Hi everybody! I'm buying a Mini soon. Right now in the stages of selling my current car to buy said Mini. I have a lead on a used one, as at this point cannot afford a new one. Had a question reguarding the one I have found. It's a great deal from the research I've done a 2003 MCS for $6500. Which made me ask "what's wrong with it?" The answer it needs an intake. It has 74,000 on it and wondered if it was even worth considering? And if I were to purchase it what am I in for as far as fixing the intake? I'm sooo not about power and performance, so I would just want to put the stock intake back on it. Thanks!

 

Maybe by intake it could be more than just the actual Filter and box. It could be dealing with the intercooler and other air intake things that go with a MCS (Supercharger maybe?) I know it sounds extreme or worst case scenario but it seems way cheap.

 

So called the car lot where it is located. They said it was more than the box, but not sure entirely what. Said possibly a blown head. He told me it was "missing through the head" and it was around a $2,000 repair. Not sure about this one, but would it be worth the $8500?

 

Not to me it wouldn't be. There are plenty of clean cars out there to pick from. I would not want to buy a car that I can't drive before buying.

 

I agree with Tyler above. I don't understand a used car lot trying to sell a car that can't be driven. Who knows what else might be wrong with it. It might be something a MINI mechanic might take a close look at and consider buying, but, not being one of those myself, I'd look elsewhere.

 

Totally not worth it...You'd be better off taking the money and increasing your overall budget for a used car. Be patient and make sure you take it to a mechanic. Also in my used car buying experience private party is the way to go. I would also say if your budget conscious and not so concerned with power and performance that you consider a non s...the reliability from what I can tell is better than the s (less parts to go bad I suppose) and the price difference. That way you can maybe get a newer model year with more of the original kinks worked out. Good Luck!

 

Thanks everyone!! I am NOT buying that one! They can't even tell what's wrong with it. Plus I worry about what else might be. Found a nonS some where else and am considering it. I really like the S, but I don't know that I would actually use it like one should.

 

Yeah it's good to look under the hood and drive it

 

Sounds to me a 2005 or 2006 non-S might be right up your alley. Test drive a well running S and non-S to know if you really aren't about power, as you said. If you like the non-S (I like mine), there is less to go wrong with an '05 or '06 manual trans, than with any S. $8500 should buy a fairly clean example of either, with average miles from a private seller (at least where I live). I actually bought mine as a fixer-upper for $1,500. In my case, though, I knew EXACTLY what was wrong, and had the skill and tools to fix it. Good luck.

 

Like the last poster said, Look for a non S car if you are not concerned about performance. The supercharger is a big replacment cost item once over 100k you seem to be on borrowed time

 

But the replacement cost of a Midlands 5 speed is more than a supercharger, especially if you are paying shop labor. So spend a little more upfront for an '05 / '06 if you go the non-S route, for peace of mind. Even if you baby the car, you have no way of knowing how it was driven in the past. You can obviously go newer, but the price will be higher on the 2nd gen cars, and they have unique issues of their own, from what I read.

 

There are some good used MINIs out there. Keep looking. My advice is this: Drive a NEW MINI, a used one shoud "feel and sound" much the same!!! if it does not, it was beat to death, and you dont want it. Also, with the warantees and good deals on financing, low interest , you may find that a new one is not impossible after all. or the dealer may lead you to a recently traded one which has already been "gone over" and is in good condition. Dont buy a used MINI from a general used car lot where they have had their grubby hands under the hood and dont know a thing about MINIs they are a different breed altogether.

 

Just bought a 2006 Mini!!! So excited!!!

 

Congratulations! Tell us about it, and post pictures!

 

Good choice. You will enjoy it.

 

Will work on pics today!
Can you guys tell me if the engine is interference or non-interference? It has 55,000 on it and wanted to know about the timing belt. Thanks