Hi all
I have been charged with finding a Mini for a friend, The first gen looks best to me and prices are fair.

There are several for sale with kms from 100,000 to 220,000kms on clock.

The car must be a stick, this gal hates auto, sunroof a must.

At what km are major services needed? Timing belt? I dont want to find a car only to find out it needs a major service.

Are there any common problems and when where do they show up? IE Toyota Tundras have a problem in the heater box that is a $1200 fix.
Anything like this to keep an eye out for?

Any weak spots to look for?

Would you stay away from a modded car? to me it says driven hard or possibly tracked?

I can do my own oil,brakes and smaller jobs but I dont have a hoist so new brakes wont sway me on a car, I just need a little help on what to look for.

Thanks

 

Timing chains, and they dont have a history of going bad.

At 100,000 I would do suspension

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ll-joints.html

and power steering lines.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html



Belts and normal wear items should all be done. I would get the car first or find one, see it in person get a PPI inspection , have it up on the rack and make a list.


Major things are Power steering pumps / fan, but should be under MINI canada warrenty.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ring-pump.html

Rust for MINI up north.
2005+ have the longer warranty>

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...oper-rust.html

Superchargers needing rebuilt. they can last past 100,000 miles , and can be serviced as far as gear oil changes.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...on-02-mcs.html


All the others are minor. But with higher miles the clutch / flywheel might need replaced. Most go with the dual mass to single mass conversion from Valeo.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...utch-disc.html

Thanks

 

I found this

http://www.britishamericanauto.com/c...er-Owners-Face

 

Those articles like to mix up models and chassis. One posted above are for the R53 / R52 Cooper S, and to some extent the R50 and R52 Cooper. Since that's what you were looking at Gen 1 MINIs.

 

found this

 

Dave. That's the one. ModMini has everything you need to start.

 

Good video.

 

Don't forget to check out the R53 buyer's guide by MotoringFile HERE. I'd also check out the power steering pump. Check the fan too to make sure it's operating properly. The power steering pump on the MINI is one of those items that seems to have a bad reputation. I'd also check the strut tops for mushrooming as well.

 

All good advice, I did see a fix for the shock towers.

Do these work?

 

Yep! We have a few options here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...pg5.htm#item28 Let me know if you have any questions about either of them.

 

Those are the under-strut towers , another type fix that goes underneath, Our ECS goes on top.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...shrooming.html

 

Cool, I will start to look at cars next week, I've found a few. there is about 75 cars that meet my search needs within a couple of hours driving time. Too cold to look at cars right now -10 C and I'm in no great rush. Just using the time to educate myself more on these cars and current prices

 

Welcome, when you have time to search you can find gems ! Good luck.