2002 BMW Mini One 1.6

Summary:

Great little car, shame about the build quality

Faults:

Rear light units kept on fogging up with condensation. Had both replaced, now replacements are fogging up.

Steering clicking and jolting at the 10 to and 10 past positions.

Dash and driver foot-well rattles, along with both doors and seatbelt colunm.

Driver seat squeaks.

Car went in for a 2000 mile oil change, dealer decided to fix a non-existent rattle in the boot. The car came back with a loose boot lock, and had to go back for repair.

Went in for the gear wire retaining clip recall, a month and a half later went in for an oil change and the dealers decided to do it again with no explanation.

General Comments:

I love the way the car looks and drives.

I don't think anything else in the class comes close to the kit and look you get in the Mini.

Unfortunately I have had a lot of niggling problems with the car, and spent most of my time going back to the dealers, who aren't the most useful you could come across.

I love the modern styling of the interior, if only the build quality could live up to the looks.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st October, 2002

21st Jan 2003, 07:31

Boot Rattle, BMW sorted it on the Cooper today they are replacing the boot locking device on the Cooper S.

Rear lights fogging, I have the same problem.

Squeaky drivers seat, Yes!

Dash rattle, Yes!

Leaky boot on the Cooper, fixed with a new seal.

Noisy rear wiper motor on the cooper, but not on the S.

All this said, what a car!

Just thinking about the Hartge 212bhp upgrade, any one had it done?

29th Jan 2004, 16:48

I agree with this review of the cooper. I have owned an 02 cooper from new and have had many of the faults listed, including the endlessly squeaky seats (driver seat had a new sub-frame which became loose after 2 months, and still squeaks!) Also had the steering clunking (replaced the hole thing and now it's clunking again). boot rattles and hard to close (won't catch). Had the gear selector come off (on holiday in France!!) found the whole experience of the mini to be very disappointing (I really wanted to love this car). The only redeeming feature is the good part-ex price I got for it! I now have a new 04 Honda civic vtech sport. I wish I had bought the Honda instead of the mini last time! this Honda is so very very good. I won't be wasting my money at BMW again!

16th Aug 2006, 09:32

I own a 2002 Cooper S - I came home one day to find 3 elves sitting in it - making toast with the cigar lighter - I took it to a BMW service centre and the " technician " said it was normal! - so much for dealerships, my point is - that it's one thing that you have problems with your car - it's a wholly different thing with dealerships - if you are not happy with one - try another out - there ARE good ones out there.

2002 BMW Mini Cooper 1.6

Summary:

It's a head-turner alright

Faults:

The car was delivered with a small "ding" caused during the manufacturing process (it was pushing the body work out). Dealer replaced door after repair failed.

General Comments:

It can be a little unresponsive pulling away until you get above 3,000 rpm, but apart from that it handles excellently.

It has little to no boot space, but that was expected. It also doesn't have a glove compartment, but once again neither did the original.

The mini has grown up. BMW have come up with the perfect styled replacement for the unique mini. Alec Issigonis would be proud.

My only gripe is the cost of all the optional extras. While I stopped at £2k my brother's cost him, in total, close to £17,000.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th August, 2002

21st Jun 2003, 10:43

I have to agree - my mother has one which I borrow from time to time and it is a solid car, and I would seriously consider buying one sometime in the near future.

2002 BMW Mini Cooper 1.6

Summary:

Supercharged rocket!

Faults:

Nothing yet!

General Comments:

This is a very good car with a lot of power and very good acceleration. It is very comfortable as well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th February, 2002

5th Jun 2002, 14:43

Do you have the Sports plus suspension? Because my MINI Cooper does and it doesn't seem very comfortable (makes it handle really well though). Does it really make that much difference? My Mum says my car bounces around like her old Mini!

Maybe I should have not gone for the Sports plus suspension, but the Chilli package was such good value, and it makes the car look really butch, I can forgive the quality of the ride.

11th Sep 2002, 04:56

The car (Cooper S) was not available until June 2002, how could the original report be written with any fact of ownership in February 2002???

27th Jan 2003, 13:26

The mini cooper was in the US by March 2002, but maybe the review writer was from England -- didn't they have the Mini there before it arrived in the US?

9th Jan 2004, 06:16

Well spotted by the anorak 2 entries above. I have my own theory: Mini is getting such a hammering on this website that BMW's marketing dept. are slipping in good reviews here and there. You can spot them a mile off.