[jwasbury]

Hmmn, quite the mixed bag of responses. My wife is on Mini #2. The first was an '06 S model, final year of the supercharger. Fun car, had a few small issues but only once left her needing assistance (when the harmonic balancer/pulley failed). I'm still not sure how a pulley fails, but its apparently common on these. Car had run 80k+ miles when she traded it for a '13 JCW model, many of them abusive city miles in and around the greater NYC metro area. Many of the bu$hings in the front end had been replaced, and the front shock tower bushings were just about to fail and were replaced as well. Muffler hanger hardware in the rear was the bane of my existence...I replaced multiple parts back there, but it seemed like every few months something else failed. Eventually I rigged up something using universal muffler hanger parts from my FLAPS and that seemed to put a stop to my semi annual ritual. I HATED working on the car and my feeling was cemented when I tried to bleed the clutch. I could not bleed that clutch to save my life. I can successfully rebuild a 911 engine from the crank out, but I can't bleed a clutch on an '06 Mini...even the dealer took over 4 hours to do the job!

I didn't want another Mini, but I left the decision up to my wife 100%. Her car, her choice. I won't lay a finger on the '13 JCW other than to drive it. If it needs any mechanical attention, she takes it to the dealer, I want nothing to do with it.