Hopefully my first car, A 2003 (hardtop) MINI British Racing Green.

I feel the price it's at might be too good to be true. So I have a few questions...

When I inspect it and test drive it, what problems should I be looking for?

What are the chances a 2003 in good condition would need unexpected repairs and what are the possibilities they may be?

What are common repair issues with a 2003? and how much are the repairs?

Or just leave any tips you think would be helpful for a used mini owner.

My brother is a car mechanic so I would have him with me during the whole process, so don't be afraid to throw technical terms.

Thanks! So exciting!

 

Heck if your car mechanic brother is going to be with you, what are you worried about. There is nothing about MINI's that is really different from other automobiles. If it is a manual transmission pay attention to the clutch, if it is a base Cooper with automatic, skip it because the CVT is prone to problems, if it an "S" it's OK with its' Aisin, but pay attention to the supercharger, could be problems there, check for rust around the doors, make sure it's straight bodywise, all the electrical stuff works, the AC blows cold air, anything odd question the seller, ask to see the service records. Pull a CarFax, and drive it for at least an hour. Check for oil and coolant leaks. Make sure it drives straight with firm brakes and smooth through the gears both up and down.

 

Read this article from MotoringFile; it's pretty comprehensive.

 

Thanks great article you have there,

The main issues it says in '03s are oil leaks with an not to pricey fix, rust near the edges of the doors.

the third downfall is that yes, the Mini is a automatic. What kind of repair bill would incur if the CVT did go south? Is 148000 kilometers high for an 03? and do you think this is a likely occurrence that the CVT would crap? and I should avoid buying the vehicle?

I mean a MINI is a great first vehicle, but i wouldn't want to have a large amount of unexpected costs before I pay off the loan, it would cause great financial strain..

 

There's no "repair" for a bad CVT; you have to replace the entire unit. I don't know offhand what that would cost. Maybe $6-7k? Not cheap in any event.

IMHO, you'd be taking your chances with a CVT with that kind of mileage....

 

Don't buy it ! Please !!!

Look for a Mini S with an auto !

This is what I did ............... Just my thoughts