There’s no doubt about it: Mini Coopers are fun cars. While you may be daydreaming about zipping around the city in your new Mini, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is protected from mechanical breakdowns, too.
Repairs are a normal part of owning any vehicle, no matter how reliable it is. If you’re considering buying a new or used Mini, you should take a moment to think about how you might pay for any repairs or maintenance. In this article, we will look at what’s covered under the Mini Cooper warranty from day one and what happens after your factory warranty expires.
Mini Cooper Warranty Overview
Mini is a British automaker that was founded in 1969 and is currently owned by BMW, which purchased the company in 2000. When you buy a model such as the Countryman or Clubman from the Mini dealer, you get a factory warranty with the car.
Here is an overview of the 2021 Mini Cooper warranty.
| Mini Cooper Warranty | Years of Coverage |
|---|---|
| New Vehicle Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Rust Perforation | 12 years/unlimited miles |
| Federal Emission | 2 years/24,000 miles |
| Federal Emission - Special Control Devices | 8 years/80,000 miles |
| California Emission | 3 years/50,000 miles |
| California Emission - Special Control Devices | 7 years/70,000 miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 years/unlimited miles |
According to J.D. Power, the Mini Cooper is a very reliable car – among the best, in fact. However, every car needs repairs sooner or later, and Minis are no exception. Luckily, Mini offers a very comprehensive factory warranty that comes complete with a maintenance program, something that will help keep the cost of ownership low during the first few years.
What Does The Mini Cooper Warranty Cover?
The Mini Cooper factory warranty is one of the most comprehensive around. The Mini New Passenger Car Limited Warranty covers most everything in the vehicle, bumper-to-bumper, for 4 years or 50,000 miles. An exception is the tires. When you purchase a new Mini Cooper, you also get a 12-year warranty that covers you for rust perforation.
But while most manufacturers would stop right there, Mini tacks on the Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance program for good measure. This covers the following routine maintenance on your vehicle:
- Engine oil services
- Inspections
- Brake fluid services
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air microfilter
Compared to many manufacturers, this is an extremely straightforward and comprehensive warranty. You don’t have to wade through tons of exclusions just to figure out what’s actually covered.
What’s Not Covered By The Mini Cooper Factory Warranty?
There’s one important component: the tires. These are usually warranted by the tire manufacturer. Like most factory warranties, things like vehicle damage from improper care are not covered under the Mini Cooper warranty, but in general the warranty offers bumper-to-bumper coverage with almost no exclusions.
Mini Cooper Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
When you buy a used car, you naturally take on more risk than you do when buying a new one – what was once someone else’s problem can quickly become your own expensive, 2,000-pound issue. To help balance some of that risk, many manufacturers, Mini included, offer a certified pre-owned program that guarantees used vehicles have been properly inspected and even includes a limited warranty.
The Mini Cooper certified pre-owned warranty is called the Mini CPO Limited Warranty, and it’s part of the Mini Certified Pre-Owned Protection plan, which lasts for 6 years/unlimited miles. In addition to a warranty, it also comes with 24/7 roadside assistance.
While Mini’s certified pre-owned warranty isn’t quite as comprehensive as its factory warranty, it’s still substantial. It’s no bumper-to-bumper warranty, but it does cover the most important parts of your vehicle like the drivetrain, transmission, and engine.
Mini Cooper provides a long list of exclusions for vehicles that were retailed before and after April 1, 2014. The list is too long to include here, so we encourage you to view it for yourself. However, in short, Mini Cooper won’t cover routine maintenance, any repairs due to normal wear and tear, and most non-essential repairs.
Plus, if your certified pre-owned vehicle is new enough, it may still be covered under the original Mini Cooper warranty, so be sure to check with your dealer.
How To Find Out If You Have A Warranty
If you purchased a new Mini or a certified pre-owned Mini and are still within the term lengths listed above, you have a warranty. However, if you purchased a used Mini from a private seller, figuring out whether you’re covered can be a little more difficult.
You can always start by asking the seller. If the car is less than four years old or has fewer than 50,000 miles, chances are that it’s covered by the Mini Cooper warranty. However, always verify by checking either with Mini itself or a third-party like CARFAX. This will tell you with 100 percent certainty whether or not there’s warranty coverage for the vehicle.
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
Mini is a very reliable manufacturer, but like all automakers, its vehicles can still break down. If you plan to keep your car beyond its factory warranty period, purchasing an extended warranty can be a good idea. Additionally, if you plan to sell your car after a few years, an extended warranty can make it more appealing to prospective buyers.
As vehicles age, the cost of repairs slowly increases, and eventually, you can start paying a lot more than you budgeted for in vehicle repairs. Let’s take a look at some common repair costs, according to RepairPal.
- Brake pad replacement for 2016 Mini Cooper: $256 to $384
- Water pump replacement for 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman: $756 to $1,266
- Head gasket replacement for 2014 Mini Cooper: $2,169 to $3,427
- Spark plug replacement for 2010 Mini Cooper: $227 to $261
As you can tell, some of these repairs are quite pricey. If your car is aging, you may find it worthwhile to purchase an extended warranty.
Mini Cooper Extended Warranty
If your Mini Cooper warranty is expiring, you may be interested in purchasing one of Mini Cooper’s Extended Motorer Protection plans. These plans can extend your warranty by up to 7 years or 100,000 miles. Mini Cooper offers three levels of coverage with varying term lengths:
| Platinum | Gold | Powertrain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✔ | ✔ | Limited Coverage |
| Transmission | ✔ | ✔ | Limited Coverage |
| Final drive assembly | ✔ | ✔ | Limited Coverage |
| Transfer case | ✔ | All-wheel drive only | All-wheel drive only |
| Electrical | ✔ | Limited Coverage | Limited Coverage |
| Cooling system | ✔ | ✔ | Limited Coverage |
| Fuel system | ✔ | ✔ | Limited Coverage |
| Induction system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Steering | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Brakes and ABS | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heat and A/C | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Infotainment system | ✔ | ||
| Interior | Limited Coverage | Limited Coverage | |
| Exterior | Limited Coverage | Limited Coverage |
After selecting any of these Mini extended warranty plans, you can choose to extend your warranty for:
- 5 years/75,000 miles
- 5 years/100,000 miles
- 6 years/75,000 miles
- 6 years/100,000 miles
- 7 years/75,000 miles
- 7 years/100,000 miles
The number of years applies to the time after your initial purchase. For example, if you bought a new car in 2018 and selected a five-year warranty, you’d be covered until 2023. This is a bit of a letdown, as it shows that a five-year extended warranty actually only adds one year onto your original Mini Cooper warranty.
Pros And Cons Of A Mini Cooper Extended Warranty
Buying an extended warranty from your car’s manufacturer can bring a certain peace of mind. You know you can trust the quality of the repairs that will be performed, and you know all your repairs will use genuine Mini Cooper parts.
However, when you purchase a manufacturer extended warranty, you can only get the repairs covered if you bring your vehicle into an authorized service center, usually a Mini dealership. That means that your favorite local repair shop likely isn’t covered.
Third-Party Extended Warranties
If you want more options for where you can have your vehicle serviced, a third-party extended warranty may be of interest to you. Unlike manufacturers, some third-party warranty companies like Endurance and CARCHEX let you choose your own repair shop, which means you’re not bound to Mini authorized service centers.
Overall, third-party extended warranties – more accurately called “vehicle service contracts” – tend to be a bit more flexible, even when it comes to choosing your level of coverage. Plans are often customizable, and when you’re ready to purchase one, you don’t need to go into a dealer. Instead, you can simply get an online quote and purchase the policy straight from your computer.
If you’re interested in extended protection to outlast your original Mini Cooper warranty, take a look at our article on the best car warranty companies in the industry.
Based on a survey our team conducted in 2021, a majority of the 1,000 respondents chose to purchase an extended warranty for their vehicle through CarShield, followed by Endurance and Carchex to round out the top three.
When shopping for extended warranties, the best thing to do is call around and get quotes customized to your specific vehicle. That way, you can compare each company’s prices and get a feel for customer service. Get a free quote from our top three providers below: