Mini Cooper S

[Harry911]

Hi,

Just looking to get your thoughts and preferences on the Cooper S.
My partner is looking to purchase a Cooper S and has around £5k budget.
Am I right in saying that the gearbox changed at 05 plate (for the better) and the styling at 07 plate. What is the chilli pack? Air con perhaps!! Any really desirable options!!!
Any information you can give us would be great, including current and previous owners thoughts.

 

[Ewazix]

I had an S for a couple of years, at 15K miles the cold idle became intermittently hesitant and stuttery, using V power helped a bit but was not sorted, it also used oil, a lot!. At 20k Miles a small oil leak appeared at the rear of the engine and developed the timing chain death-rattle. Dealers changed the high pressure fuel pump which cured the cold idle and an oil leak from a seal (?), as well as the timing chain. I found it a love/hate car, despite the excellent poke and handling the interior rattles and general build quality was disappointing, fed up I px'ed it at the dealers. The good news was they gave a huge valuation which is another-upside of Mini's in general.

I first had a new 54 plate cooper, then the S and now have a new-new Cooper so still love the Mini but TBH would avoid the previous gen S as they get older and out of warranty, the engine has the potential to break the bank.

 

[dans6490]

My wife likes sporty cars and her Nissan Juke is not what you would call sporty. She really wanted a Mini Cooper S, so after searching, we got this 2002 cooper s with FSH, Sat-nav , leather etc and JCW styling for just under £4000. Not exactly a bargain but with 63k on the clock it was a good buy. Previous owner had a full Milltek exhaust fitted and it sounds awesome.

It handles like a go-kart and is really quick. Owned for 2 months so can't say how reliable it is but so far so good. It does squeak from somewhere and haven't had the time to find out from where yet, or even if it can be found. Really like it and the wife loves it, having wanted a mini for years.

Only problem is that she doesn't really drive the juke and the kids want to go in the mini also. Boot not very big either but if you don't need a big boot it doesn't matter.

Overall, for the money it's a great car and as the design hasn't changed much over the years, it has aged well.

Edit: The supercharger on these older cooper s really pulls through the gears. I may be wrong but they stopped using the supercharger and went with turbo??? May become a rare Classic in the future?? Wishful thinking maybe.

 

[TitanTim]

I always think the original R53 Cooper S was the best with the supercharged Chrysler engine, went right off them once they had the Pug engine. Always found build quality was generally poor and the electrics seemed fragile on mine. Enjoyed the car though over the 4 years I had it. The ride was interlorable though on the runflats.





Eisenmann exhaust I fitted sounded great but eventually melted the rear bumper :lol:



Can't believe it was 12 years ago

Tim.