MINI Cooper Warranty Review
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The MINI Cooper warranty protects drivers by promising to pay for damage caused by faulty parts or workmanship. This is intended to provide peace of mind to MINI owners who want to protect their expensive investments.
In this article, we’ll provide an in-depth review of the factory warranty from MINI. We’ll also take a look at MINI Cooper reliability and explain how to get the best extended auto warranty protection.
Table of contents
MINI Cooper Warranty Highlights
The MINI Cooper warranty consists of a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 12-year/unlimited-mile rust perforation warranty. The manufacturer also gives drivers 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance services and 4 years/unlimited miles of roadside assistance.
Here is an overview of the MINI Cooper warranty package that comes with all new vehicles:
MINI Cooper Warranty |
Warranty Length |
What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
MINI New Passenger Car Limited Warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Most MINI-installed vehicle components with a few exceptions |
Rust Perforation Warranty |
12 years/unlimited miles |
Holes in sheet metal body components caused by rust damage |
Federal Emissions |
Varies |
Covers repair of emission-related parts |
Roadside Assistance |
4 years/unlimited miles |
Towing, lockouts, tire changes, and fluid delivery |
The MINI Cooper warranty provides more coverage and value than a typical factory warranty. Most manufacturers do not include free maintenance and only provide bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years. A rust perforation warranty is common for manufacturer warranties, but these warranties typically last between 7 and 10 years, making the MINI Cooper Rust Perforation Warranty especially long compared to competitors.
The only downside of the MINI Cooper warranty that powertrain components are only protected for four years. Typical factory warranties have separate powertrain protection that lasts for five years or longer. This means that MINI owners will not have vital components such as the engine and transmission covered under a longer warranty.
Exclusions
It is easier to describe what is not covered by the MINI warranty than what is covered. Only items damaged through normal use will be repaired or replaced under warranty. Damage that is the result of an accident, misuse, neglect, or improper maintenance will not be covered.
The following wear-and-tear items and non-mechanical parts are also not covered under the MINI Cooper warranty:
- Brake pads
- Wiper blades
- Tires
- Glass like windshields and mirrors
- Bumpers
- Upholstery
- Exterior paint chips, dents, or scratches
For a full list of exclusions, refer to your MINI owner’s manual.
Certified Pre-Owned MINI Cooper Warranty
The CPO MINI Cooper warranty is transferable for a $200 fee.
How to Find Out If Your MINI Cooper Is Still Under Warranty
MINI vehicles that are less than four years old and that have fewer than 50,000 miles on the odometer should still be covered by the MINI Cooper warranty. To be certain, check your owner’s manual. If you’ve lost your owner’s manual, you can look it up on the MINI website.
Another way to determine whether your MINI Cooper is still protected by its factory or CPO warranty is to call a MINI dealership. If you provide your vehicle identification number (VIN), the dealer can look up your vehicle and tell you if it’s still covered under warranty.
Should You Get Extended Warranty Coverage?
If your MINI Cooper warranty has expired—or if it is close to expiring—you may want to consider MINI Cooper extended warranty coverage. But do you need the extra vehicle protection?
When considering an extended warranty, you should take MINI Cooper reliability into account. Cars that are highly reliable and unlikely to require expensive repairs may not need extended warranty protection. But low-reliability vehicles may benefit from added protection, especially because as vehicles age, there’s a higher chance that a breakdown could occur.
To determine MINI Cooper reliability, our review team looks to RepairPal, a reputable repair estimation website. RepairPal collects user reports and gives brands a Reliability Rating that takes into account average annual repair costs, how often drivers report visiting a repair shop for unscheduled repairs, and the probability of needing a severe repair. “Severe,” in this case, means it will cost more than three times the average annual repair cost.
According to RepairPal, MINI Cooper has a reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5.0. MINI ranked 25th out of 32 car brands surveyed in terms of overall reliability. Further details about this rating are outlined below:
MINI Average |
Industry Average |
|
|---|---|---|
Average Annual Repair Cost |
$854 |
$652 |
Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs |
0.6 times per year |
0.4 times per year |
Probability of Needing a Severe Repair |
13 percent |
12 percent |
As you can see, MINIs are less reliable than most car brands and tend to need more unscheduled repairs than other vehicles. For these reasons, it may be a good idea to purchase an extended MINI Cooper warranty.
Potential buyers should also estimate how much MINI repairs may cost over the warranty period. If repair costs are low, you may not benefit from a warranty. The chart below describes some common MINI Cooper repairs and estimated costs.
Common Repair |
Estimated Repair Cost |
|---|---|
Fuel pump replacement |
$2,143 to $2,203 |
Clutch replacement |
$1,600 to $1,853 |
Rear main seal replacement |
$172 to $205 |
Power steering pump replacement |
$806 to $1,025 |
A MINI Cooper extended warranty can potentially cover thousands of dollars in repair costs. However, there’s no guarantee that these repairs will be needed for every vehicle.
MINI Cooper Extended Warranty Overview
Here’s an overview of each plan:
- Platinum: This plan acts as an extension of the factory MINI Cooper warranty and covers most mechanical vehicle components.
- Gold: The Gold plan offers full coverage for many major components, including the engine, drivetrain, steering, brakes, air conditioning, and more. Plus, it gives partial coverage for the electrical system.
- Powertrain: This basic plan covers many major powertrain components and also offers partial coverage for certain components of the electrical system, cooling system, and fuel system.
To maintain warranty eligibility, you must have your vehicle serviced at a MINI dealership.
Benefits of a Third-Party MINI Cooper Warranty
- They can be purchased at any time.
- There’s a larger network of repair facilities to choose from.
- You can get coverage for older vehicles.
- There are typically more plan options to choose from.
- Contracts can last longer than 7 years/100,000 miles.
- Often, they cost less.
It’s certainly worth comparing costs before deciding to purchase an extended warranty. Our team has reviewed the best extended car warranty companies. By looking at customer reviews, costs, coverage details, and industry reputation, we were able to rank the top providers.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Q & A
Is a MINI extended warranty worth it?
A MINI extended warranty may be worth it if you are unable to save for the cost of repairs yourself. Many drivers also choose to purchase extended coverage for added peace of mind on the road, as data from websites such as RepairPal shows MINI vehicles are not especially reliable.
Are MINIs expensive to repair?
MINIs can be expensive to repair. According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for MINI vehicles is $854. This is higher than the average across all brands, which is $652.
Are brakes covered under MINI Cooper warranty?
Wear-and-tear items like brakes are not covered under the MINI Cooper warranty.
Does the MINI Cooper warranty transfer?
You can transfer the MINI New Passenger Car Limited Warranty to a new owner if you sell your vehicle before it hits the 4-year/50,000-mile mark. The MINI Cooper CPO warranty is also transferable, but you’ll need to pay a $200 transfer fee.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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