Buying a used 2007-2013 MINI Cooper - things to look for - Gen 2 R56 R55 

Looking to buy a 2nd generation MINI? Make sure you are getting what you think you are getting. This video shows what to look for when buying Gen 2 MINI Cooper. Avoid the common pitfalls and have more money left over for mods! Check out the other videos on my channel - fix your MINI, track your MINI. Diagnostic scanner - Foxwell NT510 (Bidirectional, all modules, BMW/MINI only): amzn.to/2M4VBcR Mod MINI's Tools: amzn.to/2QEMznK Gen 2 MINI Cooper Parts: amzn.to/2A6rygv Mod MINI Tip jar: www.fundly.com/mod-mini-tip-jar Notice anything different about this video? Thanks to my friend John Prentice for special guest video camera / production work !! He works in television so it doesn't get any better than this. See all the Mod MINI Videos on my channel: ru-vid.com #modmini #modminiRU-vid ru-vid.com Attributions: Music by Bensound.com Videography / editing by John Prentice www.linkedin.com/in/john-prentice-72b1a4169/

Me walking into Mini's show room with a blue overall and white gloves ready to inspect after watching this video 😂

Listening to this with headphones: My right-ear feels neglected

4 years after this is still very helpful. Thanks for the video.

Great production quality on this one!!! Glad to see you in front of the camera!!!

I love how this is a different style of video than usual! Very interesting! (:

Dude, you literally blew my mind within 10 seconds. New, fresh intro and a bloody face reveal! Damn!

That's a really good video! It makes me way more secure about getting a good deal when I'll buy mine.

I haven't seen any newer videos of yours lately, but I do still consider your videos the "GO TO" when working on my R53 S and now my R56 S Mini's, Thank you very much for the excellent information with your insight and great video angles and commentary throughout. VERY USEFULL...

3:15 is all you need for this video lol

I catch up on your videos maybe 3-4x a year- this camera & editing is great! Thanks for the video, I like seeing you on camera for this style of guide. I still love the gopro style for repairs & other stuff. I hope you're enjoying springtime in your r56 MM(: Happy driving

Great advice. Looking at buying one of these and it's good to know what to look for.

I bought a nice 2012 S R56 2 weeks ago here in India. It is a blast to drive. What fantastic turbo kick!

Thanks for this-just picked up my 2013 flattop today; fortunately at last as far as exterior all of it checks out-now to get under it and look for the rest!

As a new car buyer this was incredibly helpful (and a lot of the things apply to general car buying) so thank you !!!

It's good to see a face! I've watched a ton of the r53 stuff. Great things my man. Much appreciated!

thanks for the thorough overview. lots of good to know info!

Thank you, I was not AT ALL looking at Mini's for my son's first car but there is a very good deal on one with only 2 owners with the right engine, clean inside that I want to go look at so this video was super helpful. While I can't do all these things, a lot of them are simple enough.

Finally, now I am able to see you face. Thank you for all your videos!

Awesome video ! 👍🏻👍🏻 nice editing! Very good quality!

Can I just hire you to do it for me haha

Kurt, great video as usual. I run 2 R55's (diesel) and an R50. Love watching your channel :) All the best, Sean

Thanks for the tips. I took all your tips buying my first car (Mini Cooper).

Loving this channel ;) I own a 2010 mini cooper S, 20.000 miles

you have been amazing! thank you for the free class on buying a mini

Finally i saw the wholesome face behind Mod Mini. But thank you for sharing...avid fan/follower here🙂

This is a great video. I'm buying a 2010 R56 with the N12 motor, and I was delighted to see that a lot of the new components on the particular one I'm getting are things you mentioned to look out for. Sure makes me feel better about my purchase!

great review about the 2nd Gen Mini's. i have had 4 Mini Cooper's in the past. great little car if you are mechanically minded and keep on top of the maintenance and servicing. (Like any car really) the Gen 2 R56 Cooper S engine also caution for the "death rattle" on the engine timing chain. and you were spot on about checking between the engine and bellhousing, classic if an oil leak can indicate the crankshaft big end oil seal leaking. i have had 2x gen 1 and 2X gen 2 Mini's they all have their pros and cons. i think the 1.6 litre direct injection turbo Cooper S is nice balance of engine torque and power, the factory suspension is just right, no need to mess about and change much.

You are the only reason I work on my car so regularly, thank you so much man! You've inspired a 16 yr old to race q mini cooper!

Great video, really helpful in my search for a used Clubman or Countryman.

this is great info! im looking to buy a 2013 bond street from a friend and these were some of the stuffs I Wass looking for to make sure the great deal I was getting was worth it.

Holy production value Batman!

Thanks Hommie... Looking to buy one and this helps me what to look for when I test drive her.

Wow. Loving the new intro!

Good to see the man behind the camera. Thanks to you I've done quite a bit of work on my R53 (including a valeo clutch, a bunch of stuff on the subframe (p/s hoses, powerflex lca bushings, inner ball joints), supercharger service). Curious to know what lift you're using. Looks tidy! And thanks for providing a fundly link so that we can truly thank you. I've sported a Mod Mini t-shirt for a while but happy to also donate to keep these video's going.

Thanks for the tips! Going to check out a 2009 model today. 🚙

Great to see a jump up in production quality, but the main thing is the content is still the best on RU-vid! Learnt so much from your videos, still my No.1 source for R50 fixes👍

Finally a face to the voice! Looking to find a Clubman, thanks for the engine info. Cheers

Bless your soul. Found a perfect 12' Mini S. However, was looking for info before heading to dealership.

I have an R56 Cooper S mid 2012 model out here in India. Auto Transmission. Bought used from a chap who had hardly used it. It hasn’t done many kilometres at all. When I got it a year ago it had done 33700 ish. I did a thorough service when I got it. And I ve put another 9000 joy riding kms on the clock in these last 12 months. I’ve changed the oil properly. And I keep checking the dipstick every couple of weeks and so far despite this being a turbo, I haven’t found signs of oil starvation. Even the oil colour one year down the line isn’t like it’s turned black or anything. It’s fine really. I have changed out the Auto Transmission Fluid and yes despite the car not having done many miles, I believe changing it out was a good thing mostly on account of the age of the fluid. I’ve changed all the 4 disc rotors and brake pads and brake wear sensors. Now the car is due it’s second service after it came into my hands. I will be replacing the V Belt or Serpentine Belt as it is called. The existing one is showing some signs of wear and becoming slowly a bit brittle around the edges. It is very probable that this has never until now, been changed. I will also be changing the oil again even though I use only fully synthetic BMW LL01 FE as recommended. And synthetic oils do last much longer than mineral oils. Still, I will follow the annual oil change method. I did face one issue around two months into ownership where the coolant pump which is made of plastic by the way, started leaking.so I bought an OEM-replacement for it and luckily the replacement is a metal one. We changed it. I also changed the spark plugs to Iridium Spark Plugs from the original BERU standard ones. Because Iridium Spark Plugs are much more efficient. If at all there is any issue, I think the vehicle status on board display gets confused and the brake wear sensor at the rear seems to show that I need to change my brake pads at a faster rate than normal. I believe this is due to dirt and dust interfering with the brake wear sensor. So I am going to remove it and clean it and re fix it back. I know that my brake pads do not need changing again, I haven’t done enough kilometres on them as yet. Otherwise this car is a real pleasure to drive and it’s linear power delivery and fantastic handling never fails to bring a big grin to the face! From a safety and general preparedness point of view I always carry a bottle of OEM BMW blue coolant, a bottle of distilled water and a bottle of BMW LL01 engine oil with me in the car. But truly. This R56 Mini Cooper is a real modern classic.

NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME

I bought my first second hand MINI, its a 2012 Coupe with the N14 engine. Fingers crossed so far so good but when I got it with 20,000k on the clock it needed a new coolant sensor. Expensive job only because the sensor is integrated into the thermostat housing I couldve replaced it myself if it wasnt. Now that its been replaced they replaced the whole unit with a removable sensor now so its only a $80 + labour job, not a $900 one. One thing to keep in mind is rotate your tires. I got only 30k kilometers out of my front Dunlops because of the camber.

Thanks for the video man it's great and really helpful. I'm actually going to view a Mini Cooper tomorrow and wasn't sure what to look for, But now I do!😆 Thx man keep up the good work👌🏻

My mini now at 230,000km and still working good.

My fiancé’s coworker is selling his 08 Mini Cooper, I will definitely watch out for these things!

Love your videos, learned a lot, keep going 😊😊 and I want to say thank you.

This was great, thanks!!! Would you please consider doing a similar video for the 3rd Generation cars....as I'm getting ready to buy a 2015. Most appreciated!

Great video mate

Good to see Mod Mini back! Great vid! Like the new style on how it was recorded!

Always go for the N18 ones. If you can, get a 2013 those are hands down as reliable as an R56 will ever get.

That GP is a really cool spec

😂😂😂 I had my right headphone in thinking well maybe it’s just music until I read comments

I've the R55 clubman (not the Cooper works as shown in your upload) still, it's good fun to drive Anyway, Id mention keep an eye on front springs (they snap & it's instant tyre death) check the condition/age. Also get the intake valves checked for carbon build-up (it's an easy DIY job just awkward to get to) using intake cleaners is a waste of time. Checking the Turbo is straight forward, remove the intake hose & check for blade play easy 2min job, also a pretty cheap & quick DIY replacement job. Oil filter housing is a pain however, 2 sets of gaskets. Also check the coils & plugs incase a previous owner has gone eBay & bought cheap rubbish.. Also recommend fitting oil catch cans on both sides of the intake, helps reduce carbon on the intake valves. Also check ion oil consumption, if oil is dropping fast theirs an issue, possibly oil leaks at worst engine damage. Also cam cover, the pcv valve is internal & can jam/block-up which is another common fault.

I like my R56 JCW. Good to have amateur mechanical skills if you own one. Change oil 3000 miles.

Thanks a lot. Its very useful this vid.

I have a 2008 cooper that’s just approaching 20,000. It seems I’m always repairing something, but I really do love the car. It’s an automatic.

great job!

Excellent INFO

Very useful video!

Also check for any leaks around the footwell module.

Awesome video!

Cool filming!!

Good advice...was helpful.

Love the intro Awesome editing! Would really love this style for the r53 haha new content is really impressive

outstanding - thanks

Very helpful!!

We have just bought a 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman today. It has almost 112k miles on it. I test drove it because I’m not easily hoodwinked by old cars, or dealers. It was such a smooth, quiet drive, and it just purred like a kitten. I’ll keep you posted on my experiences.

Great work :)

Great video well done thanks

Nice looking GP

Awesome!!! Thank you sir!!!

👍🏻Superb video as always👍🏻

I enjoy watching all of your videos! They are such a help for the mini community. I have owned a R53 cooper s lovely car. Unfortunately I had to sell it some years ago but now i am searching for a R56 with the N18 engine. In your view does it worth to go with extra 3k$ to get a JCW one? The use will be as second car to cruise around and enjoy driving. For mods i am seraching for simple things, intercooler, downpipe air filter and maybe a safe stage 1 remap. Thanks in adavance! Greetings from Portugal

Very useful. Thank you

Bought the 2010 R55 Clubman JCW in 2013 with 43,000 miles. Now has 89K. We have fixed: new clutch and flywheel thermostat housing barn door solenoids update 2/23/2019: new water pump, water pump drive wheel and tensioner pulley for $1000! Ouch! Other than that just normal maintenance, but having the oil changes done at the shop is too expensive so I now DIY it. Also replaced the door solenoids myself. I like the car better now that I've been able to work on it. It is very fun to drive. More expensive to maintain than my Mustangs. Also bought the 2012 R56 Inspired by Goodwood model with 14K miles in 2014. Nothing but normal maintenance so far at 38K miles.

I just subscribed as you are outstanding!

The production of this vid was fucking fantastic! 👌

Nice to finally meet you Mod Mini. Lol. I always wondered what you looked like. 🧐

I want a clubman 😩. Also great video modmini 👍🏽

Great reference! I also customize MINI in Japan😀👍

r53 and r56 for me. All the new cars are so muted. You don't feel anything. I sometimes wonder if we're so stressed that people just want cocoons to drive around in. Life has overloaded their stimulus but it seems that being able to have other stressors so we can put down the ones that eat at us 24/7 is super rad! I love being able to feel all the bumps in my r56 I imagine it's an even more raw exp in the r53. May get one down the road or maybe a miata and supercharge it for the rwd action.

Still my favourite generation though.

Very helpful I'm looking into getting a 2nd or 3gen I'm either going with the 2009 convertible or the 2014 clubman S.

Another great informative video! Just wondering what make are the protective gloves you use? Mini Cooper auto 2008 owner with 16000 miles!

thanks for video🚗....greetings from Venezuela.....🇻🇪

Love my 2011 mini coop, seems like I’m putting it in the shop at least once a year.

Thank you . Good Man

Thanks for a great video, what scanner do you recommend that can Diagnose the majority of manufacturers?

Really appreciate your videos. I would like to know if the automatic transitions are fairly reliable or is a stick shift better? Looking to buy a 2010 S or a Clubman. Thanks!

THANK YOU! I am going to see a RoadsterS 2013 in a couple days and had no idea what to look for and had planned to have a mechanic check it out. Now I can do some of the "checks" before I even decide whether I am interested. Did the Coupe/Roadster get a different engine in 2014 and 2015? I know that 2015 was the start for third generation Minis (at least the ones I have read about!). There are both 2014 and 2015 used roadsters and coupes out there, so would you recommend either of those model years as opposed to the 2013? The one I am going to see has less than 30,000 miles and looks like it spent most of its life in a garage however I know from my current car that even sitting in the garage doesn't mean things won't go wrong! I truly appreciate this video.

Good video....thank you.

thanks for the video, i am considering buying either a 2009, 2011 or 2012 mini, but how do i tell which engine each one has? do you know from which year to wich year the n14, n16,12, 18 was used?

Thanks Man for the advice. I’am thinking about a 2010 Mini, six speed auto. 72K miles. Is that decent mileage for the $5,000 that the dealer wants ? Best, Chris.

These types of guys, their expertise, and videos Are so special to us men raised by Single Mother. Be well, Good sir.

I don’t think N14 engine are problematic, it has to do more with owners not taking care of them. I have owned many and still do and never had any issues!

I'd be interested to know how many car buyers are prepared to do that kind of inspection?

Would you happen to know what causes 2C56 code on a 2011 R56 S? It goes into limp mode after a short drive.

I love your overall.

My 2011 R56 has been a magnet for issues! It has 131k miles on it currently and I plan on holding onto it at least until something real bad happens...like a broken timing chain, lol. 😅

Wow, this was a massive help. Which code reader do you have?