Mini Cooper (R56) Owner's Review - Super Frustrating Flaws.

My Mini Cooper (R56) isn't as good as I had hoped and in fact seems to have some frustrating flaws.
So in this video I talk through all the pros and cons of the R56 and explain why I'm selling it after just 7 months.
Microphone used is a Rode Wireless Go, available here:
UK - amzn.to/3wFY9an
USA - amzn.to/38LWzKD

[@NickTheSheep1379]

A car review for totally non car people about a car made for car people.

[@gabrielvazquez7147]

You clearly don't understand why people love their Mini Coopers. I just bought my second one, a 2007 model. You should sell it and get some soulless, uninspiring car nobody will care about in 5 years, and leave that one to someone who will love that car, faults and all.

[@928Porscheman]

You should have bought a Cooper S or JCW. You could improve the ride if you ditch the run flat tyres if you have them. I own three second generation MINIs and enjoy the ride on my Clubman S the most but my daily driver is a little firm with lowering springs but it is still enjoyable. MINI is still built in Oxford Assembly Plant UK and not Germany.

[@user-li5gg9ec9y]

Ride is personal preference. I think it’s fantastic in my R56 One it’s a mini so it should be firm and able to be thrown in to corners. If you want a softer riding car, get something else with softer suspension … but don’t complain it doesn’t handle well around corners!!! I had a Volvo V70 before my R56 One, great for motorways, boring on twisties.

[@erebostd]

My mom loves mini, the first thing we always do is remove the runflats. Nobody needs this feature with road side assistance available..

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Ive had my mini R56 1.6 Cooper for the last 6 months. Bought it with full service history. Great amount of spec from whoever bought it first. The ride I find is fine but I think the run flat tyres have been replaced with normal tyres. This had helped the ride quality in a big way. It would help that the roads are well maintained. The engine is decent for the period at 120bhp.

[@Whosaiaze]

"Emma in Marketing" - brilliant!

[@mfuller1093]

Fair comment on the Cooper i think just a bit ''meh'' i drove a few and was not impressed so I got a r56 Cooper S which does have a few design issues but it is fast and responsive and a lot of fun.

[@terminallyinquisitive1731]

To me its pointless buying an R56 Coooper, the S engine is so much better and fun to drive. I bought a 2011 S. Avoid the auto which is very laggy. Yep ditch the run flats and avoid even small potholes or you will lose your teeth fillings! Internal fittings surprised me - quality feels very cheap for a BMW. The most annoying thing though you don't mention - the oil coloured oil dipstick which is ridiculously hard to read for a car that eats oil. Also there is no engine temperature gauge - bonkers on a Sports car (you can get to it by a tortuous route using codes etc on the digital display).

[@user-jv9fd1dq6i]

Thanks… can tell it annoys😊 16” wheels are better and engine pulls like a train in my car which I’ve just rebuilt after a write-off rtc. Maybe you just missed the turbo?

[@robertperry9593]

Thanks for the review, I recently bought a R56 1.6 Cooper as a third car. It came with 17inch wheels and run flats, i changed to 16inch

[@robertperry9593]

Thanks for the review, I recently bought a R56 1.6 Cooper

[@anthonysimpson6738]

I don’t own the R56 but it has a poor reputation. I own a F56 Cooper S and R53 Cooper S but I do prefer the R53. Like you the engine lets the R56 down. I like the R53 more it feels more planted to the road if I push it I know it will go where I expect it to go, and the engine with the supercharger just goes and goes. The only limit with the R53 is me. The F56 is to big and the turbo engine to laggy and gives up after 5,000 revs, while the suspension not as planted to the road. It will go where I want it to go but gives me the willies it won’t push through, it is the limi not me. I hope any new generation mini emulators the R53 engine/suspension while having the sweet spot in size of the R56. Nice honest review.

[@triathleteuk]

If you.think the ride is bad, try a Merc SLK 200. ... the reason why I got rid of it was the ride was excrutiating .. the Mini Cooper S isnt wonderful but its way better than the SLK

[@heraclitodeefeso9661]

My vote is for the Alfa Romeo. They are very special cars. I think you would enjoy the ride and the sportiness. Thank you very much for your sincerity.

[@moisetabon3126]

I want to thank you for your honesty , also for a good laugh. I was thinking of a mini Cooper but after reviewing it I'm thinking definitely going to pass on it. Run flat tires are useless,and I don't understand the purpose of after you get a flat you ride on them and the tier get destroyed and you need a new tier. What!

[@bufjayup7774]

Totally agree with pretty much everything you said. I've bought 11. Varying specs and models. The BEST ones I've had are the F55 (I think) 2014 or better with the 3 hole. LOTS more low end grunt. And generally better tech. Now on to the 2nd gen. 2 Coupes - one S and one non-S. Lots of issues wth the S models regardless. Tons of "half engine power" issues. Coil pack replacement fixes for a limited time. Usually a HP fuel pump issue. The rest in my opinion? All sound like a sewing machine gone berserk. Chunking serp belts (4x in my history). Bad VVT solenoids? x2. Seems like a bottomless pit. Always something new. Other non-Coupe models S with auto trans. Second gen. Really messed up auto trans. No not CVT (wouldn't touch THAT disaster with a ten foot pole.) GREAT used ones are out there, but without a valid maintenance record I don't touch em.First Gen? Love em but gotta see a good maintenance history. Especially S with a supercharger. They've usually been beat to death.

[@youraveragejoe1]

4:50

[@scienticstratgies2368]

i agree i have a convertible 56 for you i recommended a renault with hydropneumatic suspension which has much softer system

[@Tryinglittleleg]

swap out the runflats. Thats all you have to do to improve the ride ten fold. I feel like you're looking for the Cooper S experience in the base model Cooper.