Glad I found this forum.

Looking at a 140K 2002 MCS. Driven 230 miles round trip commute by a lady who I got to watch drive and she is smooth and easy on her cars. Car not thrashed at all.

Rock chips on paint and glass, disco ball tailights (they have to go!)

Know the owner and want to be VERY fair on a price with him.

Car has sunroof, cruise, climate control, hella driving lamps, 2 sets of wheels (winter and summers), wheel studs, no run flats, Bilstein sports, 15% pulley, intake, conforti, skid plate, recent brakes, new belt and tensioner and harmonic balancer pulley.

VERY well maintained as he owns his own shop.

Any big issues with 140K? It sure doesn't look/ feel like 140K driving it or on a lift!!

Would $8500 be too much?

Ric

 

im not certain, because my region tends to have a price mark up, but i think even for 140k, i would ask around 10, maybe going down to 9. Its totally up to interpretation, but if i was buying it from a friend i would probably offer $9,500. However, if theyre happy with 8500, its a win win! Good luck and welcome to NAM, i'm sure youll like it here!

 

well, at 140K with no problems? and well cared for... I just dont know here. regardless of being pampered, that's a mileage load, averaging 23K/year.

Caveat emptor.

 

as a new member myself I'm glad to hear that the cars will put up with that kind of mileage if cared for.

 

I hear you...that is why I am trying to figure out what it is worth.

I have driven E30's and they never seem to die...but I just don't know mini's or FWD.

Sure is fun to drive!!!

 

the supercharger is good for 100k, something to think about

 

I have read that several times, but never seen a note where anyone had to buy one using the search functions.

Has anyone actually replaced one? What do the cost?

 

What does the owner want for the car? There are/have been 100k + mi. cars on here for sale around the 10k -12k $$. Think of it this way if you can do your own wrenching then putting in a new motor/rebuilding the motor can get you ahead of lower mi. cars for the same $$$. Guessing $4k for a crate motor + $8k for the car = $12k for a car with a new engine and maybe another 100k mi. of motoring. And it may not even need that motor for another 30k mi. ANY used car is a gamble.
Being you "know" the history should give you some peace of mind.

Good Luck

 

OOHH found the crunchy gears / no supercharger lube thread....OW!

I am driving it a second time soon. Will listen to SC closely and pull it and oil it if I get it.

 

this might help

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=high+mileage

 

I had seen that list. Lots of good info!

 

Like any car the MINI will have issues as it ages, just plan the repairs into the purchase price.
supercharger
power steering pump
window motors

 

darned if i can find any post relating to high mileage supercharger failure...i mean actual incidents, not warnings, dark allusions, and hand wringing...

mebbe i'll start a thread and see if anyone has encountered this?

or am i just searching badly...

MythBuster time?

Edit: I got a lesson in search, and found some good ones -- here are two:

Supercharger Failure 2003 MCS (R53)
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=101578
Rattle : Supercharger / Water Pump
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=74674

 

the question i have, is how are you paying for the car? if you're financing it, i think its a bad idea, depending on what amount of time you;re doing it over. point being: you dont want to be making monthly payments on a car with 160K miles on it when it breaks down and needs major repairs, that will put you in a bad spot.

 

How I pay for it isn't much of an issue for me.

The issue is what to factor for likely repairs on a 140000 mile car vs a 75000 mile $13000 car so I can price the "risk" accordingly.

I think when I run it around in my head I end up at $8000 to $8500 and we will see how it runs for the next 100000 miles.

The info on this board and the attitudes are great. Feels like an E30 board!!!

Ric

 

maybe a bit low.

FWIW, a used SC can be as low as $300. A rebuild on a SC that is in good enough shape (no bad water pump gears) is under $500. If you do your own wrenching, you can install it no problem in less than a day. If you're good, a couple hours.

Also, some of the rubber bushings will need some attention, but to be fair, they do on the lower mileage cars as well!

I like the "risk based pricing" and you'll probably have a good deal on your hands.

Matt

 

clutch, dual-mass flywheel, steering rack, all VERY pricey repairs: $4,100 total for my 05 S (under warranty) at 24K miles....

 

on repairs, that's a $15.5k MCS. And for that price, you can buy a used vehicle with not that much smaller a chance that something will happen. You have to take the cost of the repair times the chance it will happen to get the expected lifetime cost of the car. But despite the pessimistic warnings, there's also a chance that it will continue to be relatively trouble free, in which case it the deal of the century!

Matt

 

Thus the joy of pricing out a 1st year car with high miles!!! Kind of a gamble..but I am getting more comfortable with it, of course at the right price!!

We will see if we can get an agreement and if that happens I'll keep you posted as we crank on some more miles.

 

I think of it this way. The car has already gone 140k mi. relatively trouble free. That's a good omen in my book. I would think any first year issues should have already shown up. I think it's a good deal, but then I would be doing my own wrenching.

 

Yup. Agreed. I do most of my own wrenching so that is good as well.

I wouldn't rebuild an engine, but pulling a SC doesn't look that bad.

I am going to be using it much harder than it was used and that may bring on some issues. Who knows? They seem to be pretty tough all in all.

Going to enjoy finding out!!

 

I've got the car for a weekend test drive. Anything you think I should inspect??

I test drove it Wednesday and the SC belt came off of it. Not abusing it, but definitely hammering on it. Had to flat bed it back.

Owner put a new crank pulley, belt and tensioner. The crank pulley was BAD.

The new crank pulley is redesigned. The old one had a fat rubber section. The new one has a skinny rubber section and is almost all metal.

The old one you could deflect by hand very easily.

Something to watch out for if you have the fat rubber insert!!!

Car drives stiff..but that is good. Clutch is really short travel. I am used to E30 and they are just more old school. Stalled it once or twice.

Blower whine is pretty pronounced when you are on it and unobtrusive at cruise.

It doesn't feel that fast and then you look at the speedo and realize you are really moving!!!!!

Rattle in the hatch and rattle in the dash that goes away if you press above the speedo.

Fit three teenagers and me in it with no problems!

I like it a lot!!

I understand why you guys seem so crazy about them!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for all the input. I really appreciate all of it.

Ric

 

Well it is done deal! I am a MCS owner now!

Wonder what will break first?

Wife and kids are already trying to claim it and pick out a roof graphic and stripes for it. Sheesh!

 

Congrats on the "new" MINI!

I'm still searching for mine, be sure to keep us posted on any problems you have. I'm very interested to see how a well kept one holds up to that kind of miles....

You may just convince me to get one with a little higher miles myself.

 

What did you end up paying for it? And the hatch rattle is common. My 05 with half as much mileage has that same rattle.