Could this MINI be fixed by the home mechanic? Advice needed

[finglas]

Hi folks, looking for some advice and hopefully you can help me out

My mother has an 07 plate MINI cooper. 64k miles on it. Now recently there have been a few lights came on. It has been in at the garage and they have said theres two issues. One is there is a problem with the steering column lock and they are quoting approx 500 quid to fix. Next the car is cutting out when it comes to a stop and theres an engine management light on. Garage reckoned it might be burning oil and thag there could be big problems with it. On top of this someone dented the car and left the scene and now my mother has 200 quid insurance excess on that so all in its looking at well over 1k to fix it and she doesnt feel its worth it.

Anyway i am writting here to get some opinions on the idea of me trying to fix the car myself. I dont know much about cars but i have an old e46 and know i need to learn more so i am keen to give it a go! Im also between work at the moment and at a loose end so i have the time to try and learn how to go about fixing the issues.

What i want to know is, id it realistic that an amateur diy mechanic with fairly limited knowledge could learn enough to tackle these kinds of problems?

It just seems a shame to trade the car in or sell it with such problems, given how much money would be lost on it. Plus 64k miles and only 9 years old. Surely there must be some life in it yet!!

Would appreciate any advice folks.

Thanks again,

Jamie

[finglas]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me with your thoughts, greatly appreciated.

It was an independent garage that quoted that price. I think they are fairly expensive on labour. Talking £40-50/hour although maybe thats just about average ?

Thanks again everyone

Jamie

[finglas]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me with your thoughts, greatly appreciated.

It was an independent garage that quoted that price. I think they are fairly expensive on labour. Talking £40-50/hour although maybe thats just about average ?

Thanks again everyone

Jamie

Edited by finglas on Monday 3rd October 00:54

[finglas]

hi petrolheadrich, im not that confident lol so no offence taken. Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate the advice. Does sound like quite a complex job so i think it probably is best I leave it!

Just frustrating to have to sell the car for very little or to pay so much in repairing it but guess thats just motoring!

thanks,

jamie

[finglas]

Hustlerussel, thanks i wasnt going to experiment on it as such. was going to buy it and sorta take it on in an attempt to sort it out then sell it on. I understand what you mean though

cheers,

jamie

[finglas]

Elliot2000 thanks very much for getting back to me i appreciate it. The car has spent its life basically just doing small short journeys so i guess what you say certainly could be the problem.

Thanks very much,

Jamie