I have found an '02 Mini with 44,000 miles. The interior and body are in very good condition. It runs well and the 5 spd. shifts smoothly. There no observable fluid leaks. What should I have checked in the front end? I know there have been issues with sway bar bushings and CV joints. Please relay anything you would have a mechanic check out if you were considering this vehicle. The asking price of $11,900 seems high to me. Thanks for your help.

 

Take the VIN to the Dealer...They can punch the information into the computer to see what was done to the car.

 

Depending on the options the car has.. With only 44,000 miles, and it being the 5 speed, not the CVT, $11,900 seems pretty reasonable.

 

The seller has a small dealership selling mostly Minis. He has a Carfax report on this one owner Mini, but it doesn't tell me as much as I hoped it would. He just sold a beautiful '03 I was eyeing as well.

 

I memory serves me correctly, the early Justa's had a Midlands 5 speed that had 1) Plastic bearing seals which would fail in cold weather allowing the fluid to leak out with resultant catastrophic tranny failure, 2) loss of drive on the diff due to the outer ring separating and 3) weak syncros on 1st and 2nd.

Midlands replacement runs between 2k-4k dollars.

For the kind of money they're asking for the Silk Green, I'd take it to a MINI dealer for an inspection and evaluation.

And the price is much to high. But then again, I don't know what options are on the MINI.

Or save a bit longer and find a low mileage '06 MCS and you'll be getting the best MINI made.

Just my two cents.

....Les

 

Have it checked out, if OK offer 10K take it or leave it.

 

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