Doing my research on the MINI's before pulling the trigger on one. Looking for a project car to work on for the wife during my upcoming retirement years.
Currently have a 2005 Passat TDI wagon that is getting an auto swapped to a manual out of a gasser. Once the bugs are worked out on that the euro spec tdi trans will go in.

 

Welcome to the forum


Just a heads up ... when ya retire ... the projects never end and your busier than when you were working ... I can attest to this ! But enjoy it .. it's more fun

 

Hi and welcome to NAM!

 

What's your budget and more importantly how good are you at turning a wrench?

 

Welcome from Atlanta.

I have an R53 needed engine repair that may work for you. Feel free to email us if your interested in something like that.

 

I've been wrench turning one way or another for 45 years. I've worked on motorcycles, trucks (semi) and school buses (pure evil) and printing equipment. Found a knack for the electrical stuff that scares most mechanics.

This is the world I came from before teaching:
https://www.google.com.br/search?q=b...h1bHTk1Euy_2M:

This is the modern truck/bus electrical panel now:
https://www.google.com.br/search?rlz...5DKPabcwlLoIM:

I teach both. Once they understand the old school the new method is easier for them to deal with.

Most of my projects lately have been on the cheap side. Any problem I run across that can be used to teach the new crop of students I have is handed to them to diagnose & repair as needed. If they break something it is off to Pull-A-Part I go. So my projects take a while...

"Here is a TCM out of my Passat TDI. This is what happens when you have water intrusion and the module is submerged for a long time. Trans doesn't shift, can bus goes down with no communication.
Why?
What is this green crap all over the board & connections?
Can you fix it?
If not, why not? And so on."