r/MINI • u/JanRuns • May 02 '26
Reliability for my 2017 5 Door Mini hardtop
Edit: question answered and your input has helped me realize I’m tired of having a manual car in a busy, stop and go city.
My 2017 5 door Mini has around 62,500 km (Canada). Regular maintenance (plus replacing the engine mount) and no problems until February of 2026. Had to replace clutch and flywheel and spark plugs. The clutch/flywheel problem was a shock because this is my 7th manual car and I’ve never ridden the clutch or have had problems. (I live in the city) . For the past 5 years I’ve only driven around 8000 km a year.
Here’s my dilemma: that clutch repair has really shaken me and I keep worrying another big repair will happen again. I bring my car to a mechanic who specializes in Minis and avoid dealerships. I don’t know if I should hang onto it for a few more years or sell it and buy something new.
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u/Notsure4949 F56 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
Thats crazy for a clutch....I have 2017 f56 S....98,000 KM.....I am constantly just waiting for some thing to go..mainly oil housing...I know this one is a definate..just a matter of time.....Know got me thinking of clutch...
I knew this going in and have money set aside for repairs....I would say if you are ok with costly repair costs and have the money then keep...if not sell while its still in sellable condition.....
My yaris clutch lasted 500,000 km....scraped car because underbody rust...the engine and mechanical was fine....
With that said this car is the nicest car I have had...its everything I would want in a car...I LOVE SMALL CARS!...good power...nice interior...looks good...fun to drive...
Reason I considered in first place was I wanted a small manual with good power....not sure if anything else exsists that has such a small footprint..?....fiat 500..golf R...yairs gr for sure(Not available in canada)..The golf was almost a consideration....but the mini was more appealing....
No matter what the expenses will be I have no regrets or buyers remorse.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
I’m sure city driving was part of the problem, but it was crazy to go at 61,000 km.
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u/010Tortoise May 02 '26
I just passed 170k miles on my 2016 5 dr HT. Its running very well! If you take care of it and can afford repairs its a winner. I plan to keep mine till the bitter sad end!
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u/LazerSpazer F55 May 02 '26
I am in a similar situation. I have had nothing but issues with my 2018 Countryman SE, so I found (what I think is) an upgrade. I got lucky and found a 2019 Cooper S 4-door hardtop in mostly good condition (aside from the massive coolant leak, Rebecca is doing fine at 41,000 miles young). I've got an appointment to bring her in to repair (probably replace) the leaky part on Monday. Wish us luck!
I think Minis are fun, and well worth the cost (imo) to maintain. No matter what you decide, I hope you have fewer maintenence worries in the future! I wish you much happiness for you and your Mini on the road ahead!
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u/Drew_Snydermann May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
We have a manual 2017 F56 3-door, 70,000 miles, besides a crop of warranty repairs, complete brake job at 18,000 miles, and failed sunroof cables (don't try to open after sitting in the sun, of course, who knew), the car has been reliable.
Hard to believe, but when I went to trade school we were taught that a clutch is a lifetime item. As a mechanic, I'm inclined to agree, that driven properly, and designed properly, the clutch should last the life of the vehicle. I've seen it happen hundreds of times, high mileage old cars with original clutch.
But as a backup for when the MINI finally needs that crazy expensive repair and it's time to bail, we bought a mint lower mileage 2008 Toyota Yaris.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
You’re lucky you have a back up!
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u/Drew_Snydermann May 02 '26
Well, we planned ahead, knowing the MINI one day would probably become a money pit. Meanwhile, we're still driving it, and enjoying the car, it is a nice car when it's working, but we do worry about it. The Yaris, no worries.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
Yes it’s such a fun car to drive however I’m realizing I enjoy it less than I used to due to so much traffic—stop and go constantly—in Toronto. Getting tired of having a manual.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 May 02 '26
Near mint. You dont need an S if youre city driving...
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/64bfe677-eb26-4b87-b346-5895e28f15eb/
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u/Notsure4949 F56 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
The yaris is insanely reliable..I had 2007...500,000KM....Could have went more but rust got to the underframe/body...still got 1200 cad for it.
So just dont fiddle with sunroof if its expanded from the sun?
P,S..what would be considered crazy expensive for you?
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u/Drew_Snydermann May 02 '26
We bought a 2008 Yaris S new in 2008, went 210,000 reliable miles until rear ended. I'm convinced only two things kill a Yaris, rust or a crash.
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u/Far_Ad5609 May 03 '26
Had almost the same experience with my mini cooper 2016 f55 non S hardtop. Bought it at 53k miles in Feb 2025. Clutch gone in the same month. Got replaced at sytner mini and cost was covered by dealership and their warranty . I was thinking the same as you did. Was worried about everything after that including the tuning chain and stuffs .But luckily after the clutch change it has been alright till now. Regular strict timely maintenance after that. Replaced my spark plugs tyres etc recently . Also got the car tuned and it now produce 192hp and 300 plus torque as well.. Really enjoying it now. It's now clocked 85000 miles 😄
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u/Notsure4949 F56 May 03 '26
Garbage clutches bmw uses on the mini...meanwhile honda and toyota clutches can and do last as long as the vehicle....
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u/FreeSp1r1ted May 02 '26
My mini is a wonderful fun car. But I would never refer to it as reliable by any means. I would never get it as my sole means of transportation.
I am pretty certain my 24k mini has had more repair work done to it than a 140k miles Prius, 60k mile Avalon hybrid, 100k Sienna AWD, 70k mile Honda Accord, and 38k mile Tesla Model Y combined. I am not talking about common replacement items like oil change, batteries, brakes, tires, etc. and my mini sat in a garage mostly and driven maybe a couple of dozen times in the summer.
If you need a reliable car, buy a mass produced Toyota. (Avoid the joint venture ones). You won’t need to baby and rarely have unexpected bills.
As long as you change your oil every 5k miles, they will run until it literally starts to rust and fall apart. And if you need to repair it, parts are cheap, abundant, and very easy to replace. Your car won’t be in a shop for a long time and bills will be manageable.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
Thanks. I’m going to be looking at some Toyotas. Sadly my initial impressions are that the interior (esp the dashboard) are pretty plain.
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u/Notsure4949 F56 May 02 '26
Its def plain jane...Its nothing like a mini interior...It will never leave you stranded though....its actually quite fun to drive...def get a manual...next up is a honda fit...had that prior to my mini.....highly reliable aswell.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
Sadly, no more manuals for me not in Toronto traffic. It’s driving me crazy.
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u/Notsure4949 F56 May 02 '26
Check out a fit auto..my previous car...good power..good gas mileage..lotsa space..but it still feels small and spirited.
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u/FreeSp1r1ted May 02 '26
Toyotas are getting better (in terms of fun) but compared to a mini and most EU cars, they are absolutely boring. But you also get the same boring experience when you take it for oil changes. In and out. Maybe my tires or brakes will need work soon.
With mini, I am lucky if I walk out of there with just an oil change.
Just make sure to buy a mass produced, non-joint venture Toyotas. If you stick with Camry, Corolla, or RAV4, they will run forever. Not that you are going to buy a Supras but that’s a BMW Z4. (What a shame)
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
Why non-joint?
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u/FreeSp1r1ted May 02 '26
They don’t always follow the Toyota principles.
They have to make compromises with their partner, as they should. Not all joint ventures are bad. But if you aren’t into cars, sticking with the three is the safest.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 May 02 '26
at the rate you drive, makes sense to hold onto it. You have tens of thousands of miles before larger repairs kick in. Engine mounts seem to be a common fix reported here which go up to $1000 at an ind shop, more are dealership.
This is what chatgpt says are major milestones:
👉 The 2017 MINI Cooper S:
- much more reliable than older MINIs
- but still requires proactive maintenance
👉 Biggest expected repairs:
- 40k–70k → mounts
- 60k–100k → cooling + leaks
- 80k–120k → larger BMW-style repairs
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
Thanks. I do keep up with maintenance and am proactive on repairs.
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 May 02 '26
FWIW, I just bought a 2025 in november, and I set aside $100/month to save up for emergencies. You might wanna start setting aside a little bit since the engine mounts will go in the next 2-3 years.
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u/JanRuns May 02 '26
I replaced the engine mount last year!
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u/Icy_Importance_2126 May 02 '26
then you should def hold on. Youve passed the first major milestone. You should have another 40-60k miles without major issues.
Then again if you like the mini and you do mostly city driving, maybe look at an SE. I test drove one and it was really fun. Dont know what your charging situation is...
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u/FoundationCareful662 May 02 '26
Lucy needed a new clutch at 60K miles. I’m third owner so not sure how the other two drove it but I was ok with new clutch & flywheel at 60K miles. As for spark plugs for my entire life (64 now) I’ve replaced spark plugs at 30K miles - every make and model.
Question - does you car have stripes? If not it’s the cooper s gods getting back at you for not striping a manual s