Hi. I'm looking at buying a 2002 Mini Cooper S Type. 6 speed manual. It is in really nice shape, but has 118,000 miles on it.

The owner says it has a blown head gasket near the #2 cylinder. He says he knows it does because he has performed a compression test and that cylinder is low. Otherwise, there appears to be no coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant. I've read about these cars having leaking thermostat housings that mimic a blown head gasket. He said it did not overheat, just that he has seen coolant leakage.

He is asking $5800 obo for the car. Does this sounds reasonable? What would you offer for the car.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Tom

 

How much are you looking to put into it?

How are the brakes, suspension parts, power steering hoses, tires, oil leaks...

 

It has new tires. Everything else seems to be in order. He keeps telling me the parts to fix it run about $150. I'm a pretty good mechanic, but I would probably hire out the work. Just looks like a pain to replace. And I'm only going on what he says right now. Getting it to a good mechanic for an inspection is what I think I need to do. $5800 just sounds high if it's going to take $2k to get it running.

 

Tell him to spend the $150, get it running, and then you will buy it from him for $5950.

 

I agree.