Mini's aren't built to last, My mrs had a Mini One 1.6 '03 plate as well but I could keep up with her! and it's now been scrapped because it blew the head gasket, whilst my 17 year old 1.8 306 lives on... XU engines are solid.
1.9 diesel Phase 2 - scrapped
1.8 meridian Phase 3 - going strong!
1.8 meridian Phase 3 - going strong!