Comments on: 200K Miles in an ’03 R50 MINI Cooper

By: db

db — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:09:13 +0000

Great tip! Thanks!

By: knagy389us

knagy389us — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:44:17 +0000

Concerning CVT repair, I found that no one in the US wants to touch these, probably not a big calling to repair. But if you have a CVT that has met it’s end, I discovered Mini Gearboxes Limited / John Tee in the UK. He would export me a rebuilt tranny for about 1/3 of what a Mini dealer in the US wanted to install a new unit.

By: Alfred

Alfred — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:53:44 +0000

I would suspect it is an Automatic I have been told the Mini have drive belts which go. I have never heard of drive belts in a trani only in place of say a timing belt. The minis have timeing belts luckly from what I understand. There must be someone out there other than dealer there mode of operation is replace everything fix the problem and enginering defects like the fan in power stearing pump who ever heard of a fan in a power stearing pump that sound like an engineering flaw to me like drive belts. Not only should they have a recall on drive belts for trani they should fix power stearing pump problem defect and recall. Mini you should have drive chaine not belt and for power stearing you should use a beefier motor that won’t need a fan.

By: knagy389us

knagy389us — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:10:16 +0000

Had a recent scare on my daughter's '03. Developed a stumble, miss on acceleration, threw the service engine lite on. Pulled a code referencing bad 2-1 downshifts in the tranny. Uh-oh, not the dreaded CVT death.

Took it to Mini in Raleigh, NC. They called with the bad news, "yes it's the trans, and can replace it for $7500 as they are not serviceable.

NO WAY! I said to myself, it's at 110K now, I'll change the plugs and wires since it needed that anyway. VIOLA! it runs like a dream. NO stumble, NO codes, runs smooth.

SO there ya go, never trust those guys!

By: db

db — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:54:45 +0000

Thanks for stopping by Alfred.

Sorry to hear that you haven't been having that great of luck with that MINI. I would blame the miles and your lack of knowing any of the cars history. Luckily, I'm intimately familiar with the history of mine.

I don't know where you are located, but I would recommend asking around with your local club to find a reputable shop nearby. They are usually better about troubleshooting the odd problems like yours and can save you a ton of money over the dealers.

Good luck!

By: Alfred

Alfred — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:44:17 +0000

Also what do you know about 2004 engine if drive to ground how long will they last. I just got rid of a 1994 Honda Del Sol had 308000 miles great great car in fact all my Hondas have been incredible. No car handels like a Mini but this car was close. I hope my Mini will be like a Honda very very dependable what do you think about the Mini engine and trany standard if driven till dead what arte some of the highest milages you have sceen with nominal repairs. Also do you have gen records of repairs and cost for people who have driven these car to ground want to keep it but just don’t know what to expect ahead. I heard don’t buy and automatic so I did not.

By: Alfred

Alfred — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:37:42 +0000

I have a 2004 base Mini standard bought car with 110000 like the car but have had to chnage power stearing pump very expensive $1200 total inclusing labor. I then had to change muffler thought they didn’t go being stainless steel. Now I am having a P 2096 error and am looking into replacing catalytic converter, I tried both O2 sensors but continues to give yellow service engine light. I have been informed could be exaughst leak exaughst manifold to be determined thinging about getting after market exaughst which comes with two catalitic converters and exaughst manifold all in one unit factory specs much cheaper than MINI parts. have you seen p 2096 I am reserved on what i think about car but driving and handeling is great reminds me of my MG Midget going way back in last 60s. Well I hope to get p2096 fixed to pass inspection suspect catalitic converter in process of fix.

By: db

db — Sun, 29 May 2011 05:29:40 +0000

Thanks for stopping by knagy389us. You should check out the latest post by clicking the banner at the top of the page.

There you will see that I have since cleared 200k and reached 250k!

By: knagy389us

knagy389us — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:26:09 +0000

Came across your review searching info on an '03 ignition switch replacement.

I bought my daughter an '03 R50 as her first car, 2/2010, now has about 108K. She loves it. I went over the car, and had a Mini dealer do a once over. No real issues, and very good history since it was a local car.

The ignition switch has given her troubles a few times now. After turning the car off, all power lost. Tries the key a few times, nothing. Then in a minute all power back on.

Sounds like ignition switch to me.

Great post!

By: db

db — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:11:09 +0000

Thanks for stopping by!

The engine in your MINI can last for quite a while if properly cared for. I'm almost at 250k without any issues at all with the engine and I know of at least 1 MINI driving around today that has over 400k miles on it!

Check your oil. Keep in changed. Keep the air filter clean and use good gas. A trip to the dealer on occassion doesn't hurt either, or at reputable shop in your area.