Is this a good Mini for the value? It is a 2003 black on black MCS with blue on black leather interior . It appears to have the premium, sport, and cold weather package. It is a 6spd manual with 54,256 miles, and the dealer is asking $11,900.
Thanks in advance for any advice, and no one better steal it!

 

Price is ok, not great, mileage good but also not great.

 

Not Great ?

How so ?

7 yr old MCS with less than 60K miles is not bad....and a dealer warranty of sorts. I would rather have one with that mileage than in single digits....these cars melt away if not driven.

And that price is about 1.5K-2K less than they are going for around here ?

I would check the Marketplace here for a used MCS first. Most of the sellers here are better educated in the woes of these cars, and would be helpful having the cars history. Even if you have to drive to pick one up, it would be my first choice.

Good luck !

 

Mileage sounds good to me and the price isn't bad if you have access to carfax, maintenance logs, and it appears to have been well-maintained. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your decision.

 

Not sure of your location but I bought my '04 with all of the above options and 84000 miles for 9500. But the dealer was desperate to sell cars and I found a few minor things wrong with it. 11900 is about what retail price is on KBB try to negoitiate a lower price. Here in Knoxville, Tn there is a dealer advertising an '05 for 12500. not sure on the miles though.

 

Thanks for all of the replies! NAM is by far the best car forum out there, I like it much better than bimmer fest. More info on the car, it is being sold by a small used dealer near Kansas City. I'm thinking he should go down on price too because he's had it for a while. Also, what are any issues in particular that I should look for during the test drive and inspection? I'm able to turn a wrench, so I'm not a complete idiot lol...

 

Here's a list of used Mini purchase questions that may help. Good luck.

 

If you're in KC you may want to check this one out. I was going to test drive it but I ended up buying one out of state.


'05 MCS in KC

 

MotoringFile has a buyer's guide that lists common problems and things to look out for by model year.

http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/

It's a very good reference, IMO.

Good luck!

 

Is it really important to find a MCS with low mileage since it is a BMW made car? I know high mileage on a BMW isn't a big factor because I owned a 1994 BMW 540i with 273,000 miles when i traded it in for my current 2002 BMW 540i with 106,000 miles.

 

I think its a good price and good miles. The miles are an add-on. If its been taken good care of....I think it sounds like a good deal. I have 03 MCS with 50K on it....LOVE IT!

 

While MINI is owned by BMW, and a lot of thier technology goes into the MINI. It is made in the Midlands, and is not as finely tuned as it could be if it were made in Germany.

Still love my MINI, though.

 

i wish i had made it to this forum before I purchased. I would have bought from an individual rather than a dealer. js

 

Price depends on your local market. For example, $11.9k is $300 below Private Party (using Edmunds.com). But in this economy I would start my offer at $10k. If they refuse, just leave your # in case they have a change of heart.

Car history:

Besides CARFAX, write the VIN # and go to a MINI dealer to get a service history. This will tell you how the car was maintained and what was repaired up to 2006 (and warranty repairs to 2007). This leaves 3 years (07-10) unaccounted for. If you can, I would get an indie Mini mech to look it over. Do a leak down test. Check the chassis, suspension components, motor mounts, PS pump & fan, radiator fan. Test drive it to feel the transmission & clutch.

Common problems on 1st Gen Mini:
-Motor mount (pass side)
-PS pump & fan
-Radiator fan (relay)
-Thermostat housing
-LCA bushings
-Strut tower mushrooming
-Supercharger
-Noisy clutch
-Rust along door sill (early models)

 

That price doesn't seen too bad to me. Although you surely can bargain it down some. Like has been said a carfax & taking the vin# to the dealer for a records check is a very good idea. I'd press the selling dealer for an extended warranty too.

Good luck...

 

mine had 51k miles and i got it for 11.9 with taxes and tages. mine didnt have many options though. mine is an 03 as well

 

Seems reasonable. I bought my '03 MCS (38K miles, 6spd, all options but nav, new runflats) 3 months ago for 11,900. In CT they do not have to warranty cars older than 6 years, so I bought a warranty too.

 

This is a great list of questions. Hopefully the dealer can answer them and give you a full maintenance history.

Some things to look out for in the R53 MCS:
* power steering pump/fan
* stripped/leaking oil pan
* front control arm bushings

Cars with lower mileage are easier to sell, so if you have a short commute and plan on selling the car in a few years, go for lower mileage.

As for the BMW build quality, I also have an older model BMW and found that they are reliable especially when the preventive maintenance have been performed (i.e. fluids, cooling and bushings).

Before buying this car, be sure to drive a few other similar year MCS so you can compare drive quality. Good luck.