Mini Cooper Problems

As with the original Mini from 1959 all regular Mini Coopers sold in Australia are front-wheel drive. The Mini raced in the World Rally Championship is an all-wheel drive model, though you cannot buy this model as a member of the public. There are no four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive models sold by Mini.

In a factory! BMW’s New Mini Hatch, Coupe and Roadster are built in England at BMW’s Plant Oxford facility, while the Hatch, Convertible and Countryman are assembled at VDL Nedcar in Born, The Netherlands. Until 2016 Magna-Steyr assembled the Mini Paceman in Austria.

Yes, it would the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Generally it’s a sound car, and 70,000 km isn’t a lot of kilometres for a seven-year-old car, but be careful to check for signs of abuse from an enthusiast owner. Look for smoke from the tailpipe. Also listen for a rattle from the engine, as there was a batch of engine with timing chain issues.

Predicting how many kilometres a car lasts is next to impossible, as each person drives a car differently and in varying situations that affect the potential lifespan of the vehicle. However, as the New Mini has been built by BMW since 2000 they are as reliable as any other premium small car, so long as you service them regularly and don't skimp on cheap parts. The Cooper S John Cooper Works models have a cult following with good cause, as they are legitimately brilliant, fun little cars.

While Mini debuted in 1959, the first Mini Cooper went on sale in September 1961 and over 12,000 were built by the time production ended in 1967. Today BMW has owned Mini since 2000, and produces the New Mini in England, including the Cooper and Cooper S models.

The blades are supposed to flip over when they change direction at each end of their sweep to prevent them doing what yours are doing. Your blades are not flipping over.

Start by fitting new blades, adjust the angle to get them flipping over, and you could use something like Rain-Ex on the windscreen, and in the washer water.

You might not be able to see it, but there is a leak and you need to take it to a mechanic or a dealer to have it located and repaired. It could be the radiator tank, a fitting on the engine, or the worst case is that it could be a head gasket.

You’re right; it is silly advice. The onus shouldn’t be on you to know that there is a potential problem and that you should check these things; it’s the carmaker’s responsibility to design the car such that it doesn’t have problems. When they discover there is a problem they are responsible for fixing it. I would pursue this issue through consumer affairs, and consider taking them to your state small claims tribunal for compensation. You don’t say what year your car is, but it doesn’t matter if the new car warranty has expired, in your case it seems you would have a good claim for your car being substandard and not fit for purpose.

The web is causing all sorts of problems because overseas situations are rarely the same as Australia. I have been in touch with BMW Australia and even though your car is 13 years old and has not been regularly serviced by BMW, the reply is positive. Company spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says: "The Cooper S has hydraulic steering and the overseas service campaign was with the electric steering on the Cooper. Nonetheless, if he takes it to a dealer we'll have a look and see what we can do."

Your budget limits your choices, but the Liberty is certainly worth considering. You could also look at a Mazda3 MPS, a Honda Accord Euro, or a Mini Cooper.