Possible new mini owner (or my wife at least). She's been itching to get a mini and is thinking about pulling the trigger on an 09 Clubman. I've driven one before (not this one) at an autocross and think they're a hoot. I'm secretly hoping she goes for it.

I do have one concern. The car doesn't have a working stereo. I've been told the unit is there but doesn't power up. This make me think the worse for a used car (flooded at one point) but the carfax doesn't report anything. The dealer is supposed to have bought a replacement off ebay, but that didn't work either. He swears it's radio issue, but I'm thinking it might be some wiring problem under the dash.

I read in some other threads here that the radio is an integral part of the mini's computer system and without a working one things like ECU reflashes, reset and tech updates can't be performed. Is this "bad radio" a possible bigger problem? Are the radio's "keyed" to a specific ECU, so you can't just replace one with another?

I've not see the car myself yet. But I told my wife some places too look for possible signs of flood damage and to try to work ever electric option on the car to see if there are any other gremlins.

If I've posted this in the wrong forum, let me know. I know putting post in the wrong place is a major no-no and I'll re-post where I should.

Thanks. I'm hoping for good news and that I'm probably just paranoid.

 

"Just" the radio? All the other indicator lights are operating? Can you adjust configuration settings through it? On my 2012, there's quite a bit of integration between the radio head and the car's systems, at least w/r/t informational displays, minimally. It's suggestive that the dealer is presenting it for sale this way; were it a cheap/easy fix, they'd have done it already.

Unless this is a screaming deal, and maybe even if, I'd keep shopping vs. bringing this home "as is" and spend $$ or time, or both, trying to chase this down. Just one opinion.

 

Tons of MINIs for sale. Skip unless they fix it.