Mini Coopers 54/55 Buying Advice
Discussion
Hi everyone
I tried my first Mini Cooper S yesterday: 54 plate and 91,000 miles on the clock. I did not buy the car because of several issues with it (body work mainly), but I could really use some advice.
1. The drive is described as exhilarating, but uncomfortable and twitchy; the sort of car that if you sneezed at speed you would be in someone's front garden. Are they all like this? I assume changing the tyres would help and/or wheel size? I can't imagine taking it on a motorway...
2. I have seen two cars (and driven one) both at motor dealers. Each has bad corrosion on the wheels on the spoke-style alloys. The corrosion is at the centre of the wheel where it bolts on to the car. Is this fatal due to its location (ie new wheels needed) or can it be repaired?
3. The clutch bit very low - I stalled it on my first attempt to move. Usually nothing to worry about, but in the Mini, again, is this normal?
Any advice to assist me with the process would be gratefully received, including a steer towards any good cars that might fit my bill: 54/55 plate car, up to 80,000 miles, no wacky colours, and not many options (the simpler the better in my book), up to £3k, in the South-east or London.
I tried my first Mini Cooper S yesterday: 54 plate and 91,000 miles on the clock. I did not buy the car because of several issues with it (body work mainly), but I could really use some advice.
1. The drive is described as exhilarating, but uncomfortable and twitchy; the sort of car that if you sneezed at speed you would be in someone's front garden. Are they all like this? I assume changing the tyres would help and/or wheel size? I can't imagine taking it on a motorway...
2. I have seen two cars (and driven one) both at motor dealers. Each has bad corrosion on the wheels on the spoke-style alloys. The corrosion is at the centre of the wheel where it bolts on to the car. Is this fatal due to its location (ie new wheels needed) or can it be repaired?
3. The clutch bit very low - I stalled it on my first attempt to move. Usually nothing to worry about, but in the Mini, again, is this normal?
Any advice to assist me with the process would be gratefully received, including a steer towards any good cars that might fit my bill: 54/55 plate car, up to 80,000 miles, no wacky colours, and not many options (the simpler the better in my book), up to £3k, in the South-east or London.
I can't comment on properly on all you've posted, but can say that if you use supposed wheel cleaner chemicals on alloy wheels or get the car cleaned by the local "scratchers" aka the hand car wash, that the chemicals they use are very strong and can linger around the centre/bolt locations after washing and then eat away at the finish. The upshot is that the wheels lose their finish on these areas first and generally on the backs and it spreads like a spider's web - it isn't normally a structural issue I'm told, but merely cosmetic and in most instances capable of rectification to get an almost original finish.
A decent full wheel refurb ie taking the tyres off and fully stripping back/repainting or powder coating is probably £40-50 per wheel dependent on where you are in the UK.
I can also say that cars such as the Cooper S will be very susceptible to the choice of tyres you have on and it's a good clue on how well looked after the car is as to what make of tyres is on. If a car feels particularly skittish, it could be as simple as the car just needs a 4 wheel alignment check to reset it to factory setting if the tyres are all wearing equally.
If you're intent on buying, if you can, I'd suggest waiting another month until early/mid-December as dealers will be more susceptible to negotiating as the market invariably slows down before Christmas and improved negotiations maybe possible
A decent full wheel refurb ie taking the tyres off and fully stripping back/repainting or powder coating is probably £40-50 per wheel dependent on where you are in the UK.
I can also say that cars such as the Cooper S will be very susceptible to the choice of tyres you have on and it's a good clue on how well looked after the car is as to what make of tyres is on. If a car feels particularly skittish, it could be as simple as the car just needs a 4 wheel alignment check to reset it to factory setting if the tyres are all wearing equally.
If you're intent on buying, if you can, I'd suggest waiting another month until early/mid-December as dealers will be more susceptible to negotiating as the market invariably slows down before Christmas and improved negotiations maybe possible
They are a bit twitchy, more 'sharp/precise' if R53, where the later R56 is a bit softer, but just needs getting used to, they're great on the motorway if in good order. Check for altered cars, so many are lowered or have non original wheels or tyres which will have an affect. The front lower suspension arm rear bushes wear which causes the car to change direction at random if crossing white lines or poor surfaces. Clutches can be heavy, and as you say, sometimes bite low, and a dealer won't renew these if it can be avoided when you consider you are looking at 3k cars from dealers, there won't be much profit in the car probably, so you'd have some idea it may need work. You might et some sort of warranty the garage relies on to take care of faults you later find, beware.
Try and raise your budget, there are some nice cars as examples nearer £5k with 70k, mine would be £6k with 42,000 miles and good spec, and standard, but if you can't, avoid 'any' rattles from the engine, and heavy clutches, then body originality, correct parts.
Try and raise your budget, there are some nice cars as examples nearer £5k with 70k, mine would be £6k with 42,000 miles and good spec, and standard, but if you can't, avoid 'any' rattles from the engine, and heavy clutches, then body originality, correct parts.
Unfortunately the budget is tight, so I need to get the best one I can for the money.
The car I saw was disappointing in many respects especially with the body issues (the rear bumper had clearly dropped, the offside rear was deeply scratched, the front bumper was scrapped and was a little loose, wheels corroded) and service history - the 'FSH' amounted to a book indicating oil services at various garages and no proper service for more than 40k.
I hope to see another this week for comparison.
The car I saw was disappointing in many respects especially with the body issues (the rear bumper had clearly dropped, the offside rear was deeply scratched, the front bumper was scrapped and was a little loose, wheels corroded) and service history - the 'FSH' amounted to a book indicating oil services at various garages and no proper service for more than 40k.
I hope to see another this week for comparison.
Mine might be for sale in spring 
Black R53 MCS, web spokes,spots, Currently on 49k on an 05 plate. FSH
Also has a DaveF airbox and custom fabricated exhaust, (they rot,badly.)
Also I changed away from the RFT. You lose a bit of the directness but more than made up by the reduction in crashyness of the ride.
/shameless plug but I'd far rather it went to someone who has looked after it as well as we and the previous owner have. Plus,having bought and sold cars to other PH ers,it's generally a far more pleasant and stress free experience
Black R53 MCS, web spokes,spots, Currently on 49k on an 05 plate. FSH
Also has a DaveF airbox and custom fabricated exhaust, (they rot,badly.)
Also I changed away from the RFT. You lose a bit of the directness but more than made up by the reduction in crashyness of the ride.
/shameless plug but I'd far rather it went to someone who has looked after it as well as we and the previous owner have. Plus,having bought and sold cars to other PH ers,it's generally a far more pleasant and stress free experience
eatcustard said:
Would it not be better to save up a bit longer and get a much better mini?
Thank you, but I already have a mother.But seriously, the budget is the budget and it has taken a while to get this far; two teenagers mean that as fast as funds are accumulated something comes along to empty the bank. Also, when Mrs Brompty sees the new acquisition on the driveway there will be hell to pay.
I would be keen to buy a car from another PHer, so the offer above is interesting - let me know
All the S Spokes corrode. Plenty of owners had them replaced under warranty, but they just did the same thing again. They need a proper bare metal refurb to fix.
The ones on my car are terrible, but they don't affect the drive, or lose air etc.
Re: the clutch, heavy/tough clutch isn't ideal, but can't comment on the specific situation you've experienced - could be the clutch plate worn (if not the clutch). Did the car have history proving a clutch replacement at some point? Mine's on 87k (now) and as far as I know still original clutch which is a little heavy (though doesn't slip). Mine's purple, not many options but it wasn't in your (IMO a little low) budget when I bought in June. I think 3.5k would get you a much better car.
I'd suggest the front wishbone bushes need changing on the example you drove, though the RFTs can create a slightly skittish ride if they're something you're not used to.
The ones on my car are terrible, but they don't affect the drive, or lose air etc.
Re: the clutch, heavy/tough clutch isn't ideal, but can't comment on the specific situation you've experienced - could be the clutch plate worn (if not the clutch). Did the car have history proving a clutch replacement at some point? Mine's on 87k (now) and as far as I know still original clutch which is a little heavy (though doesn't slip). Mine's purple, not many options but it wasn't in your (IMO a little low) budget when I bought in June. I think 3.5k would get you a much better car.
I'd suggest the front wishbone bushes need changing on the example you drove, though the RFTs can create a slightly skittish ride if they're something you're not used to.
I looked at four and ended up picking up this one locally a couple of weeks ago.
Two of the cars that I looked at had broken sunroofs, one (at a dealer) pissed water everywhere when it was started and one was covered in scratches, despite looking good in the pictures.
The clutch on the one that I ended up with is comparatively light - some that I tried were a lot heavier. I bought it with a slight rattle which turned out to be an engine mount, which I've now changed, and it drives really well. I wouldn't describe it as twitchy, but the steering is fairly direct. Motorway driving is no problem.
I'd suggest acquainting yourself with this guy before you buy as well. He has an excellent buying guide on his youtube site and his repair videos are ace!
https://www.youtube.com/user/khammo01
Two of the cars that I looked at had broken sunroofs, one (at a dealer) pissed water everywhere when it was started and one was covered in scratches, despite looking good in the pictures.
The clutch on the one that I ended up with is comparatively light - some that I tried were a lot heavier. I bought it with a slight rattle which turned out to be an engine mount, which I've now changed, and it drives really well. I wouldn't describe it as twitchy, but the steering is fairly direct. Motorway driving is no problem.
I'd suggest acquainting yourself with this guy before you buy as well. He has an excellent buying guide on his youtube site and his repair videos are ace!
https://www.youtube.com/user/khammo01
Thanks for all your help with this. The white Cooper S is it; that is a cracking car.
The clutch I suspect is not really an issue, it just bit very quickly at the start of the clutch pedal travel. The reason I ask is the that 'full service history' amounted to the service book indicating a series of oil changes with the last proper service 41,000 miles ago: no receipts, no proper paperwork.
Thnaks for the advice with the wheels. I found that when dealing with private owners you get a better, more honest answer to my questions and I now enquire if the wheels are in a state. Most are not, I think dealers just take short cuts, paint over corrosion and hope that the next buyer does not notice or ask too many questions.
Finally, budget. Following my facetious reply above , I now think I am going to have to extend by about £1k which I don't have at present, so will wait a little longer so I have the money. But you never know, with a bit of luck and some negiotiation the right car is just around the corner.
The clutch I suspect is not really an issue, it just bit very quickly at the start of the clutch pedal travel. The reason I ask is the that 'full service history' amounted to the service book indicating a series of oil changes with the last proper service 41,000 miles ago: no receipts, no proper paperwork.
Thnaks for the advice with the wheels. I found that when dealing with private owners you get a better, more honest answer to my questions and I now enquire if the wheels are in a state. Most are not, I think dealers just take short cuts, paint over corrosion and hope that the next buyer does not notice or ask too many questions.
Finally, budget. Following my facetious reply above , I now think I am going to have to extend by about £1k which I don't have at present, so will wait a little longer so I have the money. But you never know, with a bit of luck and some negiotiation the right car is just around the corner.
I have an early 2002 car and the clutch on mine is still original after 80k miles but its very heavy and not fun in traffic but doesn't slip which is the main thing. My alloys are also corroded near the wheel nuts but thats more the case of wear taking the wheels on an off and the laqur is peeling off. Refurbs are cheap and will fix it.
On the servicing piece make sure you get as much receipts as possible. Stamps in the book don't really tell you anything.
You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
On the servicing piece make sure you get as much receipts as possible. Stamps in the book don't really tell you anything.
You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
We're J8 of M25. Wife's Cooper S is about to go up for sale - saw this thread so though I'd give you a heads up before we advertise.
It's only done 30k miles (she uses the train for work). She's selling as wants a new one. Will be going up for £3,995 ovno, which considering the mileage I think is a decent price. Has built in SatNav, which I believe isn't too common. (She could get lost in the road we live on...).
Let me know if you're interested. If not, best of luck!
It's only done 30k miles (she uses the train for work). She's selling as wants a new one. Will be going up for £3,995 ovno, which considering the mileage I think is a decent price. Has built in SatNav, which I believe isn't too common. (She could get lost in the road we live on...).
Let me know if you're interested. If not, best of luck!
Challo said:
On the servicing piece make sure you get as much receipts as possible. Stamps in the book don't really tell you anything.
You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
The first point is true. I have spoken to numerous people now with 'full service history' cars and they do not have a single receipt for anything. So I shall be hanging on until I find a decent one. The second point is actually what I want to do. The car is for fun but also learn simple home mechanics - I can do oil changes but never learnt proper 'man skills' like spark plugs, brake pads and discs etc.You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
The white car above is again excellent but above my budget once I add in tax and insurance. Put it on for £4k - it's worth it - and get back to me if it does not sell.
Brompty said:
Challo said:
On the servicing piece make sure you get as much receipts as possible. Stamps in the book don't really tell you anything.
You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
The first point is true. I have spoken to numerous people now with 'full service history' cars and they do not have a single receipt for anything. So I shall be hanging on until I find a decent one. The second point is actually what I want to do. The car is for fun but also learn simple home mechanics - I can do oil changes but never learnt proper 'man skills' like spark plugs, brake pads and discs etc.You can be picky as there are lots of cars around, but remember the early cars are 12-13 years old now so wont be perfect. Ebay is perfect to pick up cheap bits to modify, repair cars for cheap so if the car does have a few niggles dont right it off as often they can be easy fixes or things that you can modify yourself.
The white car above is again excellent but above my budget once I add in tax and insurance. Put it on for £4k - it's worth it - and get back to me if it does not sell.
if you have out of TLC then you do get an invoice.
Our R53 cooper s is now on 26000 miles is 9 years old and has little paper work, but the books are all stamped up, and if you pop into any Mini dealer they can tell you the history of any car.
Hi mate you basically sound the same as me... I was looking for a R53 facelift with a budget of £3,000. I'm usually not that fussy when it comes to buying cars but the MOT history site revealed the first one I saw wasn't quite as it seemed!
So ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
So ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
kayzee said:
Hi mate you basically sound the same as me... I was looking for a R53 facelift with a budget of £3,000. I'm usually not that fussy when it comes to buying cars but the MOT history site revealed the first one I saw wasn't quite as it seemed!
So ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
Don't think so - the gearboxes are strong, precise units. More than likely to be the cables in the linkage I would thinkSo ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
mon the fish said:
kayzee said:
Hi mate you basically sound the same as me... I was looking for a R53 facelift with a budget of £3,000. I'm usually not that fussy when it comes to buying cars but the MOT history site revealed the first one I saw wasn't quite as it seemed!
So ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
Don't think so - the gearboxes are strong, precise units. More than likely to be the cables in the linkage I would thinkSo ended up getting a 55 plate DS one which is absolutely mint with full leather and sat-nav for £2,800. I felt like I got a pretty good deal, although it's on just over 100k. This doesn't bother me at all as I always buy high milers, but just to let you know, in the month I was looking, I didn't see a single 05 plate or newer with less than 85k for under £3,000... so you might be waiting a little while.
Only thing I'm not loving atm is the gearbox, there's a 'delay' between gears meaning acceleration is not as quick as it should be; are they all like this? I also test drove a CTR which had a fantastic gearbox, but I couldn't find a facelift that wasn't rough round the edges for my budget.
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