As found in the December 13th issue of Autoweek:
The MINI Cooper S was not the most powerful car ever to grace our garage, nor the fastest. But it may just have been the most fun vehicle we've had at our disposal. And despite its small size, the MINI stood tall in the reliability department, not missing even one day of service in its 365 days with the AW staff.
The issue is at bookstores now and will be online in a few days.
<p>I have to say that I love both our MINIs too but I can't say that my 2002 Cooper has been so reliable. I've become friends with both the MINI service advisors at the dealer because I have been in there so often. Here's a list of problems I have had.</p>
<p>2000 miles alternator replaced. Took three visits to dealer to fix.
7000 miles 5-speed transmission replaced, car had to be towed to dealer. Took 10 days.
7500 miles car has to be towed again. Throttle potentiometer goes whacko.
8500 miles cracked windshield.
Boot rattle
Broken door panel
Shift linkage recall
Service Engine light off and on
38000 miles 5- speed transmisson replaced again, won't shift into reverse took only three days this time. Syncros going out.</p>
<p>Even after all this trouble I STILL LOVE THE LITTLE THING but at 39000 miles it is getting very rattly and compared to our 2004 MCS feels terrible. When I think about selling it and then look at it, I feel I can't do it. What to do?</p>
<p>Wait a tic.
What shift linkage recall?
I have always had issues with smooth engagement into reverse. The service guys just say its all in my technique… Suddenly I smell wool.</p>
<p>If my 2002 MC was reliable I would still have it. Not to mention the dealer didn't have a clue to what quality service was.</p>
<p>yeah, if my 2002 MCS was reliable, i'd still have it too. But I did love the car, and actually, my 05 MCS should be at my dealer in a month or so 🙂 here's to hoping it'll be a little bit more reliable than my ex-MCS!</p>
<p>From what I've heard and observed, there's definately a distinct line that gets drawn when talking about build quality/Fit and finish/reliability issues between '02 and '03 (and later) MINIs. I think early on there were some issues with assembly/parts that had to get ironed out. I think the charge accured somewhere around June, 2003. My MCS was built in late July, 2003 and I haven't had any of the quality/reliability issues mentioned… not even a sqeak or rattle. And I now have 38,000 miles.</p>
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<p>There was a recall for the shifter linkage detatching on 2002 5 speed transmissions, it'd leave you stuck in whatever gear, and unable to shift. The fix was a clip to keep everything intact, and they suposedly redesigned it for a better fix for the future. Check any of the forums for more info, it was big news back then.</p>
<p>I challenge the idea that '02 cars aren't reliable. Sure I've had some small things rectified by the dealer but save the aforementioned shift linkage I've never had any real problems to speak of.</p>
<p>42,000 miles and counting.</p>
<p>Thanks for the props Autoweek! Nice to hear more positive results. </p>
<p>Over 62,000 on my '02 MC and counting!!</p>
<p>If you're interested, a magazine called Grassroots Motorsports had this linkage problem on their long term test car. Scroll to the bottom of the page:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.grmotorsports.com/minicooper.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.grmotorsports.com/minicooper.html</a></p>
<p>Hmm, since we're talking about problems with our MINIs I'm wondering if I don't have a problem with my '04 MCS. It makes a poping like sound, but I distinguish where it is coming from exactly. The poping sound occurs even when the car isn't running. I guess I should talk with my dealer when I take it in for it's one year services check.</p>
<p>Aniawn,</p>
<p>Was the car running prior?</p>
<p>AFter a long commute, I've come back to the car in an hour and I have heard a popping noise.</p>
<p>It's the metal in the exhaust system contracting. Heat takes awhile to dissipate.</p>
<p>There's a better pop-pop sound when ya lift off the throttle! :)</p>
<p>It doesn't matter if you have a battle tank. No matter how reliable of a car there is, some people will always have problems with it. And the reverse is true. There are people with cars that have low quality, that are running them with 100,000+ miles with no problem.</p>
<p>I think the statistics are showing that the Mini is a very reliable car, and could most likely be one of the most reliable. There is a growing trend in long term tests of the Mini in which magazines are writing that they have experienced no problems whatsoever with the cars. This is just another example of one of the tests.</p>
<p>I've had Nothing but awesome reliability and smooth motoring form my 04 MCS I am rounding 16,000 miles and I dont hear a squeak rattle or pop. Will I buy a speedster if and when they build one? absolutely!</p>
<p>Some added perspective here:</p>
<p>2004 MCS (9/2003 build) 16K miles and ZERO, NADA, ZILCH warranty repairs and unscheduled visits in 14 months of service. ZERO rattles, solid as a bank vault.</p>
<p>2002 Cooper CVT (8/2002 build) 26K+ troublefree miles and ZERO issues as well. No rattles in this car and still looks brand new after 29 months of continuous and reliable service.</p>
<p>I agree with Gabe that the notion of the '02's being utterly problematic and unreliable is pure CR propaganda non-sense.</p>
<p>My MINI Service Advisor told me that the 02 ARE prone to many problems and even told me I'd be a happier camper if I were to trade it in on an '04 which is why I have an '04 MCS. My Cooper is the 6th car sold at the dealer so it is very early. It is well known, but I didn't listen, that you never by a first year model. I took the chance and I don't hold anything against it. It was great being a celebrity for the first six months. People used to flock to the car and ask so many questions. My 02 has just needed a little more attention than some. The MINI Service department has made these glitches easy to deal with and I would definately buy a third MINI. I love them.</p>
<p>It was a VERY positive article… I received my print copy yesterday. The press seems to become more and more convinced about the Mini after they've had it a year!</p>
<p>” agree with Gabe that the notion of the '02's being utterly problematic and unreliable is pure CR propaganda non-sense.”</p>
<p>The notion that ALL 02's are lemons is nonsense, but it does appear to be the case that, given contemprorary automotive quality standards, a relatively high percentage of the 02 cars (>1%?) had multiple, significant problems. Mine certainly did.</p>
<p>“I'm wondering if I don't have a problem with my '04 MCS. It makes a poping like sound, but I distinguish where it is coming from exactly. The poping sound occurs even when the car isn't running. I guess I should talk with my dealer when I take it in for it's one year services check.”</p>
<p>That's your heat shield expanding and contracting. Nothing to worry about. Think of the sound as adding “character” to your Mini.</p>
<p>Hmm…character…I like the sound of that.
Thanks for the clear-up scooblymonchee. Looks like I have nothing to worry about except for finding a job, but that maybe is a whole different issue…:p</p>
<p>My 2002 Cooper S has been a thing of joy and beauty since the start!
NO reliability issues, just superb motoring FUN !!!!!!!!</p>
<p>What a great car!!!!!!</p>
<p>I absolutely LOVE my 2005 MCS. I have a few rattles and squeaks, but nothing major, and all I have to do is throw it into some curves and I forget all about them. This car is absolutely a dream!</p>
<p>I have to reply to the “never buy a first year model” comment…While that is probably generally true, I took a chance in 1996 and bought a first-year-of-prodction Audi A4 Quatrro. It has just turned 185,000 miles. It had one fuel injector replaced and the front suspension re-done (at 150,000 miles). That's it. I still commute 100 miles a day in it. I can only hope that my 2005 MCSc (which I should have the key to in about one week) will be so reliable!</p>
<p>I've got 189 miles on my '05 MCS, and it's been totally trouble-free so far.</p>
<p>2002, no real issues, just the normal recall. Pshaw on your pshawing on '02s</p>
<p>Erik…</p>
<p>I've got 9800k on my '04 MCS. It is an absolute JOY!! After a year I'm still come up with excuses to go driveing.</p>
<p>I've only had it in once at about 5300K for a faulty hatch latch & an adjustment to the gear stick, it wasn't slotting from 2nd to 3rd smoothly. my dealer addressed both concerns with no hassels :)</p>
<p>Just a follow up on my '02 problem car. No not all '02s are trouble but the very early (mine is Feb 02 build) are prone to having more trouble. Just YESTERDAY, one week after having a second replacement transmision installed, the car stranded me on on the side of the freeway. It sounded like the entire transmission came loose. Horrible grinding noise and banging from the power until.</p>
<p>This is third time the car has stranded me and left me to be collected buy a flatbed tow truck. NOT a good record for a 2.5 year old car. It will go and I'll enjoy my 04 MCS which is a delight.</p>
<p>I'm glad that those who have trouble free '02s are having good luck.</p>
<p>Had an 02 MCS. If you recognise my screenname you are familiar with the story. I traded in for an MC40. Since the first days of horrid dealer service and alarming dependability in the ignition and supercharger category, the 90 day old car's rattles and noises have been tolerated as status quo.</p>
<p>I will forever be suspicious of the praise MINI is fetching from the media.</p>
<p>OK. I'm a moderator on two busy MINI lover websites, so I know how it's a sin to double post, AND a crapshoot for any (ne) MINI owner to come ahead with an absolutely wonderful MINI owning experience. I rolled the dice again because it was my best option – even looking at my travesty with the trade-in. If it's not the car, it’s the dealership.</p>
<p>Here it is:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101360" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101360</a></p>
<p>Here’s a new one! My mini (02) is in my driveway and I can’t turn it off! Yup-that’s right. Keys out, battery disengaged-still running! Help!</p>