I'm looking to buy a R56 mini as my next car that I plan to keep for a long time. Currently I've found two good cars, one is a 2009 Mini Cooper and the other is a 2008 Mini Cooper S. Both have around 70k miles, manual transmission, and both are in good condition. I prefer the MCS by a lot, but I'm concerned that the relibailty will be much worse compared to the standard MC because of the turbo. Is this true or are they about equal in relibailty?

 

Yes, the Cooper will be more reliable than the Cooper S. All MINI's do have their quirks though. The R56 S is known for a few issues such as HPFP failure, P/S failure, the "death rattle" timing chain issue, multiple oil leaks, the valve cover itself leaking, thermostat failing, turbo line oil leak at o-ring, and a few others. That being said, the S will provide you with a great deal more fun as far as HP output. If you are DIY savvy and have the tools to work on your MINI then go with the one that'll put the biggest smile on your face at the end of the day. That being said, lots of owners will come online to talk about their issues whereas a lot of owners don't come online. So, what we see for common failures is online, but we do not know the reliability of those who do not come to the forums. Also, if you're looking for an R56 gen a lot of people will suggest the N18 engine over the N14, so a 2011+ R56 S. They tend to have less issues, but still have a few here and there.