Greetings all.

It looks like there is a mini in my future. Our regular car is a 2014 Ford Explorer, and we also have an '88 BMW 325i convertible. The BMW is in amazing shape, and I'd like to keep it that way. We've decided to keep it as a 'fair weather' only car.

I work from home, the kids go to school 3 blocks away, and I tend to ride my bike for short trips. We need a small car (no longer than 150") that will be on 'standby' for when a car is needed and the Explorer is being otherwise used.

A Cooper S is a the top of the list (it might as well be fun!), and I've done all the basic research. I'm aware of the timing chain and carbon buildup issues, as well as premature clutch wear. I'm pretty handy with a wrench, so I've not read anything that's scared me away just yet.

How do Mini's do sitting for extended periods between being driven? The car may sit for a couple weeks at a time without moving, in the driveway, under a car cover.

I'm also operating under a 'condition over mileage' mentality when looking at the cars, but I know there is mileage limit with all cars where major overhauls become unavoidable. Any thoughts on where that limit is on R53's and R56's?

Anyway, as I head out looking, I'm sure I'll be posting more questions and sharing stories of the Mini Adventure.

Here's the first one I'm going to go look at in about an hour:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4665615759.html

 

Well, it seems I'm one of you now. I took the car for an extensive test drive, had an independent mini shop do a PPI, made an offer, and it was accepted.

I'm picking the car up Wednesday. Hooray!

 

Welcome aboard, and we all wish you many trouble-free miles of happy motoring! Pix are always appreciated!

 

Welcome aboard, you will love your mini :D and happy motoring !!!

 

Well, that was fast. Welcome to NAM and congrats on your new MINI. How about a few pics?

 

It was fast. But, if you know what you want, and see it. Grab it.

I won't have the car until Thursday, so pics will have to wait until the weekend.

Thanks to all for the warm welcome.

Think it's time for me to mosey on over to the r56 sub-forum

 

Welcome! You're gonna love it here Now onto the standard questioning. Did you get full history of the vehicle at all? There are a few things, that you would seem to be familiar with, that may be needed soon, if they haven't already been done. If the carbon build up hasn't been addressed in the last 30k then I would do the carbon blasting to clean up those valves, and purchase BG 44K and dump that into next few fill ups to help clean the combustion chamber. (The 44k will require the car to be driven for a while to get good cleaning results for the combustion chamber).

Thats the only thing I would say do right away. All others are debatable. (Spark plugs, fuel filter, preemptive replacement of the water pump or thermostat, filters, ect.)

Like you said, none of it that hard, just some of it time consuming. Kepp on the car and it should last you a long time. Especially with how you intend on using it. Motor on!

 

Yes, I saw the cars complete service history. Valves were cleaned about 20k ago. Timing chain/tensioner 8k ago. Plugs have 12k on them. There's a thermostat replacement in there somewhere too, don't remember off the top of my head.

regular oil changes, yadda yadda...

All in all, this is one well loved mini. If you put tape over odometer, you would never think you were driving a car with 70k on the clock.

Now, the hunt begins for some steelies and winter tires!

 

There are so many first gens that are in better shape then second gens IMO. I saw a few low miles '06 MCS and JCW. Some guy on FB was selling his GP1 for $16K and had only 60k miles in full stock form too. Good luck on your search.

 

I love steelies on MINI's! I had 15" steelies on my R53. It was a darn shame they didn't fit on my R56 (R56 has larger standard brakes). I wouls still be running that set. But my R56 came with 16" OEM wheels, so I just run those in the winter time and my 17" RSe05's in the Summer time.