Hi all,
I've had 3 tough months of contimplating this decision to sell my car. I've loved this car more than any other vehicle I've owned. Unfortunately, I need a tow vehicle (my kids and wife have quads, utility vehicle and I have a motorcycle). For now, I have to sell the car and look later down the road at getting another one.

I've truly babied my car, but have also done several standard mods, including:
sway bar
springs
rear control arms
Milltek exhaust
15% pulley
Alta CAI
MTH software
ipod adapter
Team Dynamics Pro Race 1's
Willwood 13.1" brake kit

So, my question to you all...
1) Will I have better luck selling the car, with the stock s-lites and stock brakes? I'm thinking most people don't want a modified car, since they feel it may have been abused (even though that's completely opposite of what I've done).

2) If you were in my shoes, would you put the stock wheels and brakes back on...and sell the PR1's and brake kit seperately for extra cash (not to the buyer of the car)?

I obviously want to get as much as possible for the car, and don't want people looking at it wishing it looks stock. The wheels and brakes are about the only items that don't make it look stock. I might be able to get more out of the sale, if I sell these items seperately.

Thanks in advance!!
Gary

 

Hey there,

It depends on the buyer

If you get someone who knows MINI's and wants to mod the car - a pre-moded car might bring more $$

But to most people a "stock" car is what they want - not something that might have been "raced, abused, etc "

Plus the mods will get you $00.00 extra according to blue book. If it is a trade in the dealer will not pay anything above wholesale book ( normaly ).

So -- if you advertise on NAM or other MINI sites - the mods might bring some extra $$

One option is to leave the mods on - advertise the higher price. Then if the buyer does not want the mods , take them off and sell them seperately.

It's a judgment call - depending on the kind of buyers your ads are attracting.

Hope that was clear as mud

Good luck

 

Thanks for the response. I'm under the same impression...if it's NAM, I'd leave the mods on since they're just the typical mods. However, I'll be advertising in the auto trader where I feel most people will want that "stock" car. I'm sure I'll just pull the wheels and brakes and sell those seperately.

It makes more sense, since I won't get anything extra for these mods if left on the car...plus, it'll appeal more to the "average" buyer looking for a clean stock mini.

Thanks again,
Gary

 

You can't do anything with the 15% or MTH file so if you have all the other parts to put it back to stock. That's what I would do. Then sell the other stuff here on NAM.

 

Hey MINI-HYPE,

If you decide to sell some of the parts off I will be the 1st in line!!!!!
I have all the stock stuff if you dont. I am really interested in your rear suspension bits.
The brakes would be nice too, but I would have to take it easy.....

Let me know, I believe you are in SoCal, as am I. We could do a de mod-mod party.

IM IN!

Jasun

 

Any aftermarket stuff on the car will detract from its value. The masses could care less about it. Go back to OEM and sell the rest of the stuff.

 

Thanks everyone - this gives me confirmation of what I had thought (that I should try to go back to stock as much as possible). The brakes, wheels and CAI are probably the most visible items...so I'll start removing those. I still have the original s-lites, original brakes, original CAI and original pulley (although I'll just leave the pulley on).

As for the exhaust, I *might*consider pulling it off if someone wants to swap their original exhaust plus cash. The suspension, I'll probably leave alone...since I don't want to deal with removing it all and getting camber/caster re-adjusted (but I could be pursuaded possibly).

MTH and catch can, I'll leave on as well...since the MTH is stealth and the catch can is more of a "long term health" item.

motonikki812,
PM me if you're interested in doing anything - there might be something we can work out. I live in Temecula...which is ~50miles north of San Diego and ~50miles south of Riverside.

Thanks all!
Gary

 

I had my modified '04 S on the market for several months with no real interest. It is one of the nicest MINIs around in absolutely PERFECT showroom condition with approximately $6,000 in tasteful accessories (looks like it could have came from the factory that way.) According to the Kelly Blue Book, a stock S in its condition, options, and mileage should fetch $25,600. I was asking $18,900 with no buyers. I've decided to keep it.

 

I had good luck selling my highly modified 1982 VW Rabbit S in 2003
(to buy my MINI Cooper).

But, I went to the local VW dealership parts department
(they know me and they know the car from previous service)
and asked if anyone there was interested in it.
A week later it was sold for $1000 (my asking price) in cash to
someone wanting it for an affordable project car.
That's about 3 times the blue book value of the then 21 year old car.
It has since moved to Arizona and has a new engine, interior, and
aero kit, and has been featured on the Autobiography section of
the vwvortex site:
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...ter_1770.shtml