considering a mini

[MSparrow]

Ok, so im considering upgrading the old corsa, and a Mini is my car of choice. To be exact, i want a cooper. Just wondered what i should look out for when buying? And what is high mileage on these things? A lot of the ones falling into my price range have between 70-80k, but im assuming they go on forever as they are made by BMW.

Just after a bit of advice really, pointing in the right direction!

Thanks

[RKDE]

The main issue is a gearbox which is applicable to cars produced between 2000 and 2004 (Only applies to the One and Cooper the S is fine) Could set you back £500 - £2000 if it goes, I have replaced a couple for people. Not too hard to do but a big job. Its hard to tell what to look for but difficult gear changes and noises from the gear box, but the timing chain and clutch bearing rattle so its difficult to hear, if you can get a facelift 54 plate onwards

Everything else is just wear and expected by most people The early minis 2000 - 2006 are mostly part rover, part Chrysler (engine) and a little bit BMW the models from 2006 are BMW and I think a French engine

Edited by RKDE on Tuesday 30th November 11:28

[tul214]

What is your budget?

Are you looking for a cooper or a cooper S?

[ESDavey]

I have a Mini Cooper 2001 with 56k. Great car and the best power to handling of the Mini range. Avoid the low profile wheels which spoil the ride.

Engine is solid, gearbox reverse is dodgy but you get the knack of selecting reverse while still SLIGHTLY moving forwards. The selector is cable operated I understand and not great.

BMW dealers for service is not excellent ... but I'm used to Audi & TVR servicing standards so expectations are high & BMW dealers dont match.

Only other opinion is get a white roof ... the floating design (ie no colour coordinated pillars) looks great but you can only really see it with a white roof. I also like white wheels & dark paint.

[AOK]

MSparrow, what's your budget?

The One's and Cooper's had a mild facelift at the end of 2004. Easiest way to tell if the car is a facelift is the location of the reverse light and whether or not the dashboard is a '3panel' or a '5panel'. The most important thing though that changed was the gearbox, as mentioned before. The earlier cars had a very troublesome Midlands box whereas the newer versions had a Getrag box which was much stronger (reverse gear bottom right).

Mileage wise... each car is different. Try and find a one or MAX two owner car which hasn't been used everyday in a city 'stop and go' environment.. a rural commuter / family car will have had much less wear and tear / clutch abuse.

As a guide, try to avoid cars which have more than 12,000 miles per year of life. Why MUST you have a Cooper? My One has had been Bluefin'd (find out the info on the superchips website) and delivers more HP than a cooper. And the 'COOPER' badge for the back cost me £9 off ebay!

By the sounds of it, this is what you need:
2005/05 Cooper Chili Pack
1 or 2 Previous owners
< 60,000 miles
Serviced by Mini regularly - one per year roughly
Well looked after 16 or 17 inch OEM alloys
Harman Kardon stereo
Auto-dim rear view mirror

[GarryA]

Athough auto dim is a bit daft if privacy glass is fitted.

I've got a 35k mile Cooper S 2005 for sale, very good spec.

[AOK]

GarryA said:

Athough auto dim is a bit daft if privacy glass is fitted.

Didn't think of that tbh! I've got both, but spec'd by the original owner (along with pretty much every other option available)..

How much you looking for your MCS by the way?

[GarryA]

AOK said:

GarryA said:

Athough auto dim is a bit daft if privacy glass is fitted.

Didn't think of that tbh! I've got both, but spec'd by the original owner (along with pretty much every other option available)..

How much you looking for your MCS by the way?

£7995 or offers

Facelift so xenons, washers etc 6 spd getrag box...

Very tidy and very good spec, Full Nero Leather, Auto Climate, Chilli Pack, Privacy Glass (visi pack?), Parking sensors, ASC+T, multi function steering wheel, auto fold mirrors, tons more I forget, Pure Silver / Gloss Black roof, 1 previous owner, 17in mini lites, uprated steering pump with transferable warranty (common fault)

Its going in for oil and brake fluid service 10k miles early and full mot for new buyer.

Lovely car but I've got a mortgage to pay.

If you want to know any more ask away gott o shoot to work in a min but will be back in the morning.

[Tsippy]

AOK said:

As a guide, try to avoid cars which have more than 12,000 miles per year of life. Why MUST you have a Cooper? My One has had been Bluefin'd (find out the info on the superchips website) and delivers more HP than a cooper. And the 'COOPER' badge for the back cost me £9 off ebay!

Echo this, the bluefin is only £250 so not much point paying the premium for a cooper

I have a Mini One, and they're good fun, hopefully going for a bluefin upgrade in the new year along with some Eibach springs

[Nigel H]

AOK said:

MSparrow, what's

Mileage wise... each car is different. Try and find a one or MAX two owner car which hasn't been used everyday in a city 'stop and go' environment.. a rural commuter / family car will have had much less wear and tear / clutch abuse.

As a guide, try to avoid cars which have more than 12,000 miles per year of life. Why MUST you have a Cooper? My One has had been Bluefin'd (find out the info on the superchips website) and delivers more HP than a cooper. And the 'COOPER' badge...

What's so magic about 12000 miles pa? I would rather see one that was used on a regular basis with higher miles than a lower mileage car. More chance it will have done motorway miles which take less out of it. Ours has done north of 52000 miles in just over three year without a hitch. They are well built.

I reckon £8k will get you into one of the new models which may not look quite as nice are a better all rounder, and far more economical, if you're bothered about that sort of thing!