Accidental eBay purchase - 2004 Mini Cooper
Discussion
Miner49er said:
I'm paranoid about the gearbox breaking.
Anyone know if the later box or Cooper S box is a straight swap for when the time comes?
It's possible to convert it to the 6 speed box with a little fettling. The Getrag 5 speed found on LCI 1st Gens don't have the best reputation either, though definitely not as bad as the Midlands box. Rebuilt and warranted Midlands gearboxes can be had for reasonable money now, so I wouldn't worry too much. I've had to have 2 in the 4 MINIs I've had.Anyone know if the later box or Cooper S box is a straight swap for when the time comes?
I've had MINIs for the last 7 years pretty much, and had my R53 for the last 2 1/2 years. It cost me £2500 to buy, and has since fleeced me for £6k in maintenance, most of the work I've done myself. It is in need of another load of work, so it will be coming off the road and going into storage until I have the means to get it absolutely perfect again in a few years time.
Someone once described the MINI as having the purchase price of a normal car with the running costs of a Porsche. They weren't wrong, but I'm a sucker for punishment
GiveItSomeWellie said:
I've had MINIs for the last 7 years pretty much, and had my R53 for the last 2 1/2 years. It cost me £2500 to buy, and has since fleeced me for £6k in maintenance, most of the work I've done myself. It is in need of another load of work, so it will be coming off the road and going into storage until I have the means to get it absolutely perfect again in a few years time.
Someone once described the MINI as having the purchase price of a normal car with the running costs of a Porsche. They weren't wrong, but I'm a sucker for punishment
Holy ****! How have you spent that much?! Someone once described the MINI as having the purchase price of a normal car with the running costs of a Porsche. They weren't wrong, but I'm a sucker for punishment
HorneyMX5 said:
Loads of them suffer from the resistor in the radiator failing. This resistor is to run the fan at half speed when the temp reaches a certain point, if the water temp goes higher the main feed is triggered and the fan runs at full (noisy) speed.
When the resistor fails the car runs up to the higher temperature before kicking in the full speed fan. While the half speed fan is triggered earlier, the failed resistor stops it from actually working.
This mod introduces a new resistor further upstream in the loom that fixes the problem but is also easily accessible if it fails again.
thanks, i'll keep an eye on ours When the resistor fails the car runs up to the higher temperature before kicking in the full speed fan. While the half speed fan is triggered earlier, the failed resistor stops it from actually working.
This mod introduces a new resistor further upstream in the loom that fixes the problem but is also easily accessible if it fails again.
we've had a bit of a bad run with ours
coolant leak (radiator)
front bushes
door stopped opening (cable stretched)
bucking under some acceleration (think it needs engine mounts)
Holy thread revival!
Just came across this as i'm smitten. Our S Max got written off the other day and i've been using sister-in-laws 2004 54 Mini Cooper for the week until i get sorted. (very similar to the OP one but in red and white.
I really don't want to give it back. I could buy it relatively cheaply from her as it's no longer used.
It's completely the wrong car for us. We have 2 kids and our other car is only a 107....
I'll have to somehow let it go. It's totally wormed it's way into my head and heart, i absolutely love it.
I've driven a similar age Cooper S before and whilst it was much faster with the supercharger whine, i have to say i prefer the way the normal cooper drives. Mainly really the smaller alloys and i assume less extreme suspension set up. i found the ride in the S to be pretty much unacceptably harsh. This is firm but with an underlying damped quality, fantastic.
It's not a great example and needs £££ spent on it.......but....argghhh.
It's been a long time since a car has made me feel like this. It's just so good to drive, i like the engine, i think it's gutsy for what it is and feels far better than 115ps should. Sounds great too (all standard). Like the interior and just think it's a cool little thing. Lively, responsive, sharp steering but with some heft to it, fantastic handling, does the 'pivot around the driver' thing.
But thats the problem. It isn't suitable for us at all....and i can't justify having two cars....i've neither the space or the £££ to manage that.
I could buy this car for very little.....but it would need ££££ spent as it's not in great shape. But....arrrghhhh
Somebody talk me out of it!
Just came across this as i'm smitten. Our S Max got written off the other day and i've been using sister-in-laws 2004 54 Mini Cooper for the week until i get sorted. (very similar to the OP one but in red and white.
I really don't want to give it back. I could buy it relatively cheaply from her as it's no longer used.
It's completely the wrong car for us. We have 2 kids and our other car is only a 107....
I'll have to somehow let it go. It's totally wormed it's way into my head and heart, i absolutely love it.
I've driven a similar age Cooper S before and whilst it was much faster with the supercharger whine, i have to say i prefer the way the normal cooper drives. Mainly really the smaller alloys and i assume less extreme suspension set up. i found the ride in the S to be pretty much unacceptably harsh. This is firm but with an underlying damped quality, fantastic.
It's not a great example and needs £££ spent on it.......but....argghhh.
It's been a long time since a car has made me feel like this. It's just so good to drive, i like the engine, i think it's gutsy for what it is and feels far better than 115ps should. Sounds great too (all standard). Like the interior and just think it's a cool little thing. Lively, responsive, sharp steering but with some heft to it, fantastic handling, does the 'pivot around the driver' thing.
But thats the problem. It isn't suitable for us at all....and i can't justify having two cars....i've neither the space or the £££ to manage that.
I could buy this car for very little.....but it would need ££££ spent as it's not in great shape. But....arrrghhhh
Somebody talk me out of it!
Edited by M1C on Friday 3rd December 02:33
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