Buying Mini Cooper S

[TJB69]

Looking at buying the wife a MCS Spotted a 2004 from main dealer pretty good spec

50k miles £7500.

Is there anything I should be looking for on a 2004 or would I be better going for a newer model.

Car will only do about 5k miles a year

Any help is appreciated

[RKDE]

There isn't a lot to look for really, check condition general

• rust under the door seals
• engine bay looks as it should
• does the supercharger have a stock pulley on it (no bolts in it) this will indicate if its modified
• Listen to the engine there shouldn't be any major rattles, the clutch bearings do rattle this should stop when you put your foot on the clutch, chain can rattle too a little but as it warms should go
• listen for a grown from the clutch when pulling off, normal on all of them but some it isn't present on, this is the release bearing guide and doesn't really cause any problems
• check the engine mount on the drivers side, is there black oil leaking from it? if so that is going to cost £90 +/-
• inside check for any lights on the dash, non should be on with exception to the obvious

Just makes sure your happy with it, there are lots of little faults but with the S the engine is strong and so is the gearbox so there will be little to worry about. The power steering can be a fault, it does whine a lot an way but just make sure its working.

The newer model does offer some benefits but there is nothing wrong with the early S either

The facelift 54 on has a teflon coated supercharger so holds better boost, has better xenon lights, different final drive, and a slightly different interior layout on the dash and air bags. They both do the same and are both good fun. I have driven many and my preference is normally a pre-facelift but with the facelift xenons.

Edited by RKDE on Wednesday 3rd November 09:26

[Pork]

RKDE,

How can you tell if it is a facelift car and are these more expensive than the non-facelift?

[esuuv]

facelift cars have the reversing lights built into the main clusters and a fog light in the centre of the bumper - pre facelift are the other way round.

facelift xenons are pretty easy to spot and look much more modern than the originals.

[RKDE]

As above,

There are several ways, if its a 54 plate or later then its a facelift (generally) There are quite a few cross overs which have facelift and pre-facelift parts they are 04 plates close to September and 54 plates close.

Inside the easy thing is there is 5 sections of dash on the pre-facelift with the air bag in, the facelift has the air bag through the top of the dash and the main dash is split into 3 sections

I don't think now there is much difference in the price and it really doesn't matter. The facelift really has the same problems as the facelift so one is not better than the other, the facelift is just developed a little more

Edited by RKDE on Wednesday 3rd November 14:42

[Pork]

Thanks guys, very informative.

[TJB69]

Thanks for info

Going for test drive tomorrow