Buying a mini, are they worth the risk?

[Hartge210]

Tough decision, there's so many out there these days.

Keep an eye on the expansion tank, they have a habit of leaking (slowly) at the central join, a realativly cheap and easy fix though .

Good luck with your search

Edited by Hartge210 on Monday 16th January 12:33

[Doink]

We or I just don't want to buy a pup and it seems for our budget theres more pups than good ones, no disrespect meant to any sellers on here ay the way, spend 10k and you'll get a good one for sure, our budget you gotta be careful

[gonzales]

TBH if you are looking for an S, I would be looking for Chilli pack, Multi-function steering wheel, climate and cruise as a minimum in terms of toys. I have been running an S for over 6 years as a daily driver and in that time the alternator and exhaust has gone (both expensive to fix - alternator £500, exhaust £800) but over 6 years it is not bad. The run flats will cost a lot more than the tyres for the Sport Ka, but if you intend to ditch them anyway then it shouldn't be an issue.

You won't find that many R53's at dealerships now, best to head private to be honest, you will get a better deal. Try searching the classifieds on here or jump over to totalmini.com. The guys over there have plenty of knowledge of faults and fixs, plus there is always the odd cracker going for sale.

[Doink]

What, for 5.5k?

[Brite spark]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Does it have to be an S? Reason I ask is that a Cooper will give about 10mpg better on average than an S.

I'd take the lower mpg of the s over the midlands box of the cooper

[Brite spark]

Doink said:

What, for 5.5k?

http://www.evanshalshaw.com/vehiclesearch/used/min...

From a dealer, with change to spare, not even that far from you as its at grantham, ph ad forit is in my other post, this is the one with no pics.


One thing for your other half to consider though is if she's bothered where the speedo is, on a non sat nav mini the speedo is in the middle of the car, with nav the nav takes the speedos place and the speedo relocates to another gauge next to the revs in front of the steering wheel. Personally I'm not bothered about mini nav as spec, but would only buy a nav fitted r53 due to the speedo being intheright place.

Eta, as daft as this sounds check the glove box opens and shuts properly, if the latch breaks you're looking at a bodge or a new/ replacement of the glove box

Edited by Brite spark on Monday 16th January 20:33

[Hartge220]

You do get used to the speedo being in the middle though

[M@1975]

My Cooper S has been great apart from the steering rack going, timing chain needing sorting and the supercharger lunching itself all in 6 months of ownership. That said I love it and I'm keeping it, I'm just really glad I took a good warranty on it. It has 70k on the clock which is the break point for just about everything that exists on a mini...

[Doink]

Right, cut a long story short the mrs cannot insure a mcs unless she hands over £900 and she refuses...

Anyway, looks like a cooper is the only choice now and while i've been working away she's been to look at this with a friend of hers (traffic cop) and i think she's bought it.....ooooo errrrr, arrrghhhh, has she done the right thing, what do you think to the spec???

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[scotty_d]

Brite spark said:

One thing for your other half to consider though is if she's bothered where the speedo is, on a non sat nav mini the speedo is in the middle of the car, with nav the nav takes the speedos place and the speedo relocates to another gauge next to the revs in front of the steering wheel. Personally I'm not bothered about mini nav as spec, but would only buy a nav fitted r53 due to the speedo being intheright place.

But you can still flick through the computer and have it under the rev gauge in digital format as well.

[Defcon5]

That link doesnt work.

Can you retro fit the onboaed computer to show the speed under the revs? Mine doesnt have it. Why soeone would spec cruise control and a heated front windscreen but not that I have no idea

[Doink]

Because she's gone and bought it, the link worked for a few days after but its been updated now as sold

Spec as follows...

2003 cooper, 60k miles, 2 owners, ???winter pack???
JCW aero kit
Cooper S alloys
Leather
Air con
Traction
Trip comp
Child locks
Elec mirrors
Heated mirrors
Heated screen
Climate
Telephone
Full BMWSH, Ex cherished car
MFSW
Rear arm rest

Red with white roof
Union jack roof
Union jack mirror caps
Union jack rear view mirror cap

Paid £3800

Edited by Doink on Wednesday 25th January 19:02

[Defcon5]

Bargain. Suspiciously cheap in fact

[Doink]

Oh god don't say that!!!

What is winter pack by the way?

[Defcon5]

I think it gives the heated front screen and heated mirrors

[Doink]

It was initially up for over just over 4k but ended up at £3800, all checks came back clear, just hope the gearbox, PS pump, steering column don't fall off it now!!

[Defcon5]

Gearboxes are fine on the Cooper S, its the Cooper that has the chocolate Midland one. I think all PAS pumps will go at some point, mine went yesterday as it happens!

[Doink]

Yeah but this is a cooper!!!

[Defcon5]

Oh I see. My apologies, I thought it was an S.

I dont actually know what goes wrong with the 'boxes, maybe try a more mini specific forum?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Cheaper than mine and a higher spec with similar miles (03 Cooper with 60k, half leather, climate/AC, no ASC, no computer, £4500). Mine had a new gearbox 2 weeks later - paid for by the warranty though so I consider that to be a bonus rather than a bummer.