Nearly bought this Mini
Discussion
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
but walked away after viewing it this evening. It's actually my brother who wants a Mini but I came along to help (being the family car "expert"). However, I must confess I don't know much about Minis (hence posting here
) The faults we found (not listed in the auction):
- passenger side door rather rotten and would need replacing
- lots of oil leaking out from the pressure sensor and all over the front of the engine
- oil presure light came on once it was warmed up (possibly linked to above?)
- large crack in the floor skin under the driver's seat running accross the car from the sill to the centre. Not the outer skin as it was all ok underneith.
- exhaust knocks over every bump
Other than the above, it drove nice enough, started easily and the gearbox was lovely, going in to all the gears nice and smoothly. It also had 10mm spacers on the wheels to push them out into the arches, is that ok on Minis? I've always viewed spacers as a no no.
So were we right to walk away? Or are these fairly simple, common things on Minis? Any tips for what to look for next time?
but walked away after viewing it this evening. It's actually my brother who wants a Mini but I came along to help (being the family car "expert"). However, I must confess I don't know much about Minis (hence posting here
) The faults we found (not listed in the auction):- passenger side door rather rotten and would need replacing
- lots of oil leaking out from the pressure sensor and all over the front of the engine
- oil presure light came on once it was warmed up (possibly linked to above?)
- large crack in the floor skin under the driver's seat running accross the car from the sill to the centre. Not the outer skin as it was all ok underneith.
- exhaust knocks over every bump
Other than the above, it drove nice enough, started easily and the gearbox was lovely, going in to all the gears nice and smoothly. It also had 10mm spacers on the wheels to push them out into the arches, is that ok on Minis? I've always viewed spacers as a no no.
So were we right to walk away? Or are these fairly simple, common things on Minis? Any tips for what to look for next time?
Not wanting to sound flippant - but for that sort of money I would steer well clear of Mini's. They are real money pits. Sounds like you spotted the usual type of things that go wrong though. Rot is a particular failing 
If you do go the way of the Mini then good luck, they are fun cars but need looking after. It will help if you can do much of your own work when problems arise.
If you do go the way of the Mini then good luck, they are fun cars but need looking after. It will help if you can do much of your own work when problems arise.I got a really good 1966 Mini 850 for a grand. Of course, it needs a full resto, but it's a really sound car needing just outer sills, a bit of inner sill repair, one apex panel (inner & outer) a pair of front wings and a rear valence. Not bad when you look at some resto projects. It's all complete and I'll rebuild the engine and box plus fit all new brakes as it has been dry stored for 18 years. It's a nice project and wil have an excellent value if I decide to sell it eventually.
We paid £150 for a rust-free 1986 Mayfiar two years ago. It needed a repaint, anmd some TLC, but although we rebuilt it as a 1061 cc with a Cooper head, etc, it really didn't need much except a lot of TLC and, structurally it was/is just great.
We paid £150 for a rust-free 1986 Mayfiar two years ago. It needed a repaint, anmd some TLC, but although we rebuilt it as a 1061 cc with a Cooper head, etc, it really didn't need much except a lot of TLC and, structurally it was/is just great.
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