Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: R56 mini cooper S

  1. #1
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0

    R56 mini cooper S

    Anyone have any experience?

    Looking to replace the civic and possibly have a chance at a 2008 cooper S

    62k from new and well looked after (old boy who's main dealered the lot)

    Looks very tidy outside and in, tho didn't get underneath.

    Now nipper can do her own seatbelts and with me having the touareg she's into having a little 2 door, and as the "s" version I might be able get a track day again.

    For 3k is it worth a look at?

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Northamptonshire
    Posts
    21,396
    Rides
    0
    My elderly neighbour just bought one with 93k on for 2k.

    Seems nice. Servicing is aggressive. His sunroof doesn't open and his sunvisors are snapped. But goes well.

  3. #3
    Guest Asht_200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    ashflix.com
    Posts
    22,542
    Rides
    0
    Go for it. My “Sister’s” husband has just bought a vert and it is impressive. Very well built. Mini isn’t built how British Leyland used to build them


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  4. #4
    Guest
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Wherever I run out of petrol!
    Posts
    14,548
    Rides
    0
    Did Led Sandwich have 1?

  5. #5
    Guest
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Wherever I run out of petrol!
    Posts
    14,548
    Rides
    0
    https://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread....r-s&highlight=

    Corrected, Aaron had an R53 cooper S

  6. #6
    Guest
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Longfield, Kent
    Posts
    1,419
    Rides
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by DLowe View Post
    Anyone have any experience?

    Looking to replace the civic and possibly have a chance at a 2008 cooper S

    62k from new and well looked after (old boy who's main dealered the lot)

    Looks very tidy outside and in, tho didn't get underneath.

    Now nipper can do her own seatbelts and with me having the touareg she's into having a little 2 door, and as the "s" version I might be able get a track day again.

    For 3k is it worth a look at?

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    From my personal experience, I don't know anyone that has bought a used Mini of any spec level that hasn't had some sort of expensive problem with them ranging from timing chain death rattle to major electrical issues that involve the car going into limp mode when hot started to horrendous oil consumption (1 litre per month) after the bores oval out.
    That being said I know someone who has bought 2 Cooper S brand new from a main dealer, kept them for 5 years and never had a problem with them having been looked after properly. But also had people completely ignore my advice on buying a cheap 2nd hand one and all have ended up with intermittent faults or serious engine issues, resulting in them being sold for a fraction of the price they paid or scrapped.

    My advice is to make sure you pay a price that you are happy that you could get back if it develops any issues down the line. Definitely do a google search for common problems before buying one though

  7. #7
    Guest arry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    64,839
    Rides
    0
    Better than the R53 for reliability / build quality but still a bit iffy - but they are good fun to drive.

    Expect all sorts of niggles, lots of rattles, and a potentially big bill if it does its tensioner and chucks the timing chain (they do like doing that by all accounts - later ones had a better tensioner fitted to solve the issue). All of them drink oil for fun - makes owning a VTEC seem like attending a Green Party conference.

    Terrible rear seat legroom mind - may as well not have bothered.

  8. #8
    Guest Asht_200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    ashflix.com
    Posts
    22,542
    Rides
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by arry View Post
    Better than the R53 for reliability / build quality but still a bit iffy - but they are good fun to drive.

    Expect all sorts of niggles, lots of rattles, and a potentially big bill if it does its tensioner and chucks the timing chain (they do like doing that by all accounts - later ones had a better tensioner fitted to solve the issue). All of them drink oil for fun - makes owning a VTEC seem like attending a Green Party conference.

    Terrible rear seat legroom mind - may as well not have bothered.
    Good point because isn’t it that engine in the Chrysler? That disintegrates itself?

    My friend Amy had a John Cooper Works which was really good fun, but she sold it after a year when she moved to Australia

    They still aren’t as fun to an original Mini, much like the original Ford KA and MK1 XR2


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  9. #9
    Guest arry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    64,839
    Rides
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Asht_200 View Post
    Good point because isn’t it that engine in the Chrysler? That disintegrates itself?
    No, that was the R53. The 56 has a PSA / BMW collab engine IIRC.

  10. #10
    Guest Asht_200's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    ashflix.com
    Posts
    22,542
    Rides
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by arry View Post
    No, that was the R53. The 56 has a PSA / BMW collab engine IIRC.
    Ah ok

    But You can’t trust a Peugeot Citroen engine either


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  11. #11
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0
    Well.... agreed to get it Thursday....

    I'm giving the chap what the dealer was in part x, so must have a little more value out in the open market if it doesnt work out with nipper in back.

    FSH and only 62k on a 08, owned by same guy for 10yrs

    Mid 50s owner, doesn't look sort of cash - wearing all the mini parafinalia so hopefully a bit of a enthusiast.

    Got receipt for new cam chain and tensioner by a specialist at 50k, replaced with improved one from later model.

    New brakes and struts for MOT.

    For 3k hopefully will work out well, or at least break even if it's not, iether way I've been after changing the civic for over a year

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  12. #12
    Guest arry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    64,839
    Rides
    0
    Sounds like a decent buy mate

  13. #13
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0
    Might finally get chance go the ring, never made it in the sx and it's been on my bucket list for some time

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Guest arry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    64,839
    Rides
    0
    Will be a laugh there, for sure.

  15. #15
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0
    Not sure about the red bonnet scoop

    Am sure - it's a hoot to drive

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  16. #16
    Guest
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Longfield, Kent
    Posts
    1,419
    Rides
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by DLowe View Post
    Not sure about the red bonnet scoop

    Am sure - it's a hoot to drive

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    IIRC the scoop come out pretty simple
    Wish you luck with the car, hope it's one of the good ones!

  17. #17
    Guest arry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    64,839
    Rides
    0
    Have a riot with it mate

  18. #18
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0
    And £20 is half a tank.... a refreshing change from the touareg at £120 from red line



    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Guest DLowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Stoke on Trent
    Posts
    7,887
    Rides
    0
    Couple of days in and.....


    I'm enjoying this way more than I should, it's a absolute giggle fest driving. The handling is astonishing for something 12yrs old on mostly original bits and still on runflats.

    And for a totally stock car other than a ITG panel filter the pops and crackle on over run are addictive, not chav map loud and obtrusive, just a gentle bubble and just enough for the older gentleman

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •