Hi all, I've found these forums incredibly helpful this past week or so. Way too much information to take in all at once.

I'm going to look at a 2006 MCS today and wanted some things that I should look for. This will be my first MINI and I'm very excited and want to make sure I don't overlook something.

Here's my current list
- radio / speakers
- power windows and mirrors
- sunroof
- strut towers for mushrooming
- leaky valve gasket

When I bought my 67 beetle there were so many things I learned the hard way and I regret not asking on a forum first. I'll take any advice you have.

 

leaky power steering lines, leaky oil pan gasket, leaky crank sensor gasket, leaky engine mounts, leaky/torn lower control arm bushing. The leaky oil pan and bad LCA bushing are expensive to fix it you go to a dealer.
Rust around tail lights, lower door panel, door sills, hatch around license plate trim
Rust on coil pack terminals.
Rusty exhaust components, the stock muffler and resonator tend to rust out in areas that use road salt.
Any Check Engine Light, EVAP codes are pretty common
Serpentine belt should be in good condition, should have been changed by now.
check power steering fan, these tend to fail and take out the pump.
The passenger seat airbag light should not be on. These tend to fail and it costs $1000 to fix.
If the ride is harsh then the struts are likely done for in addition to the LCA bushing above. The front anti-sway bar bushings wear and can cause a clunk.

Mushrooming towers are very common but an easy fix, so I wouldn't rule out a car for only that. You can massage them back with a mallet, change the strut bearing and add plates or strut tower defenders to stop it from happening again.

Rear brake calipers are expensive to replace, so make sure they are not sticking. There is no issue with MINI ones in particular, but 8 year old rear calipers in salt areas are nearing the end of their life.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of that. I have a lot more look at now!

 

Look for rust under the passenger door weather strip, check the passenger footwell for dampness if it has a sunroof, sometimes the water channels will come off and let water in damaging the BCM, if the passenger airbag lite is on is due to the weight mat sensor, is required by law in the states, mine was on and I was able to have it turned off with NCS expert or whatever the name is, cheap and the airbag will still work but regardless of the person weight ( kits) but if you have to fix it with a new seat bottom it will cost you.
Try to get some info on the car like service history if any parts were changed at a dealer within the last 2 years and the fail again there is good chance that it will be covered under your ownership, it did with me

Check that your two stage radiator fan is in working order when the car is on turn your AC on and visually check that the rad fan is working, also the PS fan as mentioned above, if the low speed fan isn't working the very loud high speed fan should come on and off for a few seconds at a time, that means that the fan resistor is gone, search NAM for the fix, if non of the two speeds are working you need a new fan or a new fuse :-)

Check that all of the lights are working, switches etc, check the battery compartment for water etc is it is an S

 

A couple of things I additionally from the mentioned above that I looked for when I purchased mine was:

• Coolant tank condition - they tend to turn yellowish in color and then you have to replace them before they crack.
• Service records
• Pull mini records for any recalls still pending, if any.
• Take it to a trusted shop and have them give it a once over. Cost me 110$ but it came with a clean bill of health which made me feel WAY better about my purchase.

All I can think of at the moment,

 

Check battery compartment in the boot for general condition and water/moisture. Movement/recline of seats.

 

This is really great info. Thanks to all of you for providing me with this.

 

I have some questions.

What's the best way to check for a leaky oil pan gasket and crank sensor gasket. I'm fairly certain I know where they're located, just not sure how to check them.

 

You'll have to get under the car and you'll see ion a second, although sometimes and Crank positioning sensor O ring maybe to blame for oil in this area, change the O ring regardless it will leak anyways

Oil pan
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W1UXO940yLY

CPS
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Km4VJhOiFgE

You tube is your friend :-)

 

The big three repairs/maintenance these mini's usually need are:
1. Clutch (mine lasted to about 180k or so)
2. Power steering pump.
3. Supercharger.

See if any of those have been done which could save you a lot of money later.

 

I went through everything you guys said. The car had been garaged it's whole life and was never driven in the winter due to them having a 4x4. Everything was in tip-top condition and while the bottom of the car is damp with oil everything else seemed to check out.

I am now a mini owner and loved all 85miles on the drive home. Thanks to everyone who chimed in, you were all more than helpful. I'll post pics later.

 

Congrats let's get a picture

 

You got yourself a gem. If you ever consider a mod a 22mm rear swaybar will transform your R53 into a perpetual grin machine. Congrats

 

Here's a quick photo before it gets dark. A couple of bugs hit the bonnet. Gonna have to clean it this weekend.

 

Is that royal gray ? Awesome color!

 

Yes it is. I'm loving the grey with the silver roof.

 

Nice!!!!

 

Congrats! Nice color combo too.

LET THE MODDING BEGIN!!!

 

Good for you. My 2005 has been nothing but trouble. I hate it.

 

Nice car. Congrats!

 

Nice car. That was the original color I tried to get when I bought my '06. Ordering had been stopped a few days prior. I guess the cool thing is my car was built in the last 2 weeks ever for the R53

They are great cars. I actually use mine in winter but never more than once or twice. I wash under the car and keep it in the garage. I don't have a spot of rust on it.

 

Very clean looking car and unique color combo. Well done!
Hope it's everything you expected.

 

Very nice looking MINI, enjoy!

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed my MINI this past week. The car is too much fun, just wish I lived in an area with more curvy roads.

Last weekend I found 3-5 sharp turns that I took again today... with more aggression. I could feel my body being pushed into the bucket seat and when I was through my left side was tingling.

My Dad was riding with me and was like woah, that was fun.

I've never been in a car that felt like that.

I'm very pleased with everything about the car. The only "modification" I've made is adding the auxiliary cable to the dash just below the toggle switches. Does this qualify me as a modder?

 

puts you in the "dorky cheapskate" mod category, yes
(theres like a 15 page thread on that somewhere).

take some kiwi black shoe polish to those wheel arches; bring the black back to them. theylll look great again; brand new. really make that gray pop!