40K, premium, sport, cold weather packages, HK sound, manual, 3 months factory warranty left, BMW certified warranty, very good condition in and out, one ball, 15% pully, JCW grill. Price is $15000. Seems like a decent deal to me. Any opinions would be appreciated (I'm supposed to pick it up tomorrow) It will be my first Mini. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

 

Are you buying it from a dealer or the current owner? Was it maintained properly? Ask the current owner or dealer for a copy of all the maintenance records he or she has. Also get a pre purchase inspection by a trusted independent mechanic.

I see you would have the extended warranty but some things are not covered under the warranty and are considered wear and tear items. This is where the pre purchase inspection will help you determine what might need replacing now or in a few thousand miles. You can then determine if it is a warranty item or out of pocket cost. If it is out of pocket you can lower your offer. Think of it like a home inspection. Anything the inspector finds wrong, you usually go back to the seller and ask them to lower the selling price.

This is the procedure I followed when I purchased my 07 MCS w/ 30K last December.

Do your homework on the car, if it all checks out purchase it and have fun!!!!

 

Great car!! Love ours

 

06 is the best of the gen1 hard tops! A much sought after car by mini lovers. Price is for you to decide based up the car's condition....which is paramount!! It seems lightly modded, generally a good thing, and if it from a dealer, with a warrenty (you said BMW certified)...if you are getting it from a third party, and transferring what is left of the warrenty, watch out.....a full inspection would be needed!!

 

It is from a private party. I didn't realize an inspection would be necessary. I'd better think this over more. Thanks for the tip.

 

A lot could happen to a car between getting certified, an owner using it, then selling it. It still might be a good car, just cover your butt.
Remeber, it WAS certified, and you might get the remainder if the warrenty, but it does not nesscarily still meet the certification standards...
It could have been abused, wrecked, or have wear and tear, or things done to void the warrenty...not trying to make you run away, but like any private party, get it looked at, get a second opinion!!

 

Always get any used car you buy inspected by a shop you trust.
Does not matter if it is from a dealer or private party. You need to know what you are buying.

However, 06 is a good year and price seems good if it is a sound car.

 

He used Mini Corsa in LA for his service so maybe I can start there. I'll look into it. Thanks for all your replies........

 

06 is a good year and the price seems fair.
A few common problems with the 06 to inspect.
- Leaking thermostat housing/gasket
- Leaking engine mount (passenger side)
- Worn out front lower control arm bushings

 

The motor mount has already been replaced. I'll ask about the other things. The guy I'm getting the car from is the second owner. He bought the car 10 months ago with 27K and the BMW certified thing. He's been taking it to Danny at Mini Corsa in Los Angeles who I've heard is a straight up guy. The currrent owner whom I've met once and talked to on several occaisions also strikes me as an honest guy. His wife just had her second kid and they said two car seats in the back of the mini was a bit much. He had one in the back when I test drove the car. I met his wife and his dad. I asked his dad if I could trust him and he said yes.....

 

Sorry i LOL'ed when i read this. 06 is a good year. Just to give some insight. Listen for clutch rattle too. Also check under the bonnet while running for a rattle coming from the area of the SC.

 

rhafe, just want to let you know that Minicorsa has high praises around here on NAM. I've taken my '06 MCS to Danny before and he is awesome. That MINI definitely outstanding treatment at Minicorsa!!

If you still decide to buy, remember you can still utilize the warranty services. Oil changes, Inspection 1 (if not done so already), etc. Find out everything that may be an issue and take it to the dealer while it is still in warranty. I'm getting my Inspection I next week (one day before the warranty is over!).

In either case, get all the maintenance records. Try to get the things that the 1st owner did too.

 

Unless the engine mount has been replaced recently, check it again. I have replaced two mounts in under 60,000 miles.

 

04/05/2008 1ST ENGINE OIL SERVICE - FULL MAINTENANCE 10K
01/13/2009 BRAKE FLUID FLUSH - FULL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM 18K
02/09/2010 INSPECTION (I) - FULL MAINTENANCE Plan 27K

 

Ditto. Just replaced ours for the second time at 50,000 miles. Generally, though, the '06 MCS is a great car. We love ours. I drove my brother's 2010 MCS and, believe me, the supercharged engine is vastly superior to the turbocharged one.

 

Picked it up yesterday. Posted a pic in another thread in this forum. Thanks to all for the advice....

 

Congrats!! Enjoy your new car!!

 

Congrats on the new car.
Now we can help you spend money modifying the car.

 

I probably won't need any help spending money, but thanks.