Tell me about Bini Coopers ....please! Now Bortified! Woolarding content!!!

[chrisjvm]

We have a 60 plate facelift R56 petrol auto, on 20,000 miles. We like it a lot - it's a huge step up from the 9N Polo Twist 1.4 auto we PX'd.

 

image by max_burton, on Flickr

 

 

 

Manuals are equipped with BMW EfficientDynamics, autos aren't - gearbox just has sport mode instead. The gearbox problems are on pre-2006 autos - it's a CVT box that has a habit of eating itself. Note that a pre-2006 Cooper S doesn't have a CVT.

Coopers are a lively drive with 116bhp - the car feels like it wants to be chucked about and driven fast (well, an auto does in sport mode - I imagine a manual feels similar. It feels restricted and slightly lethargic in normal drive - all sport mode does is reduce revs etc That said it does appear to affect handling/steering response - ePAS?). Gears are short/acceleration oriented though - our auto is in 6th at 70mph.

Ones have 90hp, and the First (base model) is restricted to a wheezy 75.

 

In the time we've had ours the tailgate release has broken (replace tailgate trim), and a pothole broke the fill sensor on the windscreen washer bottle, permanently putting the washer warning light on (replace bottle). All done under warranty mind, as we bought it from a Bini dealer.

 

Build quality is solid, most annoying thing IMO is lack of an internal tailgate release. Buttons and switches feel nice to press, seats are comfy, and there's a nice amount of rear seat space - I'm 6" and it's one of few hatchbacks I don't mind being in the back of. Mind you, the person in the front can't be too tall. There's space for two people of about 6" and two shorter people, assuming you all don't have much luggage as boot space is limited. Minis don't seat 5 people.

 

That said there's a bit of a trim rattle coming from the boot on ours, and the aux in jack has started giving me static shocks when I use my (metal backed) iPod on it recently.

 

Settings for the radio presets, in car menus and so on are saved on the keyfob, so don't get confused if you change fobs and the car seems to factory reset. Speaking of the fob, it's 'insert fob/push button to start' in a similar vein to the Laguna 2, but more reliable. There's an emergency key in the fob to open the driver's door if you're ever stuck, but from what I hear the locks are made of cheese and aren't intended for reuglar use.

 

Condensation gets into the foglight unit in the rear bumper - just leave it, they all do that sir.

 

 

 

It's a lottery as to what spec you'll get as almost everything on these cars is an optional extra - so there's a lot of variety - look for a reasonably well equipped one. There are lots of cheap 'nice to have' options that it's a shame to go without, such as the aux in and USB jacks, exterior chrome pack, adjustable passenger seat and so on. IIRC a lot of these are included in the Pepper Pack (as well as LED mood lighting and tailored floor mats) - this wasn't too expensive so Pepper Pack cars are common, the problem is it's not that easy to tell if a car has it. That said, nicely specced cars probably do. There were Salt and Chilli Packs too but I don't remember what's in them.

I think the trip computer is standard but I can't remember. An uncommon option is integrated satnav.

 

Even the basic interior trim is nice (painted silver dash inserts), maybe a little bit better than the (reasonably common) interior chrome pack as it's less prone to fingerprints. Dash plastics are nice quality. There's a hidden compartment for storing about 4 CDs behind the passenger side dash insert - give it a push and it should open up.

 

Steering wheel options are common - most decent equipped cars will have a three spoke one, either with or without radio control buttons. Low end cars have a two spoke wheel. Steering column is in/out and up/down adjustable. Driver's seat is also nicely adjustable, as is the passenger's if equipped. Shame if it isn't.

 

Auto cars almost always have paddle shifters on the steering wheel for the manual mode on the gearbox - however this was an option you could only have in conjunction with a steering wheel option. We have the only auto Bini I've ever seen with the basic steering wheel and no paddles.

 

First run cars go from 2006/56 to 2010/60 plate, then there was a facelift. Facelift cars changed a few minor things like the front bumper and the design of the rear light/foglight units. Wheel designs changed too, for the better. The paint colours also changed, and IMO 2010 onwards cars are much nicer to look at - the paint colours are nicer and more fashionable - bold gloss colours as opposed to dull metallics.

Flame Red and Pepper White cars are the most common throughout the production run as those colours were no cost options.

 

One easy way to check if a car's going to be nicely specced is whether it has a body colour roof and mirrors or not - cars with a black/white roof and mirrors, and sometimes OE bonnet stripes (discernable by the edges being a contrasting colour) are often nicely specced, as are cars in rare colours such as the metallic chocolate brown. If a car's just a boring silver/blue/grey/whatever with 15" wheels, it'll be 'meh'.

 

I don't think checkered rooves are OE. A lot of the prefacelift cars have been subject to 'customistation' as they go down in value - be careful of these cars, who knows what you might be in for, and how the PO drove... Common additions are bonnet stripes and other vinyl stickers, and larger wheels.

 

If a car has wheeltrims, it'll be low spec. Don't bother with it, also the trims are fugly.

Clear and orange indicators are both official parts on the option list so don't get confused by this.

 

Factory tinted windows exist, as can be seen on our car. This is a very rare option from what I've seen.

 

It's a lottery as to whether you get a spare wheel (spacesaver) - if you do it'll be mounted under the back of the car. If not, tyre foam in the boot floor with the basic toolkit.

There's a 12V socket in the boot.

50/50 split fold rear seat exists but I can't remember if it's an option.

 

The big central speedo isn't the only one - there's a little digital speedo in the rev counter too. The trip computer can be slightly confusing at first - some things are only doable using the rev counter and a button on the end of the indicator stalk, and some are only doable on the radio screen.

 

Mechanically ours has been fine, it's not thrown up any major issues in the year and a bit we've had it. Engines do seem to drink a bit of oil, mind - ours needs a top up more often than any other car we've had.

 

I'd say go for it, if you can find a decent one to your taste

 

Thanks for such a comprehensive reply Ghosty ... Much appreciated!

[dugong]

"We"?

[John F]

Schizophrenic car ownership FTW.

[New POD]

If you are looking at Gen 2's google "walnut shell decoke" and "Camchain tensioner Problems"

and if looking at Gen 1's Google "Midlands 5 speed gearbox issues" and "Electric Power Steering faults"

 

Gen 1's do not seem to rust.

[83C]

A few other things;

 

Front lower arm bushes - the rear ones can be a pain to change without the right tool.

 

Check very closely for body damage. Many were used as city/town cars and have suffered for it. A friend bought one that on closer investigation had had at least three separate metal-bending incidents, and a number of knocks and bashes.

[Ghosty]

"We"?

 

Family, it's the mother's.

[For Fiats Sake]

My brothers just had the Gear linkages fall to bits on his 57 plate.

 

9 year old car needs parts shocker!

 

 

My cousins has  been through three radiators,  I think they rust out very quickly.

 

If it were me I'd buy the newest low mileage example I could afford and buy a warranty.

 

We have a back street dealer in Halifax who only deals in them, so must be a good trade in them.

[MarvinsMom]

if i was to have one of these, it'd have to be the one, or popular, whatever the povvo one is with them glorious hubcaps.

 

as once upon a time i'd have been frothing at the mouth about owning one, this is an improvement, of sorts.....

 

and damn you all, cos i've been browsing and spied this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-One-Hatch-1-4-3dr-Metallic-Black-2007-/262378299348?hash=item3d16f71fd4:g:~FYAAOSwx-9Wycc4

 

dunno if i could cope with this interior though

[Parky]

As an ex owner I can say nothing over and above what has already been mentioned, but if I got another one this is what I would do/look for on a gen 1 (R50, 2001 to 2005)

 

Change the gearbox oil for MTL94 fluid (10 quid a litre from Land Rover dealers, you need two) or Redline MTL from Opie Oils. Do this asap. Try and get as much swarf out with a magnet if possible.

 

Also get some grease on the gear linkages, makes a massive difference to shift quality.

 

Radiators corrode and leak. Applies to any car really but a bit of a weak spot on early cars. Check!

 

Power steering pumps can make a hell of a noise! Doesn't seem to indicate imminent failure though, mine still worked after two years. BBA reman do replacement pumps when they do give up the ghost and fitting isn't too bad

 

Crunchy, graunchy bearings in the steering column can be silenced for a few weeks at a time with copious amounts of spray grease. Cheaper than a new column....

 

Tyres are fat and therefore expensive. Run flats are pricier and ruin the ride but the car works better on good rubber so be wary if the car you buy is on four worn ditch finders. I liked Bridgestone Turanzas on mine although Dunlop SP Sports were quieter. Very expensive though

 

If the fuel gauge misbehaves, BMW will claim it needs a full system reset and charge £50. Read the Mini2 forum (excellent) for instructions on resetting the computer. 10 second job and works every time.

 

Mine did have some rust on the rear three quarter but I think this was a poor respray after an accident. It didn't spread...

 

Generally good cars and great fun. Home DIY isn't out of the question but I don't think I would fancy doing a clutch on one.

[chrisjvm]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to give advice,encouragement and discouragement!

 

Here's a pez station shot of my very happy sis 'Woolarding'

 

[Pillock]

Woolarding in a petrol station?

Consider the bar raised.

[Parky]

I think you would need to Woollard in a petrol station while holding Cavettes dog to beat that!

[Felly Magic]

I think you would need to Woollard an Austin Maxi diesel in a petrol station while holding Cavettes dog to beat that!

 EFA

[Ghosty]

That's a nice thing! The bonnet stripes look a little too close to vertical to my eye though