R55 Mini Clubman?

I've noticed a couple R55 Mini Clubmans, a 2009 and a 2010, for cheap with seemingly minor mechanical problems. How terrible are these things?

co-worker has one. He's had zero issues with his.

they're ok

I think the clubmans are better for track work than the cooper hardtops because of the longer wheelbase.

Basically, re:maintenance
keep in mind it's a BMW with an engine designed in cooperation with Peugeot.

The windshields are expensive to have a shop replace (~$1100).  Oil & filter changes are the worst (apparently) because of how hard it is to access the filter.  I killed a battery because of something being plugged in the aux port and an incorrect sequence of unplugging it and shutting the car off.

I liked the engine mapping and controls feel (wheel, clutch, brake, accel) better than the same era GTI.   But, the cruise control setup I abhor.  They use the same button for "system on", "cancel", and "system off" and it's a four-way rocker that includes the "up speed" and "down speed"... so you've got to get the button press "just right"... which in practice means you've got to look down and check the system status light to figure out what state the cruise control is in.  Driving 130miles a day on the highway made that really frelling annoying to me... especially in camera-speed controlled construction zones.  Outside of those, I was able to do 120mph and the thing still average 30mpg.

the third door isn't all that great for getting kids in/out of the car unless they're big enough to do it themselves.

I sold mine with 55kmi on it, so I don't know about higher mileage problems.

Seems like the biggest issue with that generation is the timing chain.  Apparently, the timing chain guides (which are made of plastic like most things BMW) will fail over time, causing the chain to eventually skip.  Supposedly if oil changes were done regularly, it's not as much of an issue, but that's not 100%.  Replacing the tensioner seems to be step one, and the guides are step two.  If the car at startup sounds like a diesel, it's indicative of a potential timing chain issue.

The 2007-2010 engines (N12 for non turbo and N14 for turbo) seemed to have the problem more than the 2011-2012 engines (N16 non turbo, N18 for the turbo). 

My son has a 2012 50k miles Cooper S (R56) and in the 6 months we've had it we've had to do the thermostat at the dealer because I didn't have time for $1100 and the high pressure fuel pump and weeping water pump (both covered under an extended MINI warranty by the dealer).  Not sure how common those issues are, but extended warranties indicate that MINI is trying to cover the cars.

I've said it multiple times, but the problems for my son and I are outweighed by the pure joy it is to drive. 

Death Rattle Info

I've kicked around the idea of picking up a Clubman for me at some point, but I think I'd stay in the 2011-2012 model range.

-Rob

I ran the numbers on what one of these would part out for .. yowza! Maybe I'll start up a Mini specific junkyard. But in the meantime, I'm seriously considering picking up the 2010 that I found and fixing it, if it is too hard to fix or breaks spectacularly down the road I could part it for multiples of the asking price. I still have a 5th car that I need to pick up and bring home and somehow deal with, so a 6th car is going to be a hit.

Interesting about parting one out.  On one hand, I see quite a few at the local pick and pull and the prices are cheap.  I picked up taillights for my son's (turns out the wiring was different and won't work) for $40 and noticed a guy on Craig's asking $300 for the pair.  Why would you pay that much when you can just grab them from the pick and pull cheap or even Ebay for around $150?  I guess most folks nowdays don't hit up junkyards as much?

One thing I forgot to mention is if the issues are related to the automatic transmission, be prepared to just part it out.  MINI took a while to figure out how to make a slushbox.

If you do get it, I'd be curious to see how much you could make by parting it out.  I know them pretty well and, if the parts really do sell, I could probably make a little extra income just from junkyards.

-Rob

rob_lewis said:

Interesting about parting one out.  On one hand, I see quite a few at the local pick and pull and the prices are cheap.  I picked up taillights for my son's (turns out the wiring was different and won't work) for $40 and noticed a guy on Craig's asking $300 for the pair.  Why would you pay that much when you can just grab them from the pick and pull cheap or even Ebay for around $150?  I guess most folks nowdays don't hit up junkyards as much?

One thing I forgot to mention is if the issues are related to the automatic transmission, be prepared to just part it out.  MINI took a while to figure out how to make a slushbox.

If you do get it, I'd be curious to see how much you could make by parting it out.  I know them pretty well and, if the parts really do sell, I could probably make a little extra income just from junkyards.

-Rob

A) They might be mechanics buying them, and then charging a customer

or

B) Most MINI's I'm guessing were sold in... more urban areas, and getting out to a pick-n-pull might be non-trivial.

99% of people will never go to a pick and pull. 

Funny, I have been thinking of these lately too.  I wonder how well a JCW version would autoX? 

grover said:

99% of people will never go to a pick and pull. 

People like us go on vacation and try and make a stop at a junkyard, even if you don't want anything - just to look around and see what stuff is in there, especially if its a rust free part of the country.