Just another newbie
 

Just browsing the forum for information on purchasing a used Mini..
Any help would be greatly appreciated :D

What year and model are you interested in buying?

Looking for a 2005 to 2008 Cooper S Hatchback Blue/black

Well engine wise the Cooper S up to '06 is supercharged. '07 and newer are turbocharged. Also depends what your price range is. I do see a lot of the 1st gen Coopers in used car lots ranging from 9k to 11k with decent mileage. It should be fun to look for one that you especially like. Think of it as a treasure hunt! Good luck!

Ok so out of the super charged vs the turbo charged which is the most reliable.
Which will produce the Most power?
Aftermarket parts availability good for both or more for one than the other?

Looking for a standard transmission. Are all years the same? Meaning did they change the transmission or upgrade at any certain year?


Thanks for all the information

Well I have an '04 Mini S so i'm partial to the supercharger. I did the basic upgrades like intake and a 17% pulley. No exhaust yet. The one I want is out of stock. So now when I punch it, it sounds like there is an enormous, angry cat under the bonnet. It's pretty funny. To be honest I know very little about turbos. The only thing I know with turbos is that there is a little bit of turbo lag because the turbo needs to spool up before power is brought to the wheels. Availability for both engines can be found easily. As far as the tranny is concerned I havn't heard of BMW making any significant changes. Hope this helps a little.

I noticed that this forum is not as active as I had imagined it would be.
Is their any other forums with more activity?

Try Mini2.com and www.northamericanmotoring.com

I'm new to the forums and purchased my first Mini on Saturday(2 days ago). So far I'm loving it! It's an 08 Cooper S with 47k miles on it. I got it for a steal at $11,900. The insurance money from my wrecked 08 Honda Fit w/47k miles covered almost all of it ($11,233). Quite an upgrade! I'm digging the turbo. The sound from the turbo spooling and the factory wastegate is actually quite loud for a stock car. Sounds awesome =]

Glad you're loving the Cooper!