Looking at buying a Cooper S R53

[Isysman]

Hi chaps. Thanks to those who have so far helped me. I went to see another car today. A 04 plate with 65k miles. Looked good, JCW front and rear bumpers, deep blue and very tidy. However there seemed to be a strange noise on tick over. I heard it right away. As previously I recorded the sound on my iphone. Please ignore the video. Sounds like hydraulic tappets to me. It's more profound towards the last few seconds of the video.

http://youtu.be/HDdebMLxktg

Anyone any ideas?

[Defcon5]

Hmmm, I haven't had one for quite a while, but that doesn't sound good. It's more of a knock than a tap IMO

[Isysman]

Yeah I agree, was worrying. I walked away, said I'd get a second opinion.

[martyn850]

Can't really hear it very well, but did it go when the clutch was depressed? If so, clutch release bearing. Ran my R53 with that gone for a few years and over 25,000 miles and never had a problem. The bearing fails way before the clutch does.

[Sir_Dave]

Isysman said:

Hi chaps. Thanks to those who have so far helped me. I went to see another car today. A 04 plate with 65k miles. Looked good, JCW front and rear bumpers, deep blue and very tidy. However there seemed to be a strange noise on tick over. I heard it right away. As previously I recorded the sound on my iphone. Please ignore the video. Sounds like hydraulic tappets to me. It's more profound towards the last few seconds of the video.

http://youtu.be/HDdebMLxktg

Anyone any ideas?

If it did that straight after starting id say camchain tensioner at £35. If you re-start it normally goes away.

Mine does this.

[Isysman]

Yes it did it on startup. I didn't even rev it or stop and restart, just thought it sounded a bit rough. I'm learning they make some odd noises. The steering pump was making the same noise as the other car I looked at.

[Isysman]

martyn850 said:

Can't really hear it very well, but did it go when the clutch was depressed? If so, clutch release bearing. Ran my R53 with that gone for a few years and over 25,000 miles and never had a problem. The bearing fails way before the clutch does.

The last 4-5 seconds are the most pronounced.

[Isysman]

What do you chaps think of these two cars? I really like the first one, great looking, looks well looked after although he tells me he does his own servicing (which means no stamps in book). Also I'm a bit miffed he's not willing to move on price at all, not even to talk about it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251640175902?ssPageName=...

This car is very similar to the previous but it's had all the mods done to the engine I'd probably want done to the first car. Although I'm not sure about it being lowered so much, don't want too firm a ride as I already have that in my other car. He's willing to accept offers though so I'm more inclined to go with this car. Am I missing out if I don't get the first car?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111463271451?ssPageName=...

[Isysman]

Wow nobody. Shame.

[Challo]

Isysman said:

What do you chaps think of these two cars? I really like the first one, great looking, looks well looked after although he tells me he does his own servicing (which means no stamps in book). Also I'm a bit miffed he's not willing to move on price at all, not even to talk about it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251640175902?ssPageName=...

This car is very similar to the previous but it's had all the mods done to the engine I'd probably want done to the first car. Although I'm not sure about it being lowered so much, don't want too firm a ride as I already have that in my other car. He's willing to accept offers though so I'm more inclined to go with this car. Am I missing out if I don't get the first car?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111463271451?ssPageName=...

Out of the 2 i would go for the first one. Yes it doesn't have the upgrades to the engine, but these are not that expensive and you might prefer to choose your own. Also the first car has a better standard kit listing with Nav, Climate control.

For the me the second car has a few issues I wouldn't be happy about. Plus it mentions 'Air Con needs gassing' for the sake of £50 why has he not done it?

[Clivey]

Just had a quick look on AutoTrader and circa £4,500 would buy you a facelift car (e.g this one). - I would definitely buy a facelift car if you can - we've had 2 in the family (one '54' and one '05' reg, both 'One D' models) and build quality etc. wise, they're better than pre-facelift cars. Haggle hard if you must. Good hunting.

[Isysman]

Challo said:

Out of the 2 i would go for the first one. Yes it doesn't have the upgrades to the engine, but these are not that expensive and you might prefer to choose your own. Also the first car has a better standard kit listing with Nav, Climate control.

For the me the second car has a few issues I wouldn't be happy about. Plus it mentions 'Air Con needs gassing' for the sake of £50 why has he not done it?

What are the other issues you don't like with the second car? Yeah aircon issue is a worry. I bought a Focus ST a few years ago that said that but when I tried to do it it was actually a fault and would have cost a bit to repair.

[Isysman]

Clivey said:

Just had a quick look on AutoTrader and circa £4,500 would buy you a facelift car (e.g this one). - I would definitely buy a facelift car if you can - we've had 2 in the family (one '54' and one '05' reg, both 'One D' models) and build quality etc. wise, they're better than pre-facelift cars. Haggle hard if you must. Good hunting.

Thanks for the info. That's a nice motor but a little more than I want to spend. I have another car and this mini would just be my daily car. So I'm looking around the £3000-3500 mark.

[Clivey]

Isysman said:

Thanks for the info. That's a nice motor but a little more than I want to spend. I have another car and this mini would just be my daily car. So I'm looking around the £3000-3500 mark.

Clicky.

And here.

Didn't realise they were now so cheap!

[Sir_Dave]

Isysman said:

Thanks for the info. That's a nice motor but a little more than I want to spend. I have another car and this mini would just be my daily car. So I'm looking around the £3000-3500 mark.

The seats in that car sell for £1200 (very rare Recaros front/rears), so buy it, fit half leather for £100.

Facelift car for just over £3k.

[Isysman]

Clivey said:

Clicky.

And here.

Didn't realise they were now so cheap!

Wow good finds. Are the facelift models really that much better that I souls avoid them?

[Clivey]

Isysman said:

Wow good finds. Are the facelift models really that much better that I souls avoid them?

Put it this way: If you've got the choice of good examples of the pre and post-facelift cars, why go with the older model (unless of course it's specced to the hilt or is truly exceptional in some way)?

[Challo]

Isysman said:

Challo said:

Out of the 2 i would go for the first one. Yes it doesn't have the upgrades to the engine, but these are not that expensive and you might prefer to choose your own. Also the first car has a better standard kit listing with Nav, Climate control.

For the me the second car has a few issues I wouldn't be happy about. Plus it mentions 'Air Con needs gassing' for the sake of £50 why has he not done it?

What are the other issues you don't like with the second car? Yeah aircon issue is a worry. I bought a Focus ST a few years ago that said that but when I tried to do it it was actually a fault and would have cost a bit to repair.

Its just me being picky if you look at both cars. The Air Con is a pain as like you say it could be very expensive to repair. Also the lost Service book would annoy me. Yes they mention they sourced another and got it filled in but they have lost all the receipts of work done at the service. Not ideal. Also the advert talks about marks to be touched up, again might be nothing major but could be a few quid to get right.

The first car just looks better, and has a better standard of kit.

[Sir_Dave]

Challo said:

The first car just looks better, and has a better standard of kit.

I agree re: spec etc, but the gloss black parts on the first one are

[Isysman]

Sir_Dave said:

I agree re: spec etc, but the gloss black parts on the first one are

Yeah I wasn't sure about them either. I was thinking I'd most likely have to get them painted which wouldn't be cheap.