The Mini is an iconic car brand, and as British as you could possibly get. The original Mini was a staple of British culture in the 1960s, and was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999. Currently owned by BMW, Mini continues to be a very popular brand in the UK and are a common sight on British roads. But, how reliable is Mini? BMW aren’t exactly famed for their reliability, so are Mini the same?
In this article, we look at how reliable Mini are, and how this compares to some of their rivals.
How reliable is Mini?
Honestly, Mini are positively average when it comes to dependability. They are neither unreliable nor the most reliable manufacturer out there. They are simply average.
ReliabilityIndex puts the brand in 19th place out of 36, with a reliability index of 110. This isn’t bad, though it is average more than it is above average. The Telegraph rank Mini 19th in their 20 most reliable car brands, with 140 problems per 100 vehicles. They have slid down quite a bit since last year, where they came 13th place with just 105 problems per 100 vehicles. CNN also ranked Mini as average, putting them 10th in their top 10 for reliability, just scraping being included in the table.
How reliable is the Mini Cooper?
The Mini Cooper is the most well-known Mini and really what we all think of when we say the word ‘Mini’. The Mini Cooper is average in terms of dependability. It has a reliability index of 117, and the average is 118. It’s repair costs aren’t too bad, coming in at £396.77 on average which is pretty good, especially compared to some of their rivals. They are off the road for a little bit longer however, at 2.62 hours. It appears that the engine accounts for most of the problems, at 29.48% of all issues. Carbuyer also rank the Mini Cooper at just above average in their Driver Power survey. Just 7.3% of owners experienced a problem with their Mini on more than one occasion. It scores pretty well on autoexpress, with a reliability score of 95.38%. Most owners on autoexpress had very good things to say about their Mini Cooper, particularly with the dependability. There were a few that had some complaints, one noting the costliness of the repairs. But overall, the Mini Cooper has received mainly positive, if not a bit average, feedback.
Is the Mini One reliable?
The Mini One scores better than the Cooper for dependability on ReliabilityIndex, with a reliability index of 113. It has average repair costs of £452.37 and is off the road for 3.08 hours, which is quite a long time. The repair costs are also more than the Cooper and some of their rivals. Again, the main issue appears to be the engine, accounting for 32.29% of issues. Consumer feedback on cars is mainly positive. Many award the Mini One with 4 or 5 stars for reliability. There are some complaints, but these are very few compared to those singing their praises. One customer notes that there were faults Mini couldn’t find the answer to, so customer service can also come into play here when looking at dependability.
Overall, though, it seems the Mini One is a solid car.
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How do you determine reliability?
So how do we decide how dependable a car is?
The most obvious way is to look at how many things go wrong with the car, that’s a surefire way to tell how dependable it is. This is where numerical data comes in really handy. For example, ReliabilityIndex use information from WarrantyDirect, who provide extended warranties for a number of makes and models. When someone makes a claim, they log the information and then use that data to determine which cars are most dependable and which ones aren’t. They also take into account the amount of time the car is off road and the average cost of repairs. Both these things contribute to overall dependability. The reasons Mini might be considered average in terms of dependability according to ReliabilityIndex is down to the claims made on WarrantyDirect, as well as the cost of repairs and the time off the road. Mini aren’t the most expensive brand, nor are they the most affordable, which means that their repair costs are about right. New parts aren’t going to cost a fortune or be difficult to source, but they might not be readily available or slightly more expensive than parts for a more affordable car. This can affect the dependability. We also use consumer surveys and self-reports to determine how dependable a car is. This is because we can gather more information about those who drive the car on a daily basis. We can also find out more about individual experiences which help support, or go against, what the numerical data is telling us. For example, we can tell that one driver is unhappy with the repair costs, and another with the customer service. This can bring their dependability ranking down. But, we can also see that many owners are happy with their cars, and have had very little trouble.
Both are very good ways of determining how dependable a car is.
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Mini vs. Volkswagen vs. Fiat
How does Mini compare to other iconic models, such as the Volkswagen Beetle and the Fiat 500 when it comes to dependability?The Volkswagen Beetle is an impressively dependable car. It has a reliability index of 62 and the repair costs are pretty reasonable too, at £226.45 on average. It is also off the road for just 1.63 hours, which is much less time than Mini. Electrics account for most of the problems, with 46.88% of issues being electrical. This is followed by axle and suspension issues, who trail behind at 21.88%. Volkswagen as a brand don’t score as well, with a reliability index of 137. This places them 25th out of 36 on ReliabilityIndex. The Fiat 500 is also a very dependable car. It scores a reliability index of 78, with average repair costs of £305.32. This puts it more on par with Mini in terms of average costs, but higher for reliability. It is also only off the road for 1.73 hours on average, putting it quicker than Mini but not as good as the Beetle. The axle and suspension accounts for 32.93% of the problems. Fiat score highly as a brand as well, coming in 15th to Mini’s 19th and Volkswagen’s 25th, with a reliability index of 99.
So if you want a quirky car that is also reliable, then the Volkswagen Beetle is your best bet. Although, the Fiat 500 is also a dependable car (and, Mini don’t trail that far behind), but they aren’t as reliable as their rivals.
In conclusion, Mini are an average brand when it comes to reliability.They are neither the worst brand in the world for reliability nor are they shouting about how dependable their cars are. Their repairs are quite costly, though, and this can bring the dependability down. They are also off the road for longer than their competitors when they do need repairing, which is something else to note. If we compare them to some of their other stylish rivals, then they don’t score as well. Ultimately, though, you are going to get a Mini because it looks good, it drives well (it is made by BMW after all) and is an integral part of British culture. And if that means you might spend a little bit longer at the garage, then so be it.
Common Mini problems
When you are looking at a new car, then you will want to know what sort of problems you may encounter further down the line. Here are some common problems you should look out for when you are looking at a Mini;
- Engine
- While Mini engines are pretty good in general, they can run into some problems. These include the timing chain needing tensioning, or replacement hydraulic tappets.
- Gearbox
- If you hear a whine from the transmission, then there could be a lack of oil, or a leak. This can happen in any car, but can often be found happening to Mini’s.
- Leaks
- If you are looking at a second hand model, then this is something you will want to look out for. Older Mini’s were susceptible to water leaks and this can cause electrical damage. Most of these problems were covered under warranty, but you won’t have that privilege if you are looking at a second hand Mini. Check the footwells for dampness and make sure you ask about the servicing and warranty work.
So those are some of the things that you should be looking out for when you get a Mini.
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So, with those problems that you have raised here for the Mini car (ie timing chain, gearbox oil leak, engine oil leak etc), has BMW addressed all these issues or they just don’t care? Why would anyone spend money on such a small and expensive car knowingly that such problems will happen pop up later?
One of the reasons we do these articles is to inform in the hope that Manufacturers will take on board comments like yours. To be fair to Manufacturers they are always improving on their products, sometimes it just takes some real-world time to discover some faults. Thanks for your comment, we hope you find our content interesting.
BMW has addressed most of the issues. I Own an 09 Mini Cooper S. I know that one of the issues with mine and all models of that year and up to 2010 was they tend to be a bit Oil starved. I personally have favor with the Manual Gearbox as they are cheaper to replace than the Automatic Gearbox. The main issue with most Minis are the automatics.
Why some one would spend 19-33K on such a small car simple really it isn’t a small car. At least from the exterior it may look small but go to a Mini Dealer and take one for a test drive and you’ll see. The Mini Cooper isn’t really a Family vehicle. but you can get a family friendly model by going with the Clubman or Countryman. I didn’t get mine for the practicality of it I just love Mini. They are a fun cars for those who love to drive and understand that driving isn’t just a point A to B experience. Its all the Miles in between and the memories your while driving. That is why I Mini.
Most of the issues mentioned were for the previous generation of Minis before 2015. The ones with the French Princess engine. Those had terrible timing chain issues and excessive carbon build up, especially before they reworked the valve porting in 2011.
The new Mini’s since 2015 With the BMW 3 series derived engine and Japanese gearboxes have been much more reliable mechanically. Though there have been some issues with control arms wearing prematurely and a few more rattles in the interior than one might expect from a modern car.
Hi Adrian, Thank you for your comment, we really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience!
Thinking of purchasing a mini one 1.4 Petrol for my wife 2nd hand seen a 2007 model is there anything that I should look out for in relation to engine or body work or electricical? As I am not a machinic.
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We would always recommend you pay for an independent inspection of any used car. In the UK the AA and RAC do such inspections and a number of other independent companies.
Holly,
Thank you so much for your thorough and honest feedback on the Mini. Of all the review sites I’ve read so far, yours is the most informative.
The issues with the engine, does that still apply if you’re going to buy a John Cooper Works Mini? Is it the same engine or how do they supercharge it to put out that many horses? Can you enlighten me on a JCW Mini? I hate to spend 40K+ and have my car in the shop all the time. My friends tell me i’m nuts to spend that kind of money on a Mini, but I think they are really cool. Honestly, I’ve never been in one but it seems like a lot of fun. Have you any personal experience with a JCW Mini. If so, can you give me the pros and cons? Especially the resale value since it is so much.
After reading your article, I’m thinking it might be better to lease that way all the repairs are taken care of. Does that make sense? I’ve never leased before so that might be an option.
Please let me know, look forward in reading more article from you.
Have a blessed day!
We are so glad that you have enjoyed Holly’s article! Our vehicle specialists would be the best people to talk you through the pro’s and con’s and help find you the best possible solution, whether that be purchasing or leasing, as we can provide all funding methods. If you could email your questions over to [email protected] she will be able to schedule some time for one of them to chat and answer any questions you may have.
My Mini started falling apart at 70,000 miles. I consider it the LEAST reliable vehicle I have owned. I contacted the corporation, but they won’t do anything to help me. Bad investment if there ever was one!
Thank you for sharing your experience, we are sorry to hear it wasn’t a more positive one.
If you aren’t a mechanic I’d steer clear of a mini out of warranty, my daughters goes through oil constantly and apparently its acceptable, the oil light doesn’t come on or even flicker till there is absolutely none left in the motor and continuing to drive will result in catastrophic failure (its a cooper btw) the ‘dipstick’ is only readable by dipsticks who work for BMW. The actual driving experience is great, on par with the MINI of old and sticks to the road like s**t to a blanket.
You’ll only find out about its problems though when you have a failure and look stuff up online, MINI actually supplies the parts needed to prevent its problems from happening, only you don’t find out about those till they happen, make sure you attempt to check your oil level on a weekly basis and if you’re a high mileage person do it more often than that but as I say the dipstick is a ridiculous model which will leave you baffled till you research it.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Mini. I am sorry that it wasn’t more positive. I am sure that our readers will find this helpful when making their decision.
amazing comment so true I could not say it better myself they are amazing cars don’t get me wrong but have far to many problems too much hassle for most people to keep fixing I had to repair mine nearly every week for a problem!
I am about to purchase a second hand 2008 cooper cabrio with 40 k km. What is your best advice to 73 year young man, keep the good work, Loves your informotive contribution to the motorists, thanks
Dear Ageli,
Thank you for your comment, I am pleased that you find our articles helpful. With regards your query, you may find our articles on the reliability of the MINI and information on buying a second-hand car useful in your quest.
Personally, i wouldnt buy another BMW MINI. My MINI Clubman diesel purchased new in 2010 with a BMW engine not a PSA engine had numerous problems. I covered 90,000 miles in it altogether, finally the cam chain let go and the engine pretty much destroyed – i.e. it was beyond economic repair. During the six years I owned the car it had 4 replacement turbos, a replacement DFP and a number of ventilation problems. Basically it was a real lemon. However it was fun and economic to drive….
Hi JB,
Many thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear that while the MINI was a fun and economical drive it was not the most reliable vehicle for you. Hopefully you’ve found something to replace it which closer fits the bill.
Bought a low mileage ex motability Cooper 2.0 SD in November 2018. It has been by far the most unrealiable heap of **** I have ever owned. First the cam chain tensioner failed at 42,000 miles resulting in a very expensive engine rebuild. Its dashboard is like a christmas tree with the amount of false warning lights that come on sporadically, it has also drank oil at a rate that is eye watering, even though it has no oil leak. Terrible vehicle, will be selling on ASAP and will never buy another. Also BMW Mini are awful to deal with and are eye wateringly expensive.
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your comment regarding your experience with the MINI. If you are looking for another vehicle to replace this one and are considering a lease, hire or purchase, please contact us on 01903 223391 and we would be happy to help you get a vehicle which suits your needs.
My partner has a 2008 mini one, admittedly it’s now 14 years old, which we purchased about 8 years ago, and has now done 75,000 miles overall. It has been regularly serviced, certainly since we have owned it. In the last couple of years among other breakdowns, we have had to replace the engine mangement system which was badly corroded, probably due to its poor design positioning by BMW. This cost about £2.5K inc labour etc. Ridiculous. Now the timing chain has broken, and luckily on a lightly trafficked trunck road and not in the fast lane of a motorway, but it could have been much more serious. The car is no longer driveable and it will have to be scrapped to avoid another 2-3K expense, for an engine replacement inc labour. One comment I have heard from a breakdown service driver regarding minis is that the engines are so complicated a number of garages will not deal with them. This has actually not been our experience but it may be indicative. Would I recommend mini, unfortunately no, I would not, just based on reliability.
Hi there Edwin, thank you for sharing your experience with MINI. This will be very useful for our reader’s vehicle buying decision. If you are looking for a new vehicle to replace your MINI our Vehicle Specialists can get you behind the wheel of your ideal car, contact us on 01903 538835 for a free consultation.