hey guys, im looking to purchase a USED mc. i was wondering if there are certain things i should look for before i purchse it. i think i'm going to stay away from the 03 b/c of the fire problems. even though it has happened to the 05'. but is there anything else i should look at? what about transmission? any help would be great. thanks

 

I think your best bet would be to look over the forums, maybe even doing a search for specific topics (like transmission or engine). I've read quite a few threads about some problems with early auto transmissions, but can't remember exactly when things changed.

Good luck, and welcome to NAM! For what it's worth, my 06 has been trouble free for 15k miles except for the top being replaced due to wear.

 

yea i've been snooping around the boards for quite some time now, and i'm finally going to look at the mc next week from a private seller. so i was just looking to see what major things i should look at. i never bought a used car and my first car is new. so.. anymore help?

 

Welcome to the MINI world... My 2 cents is if you find one you are interested in, run the VIN number through CarFax.. then post here with all the info. you know about it. I feel certain you will get feedback..

PS - Ours was the first one in the US (that we know of) that burned to the ground - so I don't blame you for looking at a newer model...

Donna

 

I also wanted a used Mini - after checking www.kbb.com and was shocked at the asking $$$$ and not that many in my area - I decided to buy a new one and build it the way I wanted... I actually like the interior of the 06 better than the 07 but I have had a blast on this forum and doing my own order... ended up spending 20,450 and its New - check your local Mini dealer and see what there hourly rates are - Mine are $160 an hour - another reason I bought a new one with a FULL warranty... If I could have found a super nice 06 or 05 I would have jumped on it - the ones I found were just priced way too high - most of those buyers had to pay a premium on their cars... good luck and have fun..

 

I'm selling me '06 HB/W MC. I'll give a NAM discount.

PM'd ya.

 

So, How much is "Me" asking? and what options

 

What's with the fire issues? I just bought an 03. Now I'm worried. It's an auto, if that matters.

 

I am a fire fighter and find this interesting - I googled the problem and got this

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...i+cooper+fires

I read a few - you can read what you want - one post is from this forum - the person making the post is not being realistic but its her car not mine - Cars do NOT spontaneously catch on fire - even her story states that a fan did not shut off and may have caused the fire. If you car runs well and you either knew the car or did your homework - I would not worry... Just make sure you have it insured and enjoy it - I have been a full time fire fighter since March 1973 (Ya, long time) I have NEVER seen a car explode like in the movies - not saying it won't happen today, just that it is VERY RARE - if you sense a problem or the car starts "Talking" to you, listen and deal with it - if it burns, collect the ins and buy another, its just a car. In all my years, I have had a few calls where the family parks their car in the garage and it burns hours later - this is also rare - You would be surprised how long a garage will hold a fire - of course the garage has to be built correctly and not have "holes" in the sheetrock...

biggest thing - do not allow your Mini hear this "news"

 

Yes they do. Ford had a good number of Explorers that combusted due to a poorly designed electrical connection in the brake reservor that allowed current to come into contact with brake fluid. Some '02 and '03 MINIs have burst into flames - see this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=fire

 

Do you understand the defintions of spontaneous combustion???


#1 - Ignition of a substance, such as oily rags or hay, caused by a localized heat-increasing reaction between the oxidant and the fuel and not involving addition of heat from an outside source

#2 - spontaneous combustion, phenomenon in which a substance unexpectedly bursts into flame without apparent cause. In ordinary combustion, a substance is deliberately heated to its ignition point to make it burn. Many substances undergo a slow oxidation that, like the rapid oxidation of burning, releases heat. If the heat so released cannot escape the substance, the temperature of the substance rises until ignition takes place. Spontaneous combustion often occurs in piles of oily rags, green hay, leaves, or coal; it can constitute a serious fire hazard.





I believe what you are talking about is a mech or elect problem with a car - yes those do happen - but a true spontaneous is rare - I have seen this happen when a person uses an oil stain on their fence or deck and put the rags in a box or buck with no top and set it in a garage or side yard - the chemecials together produce heat and can set the rags on fire.

 

Yes, I agree with your definition and agree that spontaneous combustion of vehicles is rare. However, I doubt that the person who had a car go up in flames from an electrical malfunction really cares - the end result is that the car burned. Some of the vehicles that burned gave no mechanical warning so it is unlikely that the owner could have prevented the fire. If you read the link I provided, several MINIs have gone up in smoke. The OP was questioning if there was cause for concern - I'll let the OP decide that for themself after reading the link. Anyway, I wasn't trying to aggravate anyone, just wanted to give the OP some additional, factual information.

 

The OP made a statement about 03's and a fire problem - You stated they were Spontaneous. This is a misuse of a word and only leads to Rumors and misunderstandings.... How many Mini's were made in 03 - How many burned that the cause could not be determined??? In my 35 years as a fire fighter - I have gone to Many car fires - **** happens - But for a car to burst into flames all by its self is not the rule -- The problems with forums are that someone makes a post, someone else reads it and passes the info on - what may have been fact or just someones opinion - is now passed along as FACT - I read it - therefore it must be true...

buyer beware - do your homework...