Leather VS Leatherette
How do I tell the difference? The Owner claims leather.
This 2006 Mini Cooper S has 62000 miles on it.
What would you check (any problem areas?) and how would you check it?

It has a button for either traction control or for dynamic stabilization control. Which is it? I can not tell..

(He is the second owner and has only put 1200 miles since he acquired it).

Owner wants $15,900.. I am offering $14,600 Cash... Seem Fair? It is very clean.

Here is what it has that I can see..
17 inch rims and tires
Panaromic Sun Roof.

Any advice?

Standard stereo

How do I tell what rims it is wearing? Any pattern to look for?

How do you run codes on a Mini? turning the key on and off? Watching for the blinks?

Thank you in advance for any helpful information you may be able to give me.

I will check the basics, (Bent or damaged rims, Oil stick for varnish, Oil and carbon on the exhaust, body panels straight and aligned) but what else?

How do you run codes on a Mini? turning the key on and off? Watching for the blinks?

 

DSC should say DSC, traction control should say ATS.

 

Great!!! I will look for the button when I pick up the car!!!

 

Well, I am heading to work.. Wish me luck, cause in 4 hours I will be leaving work to pick up my MCS! in 6 hours I will be the new owner!!!

I have been up all night researching.. At least I know to look for the Mushrooming Tower and for the DSC label on the Traction Button.

Wish I knew if the interior is really leather. Trusting my gut on that one..

If the MCS has the packages I believe it has, I will be doing alright on the purchase.
Just winging it, but $15,000.00 (nice round number) is the price of becoming a true member of this forum.

I love the amount of information this forum and the internet as a whole provides..

I am ready to claim ownership..

62,000 Miles is Young for a MCS, right?

Hope so...

 

Leather vs. leatherette is pretty different in feel. The leatherette is really nice, but it's definitely, definitely vinyl. The grain is pebbly and obviously fake when you look closely.

Real leather will have real grain and feels pretty different. I don't know how to describe it beyond that. Maybe run over to your MINI dealer and check out leather and leatherette seats there? That's the only suggestion I can think of if you're worried about getting fooled.

 

I've never seen MINI Leatherette in person, but I have seen the leather. It looks and feels like leather. I've seen BMW leatherette, and to me, you can tell on the first touch. My boss has it in his car, but he actually thinks it's leather (bought used). I don't have the heart to call him out (he's so proud of the car), so I just chuckle inside.

My Cooper is the first car I've had in years with cloth, and I'm really happy with it. But I have to admit, leatherette (or leather) kind of suits this car, with the throwback styling and all. But for feel and function, I'm sold on cloth. Not velour (have that in my Laramie Ram), but the rugged denim like cloth in my 2002.

 

If you need to know what the car had on it in the build. You can take the VIN and call a dealer. They will tell you all the options, color, dealer service history, etc..

 

That sounds like a wise idea no matter what.

 

Ferrari,

You didn't say whether it was stick or Automatic. It is the first generation MINI but from what I understand the motors were made by Daimler Chrysler and are supposedly better than the next gen. but the tranny, if it is Automatic you might want to stay away. The CVT is problematic. Otherwise in my eyes you are good to go. All the best.

 

The 2006 MCSa has the Aisin A/T, not the CVT. Not an issue.

 

MINI as well as all other brands/makes of cars made since about the mid 90's are OBDII compliant. You can buy the code readers at autoparts stores, HF etc.
Many autoparts stores will scan for free.
I have this tool but there are many to choose from:
http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obd...ner-98614.html
In store flyer sale was about $90.00
The blinking light codes are old school '80's technology.

 

That's good to know, I read that Gen 1's all might have had the CVT's but whoever stated that is wrong.

 

FWIW I just got a 2005 MCS with a 6 speed and pretty much the same options you're listing that one has having, and 38k miles for $16000. $15000 seems like it may be a touch on the high side for that mileage.

 

Yes, starting in model year 2005 the "S" models were upgraded with the relatively bullet-proof Aisin 6-speed automatic gearbox. The normally aspirated 1st Gen A/T Coopers retained the more fragile CVT throughout their manufacturing lifetime.

 

It is a Manual getrag tranny.. I am almost for positive it has the Leatherette seats, but thank you for the tip on bringing the VIN number down to the dealer.. Great!!! Three hours to go before Ownership...

 

I am a New Owner!!!!
2006 MCS
62000 Miles
The 1,900.00 Sport Package
The Premium Package.
The Chrono Option.
Very fun car to drive.
The Clutch feels stiff, but it is all good.
Runs Perfect.
Looks Perfect.
15,000.00

 

I asked Seattle Mini to run my VIN for the history and they said their policy does not allow them to do that unless you are the original owner. I asked a forum member who claimed he worked at a dealership to do the same to which he agreed since he had done it for others. That was two years ago and I never heard back. If you have a dealership that is willing to do this please tell me which one so I can give them a call.

 

They asked me a few questions, then gave me a report of the build over the phone.
This dealer is 60 miles to the north west of me..

 

Was it just the build or did they give you a maintenance history as well?

 

Just the Build..
The Build did not mention the xenon headlights, nor did it mention the Leather, but I now believe I have the leather, not the Leatherette...

 

Leather has lumbar adjustment, leatherette doesn't (right?).

 

I read and was told that lumbar adjust was an option on all seats and trim. I've also heard it said that lumbar came on all sport seats, but I don't have it.

 

I went to the BMW dealer (Does not sell the Mini) and could not tell the difference from one to the other.. It may be plastic/vinyl/leatherette, but they both look the same. The leather seats in the $80,000.00 M3 what the supple kind of leather that you can not mistake for anything but leather. The stiff, firm leather BMW that BMW sells for $1,400.00 is almost leatherette..

 

It was never an option on cloth and leatherette seats. That's one reason we went for the leather/cloth option, they do come with lumbar adjustment