MINI Hatch (2007 – 2013) Review

MINI Hatch (2007 – 2013) At A Glance

4/5

+Great performance from Cooper S, much smoother and more sophisticated than first generation, capable of travelling distances in comfort.

-17-inch wheels with Sport suspension destroy both ride and road feel, air conditioning wasn't standard on models before January 2009.

Insurance Groups are between 17–30
On average it achieves 78% of the official MPG figure

Has BMW taken the fun out of the MINI?

First reports from "first drives" a tended to end with that conclusion, And seemed to be worrying MINI Project Leader Horst Radibojevic as he cross-examined us after our own first drive.

Happily we, and others, of course, were listened to and by the time R56 MINIs started reaching customers they felt and handled a lot better.

 

Real MPG average for a MINI Hatch (2007 – 2013)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

78%

Real MPG

27–51 mpg

MPGs submitted

503

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

What temperature should my MINI run at?

"Is 106 degrees celsius too hot for the engine of my 2007 MINI? The warning light has not come on but the bonnet gets very hot. "
The temperature will depend on the ambient temp and your driving style. For example, heavy traffic or driving the car hard and fast will make the engine work hard and get hotter. Having said that we would normally expect the temp to be around 101-105C. The fan should kick in around 105 and stop at 101C. At 120C the fan should be on at high speed. As a precaution, we would check the coolant level (when the engine is cold) and if necessary top it up.
Answered by Alan Ross

New clutch needed for my MINI - is the dealer I bought it from liable?

"I bought a 2009 MINI Cooper S in February. Since then I have put 1100 miles on it. About a month ago, I noticed it was making a strange screeching noise when I pulled away from a standstill. My local garage that I've used for years has checked it and advised it needs a new clutch. It's likely that it needs a new DMF at the same time, I've been quoted £1500 to get this sorted. Obviously, I'm not pleased. I'd like to know what my position is with the dealer I bought the car from. When I got it, it came with a three-month warranty, which has now passed. Are they responsible to get this fixed? I find it unbelievable that this wasn't picked up by them when they prepare it for sale. "
You have legal rights for up to six years (five years in Scotland) when you buy a used car but you will need to prove you didn't cause the clutch and flywheel failure. If the problem happened within the first six months of ownership and was reported to the garage that sold you the car then you will have strong grounds to argue the problems were present or developing at the time of sale. However, if you didn't report it to the dealer and you are outside of the six-month window then you'll ultimately need proof to show the seller is liable. I would ask your local garage to write a report on the condition of the car. They may charge you for this but it may be the evidence you need to show the clutch and flywheel was faulty when you bought it. For your legal rights, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/
Answered by Dan Powell

Our used car developed a fault - is the dealership liable or the warranty company?

"My daughter recently purchased a 2009 MINI Cooper from a small dealership. At the same time she purchased an extra nine months warranty to the three months warranty included in the price, costing her an extra £140. We are now having to make a claim under the warranty for a half seized water pump. The dealership are telling us that the whole claim is to be dealt with by the warranty company. Unfortunately my daughter will have to incur the costs of the difference in the hourly rate of £58/hour, the 10% excess and costs of parts not covered. I have currently calculated this to be £176.00 including VAT but not the 10% excess as the part price is unknown at the moment. Please could you advise if the dealership are responsible for this claim as it is within three months of purchase or whether they are correct in advising us that the warranty company are wholly responsible for dealing with it? Many thanks Sarah "
The dealer that sold her the car is wholly liable for the entire cost of replacing the waterpump because the fault is deemed to have been present or developing before she bought the car. The warranty insurer cannot be held liable for a fault that was present before the warranty was taken out because that would be insurance fraud. Tell the dealer either he pays for the replacement waterpump in full or you will sue him in Small Claims. See: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
Answered by Honest John

Should I spend the extra cost of a ceramic coat when buying my new MINI Cooper?

"I've just done a deal on a pre-reg MINI Cooper and I'm happy with the price, but I've been offered half price (£250) for Williams Racing ceramic coat. Not sure about it, but the consensus seems to be that a bit of elbow grease and a good wax is just as good. I'm buying the car from a franchised dealer who have an admin charge of £30. I've never come across this before from a reputable franchise and, to my mind, it should be a part of their cost of business. Is this a new trend? There is absolutely no mention of this on their website. Unlike the old days, where you could try for a full tank, they now want a flat £30 for half a tank. How do I not know that it wasn't already half full or more? These seem to me to be practices to make up for marginal profits on the actual car."
When cars are sold at cut to the bone prices, dealers use things like admin charges to cover their overheads. You don't get extras like floor mats and a full tank of petrol because these are the sort of things you used to get to sweeten a deal when you weren't getting a substantial discount. £250 for the ceramic coating is not too bad, but check the guarantee of it very carefully. £250 isn't cheap if it only lasts a year or if you constantly have to use expensive products to maintain it because then Autoglym High Def wax would have been cheaper.
Answered by Honest John
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