The worst car I have ever owned in my twenty plus years of driving.
I purchased a brand new factory ordered Deep Blue F56 Cooper with a high specification. I has been a R56 Cooper owner for six years and loved the wee car.
The car arrived in April and I drove it home only realising when I parked at the house what a complete mess the Paint was in, it was swirl city. It also came with a chip at the bonnet edge right down to the metal like a ring had caught it shutting it. But I had taken the car on a run and the dealer said they had checked it. They did try and clear up the swirls on the passenger side that were honestly when the sun hit the car atrocious.
This was just the start of my problems. Within a week I noticed a bit of material sticking out the dash like Velcro at the air vent. The dealer said they could just push it back a bit but it still was about three inches showing. This was seen to as I was in as there was a bad and I mean bad rattle from the roof console were the alarm and lights are. It was like someone had put marbles in there. Every slight bump bang it would rattle. Thy striped it down and found the inside was not fitted together and parts were loose. Great I thought driving away finally in peace.
Within a few weeks more the dash started to rattle at the top vent and some place behind passenger side. The work shop manager who I took out actually said “Yeah that’s not great I can actually pick up three rattle” So the dash came out the bonus being the material could be hidden as it should from day one. Got the car back to be told that the top vent was possibly due to the top part of the dash being seated tight and the Fuse box was loose behind the Glovebox. Ok drove the car away.
Another week and a holiday and the passenger seatbelt to what we described at were the belt comes out the top trim rattled most of the time along with the adjustment bar at the front of the passenger seat. It became almost constant with the seatbelt and occasional with the seat ( If I applied finger pressure on the seat bar it stopped) . Again this was looked at. Drove away and it seemed fine but within days the seat belt rattle was back. The workshop manager that I’ve got to know well felt it was at the door. So the Door trim and side trim at the seatbelt removed. Got the car back and it is a lot better but still there. They also greased something ( it’s in the notes) that was a recall.
I decided I was getting sick of chasing rattles up with them taking the car to bits as when it came back the passenger window make a strange movement it certainly did not used to do when closing the door almost as if it bounces back off the rubber door seal before sliding up to close. Playing music loud gets me through when driving and at this stage decided I really need to get a decent built car early next year.
I live in Scotland so had the car on a holiday up the highlands and to get to the lodge the road has no lights and its pitch black highland road. While pulling away during the day I got a lights failure warning, jumped out and checked the lights and they seemed fine. Got this warning all day as I was in and out the car when I started the Car. Drove at night into the local town for dinner still with this failure warning and crossed my fingers, but the lights seemed fine and safe to drive. Came out late on and for the first time no warning. So back home took it in only to be told a new instrument panel ( The rev counter, Speedo etc) The car was in for two weeks while they waited as were also having another look at that rattle at the seatbelt and only found out a few days after receiving the car in that they had to wait for the display. I actually had an F56 loaner that I really enjoyed as it was actually build even if it was only a MINI One. The previous time I had a huge BMW 520 Sport for tha week that was like driving your living room sofa so glad this time I got a MINI at least.
So last week I got notified of a recall or Campaign as they call it with regard to the spare wheel mount – seemingly it can fall down due to a failure. So booked it in the car was returned. Now for the past few weeks I have had to watch opening and closing the drivers door as the plastic insert were a key hole or button would be has been falling off. I pull away looking in my mirror as it seems to jump off when the door closes although the past times I’ve heard it hit the ground when if fallen off when opening. Embarrassed enough with the car before having a stranger in a car park today point out something silver has just dropped off your car. Went in and I try not to be raging as my beef is with MINI not the dealer that has been sympathetic and tried its best to fix problems. Seeming this is not their first encounter with this problem on the F56 and the only fix is a new door handle as they have tried swapping the inserts out off another car. So car booked in again next week when the part arrives.
You know what I’ve groan to like the overall look from being a bit undecided, I think some of the tech in the car like the media screen and sport mode are fantastic. Look wise the interior is fantastic. The seats great and look really nice along with the new V3 Cooper Engine that is the cars best attribute.
But all these problems along with a petrol Gauge question I put on another post in here have totally spoiled the car. I don’t look back like I did with my R56 when I leave it and I get into it thinking what going to annoy me today. I had my R56 Cooper from only six months old with 1k on it and not once did I go out to get in it and think anything other than brilliant an excuse to drive it.
It’s a bad sign when after six months I’m in at an local Audi dealership looking for a replacement. I should have listened to friends saying don’t by a car in its first year, or as MINI replied when I nicely pointed out my issues “That’s what our warranty is for”
I purchased a brand new factory ordered Deep Blue F56 Cooper with a high specification. I has been a R56 Cooper owner for six years and loved the wee car.
The car arrived in April and I drove it home only realising when I parked at the house what a complete mess the Paint was in, it was swirl city. It also came with a chip at the bonnet edge right down to the metal like a ring had caught it shutting it. But I had taken the car on a run and the dealer said they had checked it. They did try and clear up the swirls on the passenger side that were honestly when the sun hit the car atrocious.
This was just the start of my problems. Within a week I noticed a bit of material sticking out the dash like Velcro at the air vent. The dealer said they could just push it back a bit but it still was about three inches showing. This was seen to as I was in as there was a bad and I mean bad rattle from the roof console were the alarm and lights are. It was like someone had put marbles in there. Every slight bump bang it would rattle. Thy striped it down and found the inside was not fitted together and parts were loose. Great I thought driving away finally in peace.
Within a few weeks more the dash started to rattle at the top vent and some place behind passenger side. The work shop manager who I took out actually said “Yeah that’s not great I can actually pick up three rattle” So the dash came out the bonus being the material could be hidden as it should from day one. Got the car back to be told that the top vent was possibly due to the top part of the dash being seated tight and the Fuse box was loose behind the Glovebox. Ok drove the car away.
Another week and a holiday and the passenger seatbelt to what we described at were the belt comes out the top trim rattled most of the time along with the adjustment bar at the front of the passenger seat. It became almost constant with the seatbelt and occasional with the seat ( If I applied finger pressure on the seat bar it stopped) . Again this was looked at. Drove away and it seemed fine but within days the seat belt rattle was back. The workshop manager that I’ve got to know well felt it was at the door. So the Door trim and side trim at the seatbelt removed. Got the car back and it is a lot better but still there. They also greased something ( it’s in the notes) that was a recall.
I decided I was getting sick of chasing rattles up with them taking the car to bits as when it came back the passenger window make a strange movement it certainly did not used to do when closing the door almost as if it bounces back off the rubber door seal before sliding up to close. Playing music loud gets me through when driving and at this stage decided I really need to get a decent built car early next year.
I live in Scotland so had the car on a holiday up the highlands and to get to the lodge the road has no lights and its pitch black highland road. While pulling away during the day I got a lights failure warning, jumped out and checked the lights and they seemed fine. Got this warning all day as I was in and out the car when I started the Car. Drove at night into the local town for dinner still with this failure warning and crossed my fingers, but the lights seemed fine and safe to drive. Came out late on and for the first time no warning. So back home took it in only to be told a new instrument panel ( The rev counter, Speedo etc) The car was in for two weeks while they waited as were also having another look at that rattle at the seatbelt and only found out a few days after receiving the car in that they had to wait for the display. I actually had an F56 loaner that I really enjoyed as it was actually build even if it was only a MINI One. The previous time I had a huge BMW 520 Sport for tha week that was like driving your living room sofa so glad this time I got a MINI at least.
So last week I got notified of a recall or Campaign as they call it with regard to the spare wheel mount – seemingly it can fall down due to a failure. So booked it in the car was returned. Now for the past few weeks I have had to watch opening and closing the drivers door as the plastic insert were a key hole or button would be has been falling off. I pull away looking in my mirror as it seems to jump off when the door closes although the past times I’ve heard it hit the ground when if fallen off when opening. Embarrassed enough with the car before having a stranger in a car park today point out something silver has just dropped off your car. Went in and I try not to be raging as my beef is with MINI not the dealer that has been sympathetic and tried its best to fix problems. Seeming this is not their first encounter with this problem on the F56 and the only fix is a new door handle as they have tried swapping the inserts out off another car. So car booked in again next week when the part arrives.
You know what I’ve groan to like the overall look from being a bit undecided, I think some of the tech in the car like the media screen and sport mode are fantastic. Look wise the interior is fantastic. The seats great and look really nice along with the new V3 Cooper Engine that is the cars best attribute.
But all these problems along with a petrol Gauge question I put on another post in here have totally spoiled the car. I don’t look back like I did with my R56 when I leave it and I get into it thinking what going to annoy me today. I had my R56 Cooper from only six months old with 1k on it and not once did I go out to get in it and think anything other than brilliant an excuse to drive it.
It’s a bad sign when after six months I’m in at an local Audi dealership looking for a replacement. I should have listened to friends saying don’t by a car in its first year, or as MINI replied when I nicely pointed out my issues “That’s what our warranty is for”
