Used Mini Coupe 2011 - 2015 reliability

Any Mini Coupe will have been used enthusiastically, so check for obvious wear and tear to the engine, including blue or black smoke from the exhaust. Check the mileage details all tally. It will have been used in urban areas, so check the bodywork for scuffs and dings and especially the windscreen, which is prone to chips and cracking. It’s worth taking a close look at the alloy wheels, too, to check for kerb damage.

There have been reports of low pressure in the fuel pump of the 1.6-litre petrol leading to low pressure in the oil pump, starving the timing chain of oil on start-up and leading to some stretching. There have also been reports of water leaking in through the passenger side window, which has led to problems with the electrics, including some people saying that the radio would not switch off, the spoiler would not raise and also some difficulty starting the engine.

There have also been reports of oil leaks from the timing chain tensioner. Mini's parent company, BMW, said that technicians might find an O-ring in the oil filter housing when changing the oil. The O-ring is from the oil filter non-return valve inside the engine, and it dislodges because it is too small.

Very little reliability data exists for the Mini Coupe, probably because the car sold in limited numbers. However, it is very similar under the skin to many cars in the existing Mini line-up, including the hatchback model, so the same data can apply. In our most recent survey, that car scored very well, with an overall score of more than 91%. Reported problems were few, with most centering on the non-engine electrics, items such as the air-con and sat-nav, but in newer cars all problems were fixed within a week and under warranty.

Mini as a brand finished in 22nd place out of 32 manufacturers.