Mini Mini Cooper S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mini Mini Cooper S car check
Is the Mini Mini Cooper S reliable? We analysed 4,515 real MOT tests across 788 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mini Mini Cooper S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mini Mini Cooper S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mini Mini Cooper S.
Mini Mini Cooper S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mini Mini Cooper S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mini Mini Cooper S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mini Mini Cooper S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mini Mini Cooper S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mini Mini Cooper S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mini Mini Cooper S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mini Mini Cooper S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mini Mini Cooper S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mini Mini Cooper S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 181 | 76.2% | 24,652 | 47,198 | 70,790 |
| 2005 | 421 | 74.8% | 30,765 | 60,572 | 89,102 |
| 2004 | 645 | 79.5% | 29,217 | 56,606 | 92,632 |
| 2003 | 1,305 | 75.6% | 34,282 | 53,776 | 81,029 |
| 2002 | 701 | 75.3% | 35,532 | 51,035 | 73,462 |
How Long Does a Mini Mini Cooper S Last?
Based on 788 Mini Mini Cooper S vehicles on UK roads.
Mini Mini Cooper S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mini Mini Cooper S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mini Mini Cooper S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.5% MOT pass rate from 645 tests
74.8% MOT pass rate from 421 tests
The best year to buy a used Mini Mini Cooper S is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.5% across 645 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mini Mini Cooper S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Mini Cooper S THIS CAR | 76.4% | 4,515 | 64,614 mi | 24 yrs |
| Mini Mini | 74.2% | 7,810,223 | 64,567 mi | 25 yrs |
| Mini Cooper | 86.5% | 1,705,479 | 35,896 mi | 22 yrs |
| Mini Countryman | 88% | 669,227 | 37,710 mi | 15 yrs |
| Volkswagen Tiguan R TSI 4MOTION S-a | 90.4% | 2,470 | 29,058 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Mini Mini (74.2% pass rate) and the Mini Cooper (86.5% pass rate), the Mini Mini Cooper S sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Mini Mini Cooper S you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mini Mini Cooper SShould you buy a used Mini Mini Cooper S?
The Mini Mini Cooper S has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% across 4,515 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Mini Mini Cooper S are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (135 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (65), and brake pipe excessively corroded (64). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Mini Mini Cooper S owner drives around 4,456 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mini Mini Cooper S models stay on UK roads for around 24 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.