Which car first comes to mind when we talk about a fast, fashionable, compact car? Most people, without hesitation, will answer that it is MINI Cooper, another 10 percent will answer that it is âSmartâ. Itâs difficult to call Smart fast, if itâs not Brabus. Therefore, it is only worth recalling Cooper, as respondents will immediately change their answer.
After all, it is âMiniâ that attracts all its people with its cute appearance. It has excellent controllability, constantly urges the driver to put pressure on the gas, because all the same, âMiniâ is âBMWâ. Any "Cooper" will appeal to girls not only in appearance, but also in their interior. Salon even the old instance can not be called boring. At the gatherings of the owners of "Mini" you can always see completely different people with completely different cars.
Moreover, many owners are in clubs dedicated to this brand. They often greet each other on the road, blinking headlights, gestures of greeting, even if they do not know each other. And there is an army of Mini fans in any country in the world. "Mini" is loved even by grandparents! But is everything so good with the reliability of this brisk Mini Cooper? Owner reviews vary widely. But now we'll figure it out!
Features of "Mini Cooper" and owner reviews
Itâs worth noting that all âMiniâ are very similar in technical part. This applies to all cars manufactured since 2001. For example, MINI Cooper differs from MINI ONE only in boosting the motor. Other models differ in the number of doors, size, interior, engine and the presence or absence of all-wheel drive. Even different generations of the same model rarely have big differences in technical terms.
Be sure to know: a motor with a volume of 1, 4 liters should immediately be excluded when searching. He has all the problems of older engines, plus has his own personal flaws, but does not give absolutely any dynamics at the same time! You canât save on fuel consumption either. And if the car is also equipped with an automatic machine, then during acceleration it is possible to confuse the tachometer needle with the minute hand of the clock, and the speedometer hand with the clock hand. Fortunately, there are few such cars in our market. In recent generations, this motor is generally absent. Probably, the manufacturer decided to pity his customers a little. Below we look at the characteristics of "Mini Cooper" and the reviews of the owners.
Mini Cooper
When you read the ownerâs reviews of the Mini Cooper, one question arises. Which one? Why are the reviews of the owners of âMini Cooper Sâ so different from the usual âCooperâ or ONE? It's all about the power of the motor. Often "S" is taken by guys who do not know how to service the car, but only want to drive. And since with a greater load on the car requires more care, which is not there, problems appear. Therefore, when searching for the "S" model, pay attention to the owner. If he knows everything about his car, talks about any routine work for 10 minutes, then this is the fan who properly serviced the car.
Engines and Transmissions
Of the problems of 1.6 petrol engines, both atmospheric and turbocharged versions, it is possible to note the pump (sometimes it fails even after 50 thousand mileage), oil zhor, which occurs due to improper maintenance. Oil should be changed every 7500 kilometers, a maximum of every 10 thousand on atmospheric engines. Once every 5-7.5 thousand on turbo versions. Do not turn off the engine immediately after an active drive on a motor with a turbine. Allow the oil to cool slightly. This will extend the life of the turbine and the motor as a whole.
In no case do not believe in fairy tales that the oil consumption of 1 liter per thousand kilometers is the norm. Even with aggressive driving, this only happens with dead engines. The motor is not the most reliable, a resource of about 200-300 thousand kilometers. It also has not the most reliable timing chain drive. It is worth monitoring the oil level so that the chain does not rattle earlier than prescribed by the regulation. Sometimes, due to a gasket leak, the oil starts to burn on a hot engine. Then, the smell of burning will be felt in the cabin. However, this is one of the trademarks of the old "Mini" and "BMW".
Pay attention to the temperature of the motor, overheating will end in sad consequences. In order to prevent, the thermostat can be replaced every 1.5-2 years. In recent generations, take a look at the one and a half liter engine. Engineers saved him from a problem with chain stretching, and the power is even higher than that of 1.6. Diesel engines are slightly more reliable than gasoline engines, but they are few in our market. Most with twisted runs and in a very sad state. Boxes are automatic and mechanical.
According to the owners of the Mini Cooper, five-speed mechanics are not satisfactory, with the exception of the wear of the synchronizers. Usually this happens due to aggressive driving and inexperience of the owners. Extremely not advised on the forums CVT, it is not intended for a daring ride. The classic torque converter has been installed since 2005. It is really reliable, easily passes 200 or more thousand kilometers. Of the problems of the machine can be noted poor cooling. In hot weather and an active driving style, the machine can simply overheat. The problem can be solved by installing an additional box cooling radiator and / or box oil temperature sensor. The oil in the box requires replacement every 60-80 thousand. Do not trust the dealer and the manufacturer talking about the unattended automatic transmissions.
Suspension
The front suspension is of the MacPherson type, while the rear is an independent multi-link. The suspension is very stiff, which gives that notorious go-kart handling. Frequent replacements on our roads require stabilizer struts and bushings (20-30 thousand mileage), ball bearings (approximately 60 thousand mileage). Shock absorbers go around 100 thousand, sometimes more. In all generations, except for the last, insufficient insulation can be noted. As a result, we get a relatively reliable car, which is confirmed by the reviews of the owners of âMini Cooperâ after 60,000 km. The main thing is proper service!
Charged Version
The apogee of power and drive is the âMini Cooper JCWâ modified by the British studio
John Cooper Works. The same engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, but with a fantastic return of 211 horsepower. Installed only with six-speed mechanics. Such a cooper was produced from 2010 to 2014. He exchanged the first hundred in 6.5 seconds. Only a three-door hatchback was produced. Only power in this case is directly proportional to the number of problems. Absolutely all the same problems as the rest of the 1.6 engines, they only occur 2 times more often.
It is preferable against the background of this car looks "Mini Cooper JCW", produced from 2004 to 2006. An ancestor has only 1 horsepower less, which almost did not affect acceleration. This old man will fly at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in 6.6 seconds! He also has a six- speed manual gearbox. And the curb weight in the new and old body is the same: 1140 kilograms.
True, the new "JCW" is nine centimeters longer than its predecessor. But the old man is much more reliable. To increase power, a compressor supercharger was installed on the motor, this gives an even, confident traction from the very bottom, in contrast to turbocharging. In addition, the old-generation model has distributed fuel injection. Simpler construction - less trouble! Just take into account the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper." The upkeep of such machines is more money, about 20 percent. These 20 percent are due to the good appetite of the machine. In the city, you can safely count on 15 liters with a less aggressive ride. The new-generation JCW may also require costly engine repairs at the most inopportune times.
The indisputable advantage of these modifications is the dynamics and appearance. Wide sills, bumpers and wings make the car a real bulldog. Do not forget that the usual âCooperâ is a really tough car, so the almost âtooth-breakingâ âCooper from Johnâ is not for everyone.
Characteristics of "Mini Cooper"
All "Mini Coopers" with a 1.6 engine have good dynamics. The five-door hatchback of 2001-2004, with a manual gearbox and a horsepower of 115 horsepower, accelerates to a hundred in 9.2 seconds, the device from 2014, already with a six-speed manual - 8.2 seconds. The same cars, only with an âSâ index of 163 and 192, the forces will accelerate in 7.4 and 6.9 seconds, respectively. Depending on the driving style, the Mini with a 1.6 engine will consume 7.5 liters of fuel per hundred kilometers in the city, up to 5 liters on the highway, at a speed of 90-100 km / h. "Mini Cooper" with a three-cylinder engine of one and a half liter develops 136 horsepower. Although it is turbocharged, it is really reliable. Also, it will accelerate your five-door âMini Cooperâ to a hundred in 8.2 seconds! He has a much more modest appetite than the 1.6 engine, about 8 liters in the city.
If you want a faster âMiniâ with less fuel, then check out the three-door hatchbacks. They are all about a second faster than their five-door brothers. All specifications and reviews of the owners of the âMini Cooperâ in the hatchback can be found on the Internet. And some of them are given below.
"Mini Cooper Countryman"
Among the buyers and fans of âMiniâ there are people who often travel outside the city, travel a lot, like to sit above the stream or just get tired of the carâs stiff suspension. Owner reviews of the "Mini Cooper Country" also vary. Some owners want an even softer suspension. There are only complaints about ONE, with a 1.6 engine for 90 or 98 horsepower, it simply is not enough for a car with a total weight of 1735 kilograms. This is evidenced by acceleration to a hundred - 12 and 13 seconds, respectively. The crossover is equipped with 1.6 petrol engines for 122 power, and 184 power. Diesel engines 1.6 liters (112 forces) and 2 liters (143 forces).
Four-wheel drive can be equipped with all diesel versions and gasoline, 184 power. Moreover, four-wheel drive does not affect the worse for acceleration, as is the case with other crossovers. The front axle is the leading one, the rear is connected by a clutch with a double-disc electromagnetic clutch, which does not cause complaints from the owners. Consumption for gasoline versions will be from 11 liters per hundred kilometers. A diesel engine will help fix this problem by reducing it to 7-8 liters in the city. Better choose diesel engines. Less consumption and no problems with the circuit and valves.
With improper maintenance of the gasoline engine (insufficient oil level), expensive repairs may be required already at 100 thousand kilometers. The whole problem is the lack of an oil level sensor, which can be installed additionally. Often, owners of gasoline versions complain of an oil pressure bulb blinking during acceleration or braking, which means that no more than three liters of oil are left in the engine. And this is with the required volume of 4.3 liters.
We think itâs not worth telling what this is fraught with. Another problem is that at low revs the engine is short of oil. This problem is especially relevant on a turbo engine, when the driver presses the gas pedal to the floor before the turbine starts working. Later, this problem was sort of solved by replacing the oil pump. When you read the reviews of the owners of âMini Cooperâ about a model with a 1.6 gasoline engine, you can meet another problem: a chain starts knocking during a cold start. It's all about her tensioner. It is hydraulic, that is, it pulls the chain using oil pressure. Because of this, for example, in cold weather, oil does not have time to create the necessary pressure. As a result, the stars wear out. The probability of a chain slip increases, and this is almost always an expensive repair.
Oil should be changed every 7500 kilometers necessarily! Wheel bearings fail after about 60 thousand mileage. The rest of the suspension is relatively reliable. Almost all the first copies of "Countryman" changed the thermostat under warranty, later the problem was fixed. Many note bad mirrors, the size of which is not enough for this car. There is plenty of space in the back row, but this place has left the trunk, which will fit a couple of not the biggest bags. Some owners had problems with the upholstery of the seats, its dealers eliminated the warranty. These seats are also not the most comfortable, too soft, but with good lateral support. All specifications and owner reviews about the âMini Cooper Countryâ can be found on the Internet. More specifically, in specialized forums.
"Mini Cooper Clubman": owner reviews and specifications
It is completely incomprehensible what guided the marketing department of "Mini" when he came up with the name of this model. If we look at the technical description of this machine, we see the word "station wagon". But this is not a classic wagon, which immediately comes to mind. âMiniâ made an allegedly practical version of the usual âCooperâ, which became 8 centimeters longer. Only here with the doors, everything is completely unusual. The station wagon has five: two trunk doors, two front doors and one hinged rear door. It is located on the right and opens against the course of motion. Just like in a Rolls-Royce! The practicality of such a solution is in question. The trunk cannot be opened if another car is at the rear bumper, or you pulled too close to the wall. The left rear row passenger will be able to get out of the car only after the right and central one. Maybe this is such a special British practicality? Here you can find only one plus: the children themselves will not run out of the âMiniâ onto the road if you forget to lock the doors. True, the owners of "Mini Cooper" do not write about this in reviews. Photos of this car can be seen in our article.
In 2015, the developers showed the next generation of Mini Clubman, more practical. He already has at least two ordinary back doors.
Reading the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper Clubman", you see already familiar problems of gasoline engines. All the same circuits, valves, oil consumption. Weak ball bearings are noted.
Clubman jcw
There was a truly charged version with a 1.6-liter engine and a capacity of 211 horsepower. This is a version from the British studio John Cooper Works. She, just like âCooper JCWâ is even more rigid, has an aggressive design, wide sills and wings. But the main thing is a powerful motor. With it, 6.8 seconds to a hundred are provided to you.
The specifications and reviews of the owners of the Mini Cooper Clubman can be found on the Internet.
Output
Common flaws in the reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper":
- problems with gasoline engines developed by BMW in conjunction with Peugeot Citroen, a volume of 1.6 liters;
- weak wheel bearings;
- stiff suspension;
- insufficient sound insulation.
General advantages and reviews of the owners of "Mini Cooper":
- excellent controllability, driving pleasure, excellent or acceptable acceleration dynamics, excellent stability of the car on the road;
- reliability of electronics, mounted parts of the motor, clutch (with four-wheel drive) and gearboxes;
- appearance;
- good resistance to corrosion;
- compactness, convenience in the city.
"Mini" is, first of all, a toy, a favorite toy. It will not work to drive, changing only the oil and filter. We can say for sure that British brand cars will not leave anyone indifferent! The characteristics of the âMini Cooperâ and the reviews of the owners show this perfectly. Everyone will be able to find a model for their liking. Want a fast, maneuverable car? There is a three-door hatchback "S". Not enough? Get the "JCW". Do you like convertibles? You can always find the "Mini Cooper Cabrio." Need a small fuel consumption and just a beautiful car? There is a one and a half liter engine and excellent diesel engines. Or maybe you need a car for an egoist? "Mini Cooper Coupe" at your service! Does a family require not to be selfish? There is always a Clubman and Countryman!
Any "Mini" always attracts attention on the street, but does not forget about its owner. Gives him the most positive emotions from traveling both on public roads and on closed landfills or tracks! This is exactly the car, once a ride on which, you will never forget the emotions of the ride! You just need to be prepared for spending on up to 150 thousand rubles a year. However, picking up a really good copy or buying a new car in the cabin, you can safely count on 15 thousand rubles a year.