After about 6 months of looking at 1968 - 1970 Coopers S's trying to find what I was after, my wife has suggested that we get a 2002 - 2003 Cooper S like one of her girlfriends has. Who am I to argue with that

Can anyone provide some advise on potential problems with these models (as my knowledge is restricted to roundies)? Things to look for?

The only thing I'm not crazy is the about the whole run flat tyres at $450 a corner!!

Can a Cooper space saver tyre be fitted to the Cooper S (in the boot space and on the car)? Are they hard to get?

Any help would be much appreciated and if you are selling one drop me a PM

I own a 2004 MCS and have not had a problem with it, fantasitc car.

In regards to the tyres ect i had the same issue when i went to replace the runflats but found it a better option to Ditch the runflats and use normal tyres. I ended up getting all new tyres and rims for about 2700 which now makes it look heaps better and improves the ride and handling a heap. I carry a can of Goo in the boot which is only a quick fix but will get you to the nearest tyre place. I would certainly recommend ditching the run-flats asap

I have a 2003 MCS the only problem was a leaking coolant expansion tank, very common and usually replaced under warranty.

Have to agree with dropping the runflats.


Check out www.mini2.com Faults & Fixes Forum for general problems and the Australian Forum for local advice

Please excuse my ignorance but what are runflats?

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http://sexyurl.no-ip.org/mod3l0

They are tyres made from rubber around three times thicker than normal on the sides.
If the air is let out the extra rubber can support the car, allowing you to continue driving for a while.

I have a new Cooper S for sale, it's a 2003 Black with chrome all over it. inside and out. I blinged it up. Also added Lexus sttyle clear tail lights. And brought many of the chrome bits from the UK.

We dropped the run flat tyres too when we got the new rims. The problems we have had with this car are, expansion tank cracked, air con switching off, and power steering pump went and now has a brand new one. All problems have been fixed by BMW and if you rant and rave enough, even though the car wasn't under warrenty, they fixed them at a very discounted rate.

It has done nearly 75,000kms I think It is in awesome condtion as you can see from the pics and I need to sell it urgently as I got a new car already.

What you think? PM me if you're keen, comes with RWC and rego but if you're in Canberra you cant transfer the rego I'm asking $32,500 but that is very negotionable.

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1979 Leyland Moke (which is for sale)

Hasnt the rim itself got a beading of rubber on it as well. I mean in the middle of the rim itself. I have seen one with a 2 inch beading in the sentre bit of the rim whick allow the car to rip about and safely get to a place to fix it.

Hooroo

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

That is quite cheap for an S in such condition.

Should've bought a new Mini

Nope. Have a MINI rim in my lounge room with no tyre on it - just looks like a standard rim.

1 more vote here for getting rid of the run flats. Aside from the cost you will see an improvement in the ride and road noise.

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The rim itself has a slight lip on the edge on the inside to allow it to work with runflats, however you can just do what most of us do and put standard tyres on, and keep a bottle of goo in the boot . You can't get a Cooper tyre in the boot, as thats where the battery lives .

Things to look for:

- Leaking expansion tank (open the bonnet, pretty much in the center at the back, you'll see if its leaking - not a major problem, normally fixed under warranty)
- Rust in door sills - open the drivers and passengers side door, lift up the rubber seal on the bottom, see if there is any rust (again, something that can be fixed under warranty normally)
- Check how the clutch feels, if its making a noise on takeoff then you'll most likely be up for a new clutch, which is quite expensive (lots of labour!)

Apart from those few things, they're a pretty bulletproof car and engine.

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Dark Silver Mini Cooper S with lots of mods .

Hi guys first post here and I'm looking at getting a 2002-2003 Cooper S as well. All the information in this thread will be very useful once my search begins.
So my understanding from the first post is that all minis come standard with run flats and can't be replaced with standard tyres unless the rims are changed as well?

The first post is wrong.
Early Coopers had 15" wheels and these did not have runflats fitted. No spare just a MINI Mobility Kit which is a compressor and a can of tyre goo.
Coopers with 16" or 17" MINI wheels have runflats as standard.
All Cooper S' have runflats as standard.
Standard tyres will fit on MINI rims.
Runflats will fit on non MINI rims.
I know MINI owners who have changed their wheels but kept their runflats and MINI owners who have kept their wheels and ditched their runflats.

Hi and congratulations

You can put non runflat tyres on MINI rims. I have them.

Good luck with the search

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thanks for the replies guys! Is there a log somewhere that shows the changes between the minis from year to year? I'm currently a BMW owner and I know from year to year the feature lists change a fair bit. Just don't want to miss out on any of the extra goodies as don't mind paying the extra for them.

Reading through this forum they don't seem so "bullet proof". It's got me a little worried now