What Is the MINI Cooper Warranty?

The MINI Cooper is spunky and fun to drive. It also comes with a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty that covers repair costs for the first few years of ownership. But what happens after the standard warranty expires? Read on to find out how you can prevent expensive repairs from burning through your budget by buying an extended protection plan for your MINI Cooper or a vehicle service contract from CARCHEX.

If you recently purchased a MINI Cooper, you may not be fully aware of what’s included in the warranty and how long the terms last. A 2019 Model vehicle distributed by MINI USA will come with the following MINI New Passenger Car Limited Warranties:

• New Vehicle Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Rust Perforation Warranty: Covers damage to the body of the car due to rust or corrosion for 12 years/unlimited miles
• Federal Emission Warranty: All emission-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles and specific control devices for 8 years/80,000 miles, whichever comes first
• California Emission Control Warranty: All emission-related parts for 3 years/50,000 miles and specific control devices for 7 years/70,000 miles
• Safety Belt Warranty: 10 years/unlimited miles (Kansas only)
• High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Battery Limited Warranty: 8 years/80,000 miles for MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4
• Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance: 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first, for engine oil, inspection, brake fluid, engine air filter, and cabin air microfilter services
• 24/7 Roadside Assistance: 4 years/unlimited miles for towing services, locked-out services, and on-site assistance

Like most new car warranties, MINI only covers repairs and replacements needed due to a defect in material or workmanship. Parts and labor are covered, and the repairs must be made at an authorized MINI in the United States.

The MINI Cooper Warranty for new cars is a bumper-to-bumper warranty. This means it covers all major systems and parts except for a short list of exclusions. Coverage for the powertrain components is included in this warranty as well, since MINI doesn’t have a separate powertrain warranty.

New owners are also offered a Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance program that covers maintenance visits for up to three years or 36,000 miles..

For items that are subject to wear and tear due to driving habits or conditions—brake pads/linings, brake discs, clutch disc, pressure plate, upholstery, trim and chrome items, paint finish, drive belts, and glass—the limited warranty coverage for new cars is applicable only to factory defects.

Wheel alignment, balancing, and wiper blade inserts are covered up to the first 2,000 miles on the vehicle. Below are some common MINI vehicle protection plan exclusions:

See your warranty document for a full list.

If you notice a defect in material or workmanship during the MINI Cooper factory warranty period, you can take your car to an authorized MINI dealer workshop. All covered repairs, including parts, labor, and diagnosis, will be performed by the dealer for no charge using new or remanufactured MINI parts.

However, it is up to the dealer to decide if a part has to be replaced or simply repaired. If you decide to use non-genuine MINI parts for repairs, the dealer will not be responsible for paying for repairs of those parts or for any repairs that may arise as a result of using those parts.

The MINI factory warranty is voided under the following conditions:

• If the odometer has been replaced or altered and the correct mileage cannot be determined
• If the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) cannot be determined or is altered
• If the vehicle is declared a loss or sold for salvage or used in a competitive event
• Using parts that were previously replaced with used or salvaged parts, including repairs arising from the use of these parts

Is the MINI Cooper Warranty Transferable?

The basic new car warranty that comes with your MINI is transferred to the new owner for the remainder of the term when you sell your car. However, the Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance program with your MINI only applies to the initial purchaser of the vehicle and can’t be transferred to a new owner.

At the same time, household transfers are allowed, which means that if you are the original owner, you can transfer the warranty coverage to a member of your household—spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.

According to RepairPal, the MINI scores above average in reliability ratings with a 3.0 out of 5.0 based on the cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance. On average, a MINI Cooper owner makes 0.6 repair visits every year (with a 13% chance of that repair being severe) and spends around $846 on repairs, which is above the averages of $456 for subcompact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.

Most commonly reported MINI Cooper repairs with costs:

• Automatic transmission failure or transmission fluid change ($223–$268)
• Electric power steering pump failure ($827–$1,017)
• Premature clutch wear on cars with manual transmission ($1,577–$1,834)

The factory MINI Cooper warranty is only valid for the first four years after you buy your vehicle. While all new cars perform comparatively better than used cars, even a single costly and unexpected repair bill can wreak havoc on your budget after your warranty expires.

If you love your MINI and plan to keep driving it, an extended auto protection plan that will protect your car and your wallet from potentially expensive repairs for a longer period of time is a great choice. Having a transferable extended vehicle protection plan could also improve your MINI’s resale value if you plan to sell it soon.

Ask yourself these questions to help you decide whether you need an extended vehicle protection plan for your MINI.

• Will your budget allow you to shell out money for a costly repair or replacement once your MINI Cooper warranty expires?
• Do you want the confidence and comfort that comes with knowing that you are protected from expensive car repairs if something unexpected happens?
• What is your average annual mileage? According to the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, people in America drive 13,476 miles per year on average. If you fall into this group or have a higher annual mileage, your new car warranty for the MINI will expire before four years.

MINI Cooper has two extended warranty programs—the MINI Maintenance+ and the MINI Extended Motorer Protection—to maintain your car running in peak condition after the factory warranty expires.

The MINI Maintenance+ extends the Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance program offered with new vehicles for up to four years and is available at authorized MINI dealers. It offers MINI owners a chance to save up to 30% on scheduled factory-recommended maintenance services but excludes items that are subject to normal wear and tear.

The MINI Extended Motorer Protection is similar to an extension of the factory warranty with a list of covered electrical and mechanical components. There are three levels of coverage—Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain Plus—and different duration options, up to seven years or 100,000 miles.

• The Platinum plan is the highest level and covers most major components of the car and is available for new, used, and certified pre-owned MINI vehicles.
• The Gold covers many major components of the car, while the Powertrain Plus plan covers the major drivetrain components with limited coverage of other parts.
• Both Gold and Powertrain Plus plans are available only for new and used MINI vehicles.

As with the standard warranty, the covered repairs under the MINI extended warranty are limited to factory defects and don’t include damages due to normal wear and tear. Also, all repairs have to be performed at an authorized MINI repair center.

While you can buy an extended warranty for your MINI Cooper from the dealer, you may find more flexible, affordable, and beneficial protection plans at a third-party coverage provider like CARCHEX.

Not only does CARCHEX offer more protection plans than the dealer, but we also give you the freedom to choose from thousands of certified repair shops anywhere in the country for your repairs.

CARCHEX has over two decades in the vehicle protection business and endorsements from top auto industry leaders like CARFAX, Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds.com, and SiriusXM. Our company is known for our wide range of coverage plans, competitive pricing, flexible payment options, and excellent customer service.

Instead of using strong-arm tactics to pressure customers into buying a protection plan, our representatives take a transparent, consultative approach and work with each customer to ensure you have all the information and resources you need to choose the best protection for your car.

9 More Reasons to Protect Your MINI Cooper with CARCHEX

1. We make it easy to get a free, customized quote designed for your car, budget, and needs.
2. You will get excellent customer service. CARCHEX has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and works by the motto “Customer Experience Above All.”
3. While a MINI Cooper warranty from the dealer will offer you protection for up to a maximum of seven years, from the date of purchase, a vehicle protection plan from CARCHEX can offer you coverage for up to 10 additional years after the initial factory coverage has expired.
4. You can choose from thousands of certified auto shops for your MINI Cooper repairs. This includes independent facilities, nationwide chains, and dealerships.
5. CARCHEX pays the repair shop directly, so you won’t have to pay out of your pocket and then wait to be reimbursed.
6. You are not restricted to using only expensive MINI-approved parts for your car repairs.
7. You can transfer the CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plan to the new owner when you sell your vehicle.
8. CARCHEX provides a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied with our service or product.
9. All CARCHEX vehicle protection plans come with additional benefits like coverage for towing, roadside assistance, gas delivery, and rental car reimbursement. These benefits vary, so check your contract for a verified list.

With five different levels of coverage and a number of plans under each level, CARCHEX has an Extended Vehicle Protection Plan for every MINI Cooper owner.

• Titanium: Exclusionary coverage for most of the systems and components in your MINI except a few specifically listed in the contract.
• Platinum: Our highest level of stated-component protection, covering hundreds of parts and systems named in the contract.
• Powertrain Plus: Adds protection for systems like the electrical and air conditioning on top of the basic powertrain coverage.
• Powertrain: Fundamentals-only coverage for the most essential components in your MINI such as the engine, drivetrain, and transmission.
• Extra Care: This plan is supplementary coverage that you can add to other plans and it includes protection for your vehicle’s steering, suspension, and braking.

Get the Best Protection Plan for Your MINI Cooper Today

If you’re looking for excellent coverage after your MINI Cooper factory warranty expires, the auto protection experts at CARCHEX are ready to answer your questions.

Sources:

MINI:
https://www.miniusa.com/content/dam/mini/PDF/warranties/2019_All_Models.pdf

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/mini/cooper

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/problems/mini/cooper

Federal Highway Administration:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm

MINI:
https://www.miniusa.com/why-mini/why-mini/covered-maintenance.html

BBB:
https://www.bbb.org/us/md/hunt-valley/profile/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-0011-23015869