Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Mini Cooper S?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Mini Cooper S?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Mini Cooper S?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Mini Cooper S vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

46% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Mini Cooper S reliable?

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles, the 2004 Mini Cooper S has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Mini Cooper S?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mini Cooper S (2004)

235 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Mini Cooper S

CarHunch analysed 235 real MOT records for the 2004 Mini Cooper S. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 MINI Cooper S has a first-time pass rate of 75.8%, slightly below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of these cars (45.5%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for a buyer. This suggests the model carries inherent reliability challenges beyond typical wear-and-tear issues.

At 70,480 miles on average, these cars are reasonably well-preserved for their age, yet they're still racking up 5.37 failures and 38.6 advisories per test, pointing to chronic minor issues rather than catastrophic breakdowns. If you're considering one, budget for regular maintenance and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and suspension components—the high dangerous defect rate suggests those areas warrant close scrutiny.

We have limited data for the 2004 Mini Cooper S — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.37

Over 20.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 56k–84k

For context

These stats describe 235 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 235 Mini Cooper S cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Mini Cooper S

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	234	75.7%	5.39

Colour Breakdown

Based on 95,592 Mini Cooper S vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 23.7%

22,660

Black 17.4%

16,594

Blue 16.8%

16,045

Silver 12.7%

12,179

Red 10.2%

9,716

White 8.3%

7,897

Green 5.9%

5,674

Orange 3.2%

3,027

Turquoise 0.9%

858

Yellow 0.7%

667

Brown 0.2%

223

Cream 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Mini Cooper S vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

68,500

typical

55,871

low mileage

83,752

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mini Cooper S vehicles fall between 55,871 and 83,752 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 55,871 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 55,871–83,752 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mini Cooper Ss sit.

⚠ Over 113,065 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mini Cooper S — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 68% of 2004 Mini Cooper Ss are still active.

134 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 68% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

20.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.37

Avg failures per vehicle

38.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mini Cooper S: All Cooper S years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Mini →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Mini Cooper S stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing