The 2013 R56 is the last year of the gen2 MINI Hardtops, so most of the bugs have been sorted out. My best advice is to stay on top of the routine maintenance, change the oil every 5k or less and enjoy the car!

Welcome to the board.

Does the vendor have its service history, and is he/she willing to show it? 
Where did they get it serviced - is there a local dealership and do they have the service history?

Remember it's a BMW with BMW priced servicing when the eventual problems arise. If you spend the money knowing its a disposable toy then your fine

would love to but being in iowa, it would be a  parked during any type of slick weather, cant afford such a toy just yet in my life.

cyberlunacy.. grow some cajones. and buy you are REAL mini.. a Classic mini..  why would ANYONE want a BMW mini??  later bc

i was thinking that might be true, thanks for letting me know. i will  stick around and learn some things. while i check out the other site.
thanks!

This forum is largely centered around classic minis. There are a good amount of new mini owners here but you would have a much larger group to ask over at North American Mini.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/

Mini and mini ownership can be a real blast. As you have noted they can be great fun to drive. Good luck on your search and future ownership.

So, for ever and a day i have loved mini's, originals, and BMW's remake,  and finally have the chance to pick up what may be a fair, not great, but fair deal, for 8900 on a 2013 S Model, Turbo, Coupe, Hardtop, 6sp Manual.
single owner, iowa car, 117k  on  the gauge,  interior is just beautiful, exterior has no visible rust, but to me is a little rough with marks from touch-up paint, and the nose of the car is what i can only describe as pock marked by what i can only describe as something acidic. but not  at  the  same  time. paint looks bubbled, marked, but possibly from underneath the paint?
the test drive was a complete blast, the suspension was firm and solid,no odd pulling of the wheel. no vibrations, swift and responsive from what i could tell.
the turbo was nuts, breaking the tires lose left and right during purposeful heavier than normal accelleration (i was trying to break them lose and it didnt let me down).  and during normal get up and go i cant think of the last car i had that was that small, moved that quick, and was that agile.
Steering was tight, clutch felt great, shifting was ok, gauges, radio, electrical looked ok. (the auto lowering and raising of the window when closing the door freaked me out)
so whats my question?
what can i expect at 117k. from a 2013 S Turbo Hardtop Coupe.
it doesnt appear at first glance and drive that the car was abused. i want to immediately love this little car.
and i am 75% getting that good vibe from it, unlike other cars i bought, and didnt regret, but just didnt get any true pleasure from driving. this car, in a 1hr test drive, made me smile the entire drive.

i cant find anyone local to walk up and ask how they like there's so i will ask here, how has the 2013 been mechanically? without being able to tell if anything has ever been fixed on it, is there any way of knowing outside of visually seeing newer parts compared to the other parts on the engine?
 2013's just appear to be not that easy to find alot of info on, people gravitate to the older ones.