So before I purchased my Mini I had no idea of all of the issues they have had. When I bought him the car had 14,500 miles and I bought him in April 2015. Since the purchase I've replaced all the run flat tires, engine mount, got an alignment, front brake pads and rotors replaced, 2 oil changes and am now being told by the local shop the thermostat is leaking and the power steering hoses need to be replaced. The bill seems to be going up and up and at this point I'm wondering if I should just look at getting a new Mini.

I have no idea if I should sell it outright or what I would get. He was garage kept, all service done at the dealership, with the exception of the last oil change, pads & rotors, engine mount. With regards to the thermostat I've just pulled out the car fax report for him and the thermomstat was just r placed in 2013 so supposedly it needs to be replaced again with the car having such low miles?

The car looks brand new and has the leather seats, navigation system and only 28,000 miles. If I finance for 4 years with the cash I get from selling my car payment with be around $$210 a month. I feel horrible even considering selling him but I know absolutely nothing about cars as I'm a woman and after ready my about all the issues they have am wondering what everyone else would do if you didn't know how to fix your mini's .

 

Sounds like some typical maintenance and wear and tear items, thermostat and steering lines aren't costly, either diy or find an Indy shop. Let's be realistic, you bought it with 145k miles what did you expect?

 

Hi, I purchased it with 14,500 miles not 145,000 it only has 28,000 right now

 

My mistake! Wow where did you find that? Well if it helps those are the typical failure items. The engine mount is surprising with such low miles though.

 

I uploaded photos of the condition which is excellent, old lady never drove it so the car was 10 years old with 14,000 miles. I only drive 6,000 a year so that's where are at now. I'm just trying to be realistic as I don't fix cars on what I can expect. I have someone who is going to give me a second opinion on the power steering cables and thermostat which was just replaced in 2013 so I'm assuming it needs to be replaced again (so this will be twice in four years - which to me is ridiculous) Before I chuck a bunch more money into it I'm trying to figure out what I should expect.

 

It will be much cheaper to fix it than to buy a new car.

 

+1
And this time use a higher quality aftermarket gasket on the thermostat housing so you can forget about it.

 

Did you get the price from a dealer or an independent shop? Low miles are one thing and age is another when it comes to rubber and gaskets. The power steering hoses have had oil in them for allot of years. There are three ps hoses and usually not all of them are leaking. Usually its the two that are connected to the filler tank at the back of the engine compartment and then allot of times its only the large one that goes to the ps pump. A dealer will want around $700 to replace all the hoses and probably another couple hundred for the tstat. An independent shop should be less and a good one will only change the ps hoses that are truly bad.

Another item to watch for is the crank sensor o-ring that is a $5 part but you need to take the front bumper and radiator off to access it. Relative to the brake pads, cars that sit build up rust on the brake rotor that then destroys the pads.

You have a nice low mileage mini and from the pics it appears to be in a non winter area of the country. I can do my own work, you cannot, so if you are set on selling it, suggest you forego any more work, put it on Craigslist. Kelly Blue Book (KBB) will give you a good idea on what the car is worth, in the $6k range. Most people selling a car have a hard time accepting the KBB price, but most buyers will go by it. You should also post the car here as most here knowing the car should give you more than the guy on the street and KBB. The dealer is going to give you about $4500 regardless what their math says.

 

So the Indy place that worked on him before quoted me a grand for the ps hoses and thermostat. They also wanted to charge me $90 to replace the cabin filter (which I've bought and done myself as no tools are really required ) and I've purchased the air filter which they wanted to charge $90 to replace (haven't decided yet if I'm going to have a go). The brakes has ONLY just started to squeak so I find it hard to believe the rotors needed to be done. I had a peak thru the wheels and they were nice, flat and smooth without any wearing or ridges that I could see but I don't know if that means anything. They are also now saying the rotors are 4 mm on the back so I guess they want to replace those also so another $500. It says brake fluid 2% so that's something I can do so should I buy the authorized mini brake fluid and add some in. Sorry, this is probably kindergarten stuff but I'm willing to learn and check things once I know what I need to check. I also saw the snorkle hose has a slight tear but when I find someone to replace the air filter etc as they are all connected I'll have them do the snorkle hose. I think the thermostat is also connected to all that so if it needs to be done will have it done in one go.

I love my mini and wanted one since they first came out. I lived in.london for 10 years and was finally able to buy one when I moved back. I REALLY want to keep the one I have now so maybe will get everything fixed and if the bills start rolling in after will post him for sale on here. I want someone that would appreciate him to have him and won't just hand him over to anyone if I decide to sell. You guys here on the board will get first preference! ����

 

Sometimes those PS line leaks can be easily / temporarily fixed. Get some stainless steel expandable strap style hose clamps, preferably not the typical wide ones....cut off the OEM hose clamps, and use the new ones. The rubber hoses can become soaked and expand causing leaks. Installing new expandable clamps can remedy that w/o replacing the lines. Then TOP off the Power Steering fluid tank....it's the black one up against the firewall.

If you have that brownish looking leak stuff at the right front area under bonnet - that would be the hydraulic engine mount. Those are an easy swap, just be careful of the black engine ground strap on that same aluminum bracket when removing / installing the ground strap nuts....the studs will snap off easily.

NICE MINI BTW !

GL!

 

Thermostats are somewhat tricky to replace, there is no short cut to access its location requiring parts to come off. Purchase OEM kit, it comes with new gasket.

Maybe join local MINI club, see where they are taking their MINI's for service if a dealer is not close.

 

Thankyou. I waited a LONG time for him and get upset just thinking about getting rid of it. I just wish I knew more about cars and that I could do some of this myself and should have taken auto shop in school. I was looking at other vehicles in case I did have to get rid of him but can't see myself driving any other car. I feel like an idiot but talk to him when I get in and leave. Lol. So is the hydraulic engine mount the same as the engine mount? If so I had that replaced 6 mos after I got him. I didn't but the OEM part but a German part that was supposed to be more durable then the factory part. I hope I made the right decision.

 

Everything is more durable than the OEM engine mount, you're alright on that one.

 

YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TWO YEARS! It is a beautiful loaded S. It has the rare chono package, strong W11 engine, High end wheels.
Maintaining a car is never a sweet pill, but once it is sorted out and properly maintained, it will last over 300K miles!
The thing to really do for it, is automatic transmission service, changing the trans oil (use redline synthetic) and a new trans filter. This is important, but dealer tells you it needs no service, so you will need to go to a good indy shop, that knows Mini Coopers.
She needs your love and she will last!

 

I decided I'm going to keep him as I can't part with it. I also found someone to work on all of the issues I'm having and am going to order the parts I need. So just to be clear there are no other options for the thermostat housing so I have to purchase the crappy plastic oem one? For some reason the o ring is missing off my power steering cap so I'm going to order one to see if that is where the fluid is coming from. I'm also going to buy Zerex G-05 and top it up a bit to see to see if the thermostat is indeed leaking, can I just pour it in as is or do I have to mix it 50/50 with something. Also Any suggestions for the brake fluid as I am going to have him drain it out and bleed them etc, I know I need Dot 4 but I want the good stuff.

One of the girls at the office has a husband who has worked on BMW's so he came out and had a look. He's also taken apart a few engines so he seems to know what he's talking about. With the brake fluid I thought I read something here not to do associated with the ABS system or maybe I'm thinking on something else. When he does the air filter he's going to replace the snorkle hose which has a slight tear in it.

I have to say I am learning a lot about my mini and at least if there are thing I know and can check for it makes it easier. There just seems to be so many things that can be fixed and so many parts to cover about an engine it's overwhelming. That's not even covering what's under the car and the brakes

 

Great to hear you're keeping your car!

A lot of people recommend BMW/MINI coolant mixed with distilled water. URO makes an aftermarket aluminum thermostat housing, but I'm not sure how good they are. It should be about $15 from Rock Auto.

It's really common for the coolant tank to leak so you might want to change it now if you already haven't. There are some aftermarket aluminum ones, but the good ones are pricey.

The snorkel hose is different for an automatic so make sure you get the correct one.

I changed my brake fluid and used ATE 200, which is supposed to be a good performance fluid, using a Motive European power bleeder. I didn't have a MINI scan tool to activate the ABS system for bleeding/changing, but don't think it's required. Maybe someone else can tell you for sure.

 

I bought a metal thermostat housing from ECS. Pretty sure you can find a vendor that sells them

 

Any chance you can upload a photo or link of the stainless steel expandable hose clamps your talking about as there are different sizes? Should I get the pentosin chf power steering fluid?

 

I'll have a look, anything must be better than the piece of crap ones BMW are selling so I guess I have nothing to lose. Thanks for the tip

 

With that low miles, I'd fix what needs to be fixed and park it for 10 years...collector item =)

 

Most independent shops carry an assortment. If your a DIY, the feed lines I think are 1", and off the pump is a smaller one, like 1/2 inch.

The are also called worm gear clamps....you can get better pinching / sealing force on hoses if the bands are not as wide as standard. Not important for feed line to pump but other lines it helps.

 

I'm ordering the snorkel from pelican and it's the auto one. So with that brake fluid on pelican is that one liter? With the coolant do I add 50/50 then to the coolant tank, 50 distilled water 50 coolant? I might look at the metal therm housing tbh I don't see how they can be any worse than the BMW ones so I might have a go. I'll mention the coolant tank to,my co workers husband I don't want to overwhelm him so let me see what needs to be done. Thanks for all of your help!

 

Use BMW coolant - Its a Blue fluid in color. In a pinch, you can add Prestone Green to the blue, but NEVER, ever Red.....ever ! Yes, 50/50.

 

Thanks for the info my co workers husband said to see if there was a non plastic one to replace it with and as this will be my third one I'm going with your suggestions. Do I get this one or the other one w the kit? They almost look the same to me.


https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...37596787kt1kt/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-hamburg-...37512733alk~h/

 

Ok, I'm getting it on pelican, can I mix this w the current orange coolant already in there? Sorry, I'm afraid to do anything without asking