Ive had my eye on this particular Mini Cooper S 2006 at a local Acura dealer.

Ive had the carfax pulled on the vehicle and had a few questions about the car. I found it wierd that the vehicle was leased 2 times. First time was for a short time of only 10 Months.

This got me thinking, was this a car that was used by a car salesman? Was this car a Demonstrator?

I went to my local Mini Dealer to ask them to pull a Service Record on the vehilce and to print out the actual options in the car. To my GREAT surprise, they cant do it!!! Apparently it is illegal to do so in Canada. Im Jealous of your guys in the states, ive read many posts where you guys can get any information you want!

Apparently I have to purchase the car with "blind" faith.

I still have not given up on trying to find out more information on this Mini.

Tell me, what do you guys and girls make of this?
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN

 

maybe the car was a repo? or the person just wanted something different.
I bought mine knowing it had a minor fender bender. the work was done well so I had no problem with it.
if you like it, and it seems like it has been well maintained, go for it.

 

I wonder if a US dealership can look up the VIN and get some info. It doesn't look bad though, but I don't trust CarFax 100%

 

also dont forget that a car fax will only show work done from an insurance claim!
if it was wrecked and the owner paid cash, theres no record

 

Thanks for all the info!

Tomorrow I will try calling Mini Canada and see if I can get some more info.

 

Also, maybe check with some of the Canadian regional forums on here, someone there might have some information or maybe a hookup that allows them to get more info than the dealer should release

 

Ive hit up a few people who work in dealerships so far but with no help.

I do have one friend who is pulling some strings for me in another province!

 

Carfax hasn't been that accurate for several Canadian cars I was looking at. In my experience, you'll get much better information from Carproof. I'd suggest you run one of those since you have the VIN. Other than that, buy it on condition of inspection by your local MINI dealership.

 

Yes, i was looking into CarProof also. I will see what info I can get in the comming days and then pay for the CarProof Report. If I would have known that CarFax was not so thorough i would not have wasted my time and money.

 

Am I naive? Looks like an "OK" Carfax report to me. Is there something wrong if the car was leased?

 

I'm surprised at the fact that there are 2 leasees with that few kms on it. Likely to be a repo or lease return for some other reason. That fact by itself doesn't bother me, as long as it hasn't been in an accident and the inspection comes out clean.

 

I owned an '02 MC for a short time and the Carfax report showed a first lease of 10 months. I was told by a auto salesman I know that it likely was a dealership lease and when the new year cars were available it was turned in and the car sold as a "demo" or "executive car" to the next owner.

 

Get a full mechanical inspection on the car if you decide to get it. Peace of mind and cheap insurance.

 

Its not the fact that it was leased. Its just the fact that the first lease was only 10 Months long. Just shoots up a red flag to me for some strange reason

Yes, my feelings exactly. 2 leases with so few KM

That is good to know!

OH DONT YOU WORRY! That is exactly what i plan on doing. I would just like to know a bit more about the car, thats all. Perhaps even get the whole list of options that are currently on the vehicle. Perhaps that was too much to ask of my Mini Dealer!

 

I purchased a used '05 MCS in Toronto last spring and the CarProof certificate sealed the deal for me. I highly recommend it. If you can get the VIN number off the car in question, that is all you will need. BTW, I have been extremely happy with my car, even though I am the 4th owner.

 

Yup, i already have the VIN

 

I got some info on the car.

Mini Cooper S

Sun Roof
Bonit Stripes
Premium Package
-Heated Seats
-MFSW, Cruise Control
-Integrated Universal Remote
-Chrome Interior Package
-Heated Seats
-Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror
-Automatic Rain Sensing Wipers
-Harmon Kardon Sound System

I found out that the car was purchased in Oakville Ontario at the Oakville Mini Dealer, and there was NO services done to it there. Now I have to hunt down where or if it was serviced elsewhere!

 

Sounds like a nice car my friend. Very important to ensure that all basic services were done to it.

 

What's the integrated universal remote?

 

what if the previous owner did there own service?
I do all my own work on my car, so there is no record of anything done to it, yet it is routinely maintained.

 

My understanding its the garage door opener option that is on the rearview mirror.

Point taken!

 

I got a bit more information on the Mini.

The Acura dealer told me that they sent the car to the Mini Dealership to have some things looked at. 38 900KM on the car (24 000 Miles) They changed the left Tie Rod End, there was a CEL in the dash that was always on, they was a problem with a TPMS, they changed the bushings on the left hand side also. They also mentioned that the car went in 2 times previously for something they called "Mini Mobility"

Sounds kinda wierd they had to change some suspension parts with only 24 000 Miles.

So far, it sounds like it was the Owners (of the garage) wife that had the car for 10 months, then the acura dealership took it back and leased it out to this woman who had it for 2 years 5 months untill she brought it back to the Acura Dealership.

I will get that confirmed tomorrow around 1:00 when the salesman gets to talk to his boss.

At least slowly but surely I am getting most of the pieces of the puzzle. Now I just have to call all 5 Local Mini Dealers and ask them individually if they have this car on file so I can get the Acura dealer to call them and get the rest of the history of the car. There is a Blank from 0 Kilometers to 31000 Kilometers if there is any history to dig up!

 

the garage owners wife probably bounced off a few curbs while parking!

 

I don't know many MINI owners that have the car and the turn it in after such a short time. May be a red flag that something's up with the car. Do a quick look through the faults threads for that generation and check the car out for the biggies. Power steering pump, etc...

 

Ya, probably so i guess. Althought our roads here in Québec have such BAD pot holes i wouldnt be surprised! Im sure we have the worse roads in North America!