2011 MINI Cooper: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 MINI Cooper?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 MINI Cooper than on all cars registered in 2011.

• Sidelights1.8× usual
  MINI Cooper

  10.5% All 2011 cars

  5.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 5.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Brake lights1.9× usual
  MINI Cooper

  8.2% All 2011 cars

  4.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 3.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Wheels2.4× usual
  MINI Cooper

  4.6% All 2011 cars

  1.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.5% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Rear fog light2.4× usual
  MINI Cooper

  2.2% All 2011 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2011 MINI Cooper MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 MINI Cooper MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  31% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Lights and electrics
  31% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Suspension
  28% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  25% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  10% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  10% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2011 MINI Cooper

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Timing chain rattle (petrol)

  Petrol

  Worn timing chains and guides are a known costly repair on these petrol engines, often from low oil levels.

  At the viewing: Ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive. A rattle on a cold start is a warning sign.

  Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

• Turbo wear (Cooper S)

  Turbo petrol models

  High oil use can wear the turbo quickly on turbo petrol models.

  At the viewing: Once warm, rev it hard and look for blue smoke or a burning oil smell.

  Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

• Worn water pump

  A whistle at idle that goes when you blip the throttle usually means the water pump is worn.

  At the viewing: Listen at tickover once the engine is warm.

  If it needs doing: Water pump, about £115–£375. ClickMechanic

  Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 MINI Cooper

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Can I hear it start from cold? Has the timing chain ever been replaced?
2. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2011 MINI Cooper as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2011 MINI Cooper as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2011 MINI Cooper as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?