Used (R60) MINI Cooper Countryman - The maxi model for mini pricing. What to look out for and how much to maintain?
Dinesh Ā· Jan 9, 2023 02:55 AM
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Being a premium offering always means having to delicately balance the lifestyle aspect thatās to be expected with the product. The gist of it is that people who drop big money on your premium products do so not just for the product itself, but the image it portrays.
Itās no different with cars. In fact, the premium segment operates more on āperceived valueā rather than āactual valueā and many of their clientele are perfectly comfortable with thatā¦ even if the cars arenāt always.
An example of that would be the MINI brand. The adorable hatch may have been borne from budget but its diminutive form blessed with it many endearing facets to all walks of life. Since being taken under BMW stewardship, Munich was smart enough to build on that lifestyle element that was already well established.
However, sticking to the 2-door hatch bodystyle didnāt sit well with the bean counters so something a little more practical had to be produced. We say practical in the loosest sense of the word as MINI design language would still languish a 4-door Mini to last among its peers in terms of practicality.
Nonetheless, itās still a MINI. So, if you were seen in one, people might believe youāre cool.
The not-so-mini first-generation R60 MINI Countryman rolled out in 2010 as a compact SUV take on the brand. If you wanted something from the marque but really needed the extra room, Munich hoped youād get one of these.
It proved to be a success for the marque globally and locally. That means plenty of used units in the market which can be had for Proton X50 money. Tempting indeed but what should you look out forā¦ apart from your foot clattering into the bottom of the B-pillar during egress?
The R60 Countryman range in Malaysia
Malaysia got the Countryman (CBU) in 2011 in the customary Cooper and Cooper S trim at RM 249k and RM 286k, respectively.
Under the hood was the notorious Peugeot-sourced Prince (N16B16) 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four with 120 PS and 160 Nm of torque for the Cooper. Over in the Cooper S, turbocharging and direct-injection (N18B16) delivered a much more appropriate 184 PS and 240 Nm of torque.
A 6-speed auto was the only transmission of choice with power sent to the front in the Cooper and to all wheels in Cooper S via the MINI's ALL4. The latter utilised an electromagnetic centre differential to that diverted power to the rear only when required.
In order to bring the price down, the 2WD Cooper S was introduced in 2012. It saw a reduction to RM 268k.
However, the biggest reduction in price came with the introduction of local assembly (CKD) a year later. This saw the Cooper now priced at RM 219k with the Cooper S ALL4 going for RM 259k.
That wasnāt all she wrote though as in 2014, the facelifted Countryman touched down in Malaysia. It carried subtle visual updates and a better list of kit as well. The sole Cooper S trim was priced at RM 244k.
Cosmetic changes comprised a redesigned grille and LED fog lights as well as LED DRLs.
Power was still courtesy of the turbocharged 1.6-litre (N18B16) engine but with a pinch more punch at 190 PS (+ 6 PS) and 240 Nm of torque. This time though, it was purely a 2WD model.
2015 saw the line-up completed with the entry-level Cooper trim, priced at a nice, round RM 200k. It packed a new front grille, new 17-inch wheels and revamped gauges, switchgear as well as improved cabin insulation.
Mechanically, it was the same (N16B16) 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four with 120 PS and 160 Nm of torque
The second-generation F60 Countryman was launched in 2017.
Which variant to get?
Essentially, there are only 2 variants though one of them came in 2WD and AWD guise. Given that itās a lifestyle statement, the Cooper trim should suffice unless you really need a little zing in your daily commute.
Market prices for both variants are relatively similar for pre-facelift variants. Therefore, maintenance costs should be the deciding factor here, given that the Cooper S will take a bigger bite out of your wallet.
Taking into account units that still qualify for conventional hire purchase loans, this guide will focus on R60 Countrymans that are under a decade old. That said, the best fit would be facelifted 2013 - 2016 units.
2018 Mini COUNTRYMAN COOPER S E-HYBRID 1.5
RM 167,900
RM 1,772
/month
31,426 km
5.5 years
Petaling Jaya
2015 Mini COUNTRYMAN COOPER 1.6
RM 106,400
RM 1,166
/month
65,839 km
8.5 years
Kuala Lumpur
2019 MINI Countryman Cooper S Pure 2.0
RM 183,200
RM 2,095
/month
46,122 km
4.5 years
Petaling Jaya
Market prices of the Countryman
Pre-facelift 2011- 2013 units for the Countryman run between RM 68k and RM 75k for the base Cooper. As for the punchier Cooper S, youāll be looking at a range of RM 68k to RM 100k regardless of the number of wheels driven.
Facelifted units between 2014 ā 2016 command a higher premium. The Cooper hovers between RM 70k and RM 100k. On the other hand, you can find a Cooper S within RM 85k to RM 128k.
You might find that the pricing range stated here can vary quite a bit from your online browsing and thatās due to the fact that parallel imported units were brought. Therefore, itās pertinent we stress you opt for a MINI Malaysia unit if possible.
As mentioned, the units to go for are the facelifted ones. A good service history is of the utmost importance and can be a good indication of the carās condition.
Of course, Carsome carries a selection of Countryman models that are all Carsome Certified, meaning they've passed a 175-point inspection. Furthermore, each unit has undergone professional car refurbishing. Purchaing from Carsome includes a 5-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty.
Maintenance and common issues of the R60 Countryman
The basic running costs of the 2 variants are as follows:
MINI Cooper Countryman basic running costs
Variant
Cooper Countryman
Cooper S Countryman
Road Tax (RM)
90
90
Tyre Size
205/55R17
225/45R18
Tyre Cost (per piece)
340
480
Battery Size (DIN 70 AGM)
1,100
1,100
Mr. Owen of independent specialists Munich Precision shared with us a bit regarding the Prince engines. The N16 and N18 powerplants were regulars in many models, hence the aftermarket is well-versed in their maintenance and common issues.
He reiterates that the Countryman is reliable and robust if routine maintenance schedules are met in a timely manner. Of course, the maintenance jobs should be accompanied by a quick check on the known issues to identify failures before they occur.
Stick to this table of basic maintenance for the Countryman and you should be fine:
MINI Cooper Countryman R60 maintenance costs
Maintenance / Interval
Item
Cost (RM)
Oil change (10k km)
Engine oil and filter
450
Air filter (45k km)
Engine air filter
100
Cabin filter (45k km)
Dust and pollen filter
80
Brake service (45k km)
Replace brake fluid
220
Transmission service (45k km)
ATF oil and filter
900
Coolant (100k km)
Flush and replace coolant
300
Drive belts (100k km)
Replace accessory belts
400
Spark plugs (100k km)
Replace spark plugs
400
Oxygen sensor (160k km)
Replace O2 sensor
600
Timing chain (160k km)
Timing chain and tensioner replacement
2,200
The Countryman does have a few known issues that buyers should pay attention to before purchasing one. That said, all of them are relatively easy on the wallet to repair or replace except for one.
MINI Cooper Countryman R60 common issues
Part
Symptoms
Cost (RM)
Thermostat
Overheating / coolant leak
600
Water pump
Overheating / coolant leak
1,100
A/C evaporator
A/C not cool
2,200 (original)
Windscreen washer pump
Windscreen washer not functioning
200
Engine leak
Oil leaks at head gasket, oil filter gasket or oil sump gasket
1,600
Lastly, itās best to treat the thermostat as a wear and tear item. That means replacing it around the 100k km mark for peace of mind.
Conclusion
As the market shifts towards compact SUVs, style does inadvertently play a part and perhaps in this sense, the Countryman was ahead of the game. Itās a compact SUV; again we use the term SUV with great slack, thatās trendy and fun to drive with that MINI go-kart DNA still very much ingrained in it.
For roughly Proton X50 or Perodua Alza money, you could find yourself in a used Countryman. It might be a huge trade-off because well know the MINI is dead last in terms of practicality but letās be honest, not everyone prioritises that for a SUV.
And between that trio, thereās no denying which one is going to turn heads anywhere you go.
āBetter late than never.ā Some despise it, others begrudgingly agree with it but he swears by itā¦ much to the chagrin of everyone around him. That unfortunately stems from all of his project cars not running most of the time, which in turn is testament to his questionable decision-making skills in life. A culmination of many wrongs fortunately making a right; much like his project cars on the rare occasions they run, heās still trying to figure out if another project car is the way to go.