The Mini Cooper is a fun-to-drive, stylish subcompact car that’s loaded with character.
In this article we’ll give you the full rundown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.
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Here is the short answer to are Mini Cooper expensive to maintain:
The Mini Cooper has premium maintenance costs. It would cost you around $846 to maintain a Mini Cooper every year, which is significantly more than the average of $456 annually for subcompact cars. A tune-up will be around $324, including the replacement of spark plugs.
Are Mini Coopers Expensive to Maintain?
The Mini Cooper is a premium car and with that comes inflated ownership costs.
If you need a car that’s cheap to maintain there are more affordable options out there.
When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.
Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your car
Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Mini Cooper, all data is from RepairPal:
| Mini Cooper Maintenance | Cost |
| Average annual repairs and maintenance | $846 |
| Tune-Up cost | $324 |
| Alternator replacement | $873 – $1213 |
| Oil change | $193 – $224 |
| Wiper blade replacement | $93 – $101 |
| Air filter replacement | $92 – $117 |
| Battery replacement | $382 – $403 |
| New brakes | $194 – $266 |
| Coolant change | $143 – $180 |
| New tires (set of 4) | $619 – $632 |
| New tire (one only) | $155 – $158 |
| New spark plugs | $154 – $206 |
| Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance | $79 – $100 |
| New transmission | < $3000 |
| Tune-up | $324 |
| Insurance | $1512 / year (average) |
How Much is a Tune-Up on a Mini Cooper?
This will vary greatly depending on where you take your car and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Mini dealership than your local mechanic.
Mini recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.
You can expect to pay in the region of $324 for a fairly comprehensive Mini Cooper tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:
- Replacement of plugs, wires and other parts in the ignition system
- Thorough inspection of engine components
- Thorough inspection of belts and hoses
- Filters changed e.g. oil, fuel, air, and cabin.
- Fluids changed where needed e.g. engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.
Whilst your car is under warranty it is advised to have it serviced at a registered Mini dealership.
Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:
- They can bring more power back to your engine.
- Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
- Ensures long-term engine health and performance
Alternator Replacement Cost?
A new alternator on a Mini Cooper will set you back between $873 – $1213 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years
While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running.
The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.
Oil Change Cost?
A Mini Cooper oil change should cost between $193 to $224, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.
An oil change should be performed every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil.
Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.
At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles or twelve months (whichever comes first)
Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?
This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this.
Most Mini Coopers use an 18″ wiper blade on the driver side and 19″ on the passenger side but be sure to double-check first.
Wiper blades for the Mini Cooper can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free.
However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $93 to $101 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.
Related: Mini Cooper Best & Worst Years? (With Facts & Stats)
Air Filter Replacement Cost?
According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Mini Cooper is between $92 to $117, not including taxes and fees.
The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.
Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover.
This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also.
Battery Replacement Cost?
According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Mini Cooper should cost between $382 and $403.
Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.
In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.
A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.
New Brakes Cost?
The average cost to replace your Mini Cooper brake pads, according to RepairPal, is between $194 and $266.
Mini Cooper brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.
Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.
Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.
Cost to Change Coolant?
If it’s just a top-up your car requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself.
You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.
If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.
According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Mini Cooper coolant change is between $143 and $180 (excluding taxes and fees).
You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Mini Coopers Last?
How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?
Transmissions on the Mini Cooper typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the car is driven.
The average cost of a new transmission for a Mini Cooper will be over $3000. This range may vary depending on the model year.
Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost
Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).
According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Mini Cooper tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.
How much Insurance Cost?
According to insruaviz.com, the average cost of Mini Cooper insurance is $126 / month or $1512 / year (compared to the subcompact class average cost of $1419).
These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc.
It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.
Mini Cooper Repair Costs Compared to Similar Cars
| Model | Avg. Annual Repair Cost | Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs | Probability of Severe Repairs |
| Toyota Yaris | $333 | 0.4 | 6% |
| Toyota Prius C | $383 | 0.36 | 7% |
| Mazda2 | $449 | 0.3 | 7% |
| Honda Fit | $390 | 0.4 | 8% |
| Hyundai Accent | $444 | 0.2 | 8% |
| Kia Rio | $434 | 0.2 | 9% |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | $457 | 0.1 | 9% |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | $429 | 0.3 | 10% |
| Nissan Versa | $456 | 0.4 | 11% |
| Chevrolet Spark | $434 | 0.3 | 11% |
| Chevrolet Sonic | $536 | 0.4 | 11% |
| Chevrolet Aveo | $616 | 0.2 | 11% |
| Ford Fiesta | $552 | 0.4 | 11% |
| Fiat 500 | $522 | 0.2 | 17% |
| Mini Cooper Countryman | $652 | 0.59 | 11% |
| Mini Cooper | $846 | 0.62 | 13% |
| Avg. Subcompact Car | $456 | 0.3 | 11% |
Related: Mini Cooper: 9 Most Common Problems (Explained)
How Reliable is the Mini Cooper Compared to Other Cars?
| Model | Reliability |
| Toyota Yaris | 4.5/5.0 |
| Toyota Prius C | 4.5/5.0 |
| Mazda2 | 4.5/5.0 |
| Honda Fit | 4.5/5.0 |
| Hyundai Accent | 4.5/5.0 |
| Kia Rio | 4.5/5.0 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 4.5/5.0 |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | 4.0/5.0 |
| Nissan Versa | 4.0/5.0 |
| Chevrolet Spark | 4.0/5.0 |
| Chevrolet Sonic | 4.0/5.0 |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 4.0/5.0 |
| Ford Fiesta | 4.0/5.0 |
| Fiat 500 | 3.5/5.0 |
| Mini Cooper Countryman | 3.5/5.0 |
| Mini Cooper | 3.0/5.0 |
| Avg. Subcompact Car | 4.0/5.0 |
How Long is the Mini Cooper’s Manufacturers Warranty?
When you drive your new Mini Cooper off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Mini’s factory warranty of 50,000 miles / 4 years basic coverage.
Sources
- https://repairpal.com/reliability/mini/cooper
- https://www.repairsmith.com/i/estimates/engine-mechanical/engine-tune-up/Mini/Cooper/
- https://insuraviz.com/vehicles/mini/mini-cooper-insurance/
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/alternator-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/oil-change-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/windshield-wiper-arm-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/air-filter-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/battery-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/brake-pad-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/coolant-change-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/spark-plug-replacement-cost
- https://repairpal.com/estimator/mini/cooper/wheel-replacement-cost
- https://www.miniusa.com/why-mini/why-mini/covered-maintenance.html
