What year MINI Mini Cooper S is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2005 MINI Mini Cooper S has the highest pass rate at 82.3%, out of 259 vehicles tested.

What are the most common MINI Mini Cooper S MOT failures?

The most common MINI Mini Cooper S MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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MINI Mini Cooper S — Reliability by Year

1,626 vehicles · MOT data 2002–2006 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the MINI Mini Cooper S was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2005

82.3% pass rate · 259 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

2002

78.1% pass rate · 350 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2006	78.9%	54,816 mi	164
2005	82.3%	42,659 mi	259
2004	82.3%	49,130 mi	359
2003	80.7%	51,743 mi	494
2002	78.1%	53,173 mi	350

Which year MINI Mini Cooper S is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 42,659 miles (newest year) to 54,816 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a MINI Mini Cooper S.

See the buying guide →

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