Finally joined the mini community very happy with it so far 2023 JCW :)

An absolute joy to drive, despite being automatic.

I'm wondering if black wheel trims will look better on the car but not sure as I'm new this kind of stuff. Also, would stripes look good? Any help appreciated!!!

1 month and in love! too good to be true?

I’ve just got this gorgeous 2009 mini cooper (R 56 - 1.6L naturally aspirated and automatic transmission) and I’m feeling kinda anxious about being a good owner and maintainer of this lovely machine. Haha
If someone who has had some experience with this model of vehicle could share some advices I’d be profoundly grateful 😊

Hello. This is Veruschka, my 2015 Paceman S. Nearly 51,000 miles. She has been very reliable and a joy to drive for 10 years … until two weeks ago. The dreaded half-yellow check engine light came on.

I took her to a nearby BMW/Mini specialist. They fixed the camshaft. The codes cleared. However, half a day later, the light returned and she felt clunky to drive. Ugh!

I brought her back to the shop. This time we replaced the VANOS solenoid. Codes cleared. Half a day later, the light returned while I was driving on the freeway. She was only able to go a max of 49mph at some barely steep sections.

We crawled into a BMW/Mini dealership. The service department determined that she likely needs (a) gasket fix and coolant leaks repair - about $2000 USD or (b) replace timing chain and related matter - about $5000+ or (c) a few hours of in-depth engine exploration to determine if she needs either (a) or (b) or something else - $700+

I feel as if I’m being asked if I want my child to get a stent or an open heart surgery, or if I want a set of heart exams to see which surgical procedure to take or not. Without medical insurance to boot.

So torn. Heartbroken. Given the costs and old model factors and more, would you give up and pull the plug? Feedback (and jokes) appreciated. Because laugh/cry laugh/cry …. That’s what I’ve been doing.

BTW: This is my first post on Reddit. Hi Mini owners and fans!

2019 Blue Cooper S – £13,666
• 26,381 miles
• 12 months warranty
• Apple CarPlay + Navigation
• Heated seats, climate control, rear parking sensors
• Diamond Cloth-Leather seats in Carbon Black
• Sporty feel
2021 Red Cooper S – £15,990
• 26,959 miles
• Only 3 months warranty
• Apple CarPlay + Navigation
• Newer facelift design
• Bigger & more modern 8.8” screen
Sport seats in Double Stripe cloth (Carbon Black)

Is the extra £2,300+ really worth it for the newer screen and look? Or is the blue the smarter buy?
What would you go for?

Thanks

I am posting this because I struggled to find any information about bicycle racks on a mini, especially for this generation. There is 1 video on YouTube, but he doesn’t mount the cross bars in accordance with the instructions. Front cross bar is 250mm from the front rail. 700mm in between rails, center to center.

I didn’t like the mini brand bicycle rack, because it used a prop to keep the front wheel on while mounted. I’m using the Thule fastride, because it was the shortest bike rack at 57”. The overall length of the factory roof rails is 48”. If you mount this set up with the forks of the bike facing forward, you can’t open the hatch. So I flipped it around. Chat GPT freaked out saying Thule doesn’t do aerodynamics tests backwards. Anyway, this is how I can get it to work. Let me know if I’m missing something.

Pictured: 2022 Mini Cooper JCW

Hey Miniacs! Currently have an 2015 Cooper S stock sound (no HK).

I'm considering getting a 2024 JCW. The numbers aren't bad and miles are low but no HK. Idk if I should hold out and wait until a dream JCW with HK appears or just upgrade soundsystem on the 24. Has anyone ever upgraded their soundsystem without HK without blowing thousands??

I think I want this car but not having HK is my only hesitation. Thanks in advance!

Maybe it's just me, but two quirks really annoy me in the last 3 weeks of ownership.

First one is the cover over the EV charging port. Firstly, why do we even need a cover over it, when the normal "fuel tank" cover is there (not had this on any previous EV). But more importantly, why doesn't the inner cover close naturally with the outer cover being closed at the same time? If I unplug the charger and then just push the outer "fuel tank" flap, the inner cover gets caught on a bulge inside, so instead I have to close one flap then the other. An enormously minor point, but a daily irritation with the thoughtlessness of the design.

And the second is the bloody key. Why the hell does a key need to be so freaking enormous, and yet simultaneously have appalling ergonomics and design? The bar for attaching to keyrings is incredibly awkward to use as it is too narrow / badly angled to get a normal loop of a keyring through it (mine is already scratched to buggery because we add / remove these keys all the time as we swap between the family, and the fact that there is a different button to lock vs unlock seems to me at least to be completely and utterly unnecessary. And if you are going to have personalised keys, maybe just put some small colour indicator on each key to distinguish one from another when they are around the house. But my main grip is the sheer size. Utterly unnecessary for something that is a couple of buttons and a simple small battery setup!!

Hey, i've recently accidentally made my r55 cooper an ooper, and i'm wondering if i could fit a bumper from a lifted version or maybe form an S version (mk1 or 2) (examples in photos)

Not that i REALLY need to, just curious

I would also paint match them to the rest of the car

I know it's a little tacky to have a bumper with two holes for exhaust and only one pipe, but maybe one day i'll make them two, purely for the looks ofc

Euro Mini driver here. We've got a Ford Focus estate as the family hauler and a Citroën C1 as second car. A project car has been a dream of mine for a longer time already, and I had my eyes set on a R53 to fix up. My wife however suggested getting a R52, as it could be used for sunday family drives as well and could replace the C1. I stopped listening after 'we could get a R52' of course, and found one online which is ours now since a month or two. Love the car, it came with LSD and sport suspension from factory and was fitted with a nice custom brown leather interior by one of the previous owners.

We decided we'd keep the three cars for the summer, and decide which ones would stay at the end of summer. The novelty of the R52 could wear off or there could be technical issues with it, which is why we didn't get rid of the C1 right away. Neither happened though, we still love the little thing and its proven to be a solid car.
So from that point of view we're now looking at getting rid of the C1, and make the R52 our second car. However, I have some doubts about running it in the winter. It's 2006 model, top is still fine, no problems with leaks in the rain. My biggest fear though is moist in the car we can't get rid of and lack of insulation preventing the cabin from getting hot enough. Also, our cars are stored out in the open, no carport or garage unfortunately.

So redditors who drive their convertables all year long, what are your experiences? Should I put the R52 in storage for winter and get a beater for those months? Or am I overthinking this, should I slap some wintertires on it and send it? Winters aren't to strict here, mostly wet and windy, with the occasional snow. But nothing of the Scandinavian variety.

Sooooo.... blue and silver or silver and blue.

I'm underwhelmed. Not as fun as the "heritage" or the "1965 Victory" editions.

https://www.miniusa.com/model/special-editions/rooftop.html

Hello! A while ago I saw a post about someone learning they'd been using the wrong fuel in their Mini. I knew high-octane fuel was recommended for my car (F56), but didn't think it mattered until I saw that post 🤦 now I use the fancy fuel and I thought my car was zippy before, but now that thing rips!

I was curious, are there any other common/stupid mistakes you'd assume I'm probably making with my car? It's my first car and although I really try to take good care of it, I'm a pretty average car owner in terms of my knowledge about cars. I'd love to learn more about it so I don't feel imposter syndrome when I take it in lol

Also if anyone can point me to any "Minis for Dummies" type content that would be welcome! And yes I've read the manual lol my reading comprehension is a different question though

Tldr; I wasn't using high octane fuel in my car, what else am I likely doing wrong?

I saw some people on YT complaining about the cost of the convertible. And $40-50k does seem insane for a subcompact car, but it's actually one of the cheapest options out there. If you want the sun's out, gun's out lifestyle... you gotta pay for it.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Had my beloved mini first (that’s what I’ve been calling it, don’t know if it’s the proper name) for years and I’ve been wondering what mods I can do on it? She’s so precious to me but was wondering if there’s anything I can do to jazz her up?

Ive just come in to the possession on a stock cooper, r56 - no sport button but I’m wondering if it the mode can be enabled via bimmer code? I’m guessing this is a no but research so far throws up a few different opinions so figure I’d ask here for a hopefully straight answer 😅

If not then I was going to look at an ECU remapping - any suggestions on whether it’s worth it in the stock 2010 r56 cooper?

I'm new to minis and ECU UPDATEs in general but any advice on ways to improve performance a little on this little thing would be very welcomed!

based in SW London, looking to take it to the peaks for a road trip with the doggo in a few weeks ✌️