MINI Hatch (2002 – 2007) Review
MINI Hatch (2002 – 2007) At A Glance
Fast and fun.
Noisy and harsh (like a Mini Cooper S should be). Wearing on the motorway. No standard a/c. Needs expensive spec upgrades. 17" wheels destroy ride comfort.
Reviews for MINI Hatch (2002 – 2007)'s top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
MINI Hatch (2002 – 2007) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3655 mm |
| Width | 1688 mm |
| Height | 1415 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2467 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1315 kg |
| Boot Space | 120–605 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £18,005–£20,275 |
| Insurance Groups | - |
| Road Tax Bands | J |
| Official MPG | 34.0 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Cooper S Convertible | £18,005 | 34.0 mpg | 7.4 s |
| Cooper S Convertible Auto | £18,005 | - | - |
| Cooper S Sidewalk Convertible | £20,275 | 34.0 mpg | 7.4 s |
| Cooper S Sidewalk Convertible Auto | £20,275 | - | - |
Model History
January 0001
Supercharged R50 MINI Cooper S with 163bhp, coded R53. Together with a six-speed gearbox, gets it from zero to sixty in around seven seconds and on to a top speed of 135mph. Fuel consumption need not suffer unless you boot it hard as a combined figure of 33.6mpg has been recorded for the 1,140kg car.
Torque is 155lb ft (210Nm) at 4,000rpm, with at least 124lb ft (179Nm) available between 2,500 and 6,500rpm.
Main external differences between the Cooper S and the standard Cooper are a front bonnet air-scoop, and big sixteen-inch or seventeen-inch wheels (the original Mini had to make do with ten-inch wheels).
Run-flat 195/55 R16 tyres or optional 205/45 R17 tyres remove the need for a 'spare' wheel, allowing progress to continue for up to 90 miles at up to 50mph.
Electro-hydraulic rack and pinion power steering offers a direct 2.5 turns lock to lock. Automatic Stability Control and Traction Control (ASC + T) is standard. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) will be an option.
Unlimited mileage two year full manufacturer warranty followed by one year full dealer warranty, making total three year unlimited mileage warranty, plus 24 month paint warranty.
Aartege did a 210bhp conversion with 184lb ft torque for £1,757 (try Birds of Uxbridge on 01895 810850 
01895 810850 ).
December 2003
MINI Spice Pack 'seasonal changes'.
MINI Cooper S – CHILI pack
Sports leather steering wheel
17” S-spoke light alloy wheels
Floor mats
Passenger seat height adjustment
Storage compartment pack
Front fog lamps
Xenon headlights
Manual air conditioning
On-board computer
Interior light pack
Cloth/leather interior trim
£1,500.00
July 2004
Minor facelift July 2004 includes enhanced interior including rev counter, coin tray and passenger grab handle, power up to 170bhp, torque up to 220Nm, 0-60 down to 7.0. Price rise to £15,180. New colours Cosmos Black and Black-Eyed Purple.
October 2005
From October 2005 can order 210bhp 'Works' mods to be fitted on the Oxford production line at extra cost of £3,600. 143mph and 0-60 in 6.3 seconds.
Michelin has launched a new size of its run-flat Primacy HP ZP (Zero Pressure) tyre which is suitable for fitment to the MINI. The 195/55 R 16 87H size is available with immediate effect and a V rated version will be available in August 2007. Like the standard Michelin Primacy HP tyre, the Primacy HP ZP offers class-leading longevity along with excellent wet braking and handling performance, combined with the ability to run-flat in the event of a puncture.
Run-flat tyres are normally associated with a trade-off in terms of rolling resistance but in the case of the Primacy HP ZP this has been minimised. The level of rolling resistance offered by this tyre is similar to Michelin’s competitors’ standard non run-flat tyres. To highlight this, the tyre is marked ‘Green X’.
Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype Credit Free via SkypeWhat to watch out for
Go for 16" rather than better looking 17" wheels as ride is unacceptably hard on 17".
Radiators of cars 3 years old or more can corrode.
By 2007 transmission failure of 2001/2002 MINIs had become increasingly common.
Reports of PAS problems. The electric motor which runs the pump packs up and sometimes takes the wiring loom with it (through overheating). BMW dealers quote £750 to repair, but BMW will sometimes approve 'goodwill' of half the cost of parts and labour. Reports of frequent steering column failures (sometimes BMW will pick up the tab).
Paint problems at rear of light coloured cars seem to be caused by exhaust emissions.
ABS/ASC modules starting to fail after 3 - 4 years. Unlike VAG, BMW dealers will separate the two parts and effect a reasonably priced repair: about £600 - £700.
Underseat wiring loom becomes loose, setting off the airbag warning light.
Fuel tank retaining straps of 7 - 8 year old MINIs can rust through.
18-02-2011:Report of shortage of thermostat housings - a common failure on R50/R52/R53 engines.
Early cars pulling to nearside: caused by early type front struts identified by domed ca on centre nut. Replace struts complete with top mounts and anti-roll bar links.
All MINIS pulling to n/s: front suspension turrets pushed up. Replace top mounty and repair turret on jig.
Early MINI Ones, Coopers and Cooper S extra noisy power assisted steering with low oil level. PAS seals have failed. Replace track rod ends.
MINI Ones, Coopers and Cooper S PAS failure due to failed pump or corroded wiring to pump. Replace pump and/or wiring.
All MINIs noise from steering column means steering column upper bearing has failed. Replace upper and lower steering column depending on age.
All MINIs excessive footbrake and parking brake travel indicates rear calliper(s) have failed. Replace calliper(s).
Early MINI One, Cooper and Cooper S: ASC, ABS, RDW+ handbrake warning lights on with possible intermittent loss of speedo and rev counter and sometimes gradual loss of electrics amd fire/smoke from engine bay. ABS pump wiring shorted out on pump bracket. If minor wiring damage, repair loom. If major, replace main vehicle wiring loom. Always fit a protective edge cover to pump bracket.
November 2006 alerted to a spate of valve spring failures on 2002 model year Cooper S models. At the tome, BMW was picking up the tab.
Aircon may gurgle due to airlock in refrigerant. Difficult to purge.
Rear exhaust silencer boxes rot inside out and also deposit rust particles on the rear of the cars. particularly noticeable on white and yellow.
Apparent spate of electric panoramic sunroof failures. BMW dealers quote £1,600-£1,800 to fix. Bristol Sunroofs can do it for £245.
30-09-2013:On a 2002 MINI Cooper (JCW) the headlight washers work perfectly 'once' after the ignition is turned on, but then they no longer function until the ignition has been turned off and then back on again, then they will work for one more wash. BC1 unit replaced with a new unit and reprogrammed but hasn't resolved the problem. New BC1 unit rechecked and reprogrammed along with the keys, but still hasn't resolved the problem. Reservoir of washer fluid full and other washers for the front and rear screens are all functioning. Two answers. First is check the timer relay in the fuse box. This is used to create a delay in washing the headlights, so they don’t wash every time you operate the windscreen washer jets while the headlights are switched on. This relay may have stuck and will only ‘un-stick’ when the ignition is switched off. Second suggestion concerns the Xenon control units, which are fitted to each Xenon headlight – it looks like a silver box mounted near the headlight unit with 'high voltage' warning stickers on it. Water can cometimes get into this control unit, resulting in problems with both the lighting and the washers.
26-03-2014:On a 2006 MINI Cooper R50 with an opening 'Panoramic' roof the roof failed in 2009 and was replaced for a labour charge of £500. Second roof failed in March 2014 and owner quoted £1,786 to replace + labour. So don't buy a used MINI with a panoramic roof without checking the roof very carefully.
