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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
^^^ Not the update we wanted to hear. Wondered why front end finish seemed dull in dealer ad pics. Faded clear bra is easily fixable but the other issues not so much. I also tried to view Carfax report on that dealer site which just went to "opportunity" to buy it for $40. Hopefully, deal secured with VISA or similar, which could then be disputed with that car not being as claimed. No need for reply until sorted out to your satisfaction...
Originally Posted by Jonny
Man that is a buzz kill, I do remember that car on here, and it floated away. Sounds like someone maybe had more fun than they should have. You definitely have the mileage on your side. Kind of odd bit of repairs, including clutch at 13k, inexperience and/or lack of common sense. But nothing catastrophic. It’s hard to resist getting over reactive jumping on one, most times there’s too few to choose from, and it’s the nature of the beast. But yeah, I forget what it was posted for here, did you talk to the seller from the original post?
Thanks for your comments guys- I'm down off the ledge now...continuing as planned.
I just got off the phone with the selling dealer in L.A. It appears they recently just got the car, and paid around $15K for it plus some shipping costs (take that for what it's worth). All they've done is wash the car and put it up for sale. So it appears there was an intermediary that purchased the car from the private seller last November, and never registered it. BTW, I bought the $40 CARFAX after running into the same false link you did @MCS4FUN ). Then, this unknown party ended up selling it to the dealer in California in the last couple weeks.
I remember the car being a fairly good deal back then, but don't recall the dollar amount, and don't have any recorded correspondence with the seller (it probably was all through CarGurus). I'm going to try and get more information about the person or company that my seller bought it from, as it seems the original owner was the only 'real' owner. The intermediary owner appears to have been the one to clean up the engine bay, fix the headlight washers, change out the chrome grills for Chinese black, add the M7 strut plates, and detail the car a bit. After researching the height adjuster issue, I can see why they didn't bother to repair the seat LOL. @krawzdogg says there are some easy DIYs out there, but haven't found the magic one yet. I'm not terribly worried, as I'm used to overhauling, Z3, 5, 7, and 8 Series BMW seats...but then again, those seats don't have ratcheting mechanisms or gas struts in them either!
So the good news is, the service records have been kept with the car (very unusual for a dealer transaction here in the USA), and show regular work being done from 2006 to 2019. Regarding the clutch job (which is not expressly stated on the CARFAX, but *is* noted as a service event in the timeline), Lauderdale BMW of Ft. Lauderdale recommended a pressure plate replacement due to high force and high clutch pedal in June of 2012 at 18760 miles (not 13K). The PO then had the work done two weeks and 40 miles later. My guess is this guy simply didn't know how to drive a manual transmission, or he had a defective clutch (I'm going with the former). Everything else on the records through the years (like oil changes, engine mounts, brake fluid flushes, new thermostat, new power steering lines, alignments etc.- all done at the dealership) are signs of a mature, fastidious owner, not a boy racer (no offense to the boy racers out there!). The salesperson at SportsCar LA (nice British bloke coincidentally) did give me more peace of mind overall (although still taking a healthy grain of salt when working with used car dealers who aren't MINI specialists like Geneva Motors), but it was really those service records on hand that gave me the confidence to continue with the purchase. Obviously, these are all things you're supposed to do *before* committing to buying a car! But in all the BRG excitement, I got things a little out of order...
So lesson #1, be ready to pounce with cash on hand. Lesson #2, research the car best you can using all the resources you have before you! That especially means the crew here!
As @JackMac said back in Nov., it is a quirky spec for sure but it does have a lot of potential! I'm anxious to see the crazy combo of BRG, Cordoba Beige, black silver, and chrome in person, but I'm prepared to swap interiors if need be! Heck at least that would save me from having to deal with that damn seat height adjuster! LOL
Damn that’s a detailed update! Overall, I think it’s going to be a good car. Any r53/r56 is going to need some work and attention to bring it up to our standards (ask me how I know...ugh lol...teaser pic below). I’ve never been a fan of the standard r53 seats. We definitely need to find you some English leather or Recaros. Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile, I find myself just texting everyone since I have everyones numbers.
Thanks for your comments guys- I'm down off the ledge now...continuing as planned.
I just got off the phone with the selling dealer in L.A. It appears they recently just got the car, and paid around $15K for it plus some shipping costs (take that for what it's worth). All they've done is wash the car and put it up for sale. So it appears there was an intermediary that purchased the car from the private seller last November, and never registered it. BTW, I bought the $40 CARFAX after running into the same false link you did @MCS4FUN ). Then, this unknown party ended up selling it to the dealer in California in the last couple weeks.
I remember the car being a fairly good deal back then, but don't recall the dollar amount, and don't have any recorded correspondence with the seller (it probably was all through CarGurus). I'm going to try and get more information about the person or company that my seller bought it from, as it seems the original owner was the only 'real' owner. The intermediary owner appears to have been the one to clean up the engine bay, fix the headlight washers, change out the chrome grills for Chinese black, add the M7 strut plates, and detail the car a bit. After researching the height adjuster issue, I can see why they didn't bother to repair the seat LOL. @krawzdogg says there are some easy DIYs out there, but haven't found the magic one yet. I'm not terribly worried, as I'm used to overhauling, Z3, 5, 7, and 8 Series BMW seats...but then again, those seats don't have ratcheting mechanisms or gas struts in them either!
So the good news is, the service records have been kept with the car (very unusual for a dealer transaction here in the USA), and show regular work being done from 2006 to 2019. Regarding the clutch job (which is not expressly stated on the CARFAX, but *is* noted as a service event in the timeline), Lauderdale BMW of Ft. Lauderdale recommended a pressure plate replacement due to high force and high clutch pedal in June of 2012 at 18760 miles (not 13K). The PO then had the work done two weeks and 40 miles later. My guess is this guy simply didn't know how to drive a manual transmission, or he had a defective clutch (I'm going with the former). Everything else on the records through the years (like oil changes, engine mounts, brake fluid flushes, new thermostat, new power steering lines, alignments etc.- all done at the dealership) are signs of a mature, fastidious owner, not a boy racer (no offense to the boy racers out there!). The salesperson at SportsCar LA (nice British bloke coincidentally) did give me more peace of mind overall (although still taking a healthy grain of salt when working with used car dealers who aren't MINI specialists like Geneva Motors), but it was really those service records on hand that gave me the confidence to continue with the purchase. Obviously, these are all things you're supposed to do *before* committing to buying a car! But in all the BRG excitement, I got things a little out of order...
So lesson #1, be ready to pounce with cash on hand. Lesson #2, research the car best you can using all the resources you have before you! That especially means the crew here!
As @JackMac said back in Nov., it is a quirky spec for sure but it does have a lot of potential! I'm anxious to see the crazy combo of BRG, Cordoba Beige, black silver, and chrome in person, but I'm prepared to swap interiors if need be! Heck at least that would save me from having to deal with that damn seat height adjuster! LOL
there’s nothing that can’t be over come pretty easily with that one, and having the service history makes up for a lot. If the most expensive repair was already done, you probably didn’t steal it, but I’d say you’re alright, especially if you like the spec. Stealing it is always nice, but getting a proper car, even with a few hiccups is about as important. Rule #3 Don’t research a car on your smartphone, it’s too easy to make hasty decisions.
Damn that’s a detailed update! Overall, I think it’s going to be a good car. Any r53/r56 is going to need some work and attention to bring it up to our standards (ask me how I know...ugh lol...teaser pic below). I’ve never been a fan of the standard r53 seats. We definitely need to find you some English leather or Recaros. Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile, I find myself just texting everyone since I have everyones numbers.
i never seen space blue look so magnificent, jealous.
i never seen space blue look so magnificent, jealous.
Reef Blue
So much work to repaint the entire car. I’ll eventually start a build thread once I get it back from my friends body shop. Don’t forget this is before it’s sanded, buffed and ceramic coated
So much work to repaint the entire car. I’ll eventually start a build thread once I get it back from my friends body shop. Don’t forget this is before it’s sanded, buffed and ceramic coated
Reef Blue is the best, although I might be biased…
Thanks for your comments guys- I'm down off the ledge now...continuing as planned.
I just got off the phone with the selling dealer in L.A. It appears they recently just got the car, and paid around $15K for it plus some shipping costs (take that for what it's worth). All they've done is wash the car and put it up for sale. So it appears there was an intermediary that purchased the car from the private seller last November, and never registered it. BTW, I bought the $40 CARFAX after running into the same false link you did @MCS4FUN ). Then, this unknown party ended up selling it to the dealer in California in the last couple weeks.
I remember the car being a fairly good deal back then, but don't recall the dollar amount, and don't have any recorded correspondence with the seller (it probably was all through CarGurus). I'm going to try and get more information about the person or company that my seller bought it from, as it seems the original owner was the only 'real' owner. The intermediary owner appears to have been the one to clean up the engine bay, fix the headlight washers, change out the chrome grills for Chinese black, add the M7 strut plates, and detail the car a bit. After researching the height adjuster issue, I can see why they didn't bother to repair the seat LOL. @krawzdogg says there are some easy DIYs out there, but haven't found the magic one yet. I'm not terribly worried, as I'm used to overhauling, Z3, 5, 7, and 8 Series BMW seats...but then again, those seats don't have ratcheting mechanisms or gas struts in them either!
So the good news is, the service records have been kept with the car (very unusual for a dealer transaction here in the USA), and show regular work being done from 2006 to 2019. Regarding the clutch job (which is not expressly stated on the CARFAX, but *is* noted as a service event in the timeline), Lauderdale BMW of Ft. Lauderdale recommended a pressure plate replacement due to high force and high clutch pedal in June of 2012 at 18760 miles (not 13K). The PO then had the work done two weeks and 40 miles later. My guess is this guy simply didn't know how to drive a manual transmission, or he had a defective clutch (I'm going with the former). Everything else on the records through the years (like oil changes, engine mounts, brake fluid flushes, new thermostat, new power steering lines, alignments etc.- all done at the dealership) are signs of a mature, fastidious owner, not a boy racer (no offense to the boy racers out there!). The salesperson at SportsCar LA (nice British bloke coincidentally) did give me more peace of mind overall (although still taking a healthy grain of salt when working with used car dealers who aren't MINI specialists like Geneva Motors), but it was really those service records on hand that gave me the confidence to continue with the purchase. Obviously, these are all things you're supposed to do *before* committing to buying a car! But in all the BRG excitement, I got things a little out of order...
So lesson #1, be ready to pounce with cash on hand. Lesson #2, research the car best you can using all the resources you have before you! That especially means the crew here!
As @JackMac said back in Nov., it is a quirky spec for sure but it does have a lot of potential! I'm anxious to see the crazy combo of BRG, Cordoba Beige, black silver, and chrome in person, but I'm prepared to swap interiors if need be! Heck at least that would save me from having to deal with that damn seat height adjuster! LOL
hi Chamberlain1,
I ran across your posts while researching my most recent car purchase…your old red 06 JCW. I just picked it up from Aaron last weekend. I greatly appreciate the background you’ve posted about that car. More pertinently to your recent purchase, I live about 30-40 minutes away from the SportsCarLA dealership. I’m not an r53 expert, but I’m a gear head (classic muscle and Subaru’s mostly) and have been researching their common issues for the last few months. Let me know if you need someone to put eyes on it in person.
Thanks for your comments guys- I'm down off the ledge now...continuing as planned.
I just got off the phone with the selling dealer in L.A. It appears they recently just got the car, and paid around $15K for it plus some shipping costs (take that for what it's worth). All they've done is wash the car and put it up for sale. So it appears there was an intermediary that purchased the car from the private seller last November, and never registered it. BTW, I bought the $40 CARFAX after running into the same false link you did @MCS4FUN ). Then, this unknown party ended up selling it to the dealer in California in the last couple weeks.
I remember the car being a fairly good deal back then, but don't recall the dollar amount, and don't have any recorded correspondence with the seller (it probably was all through CarGurus). I'm going to try and get more information about the person or company that my seller bought it from, as it seems the original owner was the only 'real' owner. The intermediary owner appears to have been the one to clean up the engine bay, fix the headlight washers, change out the chrome grills for Chinese black, add the M7 strut plates, and detail the car a bit. After researching the height adjuster issue, I can see why they didn't bother to repair the seat LOL. @krawzdogg says there are some easy DIYs out there, but haven't found the magic one yet. I'm not terribly worried, as I'm used to overhauling, Z3, 5, 7, and 8 Series BMW seats...but then again, those seats don't have ratcheting mechanisms or gas struts in them either!
So the good news is, the service records have been kept with the car (very unusual for a dealer transaction here in the USA), and show regular work being done from 2006 to 2019. Regarding the clutch job (which is not expressly stated on the CARFAX, but *is* noted as a service event in the timeline), Lauderdale BMW of Ft. Lauderdale recommended a pressure plate replacement due to high force and high clutch pedal in June of 2012 at 18760 miles (not 13K). The PO then had the work done two weeks and 40 miles later. My guess is this guy simply didn't know how to drive a manual transmission, or he had a defective clutch (I'm going with the former). Everything else on the records through the years (like oil changes, engine mounts, brake fluid flushes, new thermostat, new power steering lines, alignments etc.- all done at the dealership) are signs of a mature, fastidious owner, not a boy racer (no offense to the boy racers out there!). The salesperson at SportsCar LA (nice British bloke coincidentally) did give me more peace of mind overall (although still taking a healthy grain of salt when working with used car dealers who aren't MINI specialists like Geneva Motors), but it was really those service records on hand that gave me the confidence to continue with the purchase. Obviously, these are all things you're supposed to do *before* committing to buying a car! But in all the BRG excitement, I got things a little out of order...
So lesson #1, be ready to pounce with cash on hand. Lesson #2, research the car best you can using all the resources you have before you! That especially means the crew here!
As @JackMac said back in Nov., it is a quirky spec for sure but it does have a lot of potential! I'm anxious to see the crazy combo of BRG, Cordoba Beige, black silver, and chrome in person, but I'm prepared to swap interiors if need be! Heck at least that would save me from having to deal with that damn seat height adjuster! LOL
I remember chatting with the seller at the time. I believe he listed it for sale for around $8,500 - sold it for $8,500 and immediately regretted it when he realized what they were selling for on places like BaT. Seller did tell me that he knew how to drive a manual, but that the clutch seemed to have some kind of defect from the factory. Seemed like a great car, but back then I would only have settled for an all BRG one.
hi Chamberlain1,
I ran across your posts while researching my most recent car purchase…your old red 06 JCW. I just picked it up from Aaron last weekend. I greatly appreciate the background you’ve posted about that car. More pertinently to your recent purchase, I live about 30-40 minutes away from the SportsCarLA dealership. I’m not an r53 expert, but I’m a gear head (classic muscle and Subaru’s mostly) and have been researching their common issues for the last few months. Let me know if you need someone to put eyes on it in person.
Hey Adam! Thanks for that offer to go SportsCarLA for me... I do very much appreciate it, although I think it's going to be on a truck soon, and I've already 'taken the plunge' so to speak. I have some videos I did on the red MINI if you want a link to them, I think they're still on my YouTube channel...obviously from before Aaron owned it. I almost bought it back a few weeks ago myself, but decided to hold out for a BRG!
Originally Posted by Noonzio
I remember chatting with the seller at the time. I believe he listed it for sale for around $8,500 - sold it for $8,500 and immediately regretted it when he realized what they were selling for on places like BaT. Seller did tell me that he knew how to drive a manual, but that the clutch seemed to have some kind of defect from the factory. Seemed like a great car, but back then I would only have settled for an all BRG one.
Yea man, I just found my original correspondence from CarGurus... it was listed for $8K....and just 8 months later I pay over double that LOL. Oh well, I got my damn BRG! Thanks for the info on the possible clutch defect, seems plausible to me, at that mileage...both scenarios are plausible, but I'm going with clutch defect! LOL I wanted all BRG too (if you saw my custom ordered 2021 in Rebel Green), but I will make the silver/BRG work... I think I can manage that better than the more common BRG/White actually. We'll see about that Cordoba Beige interior though!
[QUOTE=Chamberlin1;4593483]Hey Adam! Thanks for that offer to go SportsCarLA for me... I do very much appreciate it, although I think it's going to be on a truck soon, and I've already 'taken the plunge' so to speak. I have some videos I did on the red MINI if you want a link to them, I think they're still on my YouTube channel...obviously from before Aaron owned it. I almost bought it back a few weeks ago myself, but decided to hold out for a BRG!
no worries at all. Your new BRG is a beauty, hope it all works out well for you. I actually drove my 2004 BRG r53 out to Tucson last weekend, sold it to my buddy, then bought the red JCW from Aaron and drove it home. Please send me the video links when you get a moment. Cheers!
<snip> We'll see about that Cordoba Beige interior though!
OTOH, seems you might grow to love that beige after viewing salvage yard take-offs or pricing OEM replacements for facelift models. Combo of seats, door panels, console and kickpanels will be hugely spendy (~ $1250 MSRP for one new door panel alone if still available), unless you can source the full set used with eyes-on inspection.
Chamberlin I’ve got a set of period correct front covers in black, same pattern, drop the back seat down and you be looking at a lot less Córdoba, until you decide. Just don’t count on the side airbag deploying cuz it won’t. I can send you pics.
Tell me I'm not crazy - this has been posted in the marketplace before right? https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../market/356442
I remember seeing this exact Mini with some of the same photos a few weeks back, but now I can't find the post. Just found it really strange that it's being listed by a new account as of yesterday.
OTOH, seems you might grow to love that beige after viewing salvage yard take-offs or pricing OEM replacements for facelift models. Combo of seats, door panels, console and kickpanels will be hugely spendy (~ $1250 MSRP for one new door panel alone if still available), unless you can source the full set used with eyes-on inspection.
Hahaha you might be right on that! Maybe I'll find some Recaros and just break out the black spray paint for the rest LOL.... But there may be another pathway to keep the Cordoba...
Originally Posted by Jonny
Chamberlin I’ve got a set of period correct front covers in black, same pattern, drop the back seat down and you be looking at a lot less Córdoba, until you decide. Just don’t count on the side airbag deploying cuz it won’t. I can send you pics.
Thank you Jonny, that is a good option... You're right in that the dual tone seats are the biggest 'offender' in that particular interior option (in my opinion). Don't get me wrong, I'm all about green over beige, classic Brit combo, but the black accents on the seats seem to ruin the effect.
Originally Posted by UpStart59
Those Checkmates are so cool.
Tell me I'm not crazy - this has been posted in the marketplace before right? https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../market/356442
I remember seeing this exact Mini with some of the same photos a few weeks back, but now I can't find the post. Just found it really strange that it's being listed by a new account as of yesterday.
I like those Checkmates a lot as well... I'm more appreciative of them now too, since my BRG has the same silver 'modern' bonnet stripe graphic and silver roof. I'm curious to know if that was a styling option for non checkmate cars, as I've seen one other BRG JCW with it as well.
Now that green limited edition in New York is a beauty! If I ever found a wood trim kit I might consider it for my JCW... The matching wood wheels are still available too ($$$). With the wood trim, I think it would make the Cordoba more palatable, just from a luxury standpoint... but granted you are adding yet another color/material to an already over blown color combo! LOL But at least I can see what it might look like on that New York car. I kinda like it.
