Hey everyone!

I'm looking to get my first Mini (eyeing a single-owner, manual 05 Cooper S with around 75K miles).

I'm looking at the Carfax though and wondering if I should be worried. A few things concern me:
1) The first oil change listed was at 38K miles. Maybe the owner did them himself, or given that this is 5 years after purchase, he got the package for Mini to do them and Mini just never reported them.
2) The not very consistent oil changes (or should this be OK?).
3) The number of minor repairs done- is this indicative of an 'abusive' driver? Or did this Mini just have lots of things to replace? Either way, should I be worried?

When I inspect the car, anything I should be looking for in particular? Anything to note? This is from a used car dealership (who is including a 6-month bumper to bumper warranty, not sure yet what is or isn't included).

Below is the pertinent info from the Carfax- including everything listed except inspections, title/registration items. Some items don't have dates.

8/18/2014 - 26 miles
First owner gave it the title


12/22/2009 - 37,946 miles
Recommended maintenance performed
Steering/suspension checked
Valve cover gasket(s) replaced
Tire(s) replaced
Washed/detailed
Oil and filter changed
Engine mount(s) replaced

01/22/2010 - 39,182
Recommended maintenance performed
Tire(s) replaced

05/29/2010 - 41,342
Recommended maintenance performed
Oil and filter changed
Fluids checked
Wiper(s) replaced
Washed/detailed
Air filter replaced


04/18/201 - 48,798
Recommended maintenance performed
Oil and filter changed
Wiper(s) replaced
Fluids checked
Brake fluid flushed/changed
Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed


08/26/2011
Recommended maintenance performed
Oil and filter changed
Safety inspection completed
ABS system checked

02/23/2012 - 59,753
Recommended maintenance performed
Oil and filter changed
Wiper(s) replaced
Fluids checked
License plate light bulb(s) replaced
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Brake pads replaced
Brakes checked
Air filter replaced


08/07/2012
Oil and filter changed
Window motor(s) replaced
Fluids checked
Safety inspection completed

12/15/2012 - 68,196
Power steering hose(s)/line(s) replaced
Oil and filter changed
Brake pads replaced
Brakes checked

12/21/2012 - 68,510
Lower control arm(s) replaced
Four wheel alignment performed

02/06/2013 - 69,046
Recommended maintenance performed
Rear shock mount replaced
Rear shock absorber(s) replaced

07/17/2013 - 72,346
Oil and filter changed
Fluids checked
Maintenance reminder reset

08/31/2013 - 73,759
Light bulb(s) replaced
Safety inspection completed

03/03/2014 Vehicle offered for sale
03/05/2014 Vehicle offered for sale

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a lot, and I hope to be visiting this forum a lot more often!!

 

I don't see anything worry some....
Many folks lived MANY HOURS away from a dealer....so the fact there is no records for the first few years IMO does not mean much....heck...many smaller shops did not report data...some still don't...
I don't see anything worrisome.... Seems like typical stuff.

 

Thanks for the reply.
So it's not unusual for it to have gotten new engine mounts, valve cover gaskets, suspension components, window motors, shock mounts, shocks, and steering components? That just seems like quite a few things to need replacing for even a 10-year-old car.

 

Engine mounts care only good for 35,000 miles or so in my experience....crappy design.. But if ignored it can cause clutch issues...so good to to see the shop spotted it...many places that do not know mini's would miss it...
I did my struts/shock around 40,000....
Nothing is screaming abuse...heck seems well cared for as opposed to neglected...
I would still look closely....an inspection on a mini is a good thing...a Carfax only tells you so much...

 

The dealership charges an additional $500 for "mechanic's inspection", which is unfortunately not optional. That is oil change, fluid change, checking all the necessaries, etc. I'd love to be able to choose my own mechanic though, preferably one who specializes in European cars, but I doubt that will be allowed because I know the dealership may be making money off that $500.

Is there anything in particular I should ask to be carefully inspected or looked at during this inspection?

Thanks!

 

Sounds like a ripoff....a prebuy inspection should be about $150....
Warning.....sounds like they a subdizing the sale or "warrenty" with a "inspection" you pay for....
I would tread VERY carefully....
Guessing from the repairs on the Carfax, the common stuff were done by the shop as a matter of routine....but a place that told me it would cost $500 for an inspection and an oil change, and service that should have been done when THEY GOT THE CAR would make me walk out the door....
They are just trying to get you to pay their $$$ to do business....hopefully they will not then charge you a document fee, an advertising fee, etc....
My gut says there are better folks to deal with.

 

Having recently purchased my '08 used, and having looked at many Carfax reports, nothing on the one you noted would scare me off. As others have said, many shops don't report things like oil changes that carfax picks up - so the prev owner could have used a variety of places for regular maintenance. The things that did start to get tracked seem typical - and things that had been replaced on my '08 over the years. I was fortunate that I purchased my Mini from a Mini Dealer who did a detailed inspection as part of the sale price, and replaced several wear items before I picked it up. If you're uncomfortable about the shop where you're getting it from, insist on the ability to have a 3rd party inspect it on your behalf. Better to be safe up-front than sorry later on.

andy

 

I would tread slowly...I purchesed my 06 MCS JCW in Kansas from a private party and took it to a Mini dealer where I paid just under 90$ they did the oil and filter change and did a full vehicle inspection free of charge gave me an itemized list of things that needed to be done...I had them do some of the important work and had an extra 1k taken off my purchase price.

just my 2 cents.

a lot of people out there will try and scam you so be careful.

 

that carfax looks fine to me, the first dealer inspection is around 36k miles. also if a motor goes 36k miles without an oil change, you have a magical car. it would be best to have somone like a mechanic look at it

 

You start with checking the front control arm bushings on these cars, if all the other basics are good (the car runs, drives, sounds okay, no tailpipe smoke).

I would bet the oil was change during the first 38k mi since the car was under warranty at the time (but probably only twice since the BMW service interval is 12k -15k mi. ). The owner subsequently change the oil much more frequently than the service recommendation, so he/she took good care of it, so you should be in good shape with the motor.

a $500 mandatory inspection fee? someone is just ripping people off at that point....

 

Looks to me like the car may have had 2 previous owners. The first owner got maintenance somewhere other than the dealership. At least that's what I would hope. If the first oil change wasn't for 38,000 miles seems like the car would have had serious mechanical issues by now; but the car would have warned them that maintenance is due every time it was started up, right? At least my 2009 warns me at startup and then leaves a triangle with exclamation mark symbol on the digital display.

If there was a second owner like I suspect, they appear to have really cared for the car. Frequent oil changes and getting suspension parts replaced that the typical driver would not have even noticed there was a problem, like the control arms. The average driver would not notice that the control arm (bushings) were worn. Also a coolant flush is not something an average driver would do. On the 2009 the coolant flush is never recommended (lifetime coolant).

So I would only be concerned about that first 38,000 miles. It's unknown but I am assuming the car has been well cared for otherwise it would have more serious problems by now. I would still get the car inspected if you can, or at least get a friend to look at it who is very familiar with that model, what it should sound like, and what the possible problems are, how it should shift. Do some searching on R53 problems. I think the automatic transmissions have had some issues. Good luck.

 

"12/21/2012 - 68,510
Lower control arm(s) replaced
Four wheel alignment performed"


I'm guessing they meant control arm bushings, but I would check about that.
If they really replaced the control arms, then they were probably bent from an
impact or accident, unless they felt it was easier to replace the arms and the
bushings (and maybe ball joints) together as a unit.

 

Ber the shop bought them with the bushing prepressed.....fairly common.

 

12/21/2012 - 68,510
Lower control arm(s) replaced
Four wheel alignment performed

02/06/2013 - 69,046
Recommended maintenance performed
Rear shock mount replaced
Rear shock absorber(s) replaced

Re-reading this, something stands out... Were both lower control arms replaced or only one. Were both rear shock absorbers and mounts replaced or only one side. If both sides I wouldn't be concerned, but if only one side then maybe the car had a minor accident. When I was younger I was swerving a car without DSC and lost control and both front and rear right side wheels slammed into the curb almost simultaneously. I had to have suspension components replaced on the right side of the car only. I forget if the two wheels were replaced or not. I had pretty wide tires on. The car was fine afterwards though.

As a side, looks like the car will need the brake system bled as it's been 3 1/2 years since it was last done.

 

If possible i would find an independent mechanic, that knows mini's and have them give it a once over.