Mini Cooper S 05 reg

Mini Cooper S 05 reg

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Discussion

bitemarx

Original Poster:

16 posts

101 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
quotequote all
I am planning to buy a Mini Cooper S 05 reg from a friend.
The car has the following specs:

80k on the clock
1.6L

The car is currently on a SORN, and has an MOT that expired back in June 2017.
I did a check online and found detailed data for all MOT's from it's past.

It has various details on it which I am not sure whether I need to be worried about.

I am attaching the info below in the hope that someone can guide me regarding this potential purchase.

ALso, the radiator has a small leak which may need to be replaced.

Thanks in advance!


INFO:

2016-Jun-09
PASSED
2017-Jun-08 MILEAGE 88829 miles
ADVISORY
Oil leak ()
Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)
2015-Jun-02
PASSED
2016-Jun-01 MILEAGE 80577 miles
ADVISORY
Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)
USER ENTERED
Oil leak
2015-Jun-01
FAILED
MILEAGE 80573 miles
FAIL
Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
ADVISORY
Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)
USER ENTERED
Oil leak
2014-Jun-02
PASSED
2015-Jun-01 MILEAGE 71699 miles
2013-May-21
PASSED
2014-May-31 MILEAGE 60951 miles
ADVISORY
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
USER ENTERED
Exhaust rear box deteriorated.
2013-May-20
FAILED
MILEAGE 60949 miles
FAIL
Rear fog lamp emits a light other than red (1.3.2e)
Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
ADVISORY
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
USER ENTERED
Exhaust rear box deteriorated.
2012-May-04
PASSED
2013-May-31 MILEAGE 51836 miles
2011-Jun-01
PASSED
2012-May-31 MILEAGE 45503 miles
ADVISORY
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
USER ENTERED
Oil leak
rear body panels damaged
2010-May-20
PASSED
2011-May-26 MILEAGE 41298 miles
2009-May-14
PASSED
2010-May-26 MILEAGE 37413 miles
USER ENTERED
Both front wiper rubbers split
Rear wiper rubber split
2009-May-14
FAILED
MILEAGE 37413 miles
FAIL
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)
USER ENTERED
Both front wiper rubbers split
Rear wiper rubber split
2008-May-27
PASSED
2009-May-26 MILEAGE 34003 miles
USER ENTERED
both front suspension bushes soft and the rubber breaking up----rec attention a.s.a.p





E-bmw

9,240 posts

153 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
quotequote all
Job number 1 - Get the last 7 digits of the vin & google bmw mini vin decoder & then you will have the full spec as no-one knows what they are selling in my experience.

Job number 2 - Take it for an MOT before agreeing to buy it.

Defcon5

6,186 posts

192 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
quotequote all
Do you know anything about these? Is it very cheap?

If the PAS system hasn’t broken yet, it will, at a random moment, requiring a refurb unit.

If the wishbone bushes haven’t been replaced, budget for that.

If the coolant header tank hasn’t been replaced, this will need doing.

If the rad is leaking, it needs replacing

What was the extent of the damage in the MOT history?

Why hasn’t that oil leak been fixed? Where is it?

These are cracking cars, but a ropey one can be a moneypit, and that’s before you get to the mid 20s mpg

bitemarx

Original Poster:

16 posts

101 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
quotequote all
Does the registration not give all info regarding the specs?

E-bmw

9,240 posts

153 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
quotequote all
No, that is why I said you need the vin.

bitemarx

Original Poster:

16 posts

101 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
quotequote all
Defcon5 said:
Do you know anything about these? Is it very cheap?

If the PAS system hasn’t broken yet, it will, at a random moment, requiring a refurb unit.

If the wishbone bushes haven’t been replaced, budget for that.

If the coolant header tank hasn’t been replaced, this will need doing.

If the rad is leaking, it needs replacing

What was the extent of the damage in the MOT history?

Why hasn’t that oil leak been fixed? Where is it?

These are cracking cars, but a ropey one can be a moneypit, and that’s before you get to the mid 20s mpg
The price (£1800, for now) is negotiable because my friend has migrated, and well, he is a friend! :-)

I have asked him about the rest.

E-bmw

9,240 posts

153 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
quotequote all
The price is reasonable but then I recently bought an 06 chilli/lsd equipped car for £1700 due to a few MOT based issues, so they can be had for less.

CarsOrBikes

1,137 posts

185 months

Wednesday 27th December 2017
quotequote all
I wouldn't worry about the car being good, pas leaks are best cleaned off and monitored, they're usually very slow and look worse over time so get recorded on MOT's. The bushes mentioned are cheap but a little fiddly to do. Check if the clutch feels very heavy in operation, if it is it needs renewal. Dealers can get the vin from the reg, so just ask a parts department who will be more helpful than service for spec.

bitemarx

Original Poster:

16 posts

101 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
HAving decided to take the car, I am now faced with practical issues: The car is in Shrewsbury with my friend's brother. It has SORN on it. I need to pick the car up and bring it back to NOttingham to have it checked out. Can I tax a car for a month? Is it possible to get insurance for a month?

The owner of the car lives in the USA. Would I be able to tax it online?

CarsOrBikes

1,137 posts

185 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
you can tax it online, just sorn it after you're done if required. Some insurance companies do temp cover but an expensive route. I'd just get normal cover.

sad61t

1,100 posts

211 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
Short-term insurance (1-28 days) can be found, look for 'Temporary car insurance'. It's not that unusual; online brokers, for example confused.com, can arrange it.

You'll need this, and a valid MOT certificate, before applying for the RFL (road tax). The RFL can be paid monthly, and then cancelled if the car is a money pit (though you'll probably end up paying for two months). AFAIK, the RFL check for MOT and insurance is on the day of application.

Also investigate the cost of getting it trailered to you if it isn't roadworthy (i.e. MOT failed).

bitemarx

Original Poster:

16 posts

101 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
Thank ypou, both! smile

E-bmw

9,240 posts

153 months

Monday 8th January 2018
quotequote all
CarsOrBikes said:
you can tax it online, just sorn it after you're done if required.
But only if it has an MOT.

CarsOrBikes

1,137 posts

185 months

Tuesday 9th January 2018
quotequote all
of course,

I didn't read the whole thing again ;O)