Rate this Mini Cooper please!

[Accy cyclist]

I'm not posting my rate these cabriolet finds on my Cabriolets thread as no one replies to my posts.🙄 Instead I'm posting a new thread asking if it's worth having a look at. I've bought my last 4 'pre-loved' 😉 cars from 'dodgy Keith' who part owns this place and apart from the usual faults on the cars, down to the manufacturers, not the car dealer/ sellers they've all been OK. He'd take my Fiat 500 convertible in part exchange, albeit at a lower price than I could possibly get from selling it privately, but I really can't be bothered with the hassle of private selling, with all the weirdos out there wanting something for nothing. I've had 3 and a half years of relatively garage fees free motoring out of my Fiat 500 convertible I bought from these sellers, so I can't complain.

https://www.britanniacarsales.co.uk...r-euro-6-ss-2dr-oswaldtwistle-202509266648809

 

[Drago]

Pre LCI model with the 1.6 "Prince" motor co-developed with Peugeot.

They go well enough but its a very troublesome unit.

It looks pretty, the mileage is reasonable for its age, it has FSH, and the price is OK, but those motors really aren't at all reliable.

MOT history isnt bad, although it shows the owner has a habit of wearing their tyres to the bone.

Its a nice car, nkt badly priced, good spec, but I just cant get past that engine Accy.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Pre LCI model with the 1.6 "Prince" motor co-developed with Peugeot.

They go well enough but its a very troublesome unit.

It looks pretty, the mileage is reasonable for its age, it has FSH, and the price is OK, but those motors really aren't at all reliable.

MOT history isnt bad, although it shows the owner has a habit of wearing their tyres to the bone.

Its a nice car, nkt badly priced, good spec, but I just cant get past that engine Accy.

Why the engine Drago? What could go wrong with it? 🤔

 

[Drago]

From theninterweb...

Common BMW "Prince" engine problems include timing chain issues, such as stretching or breaking, which can cause catastrophic failure. Other frequent issues are excessive carbon buildup on intake valves, high oil consumption, and a prone-to-failure high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP). The engine also suffers from problems with its thermostat and various plastic components, like a coolant pipe that can require engine removal for replacement.

Its an inherently flaky design and the common faults are usually very spendy.

 

[biggs682]

I bet if you search hard enough on any engine you would get similar results.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I'm not posting my rate these cabriolet finds on my Cabriolets thread as no one replies to my posts.🙄 Instead I'm posting a new thread asking if it's worth having a look at. I've bought my last 4 'pre-loved' 😉 cars from 'dodgy Keith' who part owns this place and apart from the usual faults on the cars, down to the manufacturers, not the car dealer/ sellers they've all been OK. He'd take my Fiat 500 convertible in part exchange, albeit at a lower price than I could possibly get from selling it privately, but I really can't be bothered with the hassle of private selling, with all the weirdos out there wanting something for nothing. I've had 3 and a half years of relatively garage fees free motoring out of my Fiat 500 convertible I bought from these sellers, so I can't complain.

View attachment 791123

https://www.britanniacarsales.co.uk...r-euro-6-ss-2dr-oswaldtwistle-202509266648809

That car. Run that car. Until it starts breaking, then PX it.

 

[gbb]

I bet if you search hard enough on any engine you would get similar results.

Scarily, you're right to suspect so. Ironically, my Mazda 2.0 petrol is renowned for its engine reliability, that design (the BM model and forwardl) has been around since 2014 and there are no major issues talked about with the petrol...while the 2.2 diesel is notoriously unreliable.
There are whole swathes of cars i instantly reject nowadays, simply based on (mostly) engine reliability. No way am I buying a car with a negative perception re reliability.

 

[fossyant]

It's a bit like the Ford Eco-bang - puts many people off, but the later engines, provided they are serviced, are OK. That said, my sister has just had a £1600 bill on her 5 year old Focus as an oxygen sensor went - apparently engine out job to replace. It's only got 13k miles on it. She might be looking to sell in the next year, so I have said bear us in mind if she does. It's well looked after !

 

[fossyant]

Why do you want to change, or do you fancy a change ? I don't get cabrio's - heavier, generally handle worse, and, if it's hot, I crank up the A/C. You can hear your tunes better, rather than having wind noise ! Also not worries with a roof going tatty if you don't clean it properly.

 

[CentralCommuter]

I think a horse would be a more appropriate way to get around town for you! At quite a slow pace obviously, just looking all nonchalant.

 

[fossyant]

I think a horse would be a more appropriate way to get around town for you! At quite a slow pace obviously, just looking all nonchalant.

The MPB isn't much good though - Miles Per Bale (of hay)

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I think a horse would be a more appropriate way to get around town for you! At quite a slow pace obviously, just looking all nonchalant.

Don't nag him

 

[gbb]

Why do you want to change, or do you fancy a change ? I don't get cabrio's - heavier, generally handle worse, and, if it's hot, I crank up the A/C. You can hear your tunes better, rather than having wind noise ! Also not worries with a roof going tatty if you don't clean it properly.

I guess some people just 'get' them, my daughter used to until she needed a more appropriate child friendly car. She had a 206CC and a Renault Megane convertible, both 2 litre, probably as you say, neccessry because the cars were heavy. That made them reasonably uneconomical but she didn't mind, price to pay for the fun she wanted i guess.
Never appealed to me but...horses for courses

 

[DCLane]

Accy - 'dodgy Keith' appears to specialise in cars with dodgy engines. Lots of Ford 1.0 Ecoboost and Pug/Citroen 1.2 Puretech engines there, both of which have major reliability issues.

If you'd like to go round town in a white Mini with the roof down, then fine. But surely you'd need something a bit more appropriate:

 

[dicko]

We changed from a 1.4 Mini to a Ford Ka back in 2012. The Ka suits us better than the Mini. The Mini was almost out of the Mini second hand car warranty it went back to be fixed many times for free by BMW Mini it was very unreliable car we ever owned. Our Ka is so reliable we love it.