Mini Cooper S

Has there ever been a small car that has captured the imagination of so many people around the world more than the new MINI? There’s only one that we can think of…and that was the original Mini! The new has Mini been just as successful as the original, and in Cooper S form it’s a real class act.

It was never going to be an easy task replacing something so ingrained into the motoring conscience of the world, such was the original Mini; but amazingly, and after a long and often complicated development process, BMW unveiled its interpretation of the MINI in 2000 and from there went on to become a global sales success.

Unlike some other retro pastiche tribute models that were launched at a similar time, the MINI seemed to be a product of far greater integrity. Sure, it had the styling that echoed the original, but where it fundamentally succeeded was in capturing the original’s essence – its fun spirit, the way it reached out to the individual in all of us. Over one million have been produced and, with the seemingly never-ending spec permutations and the propensity of owners to modify them, means that no two MINIs are ever likely to be the same.

Specifications

Finally going on sale in the UK in 2001, the MINI was initially available in two specs – the entry-level 90bhp One, which originally boasted a sub-£10k price tag, and the evocatively titled 115bhp Cooper. It wasn’t long before there were cries for more power; and the range-topping Cooper S, complete with 163bhp and a six-speed gearbox, arrived a year later in 2002 to meet that demand. It’s this model that we’re going to focus on here.

A One diesel arrived in 2003, while convertibles were added to the line up in summer 2004; coinciding with a mild facelift of the hatchback derivative, too. A re-profiled front bumper and grille, rear bumper (now with a fog light in place of the reverse light) and revised centre console (the telltale sign being three rotary knobs for the fan/climate control) and a new gearbox completed the changes – fivespeeders for the One and Cooper; six for the Cooper S and diesel.

Many MINIs have been modified to look suspiciously like a Cooper S, but aside from observing the massive intercooler on top of the engine in an S, there is also the distinctive whine under acceleration. Deeply addictive, it also delivers some impressive acceleration, coupled at times with some torque steer. This trait was addressed to some extent by the fitting of Automatic Stability Control & Traction (ASC+T). Sixteen-inch alloys and chrome and S-insignia side gills also distinguished the top-end car from its lesser-powered brethren.

Aside from that, if you truly wanted to spec it up, you had to delve into the options list, which is simply vast. Most popular were items such as the uprated Harmon Kardon stereo system, air-conditioning and bigger alloys. And, as if MINI could read your mind, the company offered a series of option packs, the Chili pack being the one for the Cooper S. It jacked the price up by £1,600 but had all the toys you wanted – plus a few you didn’t – for less than if you’d ordered the extras individually.

Chili, for example, adds 17-inch alloys, a three-spoke steering wheel (looks great), trip computer, air conditioning, Xenon headlights and limited slip diff, plus a few fluffy bits such as velour floor mats, height adjustable passenger seat, interior lights package and split cloth/leather upholstery. So although it increases the price by 10 per cent, they’re pretty desirable options to have that will not only enhance ownership but also improve resale.

Then there are a plethora of aftermarket upgrades, anything from carbon bonnet scoops to lowered suspension, new tail lights and even engine upgrades, the latter is available – amongst other mods – from MINI’s approved tuning arm – John Cooper Works.

So it’s easy to see why one Cooper S is bound to be very different to another. We’d advise setting a budget in mind and then spend some time looking at different examples to see which bits of kit you’d like to have and which you think you could do without. The more Cooper S models you can compare, the more informed your choice.

On the road

Compact cars are generally good fun to drive, but the MINI Cooper S takes it to another league. It’s chuckable in the way that its One and Cooper stable mates are, but the supercharged model has the raw power and pace to make it even more enjoyable. It accelerates to 62mph in a mere 7.2 seconds and can reach 138mph. Even with ASC+T, the power can sometimes overwhelm the front end, with torque steer making its presence felt. Progressive use of the throttle, is the way forward. Grip is excellent and the handling fun – edgy and entertaining but without being dangerous or inconsistent.

There was a big debate about run flat tyres, which BMW threw its efforts into at the turn of the decade. Firmer sidewalls that are part and parcel of runflats often lead to a harsh ride, and this is particularly pronounced on early Cooper S MINIs. However, over the years, the suspension was mellowed slightly and the tyres improved; so a 2002 Cooper S will ride a lot firmer than a runout 2006 model. Owners could (and you still can) switch to conventional tyres, but there’s no spare fitted normally, so either arrange for a spare wheel cradle to be installed, or make sure you carry around some tyre foam and a plug-in compressor.

The only other aspect to consider with Cooper S ownership is fuel consumption, which can be teeth-itchingly high when pressing on – it’ll drink a gallon of unleaded every 27-28 miles, which is pretty poor. The urban figure is actually 23.9mpg but this rises to a more optimistic 41.5mpg on the extra-urban cycle.

Market impressions

Such is the popularity of the MINI that availability isn’t really an issue. MINI main dealers are well stocked at the moment and there are independent specialists such as Symes and Mini Depot that carry a comprehensive stock. Prices start from around £8,000 and rise to around £20k – which sounds implausible given that the car brand new was less than that. But as we’ve already covered, such are the spec permutations that a fully loaded Cooper S would have topped £25k new, so it won’t be uncommon to find them commanding premiums on the used forecourts.

There’s probably greater availability and better value to be had on prefacelift models 2002-2004, but we reckon the newer cars are better in terms of a nicer ride, more logical fascia, fractionally more power (170bhp) and a more durable gearbox. It’ll be a struggle to find a 2004 on Cooper S, however, for less than £11k so it’ll all depend on your budget.

Automatic variants are less common and, although they cost around £1,000 more when new, we doubt the difference in price will be anywhere as great on the used lots, as most buyers prefer manuals anyway.

Although we’ve focused primarily on the hatchback, the Cooper S convertible is also ultra desirable (although they don’t drive as well) and usually cost around £2,000 more than a hatchback equivalent.

Conclusion

An iconic shape, spirited handling, excellent performance and an engine note from heaven – there are so many upsides to a Cooper S, and few downs…although they are pricey compared with what you can get elsewhere, but then that’s only because depreciation has been so impressive, something that you’ll also benefit from when it comes to sell.

It’s thirsty for a supermini, but usually only when driven enthusiastically. There are some reliability issues but even these are hard to truly quantify (see Faults, Flaws and Fixes), but it’s worth bearing in mind that over 200,000 MINIs have found homes in the UK, so it’s hard to really work out the proportion of those that are problem cars.

Such is the enthusiast scene that whatever your ownership experience, there will be advice and support available should you need it. We can’t think of any small car available that has the same blend of classless, appeal and diverse talents as the MINI Cooper S. If you’re in the market for a compact hatchback, this is where your money should be spent.

Faults, flaws and fixes

One of the biggest known bugbears has been the gearbox, which has proven in some cases to be a little fragile. If it’s not the gearbox it’s the thrust bearing, which gives up the ghost, so check clutch pedal feel and for any noise when releasing the clutch after changing gear – changes should be baulk-free.

There’s a distinctive moan from the power steering that’s perfectly normal; but if it gets too excessive, or more noticeable when turning from lock-to-lock, then you may have a power steering pump on the way out. Aside from that, checking for water ingress through the front windscreen or tailgate – feel the carpets for any evidence of damp.

Electrics can be a problem, and it’s not uncommon for erroneous warning lights such as the airbag warning light to come on unprompted.

Many Cooper S MINIs have been fitted with ‘bling’ wheels, which can have a detrimental effect on the wheel bearings; so aside from checking the condition of the rims, listen out for any groaning while driving along that will get louder, the faster you go.

Most MINIs came with what’s called a TLC pack, a money upfront service deal, which effectively bought all the servicing requirements for up to five years and 50,000 miles. Therefore most will have been serviced regularly, but be wary of very low mileage cars that may not have had all issues dealt with on schedule, and likewise excessively high mileage cars that may have skipped a few stamps.

So check the condition thoroughly and insist on a service history and you shouldn’t go wrong. And because of the value of these cars right now, we’d
recommend buying from an approved main dealer with the backup of a full warranty, or at the very least, use a specialist with a history in dealing with MINIs that can offer a comparable warranty to support your purchase.

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