Hello all, I have been looking for minis for some time, and want to make the the purchase of one soon. I have been looking at less than 100k mile ones recently, however tomorrow will be looking at a mcs 03 with almost 140k. I am mechanically inclined and know what to look for, however what to get your guy's opinion on a mini of this high mileage. I have used this forum before when looking at a mini without cruise control so fully trust everyones opinion here. Thanks!

 

Probably the best method of evaluating a MINI with that many miles, would be to bring it in to a MINI dealer and have them run an inspection. Clutch/transmission and a compression check would be the highest priority. You'll have to pay for an hour's worth of work, but it's much better than thousands of dollars down the line. They may also be able to call up the vehicle's service history as well.

As for what to look for during the test drive, there a number of usual suspects. The transmission/clutch will typically not show many signs of wear until they fail (which is why I recommend an inspection). Listen for a clicking sound in the steering column at low speeds (an expensive fix - possibly a bad power steering pump fan). Play with the steering - Any kind of drift, pull, or loose handling could point to ball joint/rack and pinion issues, among other things. Give the supercharger (R53) or turbo (R56) a workout by bringing the engine up into the 3-4k rpm range. Any weird or inconsistent noises may be indicative of a problem there. Run-flat tires are crazy expensive, so make sure they are in decent condition.

That's all I can think of atm, but I'm sure others will have more ideas. Hope this helps! Just be sure to do the research before jumping in, and have fun!

 

I agree, drive it like you stole it. Scare the crap out of the dealer/owner for 10-15 minutes. Anything ugly usually starts to show. Check the carbon buildup on the exhaust tips afterward, Make sure it isn't blowing fuel. Look at where they park it. That is usually a really good sign. Oil spots, etc are a dead giveaway.

 

Thanks guys, Ill be sure to check out that steering noise, it is at a buy here pay here lot so even though they say "its safety checked" I wont believe it. Does anyone know if there is an average lifespan mile wise for these cars? I know anything can last forever when properly maintained, but still such as in a Reatta with the 3800 buying one with 180k miles wont bother me, but just dont know with these minis yet

 

With my own experience in looking at older MINIs, condition varys widely. As with any used car, condition relates to each individual owner, but with MINIs, they seem to be in fantastic shape or complete trash, with very few falling in between. They are very reliable and long lasting vehicles, but they are sports cars and require more attention to preventative maintenance. That's something a lot of owners miss.

My 02 R53 is in great shape, but I did have to get a new clutch and flywheel after I purchased it (it had around 140k miles at the time).

 

On the flip side, my '02 R50 that was purchased in Feb had 38.8k miles on it but has since had $11k worth of work at the MINI dealer. So much for a low-mileage, cherry car. Now it has been nearly completely redone, so no reason to get rid of it. Luck of the draw sometimes.

 

hm alright....It was not as in good as shape as described, there appeared to be nothing wrong with it mechanically, however the passenger seat is stuck (saw something online about reseting it?) and the passenger door lock actuator isnt working, luckily that is covered in the warranty that I had the dealer include with the price. I still have to think if I want to spend $9k on a vehicle with that high of mileage