Mini 3-Door Hatch

Arrogant, Rude, Pushy and don't care, after they get your money, that's Mini Garage Parramatta! – As a BMW product owner since 1983 having owned 5 Sedan cars and 3 Minis I have a fair understanding of the service offering by this international organization via their dealerships in Australia and N.Z........Generally speaking they are professional and diligent with the required tasks. So when we returned to Australia in Dec 2020 we decided a… Read more

Mini Cooper S was the car to buy. After looking at the internet and various Mini Garages a demonstrator - Oct 2020 build and just 2300 klms "on the clock". The car was located at Mini Garage - Parramatta (formally Trivett Mini Garage). We were introduced to a gent who was quite professional; however, once he realized we were "going to buy" he became quite pushy..........almost to the point.as if his life depended on making the sale. The usual "haggling" produced an acceptable sale price. The car was delivered between Xmas 2020.....All was "up to scratch" to this point. Within a few days of taking delivery of the car we started getting phone calls "encouraging" us to rate the "buying experience" at 10 out of 10..............Because we were pestered we gave a lower rating thinking someone would take notice and may be ask why. Then emails started on promoting Mini and the brand - we had asked specifically not to receive "junk mail" they continued until we received an invitation to bring the car in for a check over as it had completed several thousand kilometers. We accepted the invitation and made a date about 5 weeks hence, A week before the appointed day we realized we'd not be able to keep the appointment and tried to call the service area number. The phone went through all the options with the final one indicating we could leave a message and someone would call back............we lift a message (all this happened before lunch!). By 3-00p.m we had not had a call back so we called again..........nothing, then around 4-30p.m - still no call back This routine was repeated 3 more times up to 5-00p.m. I thought I'd call shortly after 5-00p.m this time the phone was answered but it was hung up almost straight away. Remember this was the Service Departments designated phone number, taken from the dealers website we were calling! Late morning on the day of the appointment I had a call from some individual, chastising me for not keeping the appointment! ........I was furious at such treatment! I wrote to the Dealers Managing Director - private and confidential correspondence............3 weeks later I have not had an email, phone call or letter with an explanation what went wrong........... I suggest if Mini Garage - Parramatta cannot run a Call Centre as appears to be the case; why would you entrust your car to them to have the car according to the BMW/Mini protocols?

Terrible Build Quality And Just A Terrible Vehicle In General – I had a 2007 MINI Cooper S Chilli (it was my first car) and it was an utter money pit. There were several issues with the car including, but not limited to, high pressure fuel pump, timing chain guides (it already had a new engine from MINI in 2010, several years before I owned it), clutch exploding, flywheel destruction, selector fork bent… Read more

(previous owner did not purchase an OEM component), broken sunroof motor and boot mechanism malfunction (it would never lock after closing it, posing a major theft risk) and a check engine light that would never go away (even after using special software called, ISTA)

The 1.6 litre Prince engines are not known for being reliable from the beginning. They constantly beg for more and more maintenance piling on the money you need to keep these junk heaps on the road!!

As you can tell, I hated the car with a passion towards the end of my ownership.

Do yourself a favour and please stay away from them. They are an utter nightmare from beginning to end. If anything, purchase a BMW. They'll prove to be a better car in the long run. It's what I ended up with and there have been no faults whatsoever, apart from the usual services, which is a given.

retro brilliance – when looking for a new car this year, most cars seemed nearly all the same,accept for mini by bmw, the modern retro look is one of the most handsome cars i,ve ever lais eyes on,when getting into the drivers seat the interior is simply just beautiful, has a spaceship feel with retro looks. When accelerating with the 1.5 turbo engine you feel part… Read more

of the car,as it handles the road like a go cart,sticks to the road on every corner like glue,a true sporty drivers car,buying a mini is buying a car that most likly no one else will have the same,as the choice of colours ,add ons,models is so unique and personel, after couple months of owning a mini, mini will send you a plaque with any name you want up to 8 letters to further personelise your car,mini cooper sevens with 1.5 turbo engine becomes even better on a highway as the turbo gives heaps of over taking power with sublime handling,special isn,t enough for the mini cooper sevens ,heaven fits its better,a firm sporty ride for those who love their cars.

Retro styling with modern convenience and real sporty ride! – Initially I disliked the look of the "new" minis, having been driving a "real" mini for a few years, but I had a look at a few and liked the features in them. I considered buying a R-53 (supercharged) but the R56 offered so much more in terms of features and I liked the idea of a turbo motor.The more I looked at them the more I liked them, and… Read more

then my 1991 Magna died and I wanted a good car. I hunted around and waited until I found what I wanted, a Cooper "S" with the JCW kit (add-on, not factory). The JCW Kit adds an extra 10 KW over the standard "S" motor and lots of extra torque. I was mightily impressed by the low-end power, with the turbo kicking in from about 1800 rpm, with the 4 cylinder engine remaining silky smooth, unlike my old Magna!

The JCW kit consists of (essentially) an ECU flash and an upgraded exhaust on a Cooper "S", which really sounds muted when you are driving it, but is actually much more noticable from the outside. I really enjoy driving this car, as it is quite nimble and sporty. I will confess that I did the "Road Test" on a nice quiet country road and quickly got to 200Kph before I backed off. Top speed is given as 235Kph, which to me is quite believable, as it still was accelerating strongly when I backed off.

The original purchaser of my car must have ticked nearly all of the boxes when ordering it, including heated seats, integrated sat nav (relatively rare in 2007), Xenon headlights and headlight washers, stainless steel trim with chromed instruments, adjustable interior lights (blue-purple-red-orange), bluetooth (also relatively new in 2007, although it is phone only) auxilliary sound input, i-pod/iphone connection in the (cooled) glove box (except it won't charge Iphone 4s) to listen to music and lots of other stuff.

The original run-flat tyres were long-gone when i bought it, most owners recommend getting rid of the RFTs and carrying a can of tyre foam and a pump, it has worked for me on the one occasion that I got a flat. The RFTs are not repairable and make the ride rough, apparently. The suspension is stiff enough as is, without having nearly solid side-walls on the tyres.

OK Downsides! The car is really a two-seater, unless the people in the back seat have no legs, or the driver has short legs. For me, at 183cm, the seat is almost all the way back, leaving no legroom for anyone in the back. The stiffness of the suspension means that the dash assembly squeaks and groans, noticable at low speed.

Reliability of the N-14 Princess turbo motor is somewhat compromised by a few known problems, Hgh pressure fuel pump failure, Water pump housing failure, carbon build-up in the intake manifold (causes pinging and rough running) and the dreaded timing-chain death-rattle- curable by fitting a new timing chain, chain guides and chain tensioner.. Services are expensive, but you are driving (essentially) a BMW. There are non-"Mini Garage" services available at significantly cheaper rates, often run by ex-MiniGarage mechanics, so just as good.

It uses 98 RON petrol, gets on average 7.9l/100km around town and about 6.5 at 110kph (one of the features is instant fuel consumption and average fuel consumption read-outs). At 200 kph fuel consumption is about 25 litres per 100km, to give a range of 200km from the fuel tank, or about 600km at normal (legal) speeds.

Overall, this is a car that I would like to keep for many years as a daily driver, especially now that the kids have grown up (but I haven't). It handles sharply on the winding roads, has good acceleration and braking and has a fun factor way above just about any other car i have driven (except for my Moke).

So far so good 2010 R56 Cooper Hatch – 2010 R56 Cooper Hatchback 1st Mini for me, Second hand straight swap for a 2011 Ford Ranger (long story, but a happy ending). Happy with it, no issues that I'd complain of. Glad I didn't go the Cooper S, as they appear to have more problems than the basic Cooper. Daily driver, go kart cornering, but understand that I will have to fork out $$ for servicing, parts replacement and run flats. Lucky I have a mortgage eh! Happy motoring! Show details

Mini Cooper S Cabrio R52 Sidewalk – Buying a Mini is a lifestyle choice. It afords you the opportunity to join car clubs and meet nice mini people. My Cabrio is a special edition, noting major has gone wrong however I would recommend keeping regular maintenance especially in the oil department. Supercharger is very characterful. Roof works perfectly and is the outstanding feature of… Read more

this car. This model is the ultimate version of the Mark 1 modern minis designed by Frank Stevenson.

Fast and economical – Enjoyed ever bit of that car. It is small, it is compact, fuel efficient. The car is comfortable to drive. Has a great pick up even though doesn't need that much petrol. The design from inside is a bit weird, the whole dash board is in the middle, unusual but easy to get used to.  Show details

I loved this car until the timing chain broke without warning, causing catastrophic engine failure – I regularly serviced my Mini and it was less than six years old when the timing chain broke without warning. It was out of warranty and Mini was going to charge me $14,000-15,000.00 to repair the engine or $16,000.00 to replace the engine. They only offered me $1,500.00 for a trade in (initially $500.00). I have since discovered that this is a… Read more

common problem and a design fault in these that BMW is aware of. Although I loved this car and had no issues until this point in time, I feel devastated as I believe my car to have been worth about $25,000.00 at the time that it broke down. I had hoped to be driving for a few more years before I traded it in for a new one. Google BMW and timing chain faults before you buy these cars.

MINI COOPER-MAXI PROBLEMS – well,where should I start..For the Love of my Daughter I bought this LEMON when she got her License..Water pump.Thermostat,Overheating,computer troubleshooting,Automatic faults of simple battery change,left shock absorber changed twice,still noisy..changed the remote key-does`nt unlock after rippoff from BMW,heater blows only on one… Read more

side(passenger)..Can-Cup holders-useless,Boot so small cant fit even a slab of beer,,,Only good thing a can mention is a Cheeky-Atractive look and a lot of eyes are watching you at the lights..Guys,Girls,FATHERS except the Look,this Car got nothing else to Offer You...I can only say that Peugeot 1,6 petrol engine is very economical..Interior is plastic toyish looking,seating low but comfy,,,End of my Experience DON'T BUY IT....

Great car if maintained properly – Overall it's a fun great car. BUT * don't get the auto (will fail) * Manual 5 speed box will fail UNLESS you change the gearbox oil every 30k's. Mines busted and this can cost more than the car to fix. The 6 speed S box is fine. Just got a new box and will start from scratch knowing it's looked after. Only buy one thats had regular oil changes… Read more

or recently been replaced.

* bushings and engine mounts are bad, BUT if you replace them all with performance (urethane) once it's better than new handling.

It can be cheap to get parts if you find online yourself and use an honest BMW trained mechanic, or ridiculously expensive through other mechanics (as it's tricky to get things apart). So suits someone who's a little savvy.

Great to drive, easy to park, and the back seat fold flat so surprisingly practical.

Fantastic to buy from – Bought a 2011 r56 mini cooper, awsome little zippy car. Purchased from Gabrielle motors NSW, were fantastic in their customer service and super responsive communication. Will be purchasing the next one through these guys again! Driving is amazing 8n the mini, it hugs the road and corners beautifully, ive put to the test too and it handled very… Read more

well.

Interior is basic but it feels like your in a larger car.. very roomy feeling.

Running cost are cheap as.. 45 to fill the tank and it lasts for ages, have had it now for 3 months and hasnt even done 100,000 ks not a thing wrong with it. Mechanic was blown away by how cheap and easy the car is to maintain.

Endless Headaches/Sloppy Engineering – Can't give them "0" stars, so they get a lucky star...just one. Super friendly sales and service people for sure, MINI, good job, you've trained them well. The complimentary Starbucks coffee and Chex Party Mix are also a nice touch, but none of these can substitute for engineering and delivering a quality automobile to your customers! I'd rather… Read more

by a car from a jerk that was a quality product, designed for performance, reliability, and longevity. The automatic transmission on my 2007 mini cooper failed at 108,000 miles. A regularly serviced automatic transmission such as the one in the 2007 Mini Cooper, by comparable industry standards, should be good for at least 150,000 miles. This was not an inexpensive car (over 30K new, with over $15,000 in labor and parts in the meantime). The transmission was serviced when the car was still under warranty, and well after the BMW corporation was aware of the design flaws that ultimately led to the transmission failure. Rather than service the defective transmission while the warranty was in effect, they sent me home with a car that they knew had a poorly designed/engineered transmission from the factory. Although the transmission was serviced 18 months prior to this failure, and I believed the work carried a 2-year warranty, MINI's position is that the work performed was not mechanical, but electronic in nature, and was not covered under the 2-year warranty. The MINI was fun while it lasted, and as a professional that works with young adults as a career, I always felt comfortable recommending the MINI as a first car. My position on the MINI (not Bill Jacobs, you've been consummately professional) has shifted, and I will ultimately share my story of dissatisfaction and disappointment with the BMW corporation. Of notable irony is the fact that I originally purchased a MINI because of their resale value. $45,000 later and I have a MINI that is worth $150. The final tow to and from Bill Jacobs MINI will cost more than that. I believe that any of the owners of Bill Jacobs MINI or it's representatives would feel exactly as I do in regards to this situation. To MINI and BMW……….you missed the most important thing that car buyers want, that is, a quality product. Everything else has been tasty, perfectly-brewed, and pleasant.

My perfect first car – Mini cooper is really easy and fun to drive. For a new female driver, parking is easier with mini copper. It's very safe and fast to do turnigs and corners. The most important thing, The looking is cute. It's actually bigger than it looks. You can always put down the back seats and hold big luggages. Filling a whole tank is about $50.  Show details

Perfect – Mini is my first car, I enjoy to drive it every day. The only said point the service is too expensive. My first service if mini copper service team cost me 490 (engine oil is free)... But overall. the experience with MINI and their service team is very very good.  Show details

Best Car EVER – I love my Mini Cooper. I have the basic model 2015 and can't really fault it. The 3 Cylinder Turbo is very powerful yet incredibly economical. It handles very well and I have plenty of control on the road. The build quality is great and the interior looks funky. It is responsive for both acceleration and braking whilst looking cool on the road. Fits 4 people max.  Show details

Buzz to drive but oh so expensive to maintain – Was excited when I bought this car new in 2011 and for the first 3 years I had a virtually trouble free run other than a recall for the turbo and annual servicing costs which appeared excessively high. Being tall I was amazed at the legroom and surprised by the amount of cabin space for the front seat passengers. Interior finish is beautiful and… Read more

comfort levels high if you ignore the back seat which is only suitable for smaller kids. Other than the servicing costs the main bugbear for me was the hard ride compounded by the run flat tyres and average road surfaces throughout Adelaide. Tyre wear initially was very good as they lasted close to 40k before I converted to standard which improved the ride but at the expense of tyre wear.

Things started to go awry around the time of the warranty running out with cooling system issues emerging followed by coolant leaks and degradation of cheap plastic parts such as an obscure air conditioner bracket which snapped and damaged an alloy component (power steering I think) within the chassis. The plastic front grill surround has also cracked. The dealer costs to repair the leaks, replace front and rear brake pads, rotors etc were astronomical and well outside of my budget leaving me no choice but to have repairs carried outside of the dealership for about 50% less a no brainer. yes it is a great little car to drive but be sure you have the budget to cover maintenance/running costs as these are way too expensive.

Cooper S - Great car but expensive to run – I have a 2008 Mini Cooper S with Auto. I am the second owner and I have owned it for four years. It is a great car to drive, but it is expensive to own. Brake rotors and pads had to be replaced at 60,000 klms, which apparently is a common issue with many European cars (sacrificial rotors) - BMW cost is $1800, although I did it cheaper by buying… Read more

after market parts from the UK. BMW also use a plastic component in the circulating cooling water system - this failed at around 65,000 kms (around $500 to replace)- the plastic eventually fails from the heat in the engine bay - a crazy design! An oil leak developed at 70,000 klms, which cost $1000 to fix. Timing chain now needs replacement at 80,000 klms, at $2000 - this is a design issue that BMW USA fixed under warranty, but BMW Australia is not admitting fault for.

I love my Mini, but the mechanical components have been poorly designed - it really is a luxury purchase. If you buy one, go in with your eyes open and don't buy one if you are after a cheap runaround.

Never buy a cooper s with auto – My wife has a 2006 Mini cooper s with automatic gearbox. It has only 77000 kilometers and has just been quoted $11000 by gold coast Mini to replace the gearbox. If you look all over the web its a major issue, started jumping gears, then shunted to the next gear then failed completely and went into limp home mode. Mini (BMW) charged $450 just… Read more

to put it on the diagnostics and then confirmed the $11000 replacement which is ridiculous.

No explanation as to why, what other alternatives their would be, etc, etc.

I would never buy another Mini if they only last less than 80000ks.

Just a joke.

I love my Mini Cooper S – So sad about the bad reviews for my car! I've had mine for 5 years now, bought from the dealer ex demo with 1000k on it. It hasn't missed a beat. Apart from a recall for the turbo, which was replaced free, it hasn't had one single problem, not even a blown fuse! It's fun to drive, corners like a go cart, has fantastic power and grunt. The Mini's… Read more

computer tells you when to service it and I only have to about once a year. I'm not a conservative driver, I push my Mini hard as I love to feel the turbo kick in. Compared to the Toyota Tarago I had previously, servicing is cheap! One service, always at BMW dealership, cost me $143 AND they gave me a brand new BMW courtesy car for the day, I couldn't have hired one for that price. I love the style, the power and the absolute driving pleasure of owning a Mini Cooper S. It's just plain fun, oh and I'm female and 47, mid life crisis I guess.

Fun Factor – I don't understand why all the bad reviews of this fun little pocket rocket. A wolf in a sheep's clothing. I love the drive, performance, handling, comfort, features and interior volume. I've owned 911 Porsche and VW Scirocco and they're amazing cars too. But the Cooper S fun factor is dialled in at under 80k p/hr whereas the others are way way… Read more

above speed limits to max out their best. Fuel economy is great as is the reliability. Mine is serviced at Doncaster BMW for the next 5 years at a total fixed sum of $1080 parts and labour - can't beat that for a BMW...?? And, tho Mini is iconic ... I wasn't too impressed with the standard model Mini loan-car they gave me while mine was being serviced / so if you want one of the all-time go-Kart classics then go for the 2015 onwards Cooper S or John Cooper Works models with manual transmission and with as many feature options as you can afford.

Maximum smiles per gallon – I bought my '02 Cooper 5 speed manual used about a year ago & I completely love it! It's incredibly fun to drive, looks fantastic & returns good fuel consumption. The gear shift is a delight, as is the direct steering, excellent brakes & ridiculous levels of grip! Surprisingly roomy inside - I'm 6'1" & have plenty of leg & head room - it's a… Read more

surprisingly capable load lugger when you need it.

A word of caution to those who are especially financially sensitive: don't expect this car to have Japanese levels of reliability & cost efficiency. While my Cooper has been mechanically reliable, it has had a few fairly minor electrical gremlins, most of which have been a little pricier than expected to fix. It's also been a little more expensive to service than my previous 2 cars (both Mazdas of a similar vintage).

But for me, the massive grin I can't wipe off my face every time I approach & jump into my Mini is well worth the extra expense it has been!

This Lemon Sux – Purchased brand new in Jan 2008 for around 60K with all the fruit (lemons in particular?). Total of six months since wasted in service? department...great coffee and they all know me by name. Everything that can be replaced has been replaced (should have bought a ten year warranty?). Two new turbos, fuel pump, head gasket, back hatch, drivers… Read more

side window, wiring harness, computer control system to activate car and locking, window shades, front window seals, and yes....a new timing chain and tensioner.

Now I feel like a million dollars driving this piece of citrus ('cause that is what it costs to run)!!

Cheap on fuel - Very expensive on everything else – I have owned a 2009 Mini Cooper Camden diesel for the past 4 years. Whilst i like the Mini and it is very fuel efficient - its down sides cost more than the savings of the up sides. 1 - I have gone through a set of run flat tyres each year of ownership. $900 per year - never had this issue with any another car i have owned, 2 - Service… Read more

costs for the Mini are outrageous. - $500 - $900 x 3 times per year

3 - The rear tail light assembly holds 4 globes. When one globes connector burns out you need to change the entire assembly ( $100 )

4 - recently i had an issue with the radio - it suddenly stopped working - The fuse was not blown & that is the only check of the system I can make myself - The radio system is totally enclosed within the dash - meaning that the dash has to be dismantled in order to access the radio - upon taking it to BMW I was informed that the dash would have to be dismantled, the seats removed, the carpet removed, the door trims removed in order for them to diagnose the cause. I wrote a letter to BMW Australia & Germany outlining the issue I was having. I explained that if they ( as a manufacturer ) decide to totally enclose the radio system inside the dash resulting in total interior dismantle to access & diagnose it they should / must assume responsibility for its failure & pay for its repair. Of course in more diplomatic words their response was ( its out of warranty / bad luck mate ) The end result of this issue = new power module & new radio head unit = $2000 - I have sold the Mini & will NEVER EVER buy a BMW product AGAIN .... The BMW mechanic that worked on my Mini told me this - They make these cars to last the term of the warranty - I fix them but I would never buy one = Enough said .... BMW = Buyers, Money,

Wasted - legalised robbery is what it is.

Spunky car, sporty interior and exterior – Great looking car, bought used from dealer. Had for over 3 years bought with sport suspension which is great. Only drama recently was with the Friction Pully Assembly/Drivebelt/Waterpump pully. My mechanic said that this was not a great design part and wears out too quickly . Cheap to run. Fun to drive. Great to park in small spaces.  Show details

Love it – I'm a bit sad to see such bad reviews of my car, which I really love! Mine is a 2009 "D" (diesel) 6-speed manual with the sunroof and I can't say enough good things about it. It still drives and handles mostly like new, and apart from some dints in the sides from clumsy people opening doors in car parks, it still looks pretty good too. I just love… Read more

driving it, it's not super fast but it's torquey and you can swing it around a corner if you feel like it. You can fit more in it than you would expect - just today I bought a new clothes dryer and (with some advance measurement) was able to bring it home in the Mini (the guy at the loading dock was pretty surprised). And the fuel economy is phenomenal, always better than 4l/100km out of town, about 5.5 tootling around our suburb. My wife, admittedly, doesn't like it that much as she doesn't like manuals and prefers a "smoother" ride. BTW I get mine serviced at Bromspec Motor Works in Brookvale.

Do not buy one – 2002 Mini, probably the most unreliable car we have ever owned. It's badly made, cheap and nasty - you can knock the accelerator pedal off with your foot, unbelievable. I am frankly gobsmacked BMW have sold so many of these. Replacement parts - eye wateringly expensive and difficult to obtain, gearbox made out of paper or something I think, alternator made out of compacted snow. Seriously BMW, you should be ashamed of yourselves.  Show details

Ok – The cat is nice to drive but very small boot, and run flat tyres which are very expensive, if you change these the senors for the yres will not work and it will stay on all the time. Its a second fun car not a daily drive. Expensive to service and parts are also. Bmw are really not very understanding. Make sure you get the car check out fully with a report. I would not purchase this car

This car is a lemon! – I am now going to the tribunal in an attempt to recover some of the $10,000+ in repair costs for my 2008 Mini Cooper S. Mini did pay for the parts for the timing chain, but not the fatal oil leak, 2 clutches, turbo charger, electronics, etc, etc. I have to return the car to the dealership in the morning as the electronic have failed again. I… Read more

just got it back after two months with the BMW mechanics supposedly going over everything! Never buy this car!

Too expensive to repair and too many faults.

Faulty timing chain tensioner systemic problem – BMW in some countries acknowledge that cooper s r56 has a faulty timing tensioner causing $1600 repair or if not repaired early total engine replacement. In australia their official line is they do not have to comply as the laws here don't make them have to. Timing chain issue fails after 30'000km on a $50,000 car! Does that sound right.? If… Read more

you talk to your BMW service manager they tell you it is normal. (Not normal on a $12k Hyundai)

Beware of BMW used car inspections they won't tell you honestly any known issues covering them up, I spent $500 on an inspection and 2 weeks later had a $1600 repair bill for the timing chain tensioner an issue they have gone to court about In 5 countries. Cool, great to drive Expensive servicing, run flat tyres fail early and expensive, timing chain tensioner

Mini Cooper Customer service – Terrible after sale from BMW. Good car but a have few faulty parts. Return to BMW they refuse to fix it under warranty and charge high cost to resolve the problem. Unprofessional and rude to customer. Never buy another Mini or BMW after this. Thier service is the worst ever! fun to drive worst after sale service from BMW

A bad choice! – I purchased my Mini Cooper 'S' from Col Crawford MINI in June 2010. This was my second Mini, i only sold the previous one which i loved to move back to the UK. This time around, what a mistake! The car sounded like a diesel one morning (October 2010), towed to my local BMW dealer (Parramatta) who were amazing. They called me and advised the… Read more

timing chain was on its way out.. Typically something needing replacing at 150,000kms, not 7,000kms. The vehicle was in the shop for a period of 6 weeks. BMW parramatta had their hands tied and kept me informed along the way. I said i needed a car to get around in, they said head office would have to approve that. They didn't want to budge.. I finally got approval after threatening the ACCC. I did call Col Crawford who said unless they can repair the car themselves, then they won't assist with a hire car.. Multiple calls, useless! Other things also happened like the drivers vanity mirror fell off and a power window switch failed on multiple occassions... Again, my local dealership was always there to assist.

I finally get the car back, driving on the motorway in the rain, wait for it, the entire lefft hand side wiper arms flys off! Yes, flys off! Thank goodness it wasn't on the drivers side. Again, back to BMW we go. A few weeks later the lower front grills falls out, yes, falls out! The only good thing about all my visits to MINI were that they washed the car each time. I had a good relationship with the local service advisor ho assisted me each time, she actually showed me how much money they had spent on warranty repairs since i bought the vehicle... A wopping $8,200 that was billed back to BMW head office in Melbourne. I had enough... If the car was costing this amount of money (sure i get it, its European) then what the hell would it cost out of warranty (at which i also bought an additional two years of at a cost of $1300). I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

I made an appointment to visit the useless staff and dealer principal at Col Crawford since they were the ones who sold me the car in the first place. I actlally visited to do more business. I said in light of the cars history, and my fear of driving this car moving forward and what had happened to date i wanted to get out of the Mini and into something different. Col Crawford is a multi franchise dealership... We looked at Hondas, Nissan etc... Both being Japenese seemed like a good idea. When i went back to see the dealer principal (Nick) he tried to flog us a 2004 BMW 118i.. Then a 2006 model. I said 'are you nit listening'? Enough of the European stuff, we were going to order a Nissan if the sums added up. Sure, i was going to loose money on the Mini, even though for two months out of her 8 months of life i didn't have her.... Nick wanted to offer around 15k less then the purchase amount... Espically after everything we went thru and that his service department did not have to lift a finger service wise.

I wanted to give them business... He said he would not budge because clearly the car was riddled with problems.... And he had no confidence that BMW Parramatta fixed all the issues! I said 'are you not meant to support the national brand, dealer and service network'? He said again, that he wouldn't budge on the numbers... I didn't see a line of people outside to buy cars.

After the last issue.. And me being nervouse moving forward i listed the car for sale... Weeks later not a single phone call, i reduced the asking price but still nothing. As fate would have it, we woke up one morning to find the entire street under water... She was a total loss and insurance paid out three weeks later. The river opposite us in Sydney couldn't cope with the three previous days of rain.

Shame on head office also... I wasn't even into the first year of my three year new vehicle warranty let alone the two extra years (years 4 and 5) of the purchased warranty. I called asking what could be done regarding the $1300 and the details surrounding my request. It was denied by all levels. A total disgrace.

I bought my first Mini from BMW in Parramatta and always found them to be wonderful and always happy to assist... Col Crawford BMW Brookvale NSW, well they are a pathetic bunch that clearly put customer service second even though their website praises how wonderful it is, (yet to be seen)!

I honestly believe this Mini was a lemon, these things happen and the funny thing is that for a moment i did consider a Mini Countryman as that was my courtesy car for the 6 weeks and i loved it BUT in light of my customer service experience, Mini, you lost me! And to be quite honest, your days of no competition are gone... And we all know your feeling it! Your dealer network and customer service hotline really need to learn a few lessons in doing busness and how to look after your customers.

RIP Alice the Mini! BMW Parramatta are wonderful.. A fun car while she lasted Bad warranty service, after sales is horrible, you would expect this kind of service from a brand like KIA or Hyundai

Terrible – Buy this car if you're a die hard Mini enthusiast!If not and you still want this car because it looks cool and it's Mini,dont hold on it for long.Dispose it as soon as the 3 year warranty and Road Assist run out or prepare to spend $$$$$ for repairs not to mention time. Browse for Mini Forums around the world,this car apparently encounters many… Read more

major mechanical problems early in it's life (3-5 years) Great Road Assist Further to my earlier review(Leo729),the door actuator was replaced and fixed the problem. I thought it was the last.However,I had further two major mechanical problems with this car. The car's "high pressure fuel pump" and water pump were replaced!!In 10 months 3 major mechanical faults.Unbelievable!The "Mini Adventure" slogan is your adventure to nearest Mini Garage.

Mini Cooper S – Very fun car to drive. I love driving it in and around the city, so easy to park etc. The mini has such surprising performance for a small car, helped by the supercharger. Long drives in the country can be a bit of a spine cruncher due to the stiff race car like suspension. Not using run flat tyres on the mini does improve the ride however if you… Read more

get a flat your pretty much walking or talking about the weather with a tow truck driver. Plenty of bonus parts now available online for added performance and to fix common faults for the mini, such as the timing chain, power steering cooling issues plus wheel speed sensors. Great handling, fantastic power with the supercharger, fuel efficient Timing chain rattle however easy to fix with replacement parts now available. Wheel speed sensors often need to be replaced