2003 Mini Cooper buyers guide?
Discussion
Rumble with be a gearbox. It will be the input shaft bearing and will need a new gearbox. Budget £500 fitted, and + £100 if a clutch is also needed.
This is the main problem, but the power steering pumps were not so good and if it is fitted with fat tyres, will be straining. A little noise is ok.
Otherwise, should be ok. The coopers are sluggish until you get the revs between 10 and 2 on the rev counter, then it should pic up and go!
IMO, if you think it is a well looked after example, and can factor in the £500 to the price, buy it. You can have a recon box and be safe in the knowledge it has been done and you have a cracking car.
I would say a really tidy car private would be £3000 ish so £2500 with the grumble.
This is the main problem, but the power steering pumps were not so good and if it is fitted with fat tyres, will be straining. A little noise is ok.
Otherwise, should be ok. The coopers are sluggish until you get the revs between 10 and 2 on the rev counter, then it should pic up and go!
IMO, if you think it is a well looked after example, and can factor in the £500 to the price, buy it. You can have a recon box and be safe in the knowledge it has been done and you have a cracking car.
I would say a really tidy car private would be £3000 ish so £2500 with the grumble.
At least buying from the trade it will have some form of warrantee with it.
IMHO that is too much though. ( Has the rare glove box though! )
I have a 02 with 99k on the clock, which has the noise. ( I bought it without knowing about the problem and swear I didn't hear it on test, private sale. Coventry are to put a new one in mine but it drives ok for now, albeit, a noise worse on cold and execrating ) I had it serviced a week after buying and it was confirmed a good car, sans the box.
I bought the car because it was mint. Red, cooper stripes and union flag roof. Inside, as clean as I have seen. HOWEVER, I don't like it. I may be different to others, but I don't like the ride. I changed the white cooper s 17" with 225 40 profile tyres to a year old genuine 16" with 195 55 profile and that made a good improvement.
As I say, I thought it was A OK and paid £3k for it. With a new box, I feel it is still worth £3,000 with the added warrantee which comes with the recon box and new clutch.
PM if you need any more help or advice
IMHO that is too much though. ( Has the rare glove box though! )
I have a 02 with 99k on the clock, which has the noise. ( I bought it without knowing about the problem and swear I didn't hear it on test, private sale. Coventry are to put a new one in mine but it drives ok for now, albeit, a noise worse on cold and execrating ) I had it serviced a week after buying and it was confirmed a good car, sans the box.
I bought the car because it was mint. Red, cooper stripes and union flag roof. Inside, as clean as I have seen. HOWEVER, I don't like it. I may be different to others, but I don't like the ride. I changed the white cooper s 17" with 225 40 profile tyres to a year old genuine 16" with 195 55 profile and that made a good improvement.
As I say, I thought it was A OK and paid £3k for it. With a new box, I feel it is still worth £3,000 with the added warrantee which comes with the recon box and new clutch.
PM if you need any more help or advice
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