and to fix common faults for the mini, such as...Read more
the timing chain, power steering cooling issues plus wheel speed sensors. Great handling, fantastic power with the supercharger, fuel efficient Timing chain rattle however easy to fix with replacement parts now available. Wheel speed sensors often need to be replacedSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Questions & Answers
Ecaasked
Are these models in “s” series a better buy than the later R56 with known Timing Belt issues.? What known problems emerge in the R53 versions after 100k kilometres?
No answers
Raquel J.asked
I’m looking at buying a Mini Cooper S 2004 model for my daughter with 85,000km on clock I have read some good and bad reviews this will be her first car are these a good car? Are they expensive to service?
Does this model have many issues?
2 answers
A pretty risky gamble buying a 2004 model with 85K on the clock. In my opinion, it's not worth the gamble and would be akin to throwing away good money after a bad investment. These cars are expensive to maintain and the older they get the more expensive the maintenance, due to the number of issues that increase as they get older.
Again, this is just my opinion...
For a first car I would look at a Honda Jazz, they are cheap, hellishly reliable and a great car. My wife has had one for 5 years and it has not had one single problem. Mini's of that era are unreliable at best and were frought with problems.
Bill with a Basked
Is it good for first time drivers?
2 answers
It would be perfect. Ticks all the boxes... cheap to run, great handling, good safety record etc
European car for a first car, nope. Expensive insurance due to expensive parts and repair costs, go asian for your first car, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Mazda 3 etc.
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