Hi all,

This is my first post to the forum and a long one so please forgive me, but I really could use all of your expertise. I am finally ready to buy a used MCS and I found one that I am interested in. Its a 2003 MCS with 53K miles on it. Cosmetically it is very good, but I am also more interested in its mechanical condition. The car is being sold by a independent dealer. They have the owners manual and provided me the carfax, but they don't have service records. Anyway, I looked at the car and listened to it at idle yesterday - did not drive it yet - and have some questions about what I observed. I would really appreciate your input on the item listed below. Thanks in advance for any information.

Oil Dipstick: The first thing I did was pull the dipstick to see what the oil looked like. Problem is I have never seen a dipstick like th Mini's . There was some oil on the stick, but I could not tell whether the level was full, medium, or low. I expected to see more oil on the stick.
Air Filter: The stock air box was replaced with a K&N Typhoon Intake (part no. 69-2021). Besides wondering what other mods may have been made to the car, what does this part actually do?
Engine Noise: I started the car and listened to it at idle for about 10 minutes. Idle speed was about 900 RPM. The engine made a somewhat loud and constant diesling or knocking noise? Is this noise normal at idle? I did press the accelerator to bring the RPMs upto 2250 - 2500 and noise was much less prevalent. Could the noise have something to do with the K&N Air Intake mod? It was not a whining or tapping noise.
AC Noise & Smell: While I let the car idle I turned on the A/C to see how well it worked and the load it put on the engine. The AC was cool but not cold. In addition, though while the AC was on I got out of the car and could smell something burning right over the top of the engine manifold - smelled like fluid burning. But, when I turned the AC off I did not smell the burning. Any idea what could be burning only when the AC is on? When the AC was on I also heard the cooling fan (radiator fan) cycle on and off. It made a increasingly loud whining noise when coming up to speed - kind of sounded scary like something was going to detonate. And it cycle about every two minutes. Again the car was idling when I was doing all this. Is that noise and cycling of the fan normal?
AC Condensation: While I ran the AC for about 5 minutes total, I noticed that quite a bit of condensation dripped onto the floor of the shop - maybe 1/2 pint or a little more, and it dripped right under the middle of the engine just behind the radiator. Not that you measure the condesnate that drips out of your Mini's, but does that sound like a lot for just 5 minutes of running the AC? Is that the normal area where the condensate drips - middle front of the engine - on most cars it is to the side and rear of the engine?

 

Wish I could help more, but here goes...

- I get no strange burning smells when runing my Mini, a/c on or off.
- a/c normal to condense and drip, can't remember where
- My cooling fans are pretty quiet, quieter than my wife's '01 VW Cabrio, and that's pretty quiet
- oil dipstick shows oil at the hash marks, try touching a clean white paper towel to see what shows (or accidentally do what I do and touch your clean white shirt :(. May have low oil level there.
- Engines make ticking noises, that's the injectors firing, but it's subtle

 

I think before you do anything, take the car to a reputable independent shop (familier with MINIs, or BMWs) or mechanic and have a pre-buy inspection done. It may cost you a few dollars, but well worth it. That would give you a good idea if there is anything out of the ordinary, and if so, what it will cost to fix.
Take your list of questions with you, and make sure you get a write up from the mechanic doing the inspection. If there is anything amiss, it can give you a bargaining chip with the dealer. Either they fix, or reduce price so you can get it done.
The dipstick is like a little honeycomb. The oil should be at the top of the honeycomb (least it is on mine).
All the K&N does is increase airflow into the engine, and provide the owner with a 'washable' filter. Just because the filter has been upgraded, doesnt mean anything else has.
A little ticking of the fuel injectors is normal. Is it ticking or knocking?
The noise should not be related to the K&N filter, unless the stock filter muffles engine noise better??? I have a K&N and my engine purrs.
A/C systems cycle, and if the charge is low, it will cycle more. Ice builds on the evaporative core, (which is increased with humidity in the air), and will drip under the car periodically. How much, well with the dry air here, not much...somewhere like the south...could be more. The A/C shouldnt smell. Maybe the engine was detailed, and they sprayed something over it to make it look nicer, and its buring off??? Have no idea. When my cabin filter needs replaced it smells like gym socks inside the car.
Just have a mechanic go through it and answer everything you may have questions on.
Good luck to you!

 

Is this car being sold by private party, used dealership or MINI dealership?

OOPS: Just noticed you said "independent dealer".

Do you have a MINI dealer that's local?

Get the VIN # and contact MINIUSA for service history.

Check the front struts for mushrooming!

Get a detailed list of mods that are on the MINI.