Hello everybody!
First of all, I am glad to be part of this forum, I had been reading you guys a lot and is plenty of very useful information.
I am not yet a MINI owner, but I am planning on entering this world soon.
Particularly, I got my eyes on a 08 Cooper S Sidewalk Edition with slightly more than 50k miles, and I fell in love with the car interiors.
At the beginning I was about to run away from this purchase, as I started to read all the issues of the turbocharged engine, and I honestly do not have thousands to spend in repairs, and I need the car as a daily driver...then I arrived here and found out that actually convertibles in 08 were still mounting the less troubled supercharged. Correct??
I still have to sort out though, why do I see some 08 sidewalk (or convertibles in general) around the web with the small tachometer on top of the steering wheel, while others have the big, central tachometer (the one I am interested in is the latter)?
The seller does not have records of maintenance for the car (although I am pushing to have at least some printouts from the mechanics he used to go), but the Autocheck is clean (apart probably a missed recall about the airbag sensor, that should still be covered since it is a recall, isn't it?).
Do you have any other suggestions on what to check before buying on these cars? I was thinking on investing in a $270 pre-purchase inspection at a MINI dealer...do you think is worth to go to MINI, or I can go to another mechanic at a cheaper price and obtain the same information?

Thanks in advance for welcoming in your forum, I apologize for the storm of questions

Hope to be soon part of your community

Cheers

 

The PPI would be good insurance and good idea of problems it may have (and can see what has been done). Convertibles stayed on Gen 1 platform until 2009 so your is supercharged car. In the facelift cars (2005 up) there was an optional guage package (Chrono package) that put speedometer and tach in front of steering wheel (like it had if it had Navigation package) and substituted guages in the center stack versus a Nav unit/speedometer.

 

The cars with double gauges on the steering column have the Chrono or Nav option packages. My vert does not have either so I have the single gauge on the column. Never really thought about any issues with this set up as all my other verts had the speedo in front of the wheel (the vets had the HUD). The issue with the single gauge on a Mini vert is that when you have the top down on a sunny day the LED read out that can show MPH is washed out by the light. You either have to remember what RPM is what speed or keep looking at Big Ben in the middle of the console. This is a PIA that R50 and R53's have little knowledge of. If I could do a Chrono refit I would but Mini makes it so difficult it is out of question for most. I have thought about putting some colored dots or tape strips on the gauge face for help but with a manual, the face could end up looking like it has measles.

On a Gen1 car just about regardless of the mileage the crank sensor o-ring is probably shot due to the age and the oil affect. This less than $10 ring can cost $300 in labor as you have to take the front end of the car off to service. At 70,000 you should review the water pump, thermostat/housing, the belt and belt tensioner. Over 100,000 the crank pulley, head gasket, clutch and suspension parts are all reaching life span. I will not buy a Gen1 Mini automatic. There is guy here with 45,000 miles, paid 6k for the car, owes 3k and the automatic went out.

As will any car, there are lemons and there are diamonds. In the shop every other week or never in the shop at all. With a Mini, the smile it puts on your face sometimes comes with consequences. Like Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations".

 

One more thing is the motor mounts, specifically the passenger side. I've owned two MINIs and on both, the upper, passenger motor mounts only lasted about 40K. Easy to replace, but something to be aware of.

 

Thanks all for the great suggestions!
Looks like these so fare are quite standard mechanics, do you think there is an added value in bringing the car to an official MINI dealer for the PPC, or I can just go to a regular mechanic and have the car checked?
How about the top? I read that some convertibles have common tearing spots (that can be covered to avoid the tear with time) but I cannot find the post anymore and I don't remember if that was for the R53 or for the R56
Thanks again for the hints!

 

Having a good MINI mechanic review the car is always worth it. The key is having somebody that know Minis to look at the car.

 

Hi all,
best PPI spent ever! Came out the car needed about $5k of work on it (among which a new clutch), plus some minor cosmetics issues.
Oh well, bittersweet feeling letting the car go
I think I will start my new quest for another cabriolet soon.
I think I should try to stay far from the CVT transmission right?
I am currently looking into 08 cooper s convertible automatic and I think those have Asin instead of CvtS?

 

Kind of a shame, Sidewalk is a reasonably limited edition. Of course, without knowing the price, hard to tell how bad the $5k of work is, or if that is a dealer price or a price at an indy.


Wasn't the seller willing to negotiate some based on the PPI?


AFAIK, both R52 and R57 have 6 speed auto boxes. I have had an r56 with auto, and while it is a good auto, not nearly as much fun as a 3 pedal manual.


Regards,
Jerry

 

There is a guy here now with the Aisin that died with 40k. Paid $6k and still owes $3k. Was quoted something like $4,500 to repair. I think the deal with the auto is changing the fluid. Somebody should chime in.

I for one will not buy a used euro car with an auto.

 

Allright,
I think I will take the suggestion and avoid automatics.
I understand that it is a biased perspective, but after I had been for 30min in the Service are of the Mini dealership, and saw the face of people with a "new transmission needed" bill...I think I will pass