The Definitive Guide to the R50 MINI Cooper - 2002-2006

[@Major_Winkee]

The R50 is a thing of beauty.

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

Thank you, I have a red with a white top R50 with 21,000 miles. I get lots of compliments.

[@HerrRobbenklopp]

Driving a R50 in 2020. Its a castastrophe, and love it.

[@QuintenHull]

Dude I love it😂

[@michaelpaquette362]

Mine got 300 000 i Think is a good engine

[@monikahajkova8299]

Same (2021)

[@curtisstroud3]

Yup....in the process of getting a new engine in my 1.4 turbo diesel after being screwed by a private seller 😅. If I don't laugh, I'll cry 😂

[@antonipachta640]

same (2024)

[@1SonOfMoon1]

My 2003 R50 is going to hit 180,000 miles soon. I had to replace the thermostat and the clutch about 2 years ago but other than that I have had no issues with it

[@simonlloyd7557]

you must mean youve actually done 18 miles in it?

[@simonlegrand7397]

@@simonlloyd7557 Ya right I guess the previous owner did it all because 135 000 km on mine had to replace 4 time both Arms bushing and all balljoin twice and replaced both rear caliper that got sized up ..changed the front suspension every 10 000 kilometers and much more like steering pump ... Mine is a cooper s

[@tymospoelman8175]

I just bought one with 257000 km on it

[@josecruz-vega2070]

Hi! I’m from Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean zone. I got a 2005 manual transmission Mini and still I have it. The issues I got were just two: after six years an awful noise came from the transmission (it was the differential) It was workout by a mechanic but a year after I had to replace the full transmission. Now, the new one fail almost after two years (it doesn’t get third gear) and, after change it again (it was in guarantee…😅) it has no other issues with it. Second issue was block (too much oil leakage) I replace it and, it decreases a lot but still some likage occurs. I can live with it!!! Love this car!!!😂

[@marckart66]

I bought a 2006 park lane mini cooper. I've had to replace all 4 wheel bearings. They looked original so I'm not annoyed about it. I've also changed the cat back exhaust. It was rusty at the tail pipe and the heat shield rattled. Other than that, the car is solid. The only thing I don't like about these minis is the constant oil usage. I've done 12k miles on it so far and I've had to top up the oil twice. My car is parked on a paved drive way. No oil leaks, no fluid leaks of any kind. So the engine is burning the oil. Seems to be a common issue with them. It's up to 78k miles now and I'm the second owner. Full service history and the only "problem" it had was in 2010 it got a new exhaust gasket. No other work has been carried out beyond brake and engine service.

[@marckart66]

@@TheMINIac a friend had the same year mini. He had to do the same. Top it up every 5 months or so. By top up, I mean only enough to keep it just below max mark on the dipstick. It's probably because it doesn't hold a lot of oil and when it burns it, it looks worse than it actually is. Edit: my last top up was only 250ml. According to the bottle.

[@rishipatil2482]

I end up replacing oil every six months (~7000km to be safe)

[@kevinfielder6948]

Very informative. I have a UK spec R50 1.6 petrol Cooper. I don't think UK spec cars had a cooling fan for the power steering, but the connectors are there! The BCI (body control module) is also a big issue on these cars. Water penetrates around the roof A pillar/door seal etc and gets into the module. I've had indicators staying on, sidelights flickering and got the unit out and repaired. But now have interior light coming back on around 5 minutes after switching off sitting in the car, or locking it! Tricky one but not exactly Unknown gremlins and I suspect it's wiring or connectors to the BCI unit? Still has Midland box, no issues, fitted new Valeo clutch and it drives well on 117,000 miles.

[@sophisticated]

Do you have a convertible or 3 door with sunroof?

[@davehebb8279]

Hi, I just purchased a 2002 R50. I'm really happy so far. I've never had a driving experience like this. It's true, what they say, it's like driving a gokart. The headlights and tail lights need some restoration, but everything else is perfect. Your video gave me a lot of useful info about what to look for in the future. Thanks and Cheers!

[@debbiepeter112]

I just bought an R50 around a month ago. So far £1300 repair bill.....watch this space

[@christinegalatas3617]

I have a r50 2003 base model. Over 130,000 miles on it. I have had no problems with her. The air conditioning doesn't work but it's not something so important to me. As long as I can trust my vehicle day to day . I certainly do.

[@debbiepeter112]

@@christinegalatas3617 My R50 oy has 83,000 miles. I just think previous owner didnt pay attention to the car and didnt fix anything that came up hence why I had to. The expensive repair was water pump. So far bill is at £2,000 with water pump being at £1,350.

[@debbiepeter112]

@rocky mountain lass Good for you. These cars really are hit and miss. I dont have the other Mini. Purchased another one only March this year with over 90,000 miles. So far not too bad. £400 repairs including Catalytic Converter.

[@simonlloyd7557]

The Mini R53 S is awesome but beware that you have to keep your eyes open for potential problems with oil leaks, PAS leaks and PAS pump failure, clutch slave leaks and failure. The cars are bullet proof except for worn suspension bushings, ball joints, tie rods, end links and struts and hubs..Look out for the exhaust because they rot, odds are it will already have been changed, mushrooms strut towers, torn strut bushings. Engines are known for leaking, as are transmissions. Rear tailgates and rear lights are prone to rust. the interiors are solid except for wobbly seats, rattles and squeaks from the dash panels, rattles from the centre console, dashboard console lights going out, creaking steering (universal joint wear in steering column) road noise and more rattles.

[@SooperSkoots]

Very helpful thank you, i have bought a 2006 Park lane not without problems i have put a clutch in last week, have the head skimmed and pressure tested today, have new bushes for the front suspension, the low speed fan does not work so i have a new resistor to fit, front brake discs and pads are shot but i love the car and i will continue until the work is done, great channel, Kind Regards Mark..

[@mannheim2go46]

on my way to buy r52 Mini and watching your suggestions, very helpful

[@athousandtinycobras4349]

Like all cars, you just need to look after them. I've owned my 2005 R50 from new and it's better than it was when it was new. No, no oil leaks, no leaking sunroof, no leaking power steering... none of that. Because rubber and components wear out (on all cars), I've replaced all the bushings with Powerflex (polyurethane), and have replaced everything else that needed replacing. It's a 2005, but it's a "new" car. It really helps if you know how to work on these cars yourself, same as a vintage Porsche, etc. Time spent learning how to work on your car will save you thousands of dollars, and it's really enjoyable. IMO, anyone who complains that MINIs are unreliable either got a lemon, had a pre 05-06 model with a bad transmission, or didn't maintain it properly. Also, a MINI with an automatic transmission completely misses the point; you might as well drive a Camry. MINIs have a rally racing heritage and are meant to be driven, HARD. The 2005 and 2006 MINIs are the only ones to have; since then they've gotten progressively bigger and uglier.

[@vasme973]

Good points. I just buy a 2005 , r53 cooper s. And i sow the oil leacks. But basicly the mini its a bmw. And since i own few bmws before i know to what i need to expect. Ordered parts, ( i belive they was a good price , proberly becose its a big market out there.) And when i get most of parts , i will start to instal and do all of my self.there are a tons of videos over minis ( specialy the r53) . So i do it with care and easy. Becose i really like this car. By the way , for who buys a mini cooper S ,R53 watch out for speed bomps. In 1 day i hit it 2 times and my bumper and hood was out of place. Bad mistake i made on driving.

[@ChristopherYotz]

Nice video. Quite a bit of information.

[@barryscott4829]

Got yourself a new subscriber Cheers man

[@redkelly1188]

Just bought one on ebay, R50 cooper 2002, 129,000 miles $550 Just replaced gearbox, as this was broken when i purchased it, just got it past it's mot test,Yes it's a hassle. But as I owned a classic mini clubman estate 1978, when I was 16. I absolutely love these cars! Classic and new bmw mini.

[@carllewis2207]

Very helpful.Thanks!

[@gerraymond8312]

Great videos , thanks for your all your tips

[@themightyimp08]

There's some funny stuff in here, but mine is mine from new in 2001, and I have never had an oil leak. Then again mine isn't the American export model.. @5:00 you are right about the gearbox. I'm on my 4th. I got it replaced 3 times under warranty. Every time they fitted a new one, I'd insist on a new warranty extension. It's 20 now, and I can hear the gearbox whine coming back in, so I guess I'll be replacing it myself in a few years (I only do 5,000 miles in it a year)

[@marksamuel585]

Hi I found this video very informative thanks. I'm looking for a video on how to remove a passenger side air bag but can't seem to find one. Do you have any information you can share to remove one. I'm trying to take one out of a 2004 mini that I'm scrapping. I have four Mini's counting the one I'm scrapping. A 1978 a 1979 and a 2002 Canadian version that is one of 500 sent to Canada in 2002. So as you can see I love my Mini's. Thanks

[@marksamuel585]

Hey thanks for the quick reply. I don't have one for newer Mini's but do have one for my 1978 and 1979 mini. I guess I will have to invest in one for the newer models. Just thought there was a quick video out there to show me the way.

[@TheRobDavies]

central locking and boot switch faults

[@wamalaaly4447]

Is it advisable to change the transmission oil . And which type should i use . Thank you

[@Toms_Short_Movies]

They say it's life long oil, but 2 litres of MTF94 will do it.

[@jingoadams8362]

Thank you for the advice. I have a question about 2006 mini hatch back 0:11 . You mentioned leaks from a sunroof. We're are the drain holes located. Thank in advance

[@TheMINIac]

I don’t exactly remember where they’re located. I just remember being told there are drains going to the bottom of the car and sometimes they can get clogged and cause water to leak inside the car. Not sure where it is though but NorthAmericanMotoring can probably provide the answer.

[@jingoadams8362]

@@TheMINIac thanks again. Just bought my first mini. I am learning about the minis. How do I find out what Series mini I own. Thank you for your time. Happy Holidays. Cheers 🍻

[@markfair7410]

Good video , I just picked up an R50 2002 5 speed manual cooper ............. gearbox fork broken weld , apparently a common fault ? ...took out the gearbox and yep ...it was broken weld and it had also broken the bottom mount off .....is this a common fault ? how can i tell what gearbox is in it ? the clutch fork is vertical ,two prong .......

[@BarryCallow-y1w]

I am from London Ontario, I was recently given a 2005 mini with no manual so I don't know what model I have. it sat in a driveway and needed a new key, battery,starter,alternator, 2 front brake lines and a muffler. It passed the safety and the oil was clean so I took it out for a 75K drive. It ran great and I did use the speed shifter and it worked great .However I will not use it again until I get all fluids changed as well as any filters. Any other things to consider? It has 200 K on it.

[@TheMINIac]

Definitely get it looked at. If it's a 2005 Cooper, not a Cooper S, it has the CVT transmission since you said it has no manual. Watch that gearbox. They had a recall of some sort on the CVT for lots of issues.

[@cwaldacwaldovic4572]

Hi, I've bought R50 in march and the thing had problem with massive leaking of coolant. In my case the fault was in thermostat. According the forums, all first gen new mini had those issues. The problem with the part is that it has fairly unusual mount and gasket so it should be replaced as a whole set.

[@rishipatil2482]

I had the complete cooler replaced. Can happen especially with age.

[@themightyimp08]

Yes, the problem is that they use BMW plastics for the thermostat housing. It's a well known fault, especially showing up after all these years. It's a 3 bolt job, but you have to take the battery out, and remove the battery box to get to it. (I know you've already had it done, but this is for any future readers with that issue)

[@williambastable1161]

i have a r50 and have replaced most of the stuff that you listed apart from the gear box and top mounts car is now slow becoming a better drive as i use this as my daily driver have replace rear control arms and trailing arm bushing bit used power flex ones and just changed streering rack with a power flex but as lock down is in place still here not used it much next project ah sorting out brakes and keys

[@sdj3140]

A very Informative video. I own a UK specification R52 Cabriolet and wish to purchase (on-line) the US specification lower (black-plastic) wheel arch trim panels located at each corner of a Mini, housing the rectangular red (X 2 rear) side-lights plus the amber ( x 2 front) repeater side-lights , which are not fitted to the UK specification Mini and very difficult to find... Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Steven. (London. UK)

[@peterflueckiger4431]

Hi I get EP on my screen when I Drive in Auto and it changes forth and back! What does EP mean??

[@debbiepeter112]

I just bought a 2001 Mini Cooper (in the UK). Not had it checked out yet so wish me luck. It's my 5th Mini so know they can be expensive to repair.

[@themightyimp08]

Hey Debbie, come and join us in the MINI Y Register, a friendly bunch dedicated to 2001 registered cars, all the way from may 2001 to end of December.. We are in the UK, and going to have a stand at Beaulieu this year.. facebook.com/groups/MINIYREGister/?ref=share

[@bre9817]

I have a 2003 mini and just recently it has not been starting. the battery is new and i just replaced the fuel filter. Everything is good but when i go to crank it it turns over but does not start. what should i do?

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

When I had that problem it was the fuel pump. When you turn the key to on the fuel pump should run. You can hear it running. After a few seconds the car should start when you turn the key to start.... Mine would not start and I had the fuel pump replaced. It is fine now...........

[@martinstores4190]

No mention of the six speed gearbox and 1.4d engine in the 2004-2006 r50 from the Yaris?

[@aazt5792]

hi thanks for the video very helpful , i have a mini cooper r50 without a power steering fan is that normal ?

[@aazt5792]

@@TheMINIac thanks for your answer , yes i do have a power streering, but not the fan ,the mini is a 2005

[@aazt5792]

@@TheMINIac i jacked up the car to see underneath where the power streering live lol and there is no electrical connection for a fan and also no fan at all lol .the car is runing very well no noise .I was just curious to know if some mini 2005 model doesnt have a fan. thanks a lot

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

My 2003 R50 has a power steering fan underneath the car. There was also a recall to add a plastic cover to prevent the fan blades from being damaged. I had already added a fan cover to mine. A much stronger metal one from a Mini aftermarket accessories place......

[@NormandyFoye]

2004 r50 with 124,000 miles and 5spd manual. A clutch job at 117,000 miles and an $8 oxygen sensor is all that’s been done. I beat this little shit to death hoping to break it so I can buy my 3rd Mini. I doubt I’ll ever sell this beast

[@alrodney777]

Hey, brother I would like to know the difference between the Mini Cooper One and the Mini Cooper I just want to know the horse power between them!

[@Toms_Short_Movies]

You can rechip the one to 130bhp. The Cooper also has a rear anti roll bar, that isn't easy to retro fit on a One as there are no mounts. The Cooper might also have Sports wheels and Suspension.

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

My MINI Cooper is rated at 112 H.P. I think the MINI One is 90 H.P....

[@Litesnip2022]

Great advice, I'm after a R50 between 2005-2006. Does the Getrag gearbox have any common issues?

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

I have an 03 R50 with the Midland 5-speed. Never had a problem with the Midland transmission and it shifts very smoothly....

[@jorgezamarripa9718]

What would cause a 2005 Mini Cooper R50 5 speed to slightly stall when down shifting and turn on the Engine Service light 🤔

[@toddfugate2147]

Will the Getrag gear box bolt up on a 02?

[@charlietaylor2712]

Picked up an old red r50 for my first car in october. Needed a new radiator and clutch, fan belt was squeaky but used a rubber protectant to silence it. Love the car and wanted your opinion on whether it was worth keeping in case it becomes a classic?

[@charlietaylor2712]

@TheMINIac thank you for your advice, earnt a subscriber!

[@sknakhunt42]

I'm buying a 7edition 2006 90ps.... Any tips ?

[@TheMINIac]

Never heard of that model to be honest. I’m pretty sure it’s one not available in the US

[@VicsVlogz]

Picked up a 2005 r50 base mini. Love it although the speakers of the HK aren’t in & getting all the parts are hard to find 😒😒

[@VicsVlogz]

@@TheMINIac have any you’d refer ?

[@frankkanyinji3430]

hi miniac just bought the steering is locked and the battery is dead tried to put another battery there is short circuit,what should i do?

[@TheMINIac]

Not sure on this one. Sorry for the late reply. Have you consulted with a dealership or a mechanic specializing in European cars?

[@noelalrich]

Great video Miniac! bout to buy 2006 Mini S convertible with 19,000 miles. For what I see 2006 & 7 are the best options from the first generation, right?

[@noelalrich]

Thanks@@TheMINIac Great chanel!

[@aimeelynjaranilla7438]

Does Mini Cooper r50 2003 have carburetor?

[@TheMINIac]

No. No R50/53 has a carburetors

[@dedraadkins8957]

How to figure out if you have the r50 or r53?

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

If the engine has a supercharger it's an R53........

[@Mindlessjabber]

Same parts as the R52 cooper cabrio right?

[@gabrielaaraya7708]

Hi Miniac! I have a mini cooper one 2005 I haven’t had any issues with the cvt yet the car have a 143k! Do you recommend to do a transmission oil change and filter? I don’t know if the previous owner did it because the car came from Overseas LoL, Thank you! Greetings from Chile!

[@calebpechumer2030]

Yes, the CVT should be serviced every 100k miles

[@gabrielaaraya7708]

Caleb Pechumer thank you very much!!!

[@joshuametta9718]

thank you

[@ItsLukeDude]

What about the mini one 1.6 2004? It has 75k miles.

[@themightyimp08]

The mini one is a detuned cooper. Apart from some minor details like spoilers and roof colour options, they are essentially the same.

[@preferenceplus6621]

Hi there, I have a 2005 Mini Cooper, automatic R50 with the CVT transmission. It will start up, the gear shift will move and acknowledge what gear it's in, but the car will not drive or reverse. The transmission has been drained and refilled, the only other issue I had with it was putting it in reverse sometimes I had to do it more than once. Does anyone know what may be the issue.

[@alcopower5710]

Did you have to replace the transmission?

[@knotthead17]

What would you pay for a 2002 automatic cooper with 37,000 miles today?

[@TheMINIac]

Maybe $5,000 but watch out for that CVT. They’ve been known to fail.

[@biscayforex4317]

R50 started in 2001, not 2002. Bought mine on October 2001 when launched in Spain.

[@thebodyman7930]

Hi So glad I found your channel, find it very informative. I just bought my daughter a 2002 R50. Bought it on a auction, so I don't have any history of the vehicle or of previous owners. When the vehicle arrived it didn't have any power, It drives but the revs would climb when accelerating. We pulled the box thinking it's the clutch, but the clutch looks new (probably just installed because the gearbox bolts were hand tighten and 2 missing) Any recommendations?

[@junzsi]

I’m about to buy my room mates 2004 mini auto for 2k he bought it 4 years ago from one of his sailors that was going to ditch it. He’s in military has his own vehicles and was going to give this to his daughter but ended getting her a newer car. It has about 83k miles feels like it drives good, no leaks just the passenger window gets stuck and that’s about it. I guess I should start with the regular oil change and fluids? I’ll be looking into more of your videos

[@junzsi]

@@TheMINIac its just the cooper. Going to have a friend look at it that works on cars and I’ll let him know your mentioning above👍🏼 definitely I’ll look into the bushings

[@vincenthuang5357]

Still driving a R50 in 2021, replaced lots of parts to repair it except engine.

[@minibrum9369]

Does anyone know where I could find a good set of seat covers for my R50?

[@minibrum9369]

The MINIac ok cool, thanks for the response. And one more thing, whenever I turn the AC on in my mini or it’s over 100 degrees outside, a extremely loud, I would assume fan noise starts to happen. It only started to happen recently. Do you have any idea as to what would be making that sound?

[@minibrum9369]

@@TheMINIac thank you for the information!

[@bahamashadow2535]

So…. Best years of the 1st gen? 02? 5 speed right?

[@robertstancliffsr9575]

@@TheMINIac I can't speak for reliability but my 5-speed R-50 Midlands shifts very easily and smoothly. I changed the original transmission fluid out for Amzoils compatible fluid at about 10,000 miles.. Can't speak about reliability because the car only has 21,000 miles.....I have recently began driving it a lot more........ it looks and drives like a new car......

[@tomkleinegelink2110]

I'm thinking about buying a 2002 mini with about 190.000 km on it for about 2000 euro's, just not that sure yet, would love to own one though

[@tomkleinegelink2110]

@@TheMINIac great tip!

[@eugenemassinde5911]

I bought a 2002 mini Cooper about 2 months ago and it's been a nightmare, Car revs high when braking and I haven't been able to get it fixed, Changed gearbox body valve thought it was a gearbox issue. But that didn't fix the issue, No faulty codes when checked in computer, No mechanics can be able to fix the issue from where I am and no mini shops around, Please help... I could really use some help here, The car is parked at home and feels like a wrong purchase, Please help

[@eugenemassinde5911]

Thank you so much, It would help a lot, Tried the new throttle body and it didn't work, I look forward to what the Sunday's response is. Thank you again

[@rafaelgonzalez1628]

what about 2007 and up ?

[@TheMINIac]

I think I have a definitive guide for the 2nd generation on the channel somewhere. Lol.

[@calebpechumer2030]

That oil leak picture at 3:30 is an oil filter housing leak on a r56 lol

[@rodbrown8306]

That was excellent but just speak a little slower if you can, l tried to keep up writing but couldn't. Great info and video.

[@monsun3365]

Im thinking about a diesel 2005 200k km... As a first one... its a one

[@monsun3365]

@@TheMINIac it is only 75hp... Its pretty old but i dont really want to get anything never because i know im probably gonna put it trough hell... The mini is the first car i drove without a license, first car i drove after a few years of not driving... I just feel comfortable in it for some reason. Ill try to use your advise when i take a look at it.

[@monsun3365]

Im looking at a R56 now lol

[@garrietaylor9519]

Dude how he hell would anyone check Convert top operational Hours < should have edited that comment out

[@MrChrisrockson]

You can check by pressing the indicator stalk in and going through the menu....On the 2009 model, it had an additional dash display called....wait for it.....the OpenOmeter, I have one and it’s pretty useless but a fun addition I guess.

[@GammaFrost1]

I’ve had a 2005 for the past year and I think it’s way too much for my budget.

[@jeepchievous]

Life is to short. I’m selling my mini’s & getting a truck* 🤣

[@jeepchievous]

@@TheMINIac you know I’m getting tired of random people taking pictures of me loading materials from Homedepot^ specially driving on the freeways. lol I need a truck^ if you want I sale them to you. I got a hardtop and convertible.

[@jeepchievous]

@@TheMINIac discord.gg/U2k6E93r