I've been looking around for a mini S for a while, and there are two trains of thought that I have been tossing around.

The 1st one is that I should try to find a nice used mini S with under 60,000 miles on it. It should be reliable, and to me 60,000 miles is pretty low. Probably spend well under $15,000 on it if I can find a good deal.

The other though I have is that I should fine one with 150,000+ miles on it and invest the money that I save...into rebuilding it. I've always loved building old muscle cars, and building a mini sounds like a fun project. I would go through and replace the major suspension components, rebuilt the engine, repaint it, and get it all back up to "like new" performance and look/condition. Maybe add a few simple mods like an exhast, CAI, and 17% pulley.

Now even though I can do the engine, suspension, and paint work myself.....what would be the more "cost effective" option? I'm assuming that I should be able to find a nice mini S under w/ under 60,000 miles on it for around $15,000 or under. And if I could ever find a worn out mini with a bunch of miles on it.....(which I haven't been able to find any), I could probably pick one up for well under $5000.

So would the the $10,000 I saved be enough money to allow me to build a sweet mini? Anyone done it? What kind of money did you spend?

 

Oh Ian - I've been waiting for someone to ask that! Thank you, as I thought I might be the only mad bugger out there on this point...

Try this thread...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-hard-way.html

Cheers,

Charlie

 

I was thinking of going this route and so far have spend around 7k taking the high mileage cheap to mechanically good.