Hi guys,

I've been talking with a private dealer about buying a 2005 MCS with about 50k miles. The only kicker is that it was water damaged but they say they fully repaired it. I was would just how much I should pay for it, the dealer has it listed at $9k. It has moon roof, leather 205/45/17's s-lites and I'm pretty sure xenons.

Quoted from the dealer""

"We don't pull a carfax.The reason is that we believe that sharing our repair report with customers is more accurate.This car needed a connecting rod,starter,throttle body.Our warranty would be 30 days bumper to bumper and 12 months on the electrical system."

Let me know what you guys think I should pay for it.

 

Hi, I dont even know how to start to post? just joined can you help me please?

 

Here are some photos

 

You just did. What do you need help with besides this? Spend some time surfing the forums. Do you even drive a MINI and if so what model/year? With that information you can find the forum pages pertinent to your motor.
Had you visited the forum page from the outset you would have seen one, actually the first one, with this description:
1st Gear
New members: make an initial post and introduce yourself as you shift from Neutral to First Gear. Current members: meet some of the new members.

 

I would not touch a flood damaged car with a ten foot pole.

 

Does he actually believe that anything prior to his shop work is not important? That is a 7 year old motor which may actually have some history prior to its dunking. Has it been in a collision? You may never know without that report. My question is what might he be trying to hide and shouldn't his repair work be in addition to the carfax report rather than seperate from? His rationalization sounds questionable in the extreme.

 

Alright soo I should definitely buy my own carfax on it then?

 

I would keep shopping for a non-flood damaged car. Electrical problems may haunt you for the rest of ownership even if it seems fine today, and future resale value will be seriously compromised by the water damaged history this car carries.

 

DITTO X2

 

Runaway!!
waterdammaged means electrical nightmares in the next few months...then rust FROM INSIDE THE BODY PANELS....
The problem with a flood dammaged car is you can make it work for a couple months...but the corrosion keeps going on in a million spots that never got dry....wiring plugs...connections....even if 100% of the wires were replaced, AND the interior....the car WILL rust from the inside out in a few months....
A flood cars only value is the plastic bits, and glass imo.....scrap metal too!!

 

Alright but if I was to buy it how much should I pay for it. I books for $13k retail and private at fair is $10k?

 

Have a reliable third party check it out, if you still want to buy it. I've fine it with cars I wanted to buy and it saved me from buying an A4, which had been wrecked, but that did not show in the carfax. The mechanic I showed it to quickly saw the issues. And they're still making jokes about how bad that car was, lol.

 

Lol alright thanks viper

 

uh, water damaged, i wouldnt spend more than $4k man, at best. maybe more like 2 or 3. 10 is waaay too much dude. for the same $$, you can get an R53 with a few more miles that ISNT water damaged.

also a HUGE RED FLAG if the guy refuses to give you a carfax. im with others, just walk away. check auto trader!

 

Alright I'll just walk away from it sounds like its for the best don't want problems.
Thanks guys for all the help!!

 

Great plan!

 

im assuming you already have a mini, since your on the forum. mind if i ask why the interest in another one? where do you live?

 

I actually don't own one my uncle owns one and they are tons of fun soo I wanted to buy one myself, I live in Maine.

 

Y do you ask?

 

they would have to pay me to drive it off the lot.

Too much risk with hidden damage to electronics that will show up down the road somewhere....

 

Lol yeah I already decided not to buy it

 

just curious. i like cars is all! lol. dunno where in maine you are, or how for your willing to go or travel, but theres tons of coopers in your "area" (i think). i saw at least one or 2 with low miles (50-60k) for about $12k or so, which is exactly comparable to your water damaged mini you checked out.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...adius=500&mmt=[MINI[COOPERS[]][]]&firstRecord=1&Log=0

or spend a few extra bux and get a low miles JCW!
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...erTypes=b&mmt=[MINI[COOPERS[]][]]&modelCode1=COOPERS&sortBy=mileageASC&makeCode1=MI NI&startYear=2004&showcaseOwnerId=0&searchRadius=0 &listingId=326072673&listingIndex=5&Log=0

 

Lol and yeah I'll look at autotrader and I don't really want to travel past Mass mor like inside of 3 hours from Portland Maine.

 

I just helped repair a hydrolocked 2002 Just A Cooper. It needed a connecting rod just as you have indicated. The 2002 engine was replaced not repaired as the damage was too severe to consider just replacing a connecting rod as it actually broke. The MCS connecting rod may have
only bent since it is a forged rod and is stronger than the non supercharged connecting rod. As others have indicated there is the question ongoing damage and problems. For example in the 2002 Cooper the body module lower wiring connector was wet and water logged but did not have obvious immediate problems. However,
the module pins were beginning to corrode when we took it apart. If the title for this MCS is marked salvage or flood then I would say the price is way too high considering what issues may lie ahead.

 

Thanks I've already decided not to bother with it since I don't want a pile of problems down the road