Hi All.

I recently joined and have been trolling over the past couple weeks to learn from your experiences. Good stuff. I saw a post a few down on an 04 MC and a buyers checklist, but it didn't quite fit the bill.

I've located an 06 MCS with just under 3K miles that is loaded (LSD, premium, sport, convenience, nav, etc.). About the only thing it is missing is the cold weather package. I took it for a test drive today and I left with perma-grin. I am utterly shocked by the performance that little beast throws out. More importantly, the price is right.

But. (Isn't that always the case?)

The salesman informed me that the car had some "work" done on it to fix a problem. He did some digging and informed me that the bumper, radiator, and front tires had been replaced, and their had been some re-painting done. I'm having a Carfax run to see if these repairs track with the history of the car. The dealer claims that everything has been made right and that the car will carry the full balance of the manufacturer's warranty.

I drove the car and didn't hear or notice anything and I popped the bonnet for a quick inspection and nothing jumped out at me to indicate the car had been in a crash or had been repaired.

What are your thoughts? I love the R53 and this car is just absolutely beautiful. Picture attached. However, I don't want to make a bad choice by dropping a bunch of cash for a car that might have problems or that might cause me to develop a very close relationship with the service manager because I am there so frequently. I have no doubt the problem could be repaired and I am dealing with a reputable dealer. I'm just trying to go into this with two eyes open.

What's your opinion?

-Derek

 

Hey, is that Mini of Peabody? Personally, I would not buy it and get an 07, but if the price is right, why not.

 

Ask for the name, address, phone of the previous owner. Get copy of the repair invoices. Have checked by independent mechanic.

 

FWIW, a CarFax report doesn't always show everything... so don't treat it like the bible.

You said, "The price is right".... What is that price?

 

Share the price, car looks tight. I've driven both and the '06 is my preference, but not as refined as the '07.

Find out who did the bodywork and if the car was in a front-end accident. Have the car checked by an independent body shop to be sure the anti-rust coatings, etc. were applied, especially if there was any bodyshell straightening involved.

If it's warranteed, that's great, but you also want to be sure the work was done right.

 

Car looks pretty nice. If the Car fax looks bad I probably would not buy. That Carfax will stay with the car forever and you might have problems selling the car in the future. If the Carfax is good, and the car has been checked out by an independent garage, I'd buy if the price is exceptional.

 

+1

 

If those particular items were replaced then it was obviously in an accident, that explains the price...

 

This car was a factory demo car that came off the boat damaged. Mini repaired it (according to Mini Of Peabody) Price is 24995 and is listed on ebay with full disclosure. I may buy it as well

 

The price doesn't sound that hot to me......

Do they disclose the original window sticker?

 

Yep... $30,350.00

http://ebay.carad.com/viewItem/viewA...61&template=48

 

sounds doable

 

I'd grab it after looking a little bit more at it. Still under warranty, basically new, heckova deal.

 

Sadly I can't see ebay here (at work) but there is more on the car i'm sure for that original sticker of $30k.

From 30 to 25k sounds very good

 

Really? I think an 06 with 30k MSRP (when dealers are offering 06s on the lot with nice discounts) should be selling for well under 25K when it has been repaired AND it is used (usually you'll get a 7-10% discount on a factory demo to begin with).
Specially if, as pointed above, the Carfax reflects the car's history -- it's definately going to affect your ability to sell the car if and when you decide to sell it.

Don't get me wrong, you'll love the car and the warranty will help with issues in the near future -- just not sure that you're getting the best value at that price if you're willing to shop around.

. . . just my opinion.

 

I don't think Carfax would ever know about the damage, as it happened before title or registration (at the dock).

 

Offer them 20k!

 

I'd make them a lower offer & see what happens. Too me it seems a bit high for a repaired car. If it was damaged in transport, very possible, how did it get close to 3,000 miles on it? Kudos to the dealer for being up front about the damage repair. If you are interested, find out exactly what was repaired.

 

From the Dealer:
"
DescriptionIf you are looking for a 2006 MINI Cooper S, this is the best deal you will find ANYWHERE! This beautiful car was a MINI factory Demo; we purchased it at the BMW/MINI Dealer Auction with only 2875 miles on it. The factory is required to disclose any damage to the vehicle to the purchaser, and this one had some damage at the shipping port that was repaired by the factory; therefore we can't certify it, but it can be sold with the full remainder of the 4 yr, 50,000 mile factory warranty, and free suggested service maintainance program, as well as a clean title. This warranty is valid at any MINI dealer in the US. The damage indicated to the car was "replace and repair front bumper, radiator support assembly, condensor assembly, oil pan, engine cradle, and both front wheels and tires." All of these have been expertly replaced and you will never know it has been repaired. How's that for full disclosure? That all being said, this is your chance to pick up an almost new MINI for way below the selling price of this car new. As you probably know MINIs almost always sell for full MSRP, and on the West Coast they usually sell for 2-3 Thousand above that. There are 2 small blemishes on the car; a small parking lot ding on the passenger side ( pictured) and a very small cut on the right front tire, barley noticeable.
This car is in the very desirable Dark Silver Color, with English Panther Black Leather Interior ( please note, the pcitures make it look gray, it is black), Navigation System, Limited Slip Differential, Premium, Sport, and Convenience Packages, 17" Web Spoke Alloy Wheels, Harmon Kardon Sound Sytem, and more! Check out the pic of the window sticker. MINI of Peabody has sold and serviced more MINIs than any other dealer in the country since 2002, so we know these cars, and this is a good one. The reserve price of the car is below dealer invoice, so you'll never find a better value on an '06!
For more info, please call Joel or Brig @ 978-536-0088; the car is for sale on our lot, and we reserve the right to end the auction early if sold . Thanks for looking, and good luck."

 

Welcome to NAM!!! I think 20 or 22 would be more in line or go with a 07 and your mind wouln't have that little black cloud hanging over it.



06MCS/DS/B

 

You should really be asking yourself if you really want all those options......If you were to order new what would you have to have.

A fully loaded MCS minus navigation and those expensive wheels would have been close to 25k brand new, undamaged and with like 8 miles on the odo

You are NOT getting a good deal unless those are all options you would have got anyway!

 

replace and repair front bumper, radiator support assembly, condensor assembly, oil pan, engine cradle, and both front wheels and tires


That car has had some very heavy front end damage and I doubt it was done during transportation, I would be very cautious, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good car.

From the description of the repair work, someone nailed a curb or roadway median and ripped out the front undercarriage of the car. Just a guess though.

 

Hmm, sounds like havy damage and I'd wonder if it was fixed "by the factory" or by a repair shop NEAR the factory. Price is OK for an undamaged used car, maybe high considering damage repair (especially if it shows on CarFax).

If it was fixed by the factory, why can't they "certify" it?

As a comparison, I bought mine with similar options 10/06 (less Nav, with LSD, roof, Sport, Winter, Chrono, AstroBlack and Checkmate) for about your price, as a no-damage dealer demo with 5k on the clock.

"As you probably know MINIs almost always sell for full MSRP, and on the West Coast they usually sell for 2-3 Thousand above that." - Not "used" ones though.

Examine the car. Make sure it drives straight. Offer less than they're asking. It's probably just fine, but Caveat Emptor.

 

I ran the Carfax, it's clean. Only one listing as follows:

03/07/2007 2,867 Auto Auction Sold at auction
in Pennsylvania
Listed as
a manufacturer vehicle



Never registered, nothing.


Everyone going on and on about the prices get me down about trying to sell mine eventually. It's an 06 with less than 3K miles... it hasn't lost $7000 in value... jeez. I'd be nervous about that much damage though. Bumper and radiator support I wouldn't worry about since I had all of that replaced on my 04 in a very, very minor accident that did no lasting damage but the rest of those items listed would have taken a nice amount of force to break.

 

Being a factory demo, it may have been driven really hard, the damage could have came from one of those drives. There are a lot of other MINI's available that aren't quesionable. I'd pass on it.