2021 MINI Cooper 1.5L Petrol · SM21 EXR

The 2021 MINI Cooper presents a stable and broadly reassuring maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 18 May 2026 at 30,734 miles. The most recent test recorded zero defects, though the tester noted that engine covers and undertrays were fitted, preventing a full under-bonnet inspection, and the internal headlight adjuster was altered to recheck lights. These are procedural observations rather than mechanical failures, but they do mean a buyer cannot rely on the MOT to confirm the condition of hidden components such as coolant hoses, auxiliary drive belts, or top-end oil leaks. The trajectory from 2024 through 2026 shows a vehicle that has moved from a completely clean bill of health in May 2024 to minor advisories in May 2025 and then back to a pass in May 2026, indicating no worsening pattern and reasonable ongoing upkeep. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. Between the May 2024 test at 18,190 miles and the May 2025 test at 25,096 miles, the car covered 6,906 miles in twelve months. The following year, from May 2025 to May 2026, it added just 5,638 miles, a slight reduction but still within a normal annual range for a five-year-old vehicle averaging roughly 6,147 miles per year. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, and the three-test history aligns with the kind of steady, mixed-use driving pattern one expects from a MINI in this age and price bracket. The May 2025 test is the most diagnostically useful entry. Both inner brake pads were flagged as close to the wear indicator on the nearside front and offside rear, suggesting uneven pad wear that may point to sticking caliper slides, a partially seized handbrake mechanism on the rear, or simply harder use of one axle. The nearside rear tyre was also noted for cracking or perishing, a condition that can arise from age, under-inflation, or prolonged standing. A buyer should inspect all four brake pads and discs for uneven thickness, check caliper operation, and examine the sidewalls of every tyre including the spare for further deterioration. The undertrays and engine covers that obscured the 2026 inspection mean a physical under-bonnet and underside check is essential, particularly around the subframe, suspension mounting points, and exhaust system, where corrosion or fluid leaks would not have been visible to the tester.