A Ramble about the R50 Mini

[Wheelspin]

I don’t know whether the R50 yet qualifies as autoshite, but with the immense list of just problems these cars actually have, that are only just revealing themselves now, is staggering, especially on the early cars.

As preface, I own a very early Modern Mini. Newer versions of the R50 are fairly good, and the R53 Cooper S is even better, as I also have one of those.

To start, I got my little early Mini, in the knowledge it needed a bit of “Touching up” but would only take a couple of hours of work. This was some point Summer 2020.

I was greeted by a load of butchered wires, attempted fixes, and general, shit.

Luckily I fixed that, and the wiring was all neat and tidy, within a few days. However, the airbag light was on, so the carpet had to stay out. 

Spoiler: It would stay out until just last month.

So in April, I got round to tackling the airbag, and checked all the usual problem spots, but the light remained. So I bought a new module, and yay, it worked.

Until last week, when I unplugged the battery, and moved it outside, and saw the airbag light was back... AHHH!

Now in June, the airbag was fixed, the car was starting to nearly be ready for an MOT. Then the ABS light came on.

Its a common issue, yes, and just needs a refurbishment after 20+ Years in the car, but still an infuriating task.

These cars may be cheap, but my god are they riddled with issues, especially the more unloved ones.

At least mine only has 90K Miles.

 

[Split_Pin]

I hear ya!

 

[Dan the van]

Well, it was designed by Rover....

[Tommyboy12]

I owned an R50 for a while, #158 off the line. A very early pre-production car that ended up as a demo model for a BMW dealer in Kent. It was ok but I wasnt blown away by the build quality or the 'dynamic handling' that many people claimed. Plus I found it very slow despite being a Cooper model. Overall I would describe the R50 as 'ok', but I dont get the appeal.

I too was plagued with airbag issues from the wiring in the seats. I tried so many times to sort it properly, then resorted to resistors, which didnt work either. Eventually it came to MOT time and I may or may not have disassembled the speedo and done something about it...

[Liggle]

1 hour ago, Wheelspin said:

These cars may be cheap, but my god are they riddled with issues, especially the more unloved ones.

Yup, this is the main problem. People expect to run them on a shoe string because the entry price is low and they end up going through several hands very quickly and issues mount up. 

Luckily there are still enough around to look at a few before buying one. I've mentioned in a couple of other threads, nothing is complex to replace or repair its just packaged tightly and can be labour intensive so unless you are handy with spanners they can be expensive to keep on the road. 

[Wheelspin]

17 minutes ago, Liggle said:

Yup, this is the main problem. People expect to run them on a shoe string because the entry price is low and they end up going through several hands very quickly and issues mount up. 

Luckily there are still enough around to look at a few before buying one. I've mentioned in a couple of other threads, nothing is complex to replace or repair its just packaged tightly and can be labour intensive so unless you are handy with spanners they can be expensive to keep on the road. 

Agreed, I got the car last year, and have spent alot of money righting what is wrong.

I am by no means a mechanic, but I am also not a bodger, best to do stuff right so it stays right! 

Our R53 Cooper S is alot better, being a 3 Owner car, and having 150K, mainly motorway miles, on it. Definitely a nice keeper! As is my early R50, just, still needs work!

[Wheelspin]

22 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

I owned an R50 for a while, #158 off the line. A very early pre-production car that ended up as a demo model for a BMW dealer in Kent. It was ok but I wasnt blown away by the build quality or the 'dynamic handling' that many people claimed. Plus I found it very slow despite being a Cooper model. Overall I would describe the R50 as 'ok', but I dont get the appeal.

I too was plagued with airbag issues from the wiring in the seats. I tried so many times to sort it properly, then resorted to resistors, which didnt work either. Eventually it came to MOT time and I may or may not have disassembled the speedo and done something about it...

Yes, my little Mini is a Y Reg, also Kent, BGN. I was discussing the airbag issue with a fellow member of the Y Reg club yesterday, and it seems to plague all of them!

[GeordieInExile]

I had an absolute shocker of an R50 - within a few months the water pump went, the head gasket went, the exhaust fell off and it spent more time off road than on it. And it had a Union flag roof decal, although as a plus that meant it caused my Irish missus no end of embarrassment.

In the end I just had to sack it off, that was all dealt with by the garage I got it from but it was still rough as arseholes and just never felt right. Ended up part-exing it for a really rather nice Saab 9-3 2.0 LPT saloon. Which, because I am that much of a masochist, I ended up swapping for a Puma (the heater fan completely stopped working and I used that as an excuse).

[New POD]

1 hour ago, Dan the van said:

Well, it was designed by people employed by Rover....

Well, designed by people who thought it would come to Longbridge.  Who insisted that it should have a Longbridge built gearbox. 

I wonder at what stage they found out it was off to Cowley? 

[Liggle]

Unbelievably since replying to this thread my airbag light has come on! Never seen it on before 

[Stanky]

18 minutes ago, Liggle said:

Unbelievably since replying to this thread my airbag light has come on! Never seen it on before 

"Meow? Injury Cats 4U. How can I help?"

"Whats that sir, you responded to an internet thread about ABS issues with R50 MINIs and then within 8 hours your car had developed the same fault?"

"You most certainly DO have a case sir, let me put you through to our VIP claims management team right away!"

[Liggle]

It's almost as big brother as the McDonalds app pinging me whilst watching The Founder

[Wheelspin]

1 hour ago, Liggle said:

Unbelievably since replying to this thread my airbag light has come on! Never seen it on before 

BMW Syndrome, our L322 Range Rover goes somewhere, and develops some strange new disease! 
Odd!

[Wheelspin]

7 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

I had an absolute shocker of an R50 - within a few months the water pump went, the head gasket went, the exhaust fell off and it spent more time off road than on it. And it had a Union flag roof decal, although as a plus that meant it caused my Irish missus no end of embarrassment.

In the end I just had to sack it off, that was all dealt with by the garage I got it from but it was still rough as arseholes and just never felt right. Ended up part-exing it for a really rather nice Saab 9-3 2.0 LPT saloon. Which, because I am that much of a masochist, I ended up swapping for a Puma (the heater fan completely stopped working and I used that as an excuse).

My little Y reg R50 is meant to be my first car, in a couple years, but I am more and more tempted to buy something earlier, and more shit! If any of you are in the know of shite, sub £250 90s/Early 2000s Crap in the North East let me know