Hey everyone, new member here.

I'm thinking about buying a mini cooper S from a friend of mine, 2004 110k miles, 6 speed, nav, sunroof, xenon lights, etc

I've been reading as many threads as I could find on high mileage 1st gen cars. The car has had the regular oil changes and anything it needed it got. It's a silver metallic with a white roof and white stripes. It's in what I'd say is good shape overall. I need to become more proficient with a stick shift before I buy it. lol

My main concern is the supercharger and how brilliant it was of BMW/MINI to have it somewhat sealed for life and I fear that the rear accessory gear is worn or is wearing and or on its way out. But he's never noted any weird noises coming from the engine. Just the usual supercharger whine

I currently drive a '94 Mercedes E320 Cabriolet and would like this car for its superior MPG's, hauling capacity, lower insurance, fun factor, and such.

I just need to find someone to give me 10k for the cabriolet so I can get this mini from my friend.

anyways thats why I joined so I could learn more about these cars issues and decided if its something I'd want to go for. I'm watching ebay and the forum for SC's on the cheap that if I do buy the car I can just swap it in if its good or rebuild it and swap it in and know I have a good unit.

 

While 68000 miles isn't too much for a MINI, I would certainly have the supercharger checked out, you don't want to start out with a heavy duty repair bill. Pricewise it's sounds a bit high, but with the mileage given in kilometers I would assume you are in Canada and we are talking CDN.

 

? its in miles 110,000 miles or in shorter notation 110k.

The NADA value of the car is right about 9500 and KBB is the same. I'd need to somehow get him to come down at least a few hundred on the price... maybe even 8750... Gives me a little room for safety.

I've personally been in this car before it was sent to MD to be stuck in long term parking at the airforce base

 

Welcome Joe,
You came to right place to ask right questions. Spend couple weeks reading NAM archives, lots of interesting things are here. That's what I did before I bought my MINI. I had a choice too but decided to buy new one.
You already have a car with fun factor. Of course if you are of engineering type then get your friend's MINI you will have a lot of fun tinkering. If you have a bit of fiscal wiggle look at 2nd generation.
Just my personal opinion.
Good luck,

 

Not much fiscal wiggle lol.. College student trying to trade up to a more fuel efficient car. I'm very resourceful and can do a lot of my own work so swapping out superchargers should be no hard feat if its necessary. I just don't want to get it home if I buy it and blammo the water pump doesnt turn and im out of a car until I fix it.

thats the only item I am afraid of. Mushrooming shock towers, fine I'll get an M7 brace soon..

I like that its insurance would be lower than my cabriolet and be a lot more practical. I just need to get better at driving stick because I really don't feel like replacing a clutch

 

aaaaannnd I'm burried

 

little update, I think I might be going for this car. My friend is the one that owns it and I might have a deal worked out for it.

ideally I should have sold my mercedes cabriolet instead of my other car so I had more cash on hand

 

I would plan on rebuilding or replacing the supercharger (I found mine on ebay for $300) sometime in the near future. I bought mine and stored it until my original one failed, then took a weekend (can be done alot faster) and replaced it. They are rated to last about 100k miles, I have a reduction pulley on mine and it started making noises at ~190,000 miles.

It is possible to check the oil in the SC - just takes a bit of work.

Good Luck,
Nik

 

I was planning on doing that once I got the car.. sucks to pay for insurance but its good to have just in case!

how often are these on ebay?

if anything I'd get one off of ebay, have it rebuilt and just put it on for peice of mind and keep the other one on my shelf as.... insurance lol.

190k is great for your mini, I put a lot of miles on cars, last year I did 48k on my last car in 10 months!

 

Thanks - I'm currently over 228k miles - Original clutch too

Ebay has a few now A little expensive tho.

Keep your eye on the classifieds at MA

Way has them from time to time too I believe, might be worth giving him a call.

Nik

 

The more I know, the less I have to pay. Which is usually how everything works.

thanks for the info