had an opportunity to drive an 08 Mini Cooper, 6 spd - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Air&Road · #31 12-02-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

They all use more oil than would be considered the norm these days, but the second generation, with the "N" engines are particularly bad. We don't see any diesels, so I can't comment on those. The oil consumption is just a feature of the engine, it doesn't really start at any mileage, or get worse with time, it just happens, and combined with owners more used to Hondas, the oil level never gets checked. Until it starts making bad noises. Half the time, by then, the oil has been baked into a sludge-like consistency, causing further problems.

The carbon build up on the intake valves is fairly well discussed all over the 'net, direct injection engines, and BMW built ones specifically, are prone to doing it. Not sure how manufacturers are planning on rectifying it. Toyota is running two sets of injectors on some models, using regular port injection at idle/low speed to keep things clean...

The newer generation would be from R56 on.

MV

They ALL use oil? My wifes didn't use a drop in over 200,000 miles. Not one single drop. It was amazing to run it 10,000 miles and pull the stick to see the level exactly where it was after I changed it.

SO... I personally know of at least one that used no oil whatsoever.

Skid Row Joe · #32 12-02-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maki

That's the way it is with a lot of small cars. You've pretty much got to remove the headlight to change the bulb in a Prius. Which entails removing the bumper cover, the fender lining ...

You mean like the W210's RH headlight bulb too?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

So, after all of those repairs, you didn't need to more repairs?

Yes. They drink it like it was free. BMW allows 1qt per 1000 miles. The car holds ~5qts. The oil change interval is over 10,000 miles. You see where this is going? The market is filled with Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans that don't require a thing between oil changes, when people buy these cars, that's what they're used to. It doesn't go well from there.

The direct inject and carbon build up on the valves is another issue on the newer ones. As is the timing chain. And the power steering pumps on the older ones. All in all, the older models, with the supercharger, not the turbo, are ok. Avoid the CVT. Do regular maintenance and check your oil when you fuel. The newer ones? Complete crap. An embarrassment to the name.

MV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

About 2004 my wife bought one. My daughter had an airbag deploying accident in it that ALMOST totaled it, but it was near new, so they could afford serious crash damage. My wife put well over 200,000 miles on it with no problems other than the accident.

It's difficult to understand what they are all about without driving one. Unlike most any other car of it's size, the wheels are at the extreme corners, making it a hoot to drive.

I never had to do anything beyond routine maintenance, but I never encountered anything difficult as far as maintenance goes. If you had to do any serious work, it appeared that the front end came off quite quickly to offer better engine access than you would have with many cars.

If she had not bought one with the CVT, she would probably still have it. For those interested, don't buy a CVT. The only alternative if it fails is an $8,000 replacement. I could never find an aftermarket alternative. When the car was worth about $8,000 we decided to get rid of it before we needed to spend that $8,000.

What is this "CVT," you two reference?

BAVBMW · #33 12-02-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

They ALL use oil? My wifes didn't use a drop in over 200,000 miles. Not one single drop. It was amazing to run it 10,000 miles and pull the stick to see the level exactly where it was after I changed it.

SO... I personally know of at least one that used no oil whatsoever.

I didn't mean "all" as in every single vehicle, but rather in the sense of each model; R52, R53, R56, R55, and so on. Though, to be honest, tales like yours are very rare. Enough so that whenever we pull one into the shop do any work on it, we'll take bets as to the oil level before checking it. Probably half are too low to register on the dipstick.

MV

spdrun · #34 12-02-2013, 02:37 PM

CVT = continuously variable transmission. Basically a glorified moped gearbox in Mini's case

benhogan · #35 12-02-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

CVT = continuously variable transmission. Basically a glorified moped gearbox in Mini's case

I have a scooter and it has a CVT too!!!

benhogan · #36 12-02-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

I didn't mean "all" as in every single vehicle, but rather in the sense of each model; R52, R53, R56, R55, and so on. Though, to be honest, tales like yours are very rare. Enough so that whenever we pull one into the shop do any work on it, we'll take bets as to the oil level before checking it. Probably half are too low to register on the dipstick.

MV

probably not your place but don't you think there should be some sort of recall?

i know that as long as people keep buying them for various emotional reasons (cute, etc.) and profits keep coming in there is no reason to change anything short term. however, when the techs make bets and jokes about the cars....shouldn't that mean something?

have yall tried to tell this to BMW?

Air&Road · #37 12-02-2013, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

CVT = continuously variable transmission. Basically a glorified moped gearbox in Mini's case

Actually the CVT was a pretty sophisticated box. The Belt is wrapped in metal. It is built by ZF and functionally, it worked extremely well. The problem was worrying about it going out with the impending $8K price tag.

In fact in Sport mode it was quite fun to drive. You have paddles to shift and when you grab a gear it moves the pulleys to that ratio and holds it, so you really couldn't tell the difference between it and a geared box.

If it weren't for my wife wanting an automatic and if we had bought a manual instead, I expect that she would still have it.

t walgamuth · #38 12-02-2013, 03:14 PM

I bet most americans do not change their oil as faithfully as Larry. Old oil always runs through an engine quicker.

nate300d · #39 12-02-2013, 03:33 PM

Guess I am convinced not to buy one.
Actually, after chatting with a BMW mechanic several months ago I suppose anything from BMW is off of my list. This mechanic was mentioning several chassis that were known to have structural cracks.

TylerH860 · #40 12-02-2013, 03:55 PM

The only reason I buy BMWs for the lot is because they sell so easily. Its also with my cheap labor rates to get a great deal on a distressed one, fix, and flip for good money. It is hard to keep them from breaking within warranty.

I sell my cars with a 30 day powertrain warranty, but people expect me to fix anything that breaks in that period. If its something simple, I usually do to keep them happy. Right now I'm feeling like I'm about to get my arse kicked on a 2002 3 series that lost its turn signals, brights, hazards, and instrument lights. This happened 5 days after I sold it. Of course the female that bought it is villianizing me as the typical used car dealer even though the lights were working perfectly when I sold it to her, I have no crystal ball to know when something electrical is going to take a dump, and will likely fix it free of charge. This is all while selling $2500 below book, less than many comparable private listings, with a hearty $800 profit margin.

I will sell 3 BMWs in the time it takes to sell one Mercedes... and I hear more from customers about Mercedes being more expensive to fix over BMW.

Love, hate relationship here.

TheDon · #41 12-02-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Hardly beaters. Only buy Minis with less than 100,000 miles that are trades from new car dealers. Don't dare go high mileage. That's one heck of a list to get one "sorted" and you haven't owned it that long.

Not durable, not easy to work on.

I'd say mine is a special case. Pretty much no PM done one it.

TheDon · #42 12-02-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Hardly beaters. Only buy Minis with less than 100,000 miles that are trades from new car dealers. Don't dare go high mileage. That's one heck of a list to get one "sorted" and you haven't owned it that long.

Not durable, not easy to work on.

I'd say mine is a special case. Pretty much no PM done one it.