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Emergency

Before you buy a used MINI MINI (F56/F55/F57).

2014–2024 · Petrol / Diesel / Electric · 5 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

MINI MINI (F56/F55/F57), real photo of this generation
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 5 of its engines.

One / Cooper 1.5 (B38)

Petrol

Cooper S / JCW 2.0 (B48)

Petrol

These also apply, described above: Rear axle knocking in cold weather from the rear shock absorbers (MINI F56)

One D / Cooper D 1.5 (B37) · Cooper SE

One D / Cooper D 1.5 (B37) (Diesel) · Cooper SE (Electric)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

Cooper SD 2.0 (B47)

Diesel

These also apply, described above: B-engine coolant leaks and EGR cooler

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the MINI MINI (F56/F55/F57)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
One / Cooper 1.5 (B38)Petrol32 with conditions1
Cooper S / JCW 2.0 (B48)Petrol32 with conditions0
One D / Cooper D 1.5 (B37)DieselFewest documented11 with conditions1
Cooper SD 2.0 (B47)Diesel21 with conditions0
Cooper SEElectricFewest documented11 with conditions1

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: One D / Cooper D 1.5 (B37) (Diesel), Cooper SE (Electric).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Electric.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official MINI dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Recall: belt pretensioner generatorPassive safety

Engines: One / Cooper 1.5 (B38) (Petrol)

How to check it: Check VIN; inspect belts and replace damaged units.

View full entry
Recall: front backrest adjustmentSeats / safety

Engines: One D / Cooper D 1.5 (B37) (Diesel)

How to check it: Confirm VIN; adjust backrests to manufacturer specifications.

View full entry
Recall: high-voltage battery protectionBattery / electronics

Engines: Cooper SE (Electric)

How to check it: Check VIN; update battery management software.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 4 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: On early engines with a manual gearbox, crankshaft thrust-bearing damage that can end in serious failure; over the years, loss of power and higher consumption from carbon in the intake, valves and injectors.

    Ask them to check: On engines before April 2015 with a manual gearbox, ask BMW whether the bearing upgrade was done and listen for crankshaft noises; use quality fuel and inspect the intake if power drops.

Cooling / EGR

  • Look out for: Coolant loss with a low-level warning, coolant or oil residue at the rear of the engine; on diesels, internal coolant loss with no visible leak (EGR cooler).

    Ask them to check: Check the coolant level, look for leaks under the water pump and at the oil filter housing, and on diesels confirm by VIN whether the EGR cooler campaign was done.

Suspension and steering

  • Look out for: Hammering from the rear axle area over rough road surfaces in low temperatures; it goes away when it gets warmer.

    Ask them to check: Tell the garage it only happens in the cold and over bumps; ask them to check the rear shock absorbers before looking at the engine or the brakes.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: Knocking from the engine bay due to engine mounts and a torque strut worn at low mileage; water in the boot and spare-wheel well of the F56; at inspection, headlights and handbrake and service brake; on petrols, carbon on the injectors and intake at high mileage; on the B37/B47 diesels, particulate filter, dual-mass flywheel, turbo, EGR and injectors.

    Ask them to check: Listen for knocks when accelerating and lifting off; lift the boot floor; check campaigns by VIN.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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