Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 JOHN COOPER WORKS - Hatchback R56.
The 2009 Mini John Cooper Works hatchback (R56) is a passenger‑car variant built on the R56 platform and powered by the R56 engine, paired with a six‑speed manual transmission. It requires 4.4 qt of 5W‑30 engine oil and delivers EPA‑rated fuel economy of 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and a combined 29 mpg. In terms of ownership experience, the model year logged nine total complaints, with air‑bag issues being the most frequent, and it was subject to four recalls. These figures place the 2009 JCW hatchback toward the higher‑end of reported reliability concerns for the Mini JCW line, indicating a year that warrants careful inspection of its safety systems.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 480 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11428643758. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11428643758 alt 11427622446 |
| Engine air filter | 13717561235 alt 13717568728 |
| Fuel filter | 11252754870 |
| Battery | 61217575326 alt 61217571896 |
| Front wiper blades | 61610028137 |
| Thermostat | 11518613803 alt 11518613804 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319127516 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Manual 6-spd |
| Overall length | 146.1 in |
| Overall width | 66.1 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 97.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2707 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 57.1 / 56.7 in |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 26 / 34 / 29 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 76 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 6 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 23.0 ft-lbs.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | With CVT: BMW part number 83220136376 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | SYNTHETIC · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.4 qt |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.6-4.0 |
| Power Steering Fluid | Use Pentosin CHF 11S |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 6 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 11, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 11, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 11, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 23.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 103 ft-lbs |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 770 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Spark Plug Gap | Not adjustable in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 14.8-19.2 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 47 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 480 cca |
| Pressure Test | 22 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 18-22 psi |
| Engine Compression | 116-174 PSI. 43 maximum variation. psi |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.118; Rear: 0.0118 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.394 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.394 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in |
| Rotor Minimum Machining | 0.031 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.331 in / 0.803 in / 0.882 in |
| Rotor Finish | 0.00013 μin |
| 1 | 4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 11 ft. lbs., Step 3: 130 | 4 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 6 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90 | 6 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 100 | 37 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2009 Mini JOHN COOPER WORKS - Hatchback dominate in one area — the air bags, 3 of 9 reports (33%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 9 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| M610607 | 2023-10-25 | Electrical System | MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result… |
| SIM840122 | 2022-07-01 | Electrical System | The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be… |
| 12 07 15 | 2015-06-01 | Engine | MINI: FAULTY SOFTWARE CAUSES THE CHECK CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT TO APPEAR… |
| SIM-11-10-14 | 2014-12-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | MINI: SOME VEHICLES HAVE TURBOCHARGER NOISE AND A LACK OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, DUE TO… |
| SIM-16-01-09 | 2012-02-01 | Fuel System, Other | MINI: INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING PROCEDURE OF REPLACING FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.4 qt of USE MINI SYNTHETIC 5W-30 MOTOR OIL, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 26 city / 34 highway / 29 combined mpg.