I wouldn’t say I’ve had a lot of issue with this car if you look at miles and age. Would have it been expensive to fix if I took it to the dealer? Oh yeah! But doing these repairs at home just cost me time and no more than a couple hundred bucks all together. Thank you for watching and hope she stays trouble free.
@CONtrepreneurs WILL SOON FALL I own a 2010 Mini Cooper S with a n14 engine great fun car but if you're not mechanically inclined and you plan on taking this car to a dealer all the time don't buy it but if you like working on cars I've had no issues and a lot of fun with this car.😎👍
@New name which no one knows To be honest, some of the problems encountered on these cars are encountered on virtually any new car these days without regular maintenance detailed in the owner's manual people never read. It's important to remember, for every one complaint on the Internet, there's at least hundreds more without the issue. The Cooper is just one particular car that is notorious about being better near the end of a production run. This video is right about the oil changes--10k is ridiculous on any car, but ESPECIALLY turbocharged cars. If you've rotated your tires twice before an oil change, you're asking for trouble.
Seriously, I have my Mini Cooper S R56 2012 and I never have any problems In every car the oil change is every 2,500 or 5,000 miles if you follow the manual in that part obviously the car going give you some problems, clean the engine first before you make the video. Go to the point because I wait almost to the end to get what thing you talking about 🤣 but good If you don't like mini buy a horse and take care of it
I’ve got a 2011 R56 Cooper diesel (the later BMW engine) had it 4 years and put 60k miles on it - now has 110k. it’s been good so far. I change the oil every 8k miles and ALWAYS let it warm up and cool down (makes the turbo last longer).
Very nice! I don't think they even sell the diesel one here in the states, I'd love to see how it drives. Oil changes on most BMW products are number 1 maintenance.
The N14 definitely has it's problems but my R55 with the N14 is very fast and fun. 10/10 would recommend it if you're willing to spend the money on fixing it.
Changing the oil every 5-7K miles and regularly checking the dipstick is essential with my Cooper S Clubman 2007. Carbon built up shows on the exhaust tips and I have a check engine light for P0141 to indicate an oxygen sensor issue after the Cat. However, it's just as likely that the Cat itself is clogged! I have 95K on it and bought it with 68K with minimal issues other than the both front side light connections needing a lubrication spray to get the bulbs to work, which requires taking the wheel off for better access.
Checking the oil is essential with every Mini Cooper of this generation. If the issues you described are the only issues you've had in 30k miles, it's not THAT bad for a 13 year old Mini. I hope you take care of the issues and drive it for at least another 30k miles. Thanks for watching!
Carbon build up at the exhaust tips show that you have an improper burn. Short runs in cold weather, rich fuel mix. This vid is like so much other disinformation out there, self proclaimed experts speaking with "authority".
Knew nothing of Mini until few days ago. Nephew bought 03 plate. Got home, pass. door wouldn't open, drivers window not working and headlights random. So i had a look. Eventually got the central control box right side kick plate next to accelerator on RHD model, pulled the green power plug. Bent the female sockets in slightly, refit all works good now.
I own a 2010 Mini Cooper S with an n14 engine you are totally correct with everything you said most important thing to pay attention to is keep your oil level topped up and have your engine Walnut blasted best thing I ever did😎👍
Oil is super important in these engines as you’ve mentioned and doing maintenance like walnut blasting is essential to keeping these cars alive. Hope you enjoy your Mini Cooper S for many more years!
I just bought my 09 Clubman Mini S with 118K+ miles and a manual transmission and it still runs good as far as I know and the previous owner took really good care of it
Very helpful video. I got a late 2010 S with the N18 as I'm in the UK and we got the N18 a year earlier over here. Had the high pressure fuel pump replaced and a full timing chain and tensioner kit fitted already as I got slight chain rattle on startup. Also worth noting that the N18 isn't as prone to carbon build up and also has the revised chain tensioner so the chains last longer if the oil is looked after
@@THBULLDOZER Apart from the timing chain kit with tensioner that I got covered by the warranty when I bought it I have not had to do very much at all. I fitted new brake discs and pads late last year as I had a slight wobble under heavy breaking due to a warped disc. I have now had the car for nearly 3 years and its been trouble free pretty much. I change the oil every 6 months as I dont do many miles. It has passed the last 3 MOT's with no advisories and no work required to pass
@@chrissyboy7047 thanks for your reply that’s really helpful. I’ve got my eyes on a 2011 Cooper s with 94k miles. Timing belt and breaks have been change. Do you think I’d need to change things like the water pump, thermo housing etc on an n18?
@@THBULLDOZER no problem. Happy to help. My thermostat housing was replaced shortly before I bought mine. It was done due to a leak but that should be fairly easy to check if you buy it. If no leak then should be okay. Not sure about the water pump sorry. They can last a long time so if no issues then wouldnt worry. Theres no reaaon why a higher mileage car cant be a good one if its maintained properly. Just remember to keep the oil clean and topped up at all times. Lol
I got a 2008 r56 and it was running good for 10 years until last year when almost all of the problems you mentioned about the engine came up! Especially the high pressure fuel pump! So I found your video very helpful on how I should maintain it better! So keep up the good work and drive safe!
That tends to happen around 10 years or 100k miles. Fortunately, you can replace the HPFP yourself and it’s not very difficult to do. I have a video on it on my n20 engine (very similar). Thank you for watching and drive safe as well!
Guys don’t be afraid to buy the N14 engine Mini. If you know little bit about cars you will not get these symptoms, check your oil level regularly, use original oil filter and if you here a chain rattle try to fix it and don’t drive like everyone else blaming bad quality engine. By the way the R56 engines are not BMW it’s called Prince and built by Peugeot and Citroen. Always use original Mini Cooper Thermostat, otherwise it will always throw you a code if it’s not original.
Very good point. The video isn't meant to scare people away, I'm still driving mine and loving it every time I drive the car. N14 may be somewhat troublesome, but if you take care of it, it will last a decent amount of time. Not starving it of oil is #1 with these engines.
The mini has the aux water pump that works after the engine is shut off, to cool the turbo. You can hear it if you approach the turbo. So you don’t really have to keep it running on idle or anything like that
As R56 Cooper S owner The common engines issues: The engine Great little car but good grief mines had a full rebuild and still gives frequent issues despite the full service history and the attention that it is given. Watch your oil, these things can burn oil like crazy, and consider buying the R53 Cooper S.
I bought one of these cars as a rebuild project for $400. The car had almost every engine problem you explained. Bent valves due to worn out vacuum pump, snapped exhaust camshaft bolt, ruined timing chain, also had a fuel pressure issue and it was not the common high pressure pump, but rather the pressure sensor located on the fuel rail! Now I have issue with engine running hot, hoping water pump is bad and not something else like a cracked block! I also have R53 S with manual transmission and I believe it's a much more reliable car. But as with any car, proper maintenance and not abusing it driving 100 mph every day on the highway will make your car run for a long time. So far I spent $450 on parts, did all the work myself. You can see my RUclips channel for stuff I did also on the r56 might help you or others watching this out.
I don't think that's bad at all for a $400 car! Sounds like it wasn't really taken care of, but once you fix everything and maintain it properly, you should be good to go for a few years. I have a video on the water pump, if you want to check it out. R53s are probably more reliable overall, I'd have to agree, but are getting up there in age.
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks! Other than than the mechanical the rest of the car is in decent shape and everything else works including the AC! I agree that the car was not maintained properly at all. About that water pump I will check out your video. That is the next issue I have is the temperature got up to 230F, so I am hoping the water pump is the issue. They say if it's the thermostat, you get a fault code for which I am not getting so I think it's still ok.
Stay away from the N14 engine Don’t buy a 2008-2011, they’re the reason ppl think MINI are unreliable. 2012+ much better has the n18 though not perfect .R56 needs TLC though but worth it. Learn to work on them and enjoy it. It is Easy. He has the N14 If you can see those coils when you open the hood don't buy it Simple rule. @4:02 if u see the 4 lines dont buy.
Thank you my brother because of your RUclips info i didn't buying a 2010 Mini Cooper S exactly what you said I walked away from it because it had a rattle in the engine it was smoking from the tail pipes
Thanks for great info in this video, but the title of this video should be a warning for us all. At least for me it says "DO NOT BUY THIS CAR". When I buy a car, new or pre-owned, I do NOT want to expect problems. I expect it to have a certain level of reliability which provides me with peace of mind, knowing that it was money well spent. I was considering buying this car, but after having watched several videos regarding all kinds of problems and a required high level of maintenance, it's no longer in consideration.
Even though I may sounds negative in video, I do really like the car despite the issues it can have. I make these videos because some people (like me) are ok with doing maintenance and repair their own vehicles. It's much much cheaper to do so if you aren't paying for labor. As an example, I changed the water pump on it for $50 worth of parts. It would have been $700+ at a shop.
My dad experienced a decent number of issues with his R56. I think the fuel pump failed a few times. At least once or twice a year, he would have to take it in to get fixed and have to have a rental. I loved that car though despite the issues it had, and I definitely want one of these cars someday.
I think the only way to own these cars is to work on your own cars or buy them cheap enough to have money in the bank for repairs. I'm looking for my next one now!
@@SimpleCarGuy yep. Good point. And, not every Mini Cooper is like this obviously. My grandpa had his 2nd gen for years and I don't remember it having a problem until the day he decided to sell it.
Valve cover diaphragm valve for the crack case vent also fails a lot. You have to replace the whole cover, if it happens. It looks like you have the cover replaced with an aftermarket part as well. The OEM one has a Mini logo on it. Fortunately, aftermarket valve covers are cheap (
Thank you for the information and I didn't realize that the cover has been replaced on mine. I thought the cover didn't have Mini logo until 2011 model year. Appreciate you watching.
I had to replace the high pressure fuel pump, was priced at a local shop at $3k. I was able to tow the car 300+ miles to the dealer and get it replaced for "free" under warranty, but it was a nightmare.
Also if you have a full sunroof (mine 2007 is on its second one) they leak I thing the drain rains don’t properly drain and it leaks Down the A pillar and lands in the Jbe. And if you don’t catch it fast enough or if it runs fine like mine did until you have to re pin a 56 pin connector ($4 a piece from mini) and replace the Jbe ($438 from mini) and have it flashed to the car ($180 from mini if you buy the part from mini, $240 if you buy the Jbe somewhere else).
I got one of like 4 blue 2009 jcw made. issues I've come across is the high-pressure fuel pump and the clutch. replaced on the last day of my warranty. but now the water pump is leaking and I'm debating if I should go ahead with the repair because its like 140k miles and I think there is a lot more parts living on borrowed time, like the timing chain/ tensioner which has never been touched.
I live in nyc. I got automatic transmission. It’s a 2010 base model. It’s fun to drive but I have technical issues. The key fob died on me. I bought a used keyfob but idk if I’m gonna be able to replace it
My girlfriend gave her 2007 mini cooper s Chile to BMW after being at a mechanics in her town for 2 months and they charged her over 4 grand for her fuel pump to be replaced and it then blew up again and they kept it for another 2 months and replaced the exact same stuff they just did and made her pay another 3 grand for parts and now she's had it for 2 weeks the fuel censor has fully cooked itself. The only thing we can do to reset it is by disconnecting the battery and connecting it up again. I've taken every single fuse put and put them back in, the car has every single problem you have mentioned and it's also a munual, it's now getting it's shocks replaced because they are completely buggered and needs a new fuel censor after just spending over 8 grand on the car. It's technically a new car at this point but she's so sick of the car she is considering getting a Honda instead but after all the work that's been done would it be worth keeping it or would it be worth getting a civic rs.
I got my r56 S @50k mi and paid only 3k. I now put 28k mi on it and it does require a lot of maintenance. if not given a lot of attention “BYE BYE MINI”
As long as it has been taken care of and you change the oil at least every 5000 miles, it should be just fine. Of course, there could be some of the typical BMW/MINI issues, but these are really fun cars to have and are worth the trouble (that hopefully doesn't come). Thanks for watching!
I was thinking about trading my car in for a manual 2011 Mini Cooper s I really want one I’m a college student and live on campus but usually commute about 4 hours home to visit I was wondering if this car would be the right vehicle and would it stand up to occasionally road abuse if taken care of and maintenanced well
I wouldn't really get one and rely on it for a 4 hour commute semi often. They are great cars, but can be a bit troublesome and if a waterpump goes on the road, it's not a quick or easy fix. For more reliable (but maybe a little less fun), get a 2014+ Mini Cooper.
I'm so glad I got an Abarth. I don't mean to sound cruel but these cars have a difficult history, exacerbated by an uneducated following. Aside from the JCW crowd most of these cars have been owned by non-enthusiasts. The result is a neglected used market dominated by automatic convertibles. I love small cars and the first rendition is my favorite but a turbo was not available so it kept me away from those. Imagine that car with just a simple 2 liter turbo, it would have been legendary, instead they gave it the worst attributes of a BMW without any benefit really. Plastic water pumps, needless complexity and no tunability until much later and at a higher price. I wish Toyota bought them instead, that would have been epic.
what tune can i put on the car? how do i check the turbo charger on 2004 cooper S? what engine is 2004 Mini? what do you mean turn off properly, how long should i wait before turning off the car?
2004 is a different general car. Those have a supercharger and not a turbocharger so most of what I said will not apply to that car. What I mean by properly turning it off is after a spirited drive, you don't just shut it off, you let it idle for 20-30 seconds so that the hot oil is circulated and not stuck in the turbo. Thanks for watching!
Heey what do you think about buying R56 2007 automatic with 106000 km for 4000€? They have already did their annual check up a month ago and everything seems good.
If everything checks out, it seems like a good deal, but I have no idea what the prices are like in your country. Here in Chicago, you can get one like that for under $5000 for sure.
Hi mate, what an excellent video... I just bought a Mini John Cooper Works r56 2009 n14 engine, it only has 40.000 km (about 25.000 mile) should I expect the same issue than the Cooper S version??? Thx in advance. Keep the awesome work!!! Greetings from Colombia.
Beautiful car, congratulations! The engine is slightly more powerful on the JCW but essentially the same as on the Mini Cooper S. Since your car only has 25k miles, you can maintain it properly and prevent most of the issues. Never let it overheat, change the oil often and top off if needed. Let the car idle for a few moments before shutting it down etc. if you do all that, you shouldn’t have any issues unless you beat on the car. Thank you for watching!
Same engine, I believe. Same issues. milanmastracci channel has an extensive video on taking a JCW apart for a modification for a track car. Great resource, if you have a Mini S or JCW.
3,000 to 5,000 mile oil changes is excessive and highly unnecessary. The OEM recommended service intervals are already conservative. With 20y + professional engineering experience I'm calling BS. I've owned two of these. Read the recall notices, make sure they're rectified.
I am no expert but I use synthetic 5/30 mobil 1 oil in my 2013 mini [28k miles currently] and wont change it until it has run about 10k, local miles. Currently there is some black residue at the tailpipe end, but the dipstick [for what its worth] shows there is oil in it. I used to replace the oil / filter every 3k in my '99 Audi A4.... that was overkill.
I have a 2011 cooper s i did not have it 24 hours and my engine light came on, a few days later it lost half the power the coils went fixed it, week later engine came on again this time says i need a thermostat housing, i had 5 newer mini's and 3 classic mini's every one of the newer ones had issues but they are so fun to drive i put up with all bullshit
That's exactly my experience with mine. I suggest learning the simpler items you can do on the car. Coils and plugs take about 10 minutes to swap out, I even have a video on that!
Thank you everyone for watching. Please consider subscribing for more car videos! Check out *Mini* *Cooper* *S* *Hidden* *Features* : ruclips.net/video/gZvJOBLvTvs/видео.html
I love my mini Idk why I do ! It's fun can be in a bad mood take it out have fun & chill listening to music! I do worry about mineis not a turbo ! It's Pepe car !
I don't believe these are as prone to oil consumption, but I would still check every fill up just to make sure it's not burning oil. If you change your oil under 5000 miles, you shouldn't have to add oil at any point.
These cars are amazing for mods, but do remember to take care of all the maintenance stuff first. I'd recommend FB groups or forums to see what people have built.
Mini has always been my dream car but I know the maintenance cost that comes with it... May be I ll just rent it for the weekends and enjoy the short lived pleasure... Hope you ll have great time enjoying your wheels bcoz not everybody get to own it...
You just have to learn how to do some of the work yourself and the cost is greatly decreased. I had to change the water pump on mine and it only cost me $60, but the dealer wanted $900.
Love ur video. I got a 2010 R56S with N14. There was a huge burning plastic smell from the engine bay. Water temp were normal. Should I be worry about it?
Thanks for watching! Plastic smell from the engine bay is obviously not good, can you pin point where in the engine bay it's coming from? It could be as simple as some wires or parts of the wiring loom touching the turbo or exhaust.
I bought one last week from a dealer and when I drove it for 2days I realized something was off. I returned it and exchanged it for a Honda. After reading all the reviews on the mini s, I can never buy one
@SimpleCarGuy Hey, I am watching this video and I'm getting sick to my stomach! but I am looking to purchase a 2011 mini cooper clubman s from my grandparents as my first car. It is my grandma's car and they live in a smaller town. She probably drives it on average 5 miles a day if she even leaves the house. the car is at about 60,000 miles. They do not beat it up, its garage stored and it is in great condition. Also, they do not drive it harshly I mean they have probably never even floored it. but I want to know a true mini owner's opinion about this. Do you think I should purchase this as my first car? Thank you!! Edit: It is a 1 owner car.
Hi There! It will be a very fun car to drive, that's for sure. A far as reliability, as long as your grandparents took good care of it and changed oil frequently, it should be fine. Once you buy, never let it overheat, change oil every 5000 miles and make sure all fluids and topped off, especially oil and coolant. Of course no one can guarantee that it won't have any issues, but there are plenty of tutorials online for easy DIY solutions to most problems. I would buy it and if worst comes to worst, learn how to work on the car. Good luck!
It’s recommended to not shut off the car right after driving it hard or at high revs. Once you get to your destination after a fun drive, let the car idle for 15-20 seconds before shutting it down. It allows the hot oil around the turbo to be circulated.
Hi u didn’t mention the Footwell Module which apparently fail often & can suffer from water damage... I’m having to replace mine on my Mayfair S 2010 😏
Nope!! I’ve researched all the Forums about FRM (Footwell Module) failure nothing is said about preventative measures. But I think I’ve come up with one! Once I’ve received the new Module & it’s been Coded I think I’m going to wrap it using 3M Automotive Film in the hope it will prevent water damage as research shows the Module is prone to water damage.
Are all 2009 mini JCW engines the N14 ? Looking to get one but it has 100,000 on the clock. I know its late but any help would be appreciated. Great vid 👌
3 water pumps in 30,000 miles??? That means that that mini spends more time in the shop than the original 850cc, 998cc and 1275cc mini's did. My dad had the 1965 850cc version and I don't recall replacing the water pump 3 times in the over 10 years that he used it as his daily driver. And I would know as I was helping him work on that car since I was old enough to hold a 1/8 in wrench and tall enough to reach the brake pedal.
Even though it’s just holding a wrench, that sounds like an awesome experience being a kid! Yeah, I believe the previous owner put in super cheap water pumps and that’s why they failed. After I replaced it with a decent one, I drive for about a year and had no issues at all.
@@SimpleCarGuy It was fun, as I was so small, my job was to unbolt the bits that were hard to reach. So i was the one removing the radiator fan and the engine mount bolts.
@@SimpleCarGuy start of production in Germany was on August 2010. I bought my MINI with first registration date 08.2010 from Munich, I assume this is one of the first R56 with N18 on board.
Hi mate, i just want to buy a r56 but its the 2013, people say that that model, or well, the engine in the 2011-2013 car is more reliable, what do you think? Cheers from Mexico!:)
Yes, I would agree that 2011-2013 engines are much more reliable than the N20 engine in the pre-LCI version of the car. You still have to take care of it and change oil often, but it should last you a good amount of time!
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks man! Hopefully one day I'll be a proud mini owner hahaha. When u are free you can read up on car ownership in Singapore! A used mini would cost me at least 45k usd, and only valid for 10 years! Crazy place I live in hahaha
Unfortunately I have a r56 and hate MYSELF for buying it.if I only knew they are problem child's I would've walked on by...just did my spark plugs yesterday for a misfire and car still runs with a misfire...now I have to pray the new coils have the day because this car is putting me in the poor HOUSE. Never will I buy German cars again. Toyota's and chevys.THANK YOU FOR sharing the dirty secrets of these CRAP CARS.
A lot of German cars are definitely more for those that have the will and patience to work on them. Fun to drive but not always fun to own. Thanks for watching!
What is the indication that you have misfire? My car had the check engline light, but on the oil change service they reset all the error codes? After that, no more check engine light. Should I be woried?
Misfire won’t always be detected and reported as a code. In my case for about 2-3 days on hard acceleration the engine would bog down or stutter at around 3500 rpm. This indicates a misfire. I then gave the car full gas in 3rd gear on a safe spot of road and got the check ‘engine light soon’ which showed cylinder 4 misfire
@@grbr7548 I had the dreaded check engine light along with a stutter here and there. The cause of mine was the high pressure fuel pump. Seems to be the cause of a lot of problems. lol
Appreciate you watching and thanks for subscribing! I think it’s a very fun car for a 17 year old comparing to any other econobox; however, you have to realize that these will not be nearly as reliable and you better be ready to do some repairs and maintenance yourself. If you are comfortable with that, I say go for it and you’ll have a blast driving this street legal go cart!
there is a thing thats kind of wierd, you say the original service every 10000mls is very stupid and to long, but than you say if you are looking for a good N14, it should be well maintained, but if you buy a car that has only been maintaned at the dealer, well thats would also suck... i thing the best for N14 is that you buy from somebody that is aware of all the problems and knows how to tread the N14 right, and probably also did the last years he owned it :)
In my book well maintained is not only the stuff dealer does by schedule. You also don’t have to stick to that schedule, you can ask the dealer to do oil changes more often. In reality, these cars are getting older so it’s even more important that oil changes have been done often after warranty ran out. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy yeah i got you, but you and me we are car entusiast and we know this stuff, but i thing there are people out there that could misunderstand this and think: well, all services done, this should be a great maintained engine... i think you get my point, but no offense on you, great video! :)
Yeah but grandma not to happy with the cost of gas. Get her a mini cooper gets 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway. Grandma does not care for speed but 192HP cooper has it ready when she needs it.
It seems expensive judging by the prices around me, but I’m not sure about pricing in your area. That year and mileage (km) would be around $5k here. Check service and make some at least some of the items I mentioned were done.
Kostas Labis Ah you’re in Greece. I bought mine in Northeast US. I also looked up the conversion rates for kilometers and Euros. Basically in comparison to around here, that car is probably about 2000-3000 euros over priced. But again, completely different part of the world, I dunno anything about your car market so it might be a fair price.
Do not just change the timing chain tensioner for 50bucks do the timing chain upgrade cost a bomb but much better outcome dont buy a n14 motor such as this they are noghtmares an will cost you a fortune simple
I've heard that the tensioner goes bad way before the chain and thus making the chain stretch more. So, changing it before you have issues with the chain is like preventative maintenance.
The piece of dog dung I have has never stopped having problem after problem! The best measure of not having any problems is simple?Donot buy one of these shit buckets! As of date I have roughly 6 visits to a local German car specialist in our home town,it uses oil like pouring it on the ground? It does not smoke, or have a reason why other than what the manufacture told me? Yea we know they use oil, but we donot know why???? So a valuable lesson to learn? Don’t buy one. I own the 2009 S model with turbo charger, it will run like a screaming eagle but that is when it is not in shop!
I’m starting to think that these cars should only be bought by people that can do their own maintenance. Otherwise it’s too expensive to own. For example, I replaced the water pump on mine for $50 and it’s like $900 at a shop
Never had any issues with my Mini. Had it 3 years. Great car. A blast to drive. Hope you have better luck.
I wouldn’t say I’ve had a lot of issue with this car if you look at miles and age. Would have it been expensive to fix if I took it to the dealer? Oh yeah! But doing these repairs at home just cost me time and no more than a couple hundred bucks all together.
Thank you for watching and hope she stays trouble free.
That’s surprising
@CONtrepreneurs WILL SOON FALL I own a 2010 Mini Cooper S with a n14 engine great fun car but if you're not mechanically inclined and you plan on taking this car to a dealer all the time don't buy it but if you like working on cars I've had no issues and a lot of fun with this car.😎👍
@New name which no one knows To be honest, some of the problems encountered on these cars are encountered on virtually any new car these days without regular maintenance detailed in the owner's manual people never read.
It's important to remember, for every one complaint on the Internet, there's at least hundreds more without the issue. The Cooper is just one particular car that is notorious about being better near the end of a production run. This video is right about the oil changes--10k is ridiculous on any car, but ESPECIALLY turbocharged cars. If you've rotated your tires twice before an oil change, you're asking for trouble.
Seriously, I have my Mini Cooper S R56 2012 and I never have any problems
In every car the oil change is every 2,500 or 5,000 miles if you follow the manual in that part obviously the car going give you some problems, clean the engine first before you make the video. Go to the point because I wait almost to the end to get what thing you talking about 🤣 but good
If you don't like mini buy a horse and take care of it
I’ve got a 2011 R56 Cooper diesel (the later BMW engine) had it 4 years and put 60k miles on it - now has 110k. it’s been good so far. I change the oil every 8k miles and ALWAYS let it warm up and cool down (makes the turbo last longer).
Very nice! I don't think they even sell the diesel one here in the states, I'd love to see how it drives. Oil changes on most BMW products are number 1 maintenance.
How do you let it cool down?
The N14 definitely has it's problems but my R55 with the N14 is very fast and fun. 10/10 would recommend it if you're willing to spend the money on fixing it.
Changing the oil every 5-7K miles and regularly checking the dipstick is essential with my Cooper S Clubman 2007. Carbon built up shows on the exhaust tips and I have a check engine light for P0141 to indicate an oxygen sensor issue after the Cat. However, it's just as likely that the Cat itself is clogged! I have 95K on it and bought it with 68K with minimal issues other than the both front side light connections needing a lubrication spray to get the bulbs to work, which requires taking the wheel off for better access.
Checking the oil is essential with every Mini Cooper of this generation. If the issues you described are the only issues you've had in 30k miles, it's not THAT bad for a 13 year old Mini. I hope you take care of the issues and drive it for at least another 30k miles.
Thanks for watching!
Carbon build up at the exhaust tips show that you have an improper burn. Short runs in cold weather, rich fuel mix.
This vid is like so much other disinformation out there, self proclaimed experts speaking with "authority".
Knew nothing of Mini until few days ago. Nephew bought 03 plate. Got home, pass. door wouldn't open, drivers window not working and headlights random. So i had a look. Eventually got the central control box right side kick plate next to accelerator on RHD model, pulled the green power plug. Bent the female sockets in slightly, refit all works good now.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I've never heard of the plug not making good contact, but now I know!
I own a 2010 Mini Cooper S with an n14 engine you are totally correct with everything you said most important thing to pay attention to is keep your oil level topped up and have your engine Walnut blasted best thing I ever did😎👍
Oil is super important in these engines as you’ve mentioned and doing maintenance like walnut blasting is essential to keeping these cars alive. Hope you enjoy your Mini Cooper S for many more years!
That sounds expensive. How much?
@@johnk815I believe it cost 💲 1000.00
I just bought my 09 Clubman Mini S with 118K+ miles and a manual transmission and it still runs good as far as I know and the previous owner took really good care of it
Any problems now?
My 2011 base just popped a core plug inside the valve cover area. Yup, oil and antifreeze washed the cams!
Very helpful video. I got a late 2010 S with the N18 as I'm in the UK and we got the N18 a year earlier over here. Had the high pressure fuel pump replaced and a full timing chain and tensioner kit fitted already as I got slight chain rattle on startup.
Also worth noting that the N18 isn't as prone to carbon build up and also has the revised chain tensioner so the chains last longer if the oil is looked after
Thank you for watching! Thank you for more info in the N18 engine!
Hi What sort of maintenance did you have to do and roughly how much would it cost to maintain yearly?
@@THBULLDOZER Apart from the timing chain kit with tensioner that I got covered by the warranty when I bought it I have not had to do very much at all.
I fitted new brake discs and pads late last year as I had a slight wobble under heavy breaking due to a warped disc.
I have now had the car for nearly 3 years and its been trouble free pretty much. I change the oil every 6 months as I dont do many miles.
It has passed the last 3 MOT's with no advisories and no work required to pass
@@chrissyboy7047 thanks for your reply that’s really helpful. I’ve got my eyes on a 2011 Cooper s with 94k miles. Timing belt and breaks have been change. Do you think I’d need to change things like the water pump, thermo housing etc on an n18?
@@THBULLDOZER no problem. Happy to help. My thermostat housing was replaced shortly before I bought mine. It was done due to a leak but that should be fairly easy to check if you buy it. If no leak then should be okay. Not sure about the water pump sorry. They can last a long time so if no issues then wouldnt worry.
Theres no reaaon why a higher mileage car cant be a good one if its maintained properly.
Just remember to keep the oil clean and topped up at all times. Lol
I got a 2008 r56 and it was running good for 10 years until last year when almost all of the problems you mentioned about the engine came up! Especially the high pressure fuel pump! So I found your video very helpful on how I should maintain it better! So keep up the good work and drive safe!
That tends to happen around 10 years or 100k miles. Fortunately, you can replace the HPFP yourself and it’s not very difficult to do. I have a video on it on my n20 engine (very similar). Thank you for watching and drive safe as well!
Guys don’t be afraid to buy the N14 engine Mini. If you know little bit about cars you will not get these symptoms, check your oil level regularly, use original oil filter and if you here a chain rattle try to fix it and don’t drive like everyone else blaming bad quality engine. By the way the R56 engines are not BMW it’s called Prince and built by Peugeot and Citroen. Always use original Mini Cooper Thermostat, otherwise it will always throw you a code if it’s not original.
Very good point. The video isn't meant to scare people away, I'm still driving mine and loving it every time I drive the car. N14 may be somewhat troublesome, but if you take care of it, it will last a decent amount of time. Not starving it of oil is #1 with these engines.
Just bought a 2010 50th anniversary Camden Mini Cooper s. Love the car, haven’t had any problems for the past 2 weeks. Great video keep it up!
That’s a sweeeet car right there! Congratulations and thank you for watching!
Thanks!
Appreciate you watching!
The mini has the aux water pump that works after the engine is shut off, to cool the turbo. You can hear it if you approach the turbo. So you don’t really have to keep it running on idle or anything like that
As R56 Cooper S owner
The common engines issues: The engine
Great little car but good grief mines had a full rebuild and still gives frequent issues despite the full service history and the attention that it is given. Watch your oil, these things can burn oil like crazy, and consider buying the R53 Cooper S.
You are absolutely right! Such fun cars, but hard to keep happy.
@@SimpleCarGuy Exactly, sadly now mine has issues with the turbo, oil pump and potentially piston rings... Wish me luck
I bought one of these cars as a rebuild project for $400. The car had almost every engine problem you explained. Bent valves due to worn out vacuum pump, snapped exhaust camshaft bolt, ruined timing chain, also had a fuel pressure issue and it was not the common high pressure pump, but rather the pressure sensor located on the fuel rail! Now I have issue with engine running hot, hoping water pump is bad and not something else like a cracked block! I also have R53 S with manual transmission and I believe it's a much more reliable car. But as with any car, proper maintenance and not abusing it driving 100 mph every day on the highway will make your car run for a long time. So far I spent $450 on parts, did all the work myself. You can see my RUclips channel for stuff I did also on the r56 might help you or others watching this out.
I don't think that's bad at all for a $400 car! Sounds like it wasn't really taken care of, but once you fix everything and maintain it properly, you should be good to go for a few years. I have a video on the water pump, if you want to check it out.
R53s are probably more reliable overall, I'd have to agree, but are getting up there in age.
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks! Other than than the mechanical the rest of the car is in decent shape and everything else works including the AC! I agree that the car was not maintained properly at all. About that water pump I will check out your video. That is the next issue I have is the temperature got up to 230F, so I am hoping the water pump is the issue. They say if it's the thermostat, you get a fault code for which I am not getting so I think it's still ok.
Stay away from the N14 engine Don’t buy a 2008-2011, they’re the reason ppl think MINI are unreliable. 2012+ much better has the n18 though not perfect .R56 needs TLC though but worth it. Learn to work on them and enjoy it. It is Easy. He has the N14 If you can see those coils when you open the hood don't buy it Simple rule. @4:02 if u see the 4 lines dont buy.
Excellent information and your way of presentation brother...
Thank you my brother because of your RUclips info i didn't buying a 2010 Mini Cooper S exactly what you said I walked away from it because it had a rattle in the engine it was smoking from the tail pipes
You definitely don't want one of those! Glad the video helped.
N14 continuous in the jcw model until 2012. Great vid.
Thank you for the info and for watching!
Thanks for great info in this video, but the title of this video should be a warning for us all. At least for me it says "DO NOT BUY THIS CAR". When I buy a car, new or pre-owned, I do NOT want to expect problems. I expect it to have a certain level of reliability which provides me with peace of mind, knowing that it was money well spent.
I was considering buying this car, but after having watched several videos regarding all kinds of problems and a required high level of maintenance, it's no longer in consideration.
Even though I may sounds negative in video, I do really like the car despite the issues it can have. I make these videos because some people (like me) are ok with doing maintenance and repair their own vehicles. It's much much cheaper to do so if you aren't paying for labor. As an example, I changed the water pump on it for $50 worth of parts. It would have been $700+ at a shop.
For me it's the opposite. Granted, it's a money pit for a 17 year old, but I love fixing my Mini. I feel more connected to my car if it has issues
My dad experienced a decent number of issues with his R56. I think the fuel pump failed a few times. At least once or twice a year, he would have to take it in to get fixed and have to have a rental. I loved that car though despite the issues it had, and I definitely want one of these cars someday.
I think the only way to own these cars is to work on your own cars or buy them cheap enough to have money in the bank for repairs. I'm looking for my next one now!
@@SimpleCarGuy yep. Good point. And, not every Mini Cooper is like this obviously. My grandpa had his 2nd gen for years and I don't remember it having a problem until the day he decided to sell it.
Valve cover diaphragm valve for the crack case vent also fails a lot. You have to replace the whole cover, if it happens. It looks like you have the cover replaced with an aftermarket part as well. The OEM one has a Mini logo on it. Fortunately, aftermarket valve covers are cheap (
Thank you for the information and I didn't realize that the cover has been replaced on mine. I thought the cover didn't have Mini logo until 2011 model year.
Appreciate you watching.
@@SimpleCarGuy My Mini is 2008. I transferred the logo from the old one. It was almost as difficult as replacing the cover.
I recently bought a super clean dealership queen 2012 mini countryman N 16 with a standard transmission.
I had to replace the high pressure fuel pump, was priced at a local shop at $3k. I was able to tow the car 300+ miles to the dealer and get it replaced for "free" under warranty, but it was a nightmare.
Also if you have a full sunroof (mine 2007 is on its second one) they leak I thing the drain rains don’t properly drain and it leaks Down the A pillar and lands in the Jbe. And if you don’t catch it fast enough or if it runs fine like mine did until you have to re pin a 56 pin connector ($4 a piece from mini) and replace the Jbe ($438 from mini) and have it flashed to the car ($180 from mini if you buy the part from mini, $240 if you buy the Jbe somewhere else).
Thanks for the info! I love when people add to the conversation, making this a good resource for future owners.
I got one of like 4 blue 2009 jcw made. issues I've come across is the high-pressure fuel pump and the clutch. replaced on the last day of my warranty. but now the water pump is leaking and I'm debating if I should go ahead with the repair because its like 140k miles and I think there is a lot more parts living on borrowed time, like the timing chain/ tensioner which has never been touched.
I live in nyc. I got automatic transmission. It’s a 2010 base model. It’s fun to drive but I have technical issues. The key fob died on me. I bought a used keyfob but idk if I’m gonna be able to replace it
If you bought a used one, it will not work on your car. You can't reprogram key fobs as far as I understand.
Hi there my mini popped up with a code (cc id 031) increased emission what does it mean?
My girlfriend gave her 2007 mini cooper s Chile to BMW after being at a mechanics in her town for 2 months and they charged her over 4 grand for her fuel pump to be replaced and it then blew up again and they kept it for another 2 months and replaced the exact same stuff they just did and made her pay another 3 grand for parts and now she's had it for 2 weeks the fuel censor has fully cooked itself. The only thing we can do to reset it is by disconnecting the battery and connecting it up again. I've taken every single fuse put and put them back in, the car has every single problem you have mentioned and it's also a munual, it's now getting it's shocks replaced because they are completely buggered and needs a new fuel censor after just spending over 8 grand on the car. It's technically a new car at this point but she's so sick of the car she is considering getting a Honda instead but after all the work that's been done would it be worth keeping it or would it be worth getting a civic rs.
I got my r56 S @50k mi and paid only 3k. I now put 28k mi on it and it does require a lot of maintenance. if not given a lot of attention “BYE BYE MINI”
Wow that is really cheap! What year is your r56?
I just got a Mini Cooper S 2012 with the 1.6 4cyl turbo 6m. Do you recommend the car? I’ve driven it and it seems fine, not sure tho.
As long as it has been taken care of and you change the oil at least every 5000 miles, it should be just fine. Of course, there could be some of the typical BMW/MINI issues, but these are really fun cars to have and are worth the trouble (that hopefully doesn't come). Thanks for watching!
I was thinking about trading my car in for a manual 2011 Mini Cooper s I really want one I’m a college student and live on campus but usually commute about 4 hours home to visit I was wondering if this car would be the right vehicle and would it stand up to occasionally road abuse if taken care of and maintenanced well
I wouldn't really get one and rely on it for a 4 hour commute semi often. They are great cars, but can be a bit troublesome and if a waterpump goes on the road, it's not a quick or easy fix. For more reliable (but maybe a little less fun), get a 2014+ Mini Cooper.
I'm so glad I got an Abarth. I don't mean to sound cruel but these cars have a difficult history, exacerbated by an uneducated following. Aside from the JCW crowd most of these cars have been owned by non-enthusiasts. The result is a neglected used market dominated by automatic convertibles. I love small cars and the first rendition is my favorite but a turbo was not available so it kept me away from those. Imagine that car with just a simple 2 liter turbo, it would have been legendary, instead they gave it the worst attributes of a BMW without any benefit really. Plastic water pumps, needless complexity and no tunability until much later and at a higher price. I wish Toyota bought them instead, that would have been epic.
what tune can i put on the car? how do i check the turbo charger on 2004 cooper S? what engine is 2004 Mini? what do you mean turn off properly, how long should i wait before turning off the car?
2004 is a different general car. Those have a supercharger and not a turbocharger so most of what I said will not apply to that car. What I mean by properly turning it off is after a spirited drive, you don't just shut it off, you let it idle for 20-30 seconds so that the hot oil is circulated and not stuck in the turbo. Thanks for watching!
Heey what do you think about buying R56 2007 automatic with 106000 km for 4000€? They have already did their annual check up a month ago and everything seems good.
If everything checks out, it seems like a good deal, but I have no idea what the prices are like in your country. Here in Chicago, you can get one like that for under $5000 for sure.
Hi mate, what an excellent video...
I just bought a Mini John Cooper Works r56 2009 n14 engine, it only has 40.000 km (about 25.000 mile) should I expect the same issue than the Cooper S version???
Thx in advance. Keep the awesome work!!!
Greetings from Colombia.
Beautiful car, congratulations!
The engine is slightly more powerful on the JCW but essentially the same as on the Mini Cooper S. Since your car only has 25k miles, you can maintain it properly and prevent most of the issues. Never let it overheat, change the oil often and top off if needed. Let the car idle for a few moments before shutting it down etc. if you do all that, you shouldn’t have any issues unless you beat on the car.
Thank you for watching!
Same engine, I believe. Same issues. milanmastracci channel has an extensive video on taking a JCW apart for a modification for a track car. Great resource, if you have a Mini S or JCW.
So I’m looking at a 2009 Clubman S with the N56 anything I should specifically look for does have 134k miles on it
I don’t think there is an n56 engine if that’s what you are saying. 2009 clubman s would have the same items I’m talking about in the video.
@@SimpleCarGuy yea my bad meant to say n14
Does anybody have the 2012 wiring diagram for the rear wiper
headlamp looks really looks great! where can I get that headlamp?
3,000 to 5,000 mile oil changes is excessive and highly unnecessary. The OEM recommended service intervals are already conservative. With 20y + professional engineering experience I'm calling BS.
I've owned two of these. Read the recall notices, make sure they're rectified.
I am no expert but I use synthetic 5/30 mobil 1 oil in my 2013 mini [28k miles currently] and wont change it until it has run about 10k, local miles. Currently there is some black residue at the tailpipe end, but the dipstick [for what its worth] shows there is oil in it. I used to replace the oil / filter every 3k in my '99 Audi A4.... that was overkill.
Just like a BMW, this will run perfectly for another 5 years. Then one by one, you know what is going to happen.
And, I am a die hard mini fan.
Welll, sometimes you have to pay the price to have fun!
This is exactly what happened to me
My R56 N18 just told me the timing chain (tensioner and upper guide bracket) doesn't feel well... :-(
I have a 2011 cooper s i did not have it 24 hours and my engine light came on, a few days later it lost half the power the coils went fixed it, week later engine came on again this time says i need a thermostat housing, i had 5 newer mini's and 3 classic mini's every one of the newer ones had issues but they are so fun to drive i put up with all bullshit
That's exactly my experience with mine. I suggest learning the simpler items you can do on the car. Coils and plugs take about 10 minutes to swap out, I even have a video on that!
Thank you everyone for watching. Please consider subscribing for more car videos!
Check out *Mini* *Cooper* *S* *Hidden* *Features* : ruclips.net/video/gZvJOBLvTvs/видео.html
Appreciate the video! I have non S 2013 R56 n16 - does it have a cvt engine? I am scared. Currently at 69,000km
Is your car manual or automatic? I don't think they made CVT past 2006. Thanks for watching!!!
From where did you get the headlight?
It was a few years ago, but I think it was from Amazon. Check the links in the description, it should get you closer
I love my mini Idk why I do ! It's fun can be in a bad mood take it out have fun & chill listening to music! I do worry about mineis not a turbo ! It's Pepe car !
How is the oil consumption on a base mini cooper 2011 R56 with N16 engine as compared to an S with the same engine?
I don't believe these are as prone to oil consumption, but I would still check every fill up just to make sure it's not burning oil. If you change your oil under 5000 miles, you shouldn't have to add oil at any point.
I have found mine burns a quart every 1000 or so miles. I check it a lot
I'm considering buying a 2008 cooper s auto, how does thru handle power or mods?
These cars are amazing for mods, but do remember to take care of all the maintenance stuff first. I'd recommend FB groups or forums to see what people have built.
Mini has always been my dream car but I know the maintenance cost that comes with it... May be I ll just rent it for the weekends and enjoy the short lived pleasure... Hope you ll have great time enjoying your wheels bcoz not everybody get to own it...
You just have to learn how to do some of the work yourself and the cost is greatly decreased. I had to change the water pump on mine and it only cost me $60, but the dealer wanted $900.
Thank you
Great video SCG! I have a question, where did you get your aftermarket headlights?
Thanks! I got them from amazon here, but seems they are out of stock right now: amzn.to/30lkLNK
Love ur video. I got a 2010 R56S with N14. There was a huge burning plastic smell from the engine bay. Water temp were normal. Should I be worry about it?
Thanks for watching! Plastic smell from the engine bay is obviously not good, can you pin point where in the engine bay it's coming from? It could be as simple as some wires or parts of the wiring loom touching the turbo or exhaust.
Probably just the valve cover. It’s not a big problem to fix
How do you like those headlights? They look great but do they work great?
They look fantastic, but I can’t say that they function as well as oem headlights. There is some stutter on bumps which is really annoying.
I bought one last week from a dealer and when I drove it for 2days I realized something was off. I returned it and exchanged it for a Honda. After reading all the reviews on the mini s, I can never buy one
Thanks for sharing! They are really fun cars, but need an enthusiast after certain years or it's a headache.
@SimpleCarGuy Hey, I am watching this video and I'm getting sick to my stomach! but I am looking to purchase a 2011 mini cooper clubman s from my grandparents as my first car. It is my grandma's car and they live in a smaller town. She probably drives it on average 5 miles a day if she even leaves the house. the car is at about 60,000 miles. They do not beat it up, its garage stored and it is in great condition. Also, they do not drive it harshly I mean they have probably never even floored it. but I want to know a true mini owner's opinion about this. Do you think I should purchase this as my first car? Thank you!!
Edit: It is a 1 owner car.
Hi There! It will be a very fun car to drive, that's for sure. A far as reliability, as long as your grandparents took good care of it and changed oil frequently, it should be fine. Once you buy, never let it overheat, change oil every 5000 miles and make sure all fluids and topped off, especially oil and coolant. Of course no one can guarantee that it won't have any issues, but there are plenty of tutorials online for easy DIY solutions to most problems. I would buy it and if worst comes to worst, learn how to work on the car. Good luck!
@@SimpleCarGuy great! Thank you so much for responding, I appreciate it! Awesome videos!
How did your 2011 do since you had it?
What do you mean by idle down before turning off the engine?
It’s recommended to not shut off the car right after driving it hard or at high revs. Once you get to your destination after a fun drive, let the car idle for 15-20 seconds before shutting it down. It allows the hot oil around the turbo to be circulated.
@@SimpleCarGuy thank you!
Hi u didn’t mention the Footwell Module which apparently fail often & can suffer from water damage... I’m having to replace mine on my Mayfair S 2010 😏
Interesting, I haven't heard of this issue. Will be adding to the list. Is there any preventative maintenance that can be done for this?
Nope!! I’ve researched all the Forums about FRM (Footwell Module) failure nothing is said about preventative measures. But I think I’ve come up with one! Once I’ve received the new Module & it’s been Coded I think I’m going to wrap it using 3M Automotive Film in the hope it will prevent water damage as research shows the Module is prone to water damage.
Had an r53 for a year , was pretty reliable. Definitely fun to drive
I haven't had too many issues myself other than the ones I mentioned, but I couldn't agree more as to how fun this car is! Would love to drive an r53!
Are all 2009 mini JCW engines the N14 ?
Looking to get one but it has 100,000 on the clock.
I know its late but any help would be appreciated.
Great vid 👌
Yes, I believe all 2009 would have the n14 engine. To be sure, use a VIN decoder to check what engine it has.
@@SimpleCarGuywhat about the 2011?
3 water pumps in 30,000 miles???
That means that that mini spends more time in the shop than the original 850cc, 998cc and 1275cc mini's did. My dad had the 1965 850cc version and I don't recall replacing the water pump 3 times in the over 10 years that he used it as his daily driver. And I would know as I was helping him work on that car since I was old enough to hold a 1/8 in wrench and tall enough to reach the brake pedal.
Even though it’s just holding a wrench, that sounds like an awesome experience being a kid! Yeah, I believe the previous owner put in super cheap water pumps and that’s why they failed. After I replaced it with a decent one, I drive for about a year and had no issues at all.
@@SimpleCarGuy It was fun, as I was so small, my job was to unbolt the bits that were hard to reach. So i was the one removing the radiator fan and the engine mount bolts.
Which radio do you have in your R56 and where can I purchase it for my R56
That's the OEM navigation unit, not aftermarket.
I think the 2010 models of the Cooper S had the N188 engine
As far as I remember, the n18 was 2011, 2012 and 2013 only. Might be different in other countries.
@@SimpleCarGuy start of production in Germany was on August 2010. I bought my MINI with first registration date 08.2010 from Munich, I assume this is one of the first R56 with N18 on board.
Good video! Wonder if you can make a summary about problems for 3rd gen an F series.
I'd love to do one if I get borrow a car from someone for a week or two to get to know it a little better. Thanks for the suggestion!
What are those headlights called wow !
There are Spec-D Tuning F56 Style LED Tube DRL Projector Headlights in Gloss Black: amzn.to/30lkLNK
Easy to replace the hood scoop with an aftermarket scoop. The state there is nothing you can do is incorrect.
Yeah, you are right, there isn't much you can do besides replacing it.
Problems… like need a new engine. Never thought it would happen to me, low 60k miles, always serviced at Mini… engine replacement
Hi mate, i just want to buy a r56 but its the 2013, people say that that model, or well, the engine in the 2011-2013 car is more reliable, what do you think? Cheers from Mexico!:)
Yes, I would agree that 2011-2013 engines are much more reliable than the N20 engine in the pre-LCI version of the car. You still have to take care of it and change oil often, but it should last you a good amount of time!
@@SimpleCarGuy How is the oil consumption on a base mini cooper 2011 as compared to an S
@@dunstanchabwe6931how is your 2011 doing?
Brilliant! Most helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Cool Honest and Prctical! Thanks you! This does help make the descision to get one!
Glad it was helpful!
Damn, now I'm getting afraid of getting the R56 especially with ridiculously high car prices in my country. Trying to find an R53 instead haha
You just have to really take care of them and stay on top of things. Honestly, not a bad car.
@@SimpleCarGuy Thanks man! Hopefully one day I'll be a proud mini owner hahaha. When u are free you can read up on car ownership in Singapore! A used mini would cost me at least 45k usd, and only valid for 10 years! Crazy place I live in hahaha
Unfortunately I have a r56 and hate MYSELF for buying it.if I only knew they are problem child's I would've walked on by...just did my spark plugs yesterday for a misfire and car still runs with a misfire...now I have to pray the new coils have the day because this car is putting me in the poor HOUSE. Never will I buy German cars again. Toyota's and chevys.THANK YOU FOR sharing the dirty secrets of these CRAP CARS.
A lot of German cars are definitely more for those that have the will and patience to work on them. Fun to drive but not always fun to own.
Thanks for watching!
What is the indication that you have misfire? My car had the check engline light, but on the oil change service they reset all the error codes? After that, no more check engine light. Should I be woried?
Misfire won’t always be detected and reported as a code. In my case for about 2-3 days on hard acceleration the engine would bog down or stutter at around 3500 rpm. This indicates a misfire. I then gave the car full gas in 3rd gear on a safe spot of road and got the check ‘engine light soon’ which showed cylinder 4 misfire
@@SimpleCarGuy and wallet😀
@@grbr7548 I had the dreaded check engine light along with a stutter here and there. The cause of mine was the high pressure fuel pump. Seems to be the cause of a lot of problems. lol
Thank you for the video
Amazing video, earned a sub! quick question, would you recommend this as a 17 year olds first car?
Appreciate you watching and thanks for subscribing! I think it’s a very fun car for a 17 year old comparing to any other econobox; however, you have to realize that these will not be nearly as reliable and you better be ready to do some repairs and maintenance yourself. If you are comfortable with that, I say go for it and you’ll have a blast driving this street legal go cart!
SimpleCarGuy thanks bro you’re the man for this info! appreciate it
Great exactly I was going to buy
I'd give my opinion about what I think about Mini, the build quality and how they (don't) stand behind their brand, but it would just get deleted
What year is your car?
It's a 2010 Mini Cooper S.
Merci bien expliqué
How are the speed bumps? Have you experienced any problems with damaging the car because of how low it is? Thank you for the video!
I haven't had any issues with speed bumps at all. The car just drives and handles better.
Can you show us the problems about other cars? Thanks
Sure, what cars would people be interested in?
@@SimpleCarGuy Any car you have done research about would be helpful, thank you.
man... its hard to beat the R53 supercharger model...more go-kart like.
You don't have the MINI ONE in the US?
We only have Mini Cooper, S and JCW models. No diesel or ‘First’ versions around here either.
there is a thing thats kind of wierd, you say the original service every 10000mls is very stupid and to long, but than you say if you are looking for a good N14, it should be well maintained, but if you buy a car that has only been maintaned at the dealer, well thats would also suck... i thing the best for N14 is that you buy from somebody that is aware of all the problems and knows how to tread the N14 right, and probably also did the last years he owned it :)
In my book well maintained is not only the stuff dealer does by schedule. You also don’t have to stick to that schedule, you can ask the dealer to do oil changes more often. In reality, these cars are getting older so it’s even more important that oil changes have been done often after warranty ran out.
Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy yeah i got you, but you and me we are car entusiast and we know this stuff, but i thing there are people out there that could misunderstand this and think: well, all services done, this should be a great maintained engine...
i think you get my point, but no offense on you, great video! :)
I got it! I’ll take note for future videos and add this in the description!
R53 or R56 ??
This is an r56.
Idk man my boring grandma 14 Camry SE with a V6 can take on any car with a turbo.
Yeah but grandma not to happy with the cost of gas. Get her a mini cooper gets 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway. Grandma does not care for speed but 192HP cooper has it ready when she needs it.
Thank you!!!!!
You're welcome!
I have one from 2010. The absolute WORST car I have ever owned, don't even THINK about getting one.
timing chains do not stretch,they wear.
Fair point. When I say stretch, I mean they elongate from wear.
No they do stretch, don't believe me check chain stretch on a chainsaw with a new chain yeah its break in but it acts the same way
Yes, they do stretch.
Gracias saludos
Should I go ahead and buy one with 130k km 08' s model for 7k $? Cool video !
It seems expensive judging by the prices around me, but I’m not sure about pricing in your area. That year and mileage (km) would be around $5k here. Check service and make some at least some of the items I mentioned were done.
Kostas Labis I got an ‘09 in very good condition for $3500, so I’d say that sounds pretty high.
Kostas Labis that’s a lot of money for the miles and age. I paid 6k for a 8yr old car w/74k miles.
I guess prices are different from countries to countries. Here in Greece they are really expensive
Kostas Labis Ah you’re in Greece. I bought mine in Northeast US. I also looked up the conversion rates for kilometers and Euros. Basically in comparison to around here, that car is probably about 2000-3000 euros over priced. But again, completely different part of the world, I dunno anything about your car market so it might be a fair price.
Thanks for the review. I was seriously thinking of getting one of these cars cos my Vespa got stolen. Now I know to stay away from them.
I would still consider it as it’s such a great and fun car to drive. Yes, it has issues, but a lot of ‘fun’ cars like this will as well.
It sounds like 90% cases, it will grand ripoff repair annually.
Do not just change the timing chain tensioner for 50bucks do the timing chain upgrade cost a bomb but much better outcome dont buy a n14 motor such as this they are noghtmares an will cost you a fortune simple
I've heard that the tensioner goes bad way before the chain and thus making the chain stretch more. So, changing it before you have issues with the chain is like preventative maintenance.
Should have been titled “n14 problems”
The piece of dog dung I have has never stopped having problem after problem! The best measure of not having any problems is simple?Donot buy one of these shit buckets! As of date I have roughly 6 visits to a local German car specialist in our home town,it uses oil like pouring it on the ground? It does not smoke, or have a reason why other than what the manufacture told me? Yea we know they use oil, but we donot know why????
So a valuable lesson to learn? Don’t buy one. I own the 2009 S model with turbo charger, it will run like a screaming eagle but that is when it is not in shop!
I’m starting to think that these cars should only be bought by people that can do their own maintenance. Otherwise it’s too expensive to own. For example, I replaced the water pump on mine for $50 and it’s like $900 at a shop
These cars a pure junk badly engineered. I have a repair manual for the r56 for sale if anyone interested it's not the haynes it's the factory
Think about placing your mic in the middle of your shirt.
Thanks for the advice, still learning how to produce videos and getting the sound right.
Sound quality was terrible though
Thanks for the feedback, check out my more recent videos for better quality!
This car is too difficult to work on
What makes it more difficult than other cars?