Back to front purchase

[New POD]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-51-Reg-Mini-Mini-1-...

Okay, so I'm never bought a car in such a slap dash fashion, having usually spent 4 weeks on one make forums, researching my target, understanding the specs, working out what to avoid.

Woke up "under employed" yesterday morning, had a quick look on ebay, autotrader and pistonheads, decided that I'd be buying a mini one, purely on the fact that my wife like the look.

Then had a discussion with her about her friends 57 plate cooper S, which she opinioned that she didn't like it.

Wife went to have her afternoon nap, which I read the Formby Champion.

I saw a mini about 5 miles away in a back street dealers, and when she woke up, I said. "Lets go and have a look at this because I want to be sure you want a mini, and this is the nearest".

40 mins later I've put a deposit on this :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-51-Reg-Mini-Mini-1-...


I have no idea about the spec, haven't test all the electrics, it isn't a mini one, the tyres are all different brands, Service history stops about 45K, but dealer has changed the oil and got it an MOT in March (Yes he's had it 6 weeks or more)

All because me wife used to have a 1979 mini 850 which was yellow with a black roof.

Anyone care to tell me that it'll be fine. Buying with your eyes closed is always fine. Nothing can go wrong etc etc.

[Justin Cyder]

Gearbox. That will have the Midlands gearbox. It will be your greatest concern. Get the oil changed on it sharpish & hope for the best.

Otherwise, electrics can be niggly & pas pumps are noisy as a matter of course but do fail around that mileage. Noisy does not equal failing, notchy steering is the clue. Spongy brake pedal can be seized rear calipers. Fuel tank straps can rust & hydrolicking is an issue on early cars - don't drive through floodwater.

Also, since this is PH & grammar Nazi's roam the halls, opinion is not a verb, it is a noun.

[New POD]

Justin Cyder said:

Gearbox. That will have the Midlands gearbox. It will be your greatest concern. Get the oil changed on it sharpish & hope for the best.

Otherwise, electrics can be niggly & pas pumps are noisy as a matter of course but do fail around that mileage. Noisy does not equal failing, notchy steering is the clue.


Also, since this is PH & grammar Nazi's roam the halls, opinion is not a verb, it is a noun.

Wife said the linkage felt 'stiffer than the cavalier' but I thought it was perfectly normal, and nothing like the pudding stirrer than the A series was (so therefore unlike a mini LOL)

There was a 'belt noise' for the 1st mile or so of the test drive. Which given it had been standing, and that it disappeared after about 2 mins didn't bother me. Have I failed to spot a PAS pump that is noisy when cold?

I figured that the well documented PAS 'risk' was not so bad, given that you can get recon pumps under £250.

Not sure about gearboxes. I assume that enough people crash them so they'll be a second hand market ?

Any Particular Oil ?

Also best Service Guides or Manuals? and any particular forum I should look at ?

When I wrote that Opinioned word, the PH spelling red line told me I was wrong. I ignored it, because I'm bad.

[Justin Cyder]

That engine had a timing chain I believe, so no need to worry about the belt. The serpentine belt runs the aircon, alternator etc & will need to be changed per inspection two or every three years from memory. You need a special tool to release the tension on the belt - Ebay & about 30 quid. Change the belt for peace of mind.

Haynes manual will see you through & with the gearbox, you may as well keep going until you have a problem really. Yours may be fine, but they do have a reputation for failing. Can't remember what oil goes in - the Haynes will tell you. MTF-94 rings a bell.

[New POD]

Justin Cyder said:

That engine had a timing chain I believe, so no need to worry about the belt. The serpentine belt runs the aircon, alternator etc & will need to be changed per inspection two or every three years from memory. You need a special tool to release the tension on the belt - Ebay & about 30 quid. Change the belt for peace of mind.

Haynes manual will see you through & with the gearbox, you may as well keep going until you have a problem really. Yours may be fine, but they do have a reputation for failing. Can't remember what oil goes in - the Haynes will tell you. MTF-94 rings a bell.

Yeah, this is where my lack of 'research' hit me. I thought. Well I'm off work next week, I could fit a cam belt. Went on the GSF website, and none is listed. Wondered why, maybe they have push rods LOL.

Is the 6 speed box interchangeable ? If it ever did go bang it would be worth knowing.

[Justin Cyder]

You have to change Gearbox, driveshafts,flywheel, clutch,gearstick and cables, N/S gearbox mounting, but yes it can be done. Probably not economical. 1320 mini do it.

[New POD]

Eventually picked it up yesterday. All seems good, apart from the lack of a jack or spare wheel, but hey, modern cars.

[mneame]

New POD said:

Eventually picked it up yesterday. All seems good, apart from the lack of a jack or spare wheel, but hey, modern cars.

Ebay and £30 - £40 will sort out the jack, brace and towing eye issue. The spare wheel was an optional extra from Mini I believe as you have nowhere to put it. Holts tyre weld on offer in Tesco at the moment for £3.50 a can.

[New POD]

mneame said:

New POD said:

Eventually picked it up yesterday. All seems good, apart from the lack of a jack or spare wheel, but hey, modern cars.

Ebay and £30 - £40 will sort out the jack, brace and towing eye issue. The spare wheel was an optional extra from Mini I believe as you have nowhere to put it. Holts tyre weld on offer in Tesco at the moment for £3.50 a can.

Total mini dot com - Full kit on it's way including the mini compressor from a member.

In the boot it came with a towing eye, hook to get the centre cap of, and lock nut adaptor. The brace from an astra fits the wheel nuts (I had one in the garage) and I had 2 cans of tyre weld I got from cost co a couple of years back, but then realised that a 12 inch wheel on a 1988 mini was too small to ever use it (It has a minimum size of wheel on the instructions)

If I can find a VERY cheap 16 inch wheel, I have a couple of tyres on my shed roof that are just legal. Would just keep it in the shed

[cr1000]

mneame said:

Ebay and £30 - £40 will sort out the jack, brace and towing eye issue. The spare wheel was an optional extra from Mini I believe as you have nowhere to put it. Holts tyre weld on offer in Tesco at the moment for £3.50 a can.

It was an optional extra (only a space saver mind), if I remember rightly it goes underneath the boot floor where the second exhaust box would be on the "S" variant, probably possible to get hold of and retrofit the necessary bits if you really want one.

[mneame]

cr1000 said:

It was an optional extra (only a space saver mind), if I remember rightly it goes underneath the boot floor where the second exhaust box would be on the "S" variant, probably possible to get hold of and retrofit the necessary bits if you really want one.

Might go for a one ball mod on my s and grab a space saver then. Cheers.

[New POD]

I've just bid on a wheel. Not sure How I make it fit. But hey.

Worst "Issue" is that we only have one key, and it looks like this will be expensive to get an second. ARGGGGGG !!!