Buying a Cooper S with modifications - advice appreciated
Discussion
I have been looking for a supercharged MCS for a while and unfortunately out here in Cyprus there are not a lot to choose from, as you have the luxury of there. New importation taxes now make bringing a car from the UK impossible as well as the now high euro exchange rate.
A friend of mine who has a respected auto business told me about one he knew about thats a 2003 and spec wise it really ticks all the boxes, with full leather, panoramic roof, heated seats, harmon hifi etc. The guy who has it is an enthusiast and the car is in exeptional condition which out here is a find, as there is no such thing as keeping service histories going after the warranties are out. He has also had the car for 10 years and my friend vouches that he knows the car and the mileage (only 60k) is also true.
Anyway, the guy has spent a lot of money on this car and it shows, and these have not been reflected in the price, ie the car is up for no more that others I have seen for the same year, but he has done the following to it.
Eibach lowering springs
15% reduced supercharger pulley
lightweight crank pulley
lightweight flywheel
uprated coil packs
Milltek full exhaust
Now the supercharger pulley and coil packs I was going to do anyway so I dont mind those and he says he has the original springs so I want those put back on as I dont want a lowered car. The exhaust I can also swap for an original one as I do not want the noise, but the lightweight pulley and flywheel concern me.
If he has the originals, how difficult is it to get them back on the car or would you just leave it as it is?
I haven't driven it yet as I dont want to waste his time but will I find it odd to drive?
Another option I have considered is I could buy it as it is, with the old bits he has taken off (if he has all of them), take all the stuff off and probably make a small profit selling the parts on their own.
A friend of mine who has a respected auto business told me about one he knew about thats a 2003 and spec wise it really ticks all the boxes, with full leather, panoramic roof, heated seats, harmon hifi etc. The guy who has it is an enthusiast and the car is in exeptional condition which out here is a find, as there is no such thing as keeping service histories going after the warranties are out. He has also had the car for 10 years and my friend vouches that he knows the car and the mileage (only 60k) is also true.
Anyway, the guy has spent a lot of money on this car and it shows, and these have not been reflected in the price, ie the car is up for no more that others I have seen for the same year, but he has done the following to it.
Eibach lowering springs
15% reduced supercharger pulley
lightweight crank pulley
lightweight flywheel
uprated coil packs
Milltek full exhaust
Now the supercharger pulley and coil packs I was going to do anyway so I dont mind those and he says he has the original springs so I want those put back on as I dont want a lowered car. The exhaust I can also swap for an original one as I do not want the noise, but the lightweight pulley and flywheel concern me.
If he has the originals, how difficult is it to get them back on the car or would you just leave it as it is?
I haven't driven it yet as I dont want to waste his time but will I find it odd to drive?
Another option I have considered is I could buy it as it is, with the old bits he has taken off (if he has all of them), take all the stuff off and probably make a small profit selling the parts on their own.
The guy selling it is away until next week so although I have seen it in my mates garage I will have to wait until he gets back to drive it.
Hopefully it wont be too extreme and can be driven in traffic without looking like an extra out of Fast & Furious. I like the idea of it being a bit quicker than stock but as it will be a daily driver I hope it wont be a pain to live with.
Nonetheless, I would have thought that the flywheel and pulley can both be yanked out and the originals put back in if it works out to be too lairy.
Hopefully it wont be too extreme and can be driven in traffic without looking like an extra out of Fast & Furious. I like the idea of it being a bit quicker than stock but as it will be a daily driver I hope it wont be a pain to live with.
Nonetheless, I would have thought that the flywheel and pulley can both be yanked out and the originals put back in if it works out to be too lairy.
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