1.4 diesel purchase?

1.4 diesel purchase?

Author
Discussion

brian chim

Original Poster:

137 posts

232 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
Me and my girlfriend are going to look at a mini 1.4 diesel tomorrow!

What should I look for apart from usual discs and pads, tyres, leaks etc.

What are the common faults. I expect the engine to be bullet proof being BMW!

It's got 93 thou on the clock 53 plate 2004 model. Woman owner.

Not had much to do with mini's so not too sure.

Cheers Brian.

RKDE

569 posts

216 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
The diesel engine is a toyota all mini engines are from something else... The cooper and S are tritec Chrysler engine

New minis use a Peugeot engine and can't recall where the diesel came from...

Check for smoke from the exhaust, soot on the bumper

body wise same as all the other mini.

Been a long time since I last looked at the diesel mini, good service is worth a good look at. I know early on there was some very common faults with the diesel causing it not to start from hot. I think the issues all went back to fuel filters and other filters. The issue will be solved by now. When I drove the car I thought it was quite a loud diesel engine, I do drive a diesel as my daily driver (not mini) and it was very much a tractor sound, and performed along with the lines of a 1.2 petrol. Though its about economy and that it can do well.
Water pump is electric and has been known to cause some issues as they do wear out, same with the power steering (but that's on all minis that age)

The best advice is look at the service book, there will not be much to look at so take it for a drive and listen to the engine.

brian chim

Original Poster:

137 posts

232 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
93,000 seams quite low for a diesel which im quite happy about. Seen them with 170,000 on the clock so should get some good miles out of it just depends on the rest of the car around it!

My misses works for 15 mins then drives to another house for 15 mins and so on all day so really needs a diesel. Its not about speed for her. She drives a polo 1.4 at the mo so both 75 bhp so she wont notice the diference.

Fingers crossed she should have it tomorrow tea time if all goes well.

Cheers Brian

DarkMatter

1,476 posts

237 months

Friday 25th March 2011
quotequote all
RKDE said:
The diesel engine is a toyota all mini engines are from something else... The cooper and S are tritec Chrysler engine

New minis use a Peugeot engine and can't recall where the diesel came from...
I was told today by a Mini dealer that from '60' reg onwards the diesel engine used is from the BMW 1 series - is that right?

brian chim

Original Poster:

137 posts

232 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
Ok so we bought the car.

Steering and gear changes were all fine on the test drive. Bit heavy compared to the polo but expected that anyway. No knocks or strange noises except a little rattle from the exhaust.

The car has a couple of niggles that need sorting!

1. when we unlock the car on the key fob the drivers lock doesnt open so is this the solenoid on the drivers lock?

2. we got home and went out last night to the shops and the clutch started whining. I would presume its on its way out. I notice the haynes manual doesnt cover the diesel model, If i bought a petrol version is the clutch change the same compared to the petrol gearbox? Is it a big / bad job to do? How long would it take / any specialist tools?

3. Need to take the stereo out to fix the ariel connection. How does it release?

Apart from this we are made up with the drive and feel with the car and dont mind doing the clutch as once its done its done.

Cheers Brian

RKDE

569 posts

216 months

Monday 28th March 2011
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1) having the same issue with my MG ZT-T at the moment. A few people on here have the same issue and I am trying to solve it now. Does it lock from the remote? The locking is one big unit with everything in, not too hard to change but you will be swearing by the end of it

2)Not a hard job to do, same as the yaris and the same as the perol models too. just drop the sub frame and take it out, fairly straight forward but still a big job

3)to remove the stereo, undo the down pillars fixing either side, take out the screws in the cup holder, lift out the mirror direction switch plate, remove the two screws you will see under that, lift off the gear gaiter and then the bottom surround will move back this will allow you to remove the pillars and the screws are behind that for the head unit

Don't know what the 60 plate on engine is. Did think the DS was a BMW lump but couldn't confirm that. Not that interested at the moment

brian chim

Original Poster:

137 posts

232 months

Monday 28th March 2011
quotequote all
Everything locks from the remote and unlocks except the drivers door?

The clutch problem i think is the thrust bearing. The problem with this is if the clutch has been done in the past and they just did a 1 or 2 piece clutch kit the thrust bearing could be the original one, but i anit taking the gear box off just to do that so i think i will wait to see how it reacts. The car has benn standing for a couple of months so could be better with a couple of days use.

Thanks for the stereo advice but after wasing the car on the first chance ive noticed the aerial has been snapped off and needs an new base and stalk so will have to do that soon as the misses listens to the radio all the time.

Cheers Brian