It didn't go as planned unfortunately :(

I got to the mini repair shop and the car was already up on the ramps being checked over.

Unfortunately it needed four new tires, new brakes, new control arm bushings for a start. (Tires were down to wire, and the mechanic said they could have blown out at anytime, and front brakes were about shot)

I wouldn't have been able to drive it home without the new tires or brakes for definite.

400 Miles later and back home, pretty disappointed as l had everything in place, and cleaned my garage out ready for it.

Guess l'll just keep looking.

Maybe a bit of Forza Horizon with the classic mini will help

Thanks for all of your advice guys

 

Sorry that it did not work out but I am glad you did not get stuck with many expensive problems.

 

+1
Sounds like the op found a "good one"....
Good non abused, well mataince r53 are becoming rare....

 

Ouch....finished reading the thread....
Just proves that getting a 3rd party involved is worth the $$.
Amazing that the stuff found was not disclosed.......

 

I had a similar issue with the first r53 I drove 5 hours to see, but eventually I found the right MINI. Keep looking you'll find one.

 

Thanks guys, the interior looked like brand new, and the exterior wasn't bad at all, all 4 wheels were badly curbed though.

The mechanic and rest of the staff at the bmw/mini shop were excellent, they let me inspect everything with the mechanic. (He was BMW/Mini factory trained at worked at a BMW/Mini dealership for 11 yrs prior)

He pointed out some other things, and even with the full service history he still urged caution.

Feel like l made the right decision, but pains me when l was that close to getting a R53 after all these years.

 

Guys i need advice also, but not to start a new thread if someone can give me a point.
I found mini to buy, its 03 S manual 6 gears. It have a lot of equipment, navi, heated seats etc.. my concern is 141k miles. Previous owner (1st owner) kept in garage for like year and half without driving at all. His daughter was driving it, but she got a new car and since that moment its in garage. Mini need one good detailing, and some work to be done, steering pump is gone (i found one for 250$ used), also windshield is cracked, driver door have some prob with locking ( common problem as i could could see), i tried it and it goes very good, no any strange noises, clutch is good , but mine concern is high millage. (still dont know what they did on mini since they have it :/ )
price is i think solid, for around 4k i can get it. but still i would like to hear opinions.. i am open for any advice

Thanks!

 

not sure what your budget is but I'd keep looking.

 

Well l have found another, although l really want a 05/06 model.

This one is around 100 miles from me, still waiting to hear back on more information on it, but it's a BRG with white roof and no sunroof with 116k on the odo.

The guy l spoke to said he's selling it at his dealership for one of his friends, so pretty vague on the information so far.

I have the VIN, my question is, from the pictures l have seen the interior looks like an 05 model, so could this 04 potentially have been a late 04?

Hopefully with the changes to the transmission etc..

The VIN is WMWRE33474TD83951

 

seems to be an early 04

 

Thanks Bav, l was hoping it was a later model due to the late steering wheel, guess this could have been swapped out.

 

get a picture of the engine mount style then will know for sure.

 

Here we go

 

It's a facelift!

 

so should be good with the transmission and later supercharger?

 

What's your transmission concern? Are you referring to the gearing change?

 

The 3-spoke Sport Steering Wheel was introduced in December 2003.

Not with a production date of February 17, 2004.

Note the 5-piece dash ...



Complete specs ...

 

I stand corrected.

 

Bummer, l'll keep looking then, really want an 05 or 06 from everything l have read on the changes in the later models.

 

Keep up the search you'll find one

 

Bummer to hear about the first one. For < 6k with dealer records... Sounded like a nice find.. I'm guessing the guy wasn't willing to negotiate enough to help a bit for the cost of tires/brakes/bushings?
Picked up mine for just under 6k, similar specs with maintenance records and such but it needed 2 new tires, new sway bar bushings, and has a minor leak on the thermostat housing... I feel like I got a good deal compared to most of the undocumented maintenance high mileage craigslist finds that were around during my search (used stealerships out here start @ 10k+) but then again SoCal market might be a bit different then where you are located. Though being a big DIY guy little things like brakes/bushings etc. don't bother me, my main concern was the engine/transmission/clutch quality.
I went without a car for about a month after my accident until I found a mini I felt comfortable buying, one will come your way you just gotta keep searching.

 

I searched for over a year because I wanted an un modded r53, those are hard to come by.

 

Thanks guys as always, the search continues.

At least l finally got one Mini put together, and it doesn't take up a lot of space in the garage either

1 part left to put on it (missing from the box, not bad for over 1000 pieces)

 

very cool, wow there's 1000 pieces in that?