Help with 02 reg mini ??

[Titch711]

Hi all. I don’t know if any of you could help me. I bought an 02 reg mini last week and I’m starting to think I’ve been seriously done over. I’m hoping the issues are easy to fix!
1. The drivers window doesn’t go down/up
2. All of a sudden the handbrake light is on
Not overly concerned about those but now
3. The coolant bottle seems to be emptying daily. I’ve literally just had to top it up with water on the way home and when I got home the fan is pretty much constantly on. I think the only day is hasn’t done it is the day I brought it!

I contacted the seller and asked him for his help and he initially said he would get his mechanic to look at it which I agreed but now I’m being ignored. I really don’t know what to do. I’ve just gone back to work after losing my job through furlough and I can’t afford a mint condition car I just feel like I’ve been screwed over and I just hope it’s a pipe that’s popped off or something!

It came with a years MOT so surely it can’t be a long-standing issue!!

Any help would be gratefully received

Thanks

[scrw.]

Does the water go down if it is not running? damp patches under it when stood/running? Any mayo in the oil filler cap? Any missfires? Private or trade sale?

[E-bmw]

Expansion bottles on these are renowned for giving up the ghost, check if the bottle is split or the cap is the source of the leak, both are VERY common & simple issues.

[Elliot2000]

Unless it’s the Cooper s it doesn’t have pressurised expansion tank so I don’t think this will be the issue and a crack would be obvious as it would drip as soon as u start to fill it up

Rotting radiators were common, along with thermostat housing and water pumps leaking. Also known for hard gaskets and cylinder heads cracking.

A garage doing a quick pressure test and a sniff test will give you an answer if u can’t see anything obvious- but it sounds like a big leak so maybe get it up to temperature and leave it idling on the drive for a few minutes and u may see the leak start dripping

[magpie215]

Titch711 said:

1. The drivers window doesn’t go down/up
2. All of a sudden the handbrake light is on
Not overly concerned about those but now
3. The coolant bottle seems to be emptying daily.


Thanks

1.fuse motor or wiring.....would need to be dianosed.

2.if the brake fluid is low a lot if cars indicate it by lighting the handbrake light...check fluid level.

3.if there is no leak it could be a Head gasket failure......a garage can sniff test for combustion gasses in the cooling system.