Mini cooper 1.5 or BMW 118i (B38A) engines

[Davo23]

Hi all,

 

Am looking for used car and had narrowed down to 2016 Mini Cooper 1.5 & 2016-2018 BMW 118i. Both having same engines while one is Aisin 6 speed auto and the other is ZF 8 speed transmission.

Will maintainance, repair cost and cost for spare parts be around the same since both are actually BMWs?

I think both are prone to oil and water leakages as well? Also, which car can withstand creeping/inching while in heavy traffic congestions? Because I will be travelling to JB almost 2 days a week (of course not during the CB now) so would like to know which one can actually ‘tahan’ traffic jam for long hours.

 

Am not looking at DSG transmission as this one confirm cannot withstand creeping/inching for long duration. Your inputs to help me decide which of these 2 cars will be highly appreciated.

 

Many thanks in advance.

[Rickster]

My current ride is the F20 with the ZF8 gearbox. Really loved it, it seems to be always knowing when to be in the right gear and it's very smooth and reactive. The fastest gearbox i've encountered.

I've driven CVT, 6 speed autos and 6 speed semi-autos and non of them comes even close for shift speed and smoothness in gear change. If driving dynamics is important to you, please go test drive both the cars as i believe these 2 cars deliver quite different feel.

So far, I've not encountered any problem with the car since day 1. My ride is 4.5 years old and nearing 90,000 on the odometer. The only problem i face now is my rear wiper water jet malfunction.

Edited April 23, 2020 by Rickster

[Davo23]

44 minutes ago, Rickster said:

My current ride is the F20 with the ZF8 gearbox. Really loved it, it seems to be always knowing when to be in the right gear and it's very smooth and reactive. The fastest gearbox i've encountered.

I've driven CVT, 6 speed autos and 6 speed semi-autos and non of them comes even close for shift speed and smoothness in gear change. If driving dynamics is important to you, please go test drive both the cars as i believe these 2 cars deliver quite different feel.

So far, I've not encountered any problem with the car since day 1. My ride is 4.5 years old and nearing 90,000 on the odometer. The only problem i face now is my rear wiper water jet malfunction.

Hi bro,

Thanks for your info.

Have you experienced massive traffic jam at causeway before and any issues encountered like overheating, limp mode or loss of power?

[Rickster]

2 minutes ago, Davo23 said:

Hi bro,

Thanks for your info.

Have you experienced massive traffic jam at causeway before and any issues encountered like overheating, limp mode or loss of power?

Most welcome bro. 

I do travel into JB every now and then and no, never had any problems.

That's also one of the reasons why I avoid the dry DSG gearbox. I believe the DSG gearbox is slightly faster than the ZF8 when it comes to shift speed. But in terms of overall drivability and durability, I prefer the ZF8.

[Davo23]

32 minutes ago, Rickster said:

Most welcome bro. 

I do travel into JB every now and then and no, never had any problems.

That's also one of the reasons why I avoid the dry DSG gearbox. I believe the DSG gearbox is slightly faster than the ZF8 when it comes to shift speed. But in terms of overall drivability and durability, I prefer the ZF8.

Thanks a lot bro.

Your inputs are of great help. Hopefully some other mini owners can chip in some info as well.

Thanks again!

[Beregond]

3 hours ago, Davo23 said:

Hi bro,

Thanks for your info.

Have you experienced massive traffic jam at causeway before and any issues encountered like overheating, limp mode or loss of power?

my 2 cents of input,

our bro rickster is buy a new ride use for 4.5 years  with 90k useage,

while u are looking for a used car.

what u might face 'might' be different from what rickster face😁

[Davo23]

41 minutes ago, Beregond said:

my 2 cents of input,

our bro rickster is buy a new ride use for 4.5 years  with 90k useage,

while u are looking for a used car.

what u might face 'might' be different from what rickster face😁

 

you got a point bro....

Thats why im also asking abt both cars maintainance and repair costs so that i can roughly know what to expect and how much to set aside after buying used.

[ER-3682]

BMW F20 is RWD,Mini is FWD.....end of Story...

[Hamburger]

Those we drove a MINI, would know its not that simple. Be it  whether a RWD or FWD. 

[Mkl22]

9 minutes ago, Hamburger said:

Those we drove a MINI, would know its not that simple. Be it  whether a RWD or FWD. 

Bmw mini or Austin mini? 🤪

[inlinesix]

1 hour ago, Davo23 said:

 

you got a point bro....

Thats why im also asking abt both cars maintainance and repair costs so that i can roughly know what to expect and how much to set aside after buying used.

There are not a lot of Mini F56/57 driver here.

I am driving R56.  For used Mini, be prepare for downtime especially when coolant piping leaks.  Minimum 2 days.  Anyway, that was my longest in 7 years of ownership.

Most of the time, it is half day oil change only.

[inlinesix]

1 hour ago, Hamburger said:

Those we drove a MINI, would know its not that simple. Be it  whether a RWD or FWD. 

Mini got RWD?

😱

[Davo23]

1 minute ago, inlinesix said:

There are not a lot of Mini F56/57 driver here.

I am driving R56.  For used Mini, be prepare for downtime especially when coolant piping leaks.  Minimum 2 days.  Anyway, that was my longest in 7 years of ownership.

Most of the time, it is half day oil change only.

hi bro,

thanks. I understood u are a bmw purist. So it terms of maintainance, repairs and spare parts costs, both will be abt the same i assume?

[inlinesix]

10 minutes ago, Davo23 said:

hi bro,

thanks. I understood u are a bmw purist. So it terms of maintainance, repairs and spare parts costs, both will be abt the same i assume?

Not necessary.

Battery could be 1 of the difference.  1 series battery should be in the boot while Mini is in engine compartment.  My battery gave up every 2 years.  1 series should be able to last 4 years or when alternator uplorry.

As Mini engine compartment is very tight, plastic parts easier to brittle than 1 series.

Edited April 23, 2020 by inlinesix

[Davo23]

6 minutes ago, inlinesix said:

Not necessary.

Battery could be 1 of the difference.  1 series battery should be in the boot while Mini is in engine compartment.  My battery gave up every 2 years.  1 series should be able to last 4 years or when alternator uplorry.

So am i right to say the 118i should be a little less problematic? By the way im eyeing the F55 1.5A.

Between these 2, i would prefer one that is less problematic and would like to know which one is cheaper to maintain and also can tahan causeway massive jams.

[inlinesix]

9 minutes ago, Davo23 said:

So am i right to say the 118i should be a little less problematic? By the way im eyeing the F55 1.5A.

Between these 2, i would prefer one that is less problematic and would like to know which one is cheaper to maintain and also can tahan causeway massive jams.

I had never breakdown in any 2 - 3 hours jam.

No comment which is cheaper to maintain

[Hamburger]

4 hours ago, inlinesix said:

Mini got RWD?

😱

meant to say although Mini is FWD, it may not necessarily mean it would lose out to FWD car.

[Hamburger]

11 hours ago, Hamburger said:

meant to say although Mini is FWD, it may not necessarily mean it would lose out to FWD car.

Correction there. 

 

meant to say although Mini is FWD, it may not necessarily mean it would lose out to RWD car.