Should cars with noisy superchargers be avoided or it is just a case of "they all do that, sir", as I have found one which is cheap for that reason. The internet tells me it's an annoying issue if you are bothered by that sort of thing* but nothing to worry about in terms of it potentially going bang. However, as I can vouch for with my 911/996 experience there is a lot of ill-informed BS out there which people crib from others and then disseminate without any thought to context or any first hand knowledge to such an extent that it becomes received but dubious wisdom. I'm referring to the IMS bearing problem which every Porsche owner with access to an internet connection will tell you means your engine is 100% guaranteed to grenade itself the moment you drive it away and will cost you a second mortgage to repair. That was somewhat true back when the cars were relatively new, but by now the ones which were going to fail would have done so already and the cost of the precautionary retro-fitting of a ceramic bearing is not far off half the price of a recon engine, so to my mind it seems a bit daft to be stressing about it. * I ride Ducatis that spit purple flames from open pipes and set car alarms off, so Rolls Royce levels of refinement aren't really top of my wish list for an engine tbh. EDIT: @Ducbird @DucatiScud @dukesox @Phill748 @portboy @Harry Bell I've @'d because since the forum updates I sometimes don't get notifications of replies to threads that I have posted in and I'm going to view it in a few hours once the Codeine I'm taking for my shagged shoulder wears off. Sorry if I have missed anyone who was contributing prior to the thread going OT with talk of hot pants, Citroens and Lexi.
Apologies this is the first time I’ve seen this post, my supercharger whines but it is not excessively noisey IMO. All of the ‘issues’ that the r53 is said to have I haven’t experienced them. The only thing now is my alternator has failed taking with it the power steering and annoyingly the radio. This clip shows you what to look for when buying a mini.
I had to park it for a few weeks due to other stuff, not least the aggro it was causing with the girlf getting a strop on every time I wouldn’t let her buy some overpriced old nail just because she liked the chequered roof or whatever frippery her eye had fixed on while I was lying in a puddle looking at rust, oil leaks and exhausts held on with cable ties (albeit metal ones). We are planning to start looking again this week or next.
Don’t there are better cars out there, my mrs has a 2008 cooper s. I believe Chevrolet made the engines for these, quite quick, but fragile and an absolute pain to work on.
Surely best dealt with as a fait accompli ? Simply buy the one you want, sneak it home under the cover of darkness and wrap a huge ribbon around it . Next morning hand her an envelope with the key in it saying she dropped it . Presuming she is not teetotal , a bottle of fizz on the drivers seat is a nice touch too.
Andy, i wouldn't entertain a petrol Mini, the 1.4 diesel Toyota powered model so reliable and bullet proof. Mine is a R53 model 110k still original clutch, goes very well, and so good on running cost. Check out these earlier ones with low mileage and you wont go far wrong.
Chevy and BMW had a joint venture engine building plant in Brazil. AFAIK the later R56 engine isn't from this plant the last of these would be 2006 plates and supercharged, 2007 Cooper S went turbo charged. My partner had a diesel Clubman great car better than her Petrol Clubman, the diesel as PB states is a good engine with plenty of poke. As I've stated before I've had no issues with mine nor has my partner with both of hers but all 3 have been looked after. Combined mileage across the 3 is around 250K, her first Clubman had around 80K when we bought it at 2 years old but was faultless throughout ownership as have so far been the other 2.
The only time my supercharger whines is when I’m going fast Ordinarily you shouldn’t hear it They do need an oil change around the 100,000 mile mark. It’s a whole front end take off to do it. Also watch out for the chain rattle it can be quite noisy on start up and will need replacing Another is the engine mountings the one nearest the wheel arch went on mine I have a race mount put on by 1320mini
Not exactly local, but...... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-COO...HER-CRUISE-AIRCON-12-MONTHS-MOT-/133497068543
Strong money agreed. Thats a turbo version, Zheds SigOth wanted a supercharger and ideally less then 3K? AFAIK turbo started 2006/7 2006 plates tend to be the last of the superchargers. Has your partner driven a CoopS and given it all it has or close to, they are fast but to truly get the most out the charger they IMO need to be driven hard through every gear. I have stretches of roads out in the sticks to hoon mine around.
R53 is what we are after. They’re cheaper and also having driven both as one of my exes had a 2009 “S”, the earlier iteration is less refined than the later model which I think suits the character of the car. I also prefer supercharging to turbo, though tbh I don’t recall there being a problem with lag
Mate, to be completely frank, much as I love her, she couldn’t drive a soapy stick up a dog’s ar5e so it’ll be a while, probably never, before she troubles the outer reaches of the car’s performance envelope
It was Chrysler, not that that makes them any better https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritec_engine The later petrol MINIs (R56 etc., I'm not sure about the latest models though) used the Prince engine - joint BMW/Peugeot venture - factory at Hams Hall. I'll get my anorak.
