Used car guide

2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel MINI Mini (R60) first registered in 2012 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 7,723 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,723MOTs of 2012 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
75%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
7,400typical miles a year
6.4×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints6.4× usual
    MINI Mini (R60)
    3.2% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2% here, against 9.1% of all 2012 cars. Exhaust system: 0.5% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    19% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Worn water pump

    A whistle at idle that goes when you blip the throttle usually means the water pump is worn.

    At the viewing: Listen at tickover once the engine is warm.

    If it needs doing: Water pump, about £115–£375. ClickMechanic

    Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 6.4× as often on the 2012 MINI Mini (R60) diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a MINI Mini (R60)?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the MINI Mini (R60) compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013620Tyres 34%
201119,816Tyres 32%
20103,183Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of MINI Mini (R60) cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score