Sold m3 and bought a Mini Cooper S

[Stanley Rockafella]

you changed the wheel color!!!!

nice job!! :)

[Cephas]

And this is why I chose the more reliable supercharged model over the turbo model. The turbo model has only a 5hp increase in power over the supercharged model. The newly designed turbo motors are notorious for issues. I am not surprised by anything that happened to your 2009 mini cooper. My $100 reduction pulley by far surpass the mere 5hp difference and the power is instantaneous. Some people hear "turbo" and "new model" and automatically assume better without taking any other circumstance into consideration. (I'm not saying this about you by the way)
The turbo model and supercharged models are entirely different vehicles, nothing is shared. The supercharged one is more raw and go-kart like, the turbo model is more refined and lost most of the kart like appeal. I drove both and the older model won hands down.

Dude, I love that color!

Dont get me wrong, the cars are a freaking blast to drive and I did very little research before buying mine. It was actually my wife's car (was a vert) that I ended up driving quite a bit after we had our first child and before we traded it in for a kid-toter Highlander.

It sounds like you are going in eyes wide open and that will make this a much better experience. They are amazing on the track as well.

Enjoy man!

[graveshaker]

Yup and it's not that bad.

[varg]

Supercharger oil change is a real pain in the ass from what I've heard. I hope it was done before you bought it for your sake.

[graveshaker]

This all day. Had a 2009 cooper s. What a shitshow. The warranty company paid out close to 8k in repairs over the 2 years i owned it.

Not to mention that when I replaced the pads I was shocked to find that the front right upper caliper bolt was literally non-existant. 25k miles on the car, brakes never touched and the bolt had backed out and went MIA. Pair that with the rear tail light bulbs that literally melted themselves into the housings...oh and the oil dipstick...WTF. Even the service techs at the dealer said they have a hard time getting an accurate oil reading.

What else, oh yes, timing chain guides failing on an intereference engine is sweet...oil return line for the turbo blowing out was a nice one too.

Sorry to shit on your thread OP. I liked mine when it wasn't getting warranty work done or a new $300 run flat put on (they call them run flats because they only run flat).

And this is why I chose the more reliable supercharged model over the turbo model. The turbo model has only a 5hp increase in power over the supercharged model. The newly designed turbo motors are notorious for issues. I am not surprised by anything that happened to your 2009 mini cooper. My $100 reduction pulley by far surpass the mere 5hp difference and the power is instantaneous. Some people hear "turbo" and "new model" and automatically assume better without taking any other circumstance into consideration. (I'm not saying this about you by the way)
The turbo model and supercharged models are entirely different vehicles, nothing is shared. The supercharged one is more raw and go-kart like, the turbo model is more refined and lost most of the kart like appeal. I drove both and the older model won hands down.

[Cephas]

Hopefully this goes better than when I had mine... Great car, but I was over $12,00 deep into it after a few months, just to keep it drivable.

I'll definitely own another though.

This all day. Had a 2009 cooper s. What a shitshow. The warranty company paid out close to 8k in repairs over the 2 years i owned it.

Not to mention that when I replaced the pads I was shocked to find that the front right upper caliper bolt was literally non-existant. 25k miles on the car, brakes never touched and the bolt had backed out and went MIA. Pair that with the rear tail light bulbs that literally melted themselves into the housings...oh and the oil dipstick...WTF. Even the service techs at the dealer said they have a hard time getting an accurate oil reading.

What else, oh yes, timing chain guides failing on an intereference engine is sweet...oil return line for the turbo blowing out was a nice one too.

Sorry to shit on your thread OP. I liked mine when it wasn't getting warranty work done or a new $300 run flat put on (they call them run flats because they only run flat).

[graveshaker]

Was there a motivation to the move besides needing to free up some cash?

I've only driven fi mini's limitedly, but after owning some e36m3's it seems like a strange move. What were the factors influencing the move?

I don't keep cars very long at all, I get bored fairly easily. The m3 was my fourth e36 and it didn't take long for the boredom to start. The mini has always been a car I wanted to own. I buy all my cars cash and never and will ever buy a new car. The depreciation is pointless. Mini coopers has finally come down enough for me to own. No real motivation other than the fact that I can finally own and enjoy one for a minute.

[ColdAccord]

Was there a motivation to the move besides needing to free up some cash?

I've only driven fi mini's limitedly, but after owning some e36m3's it seems like a strange move. What were the factors influencing the move?

[FunfGan]

Hopefully this goes better than when I had mine... Great car, but I was over $12,00 deep into it after a few months, just to keep it drivable.

I'll definitely own another though.

[e30onBBSs]

welcome to the cooper life! I daily a 2009 clubman s and am jealous of your shorter wheel base, and the supercharger. I've never driven one but my boss has one and I see my car and am like shit my mom got the wrong mini!

Another great thing about them is that they are subtlety fast and sleepy in a way. "chick car?" nope actually a manual supercharged beast

[varg]

I drove a friend of mine's modded JCW Mini once and it was a blast. Very stiff and responsive handling. Was never a fan of the older supercharged ones. Looks clean though and I'm sure it's fun to drive.

[Nesset]

Mini Coopers are my guilty pleasure..

Looks noice'!

[TroyShark]

I don't know if I would want two gokarts but they both look fun and have their differences/advantages

[Stanley Rockafella]

oh boy, I'm a minority on this one, but I really dig that color. Nice front plate too

My gf and I had a 97 Escort Sport in the same color. Easy to keep clean, bright and not too

As for the reliability, well, I hope you enjoy taking the front end off to do repairs, because it's something you'll be doing often given the design of the front end (and lack of reliability). It'll make you wish you were working on an e30!

[graveshaker]

I hate to say it, but that e36 m3 was a much better looking car. But I can't blame you. I've driven a turbo mini and it was a bast!

I agree, but it free'd up $3100. No complaints.