I'm looking at picking up a 2006 R52 S tomorrow, this will be our first Mini. The car has 82,000 miles on it and they are asking $6900 (dealer). I saw the rear trunk weatherstrip is rotted out and there is a rip in the drivers seat. What else should I be looking for? Are there any common issues with these cars I should know about before I buy it? TIA!

 

Here is some info



http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/



https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...-buyers-guide/



https://www.crookedrivergarage.com/s...-MINI-Market-1



Mini (R50-R53) buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look forClassic & Sports Car·Dec '19

https://www.classicandsportscar.com/...e-mini-r50-r53






Personally, I drove a R52 S convertible for 11 years and over 207,000 miles before replacing it with a R53. The key is not necessarily the miles on the car, but the prior owners ability to not let things get too bad.



For example, I’d rather have a 100k+ mile car with all the records than a 50k mile car with no records.


as for the weather stripping, I just found out about this guy selling a kit.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5823...639/?ref=share

 

Look for a highly recommended INDEPENDENT MINI/German shop. Other MINI people in your area can point you in the right direction. Establish a regular service schedule also. Good luck, you'll have more fun with topless motoring than you can now imagine.

 

So what wound up happening.

 

I recon did he get it there'd be pictures all over the page. As is often said: "Without pictures, it didn't happen."

Or else he's out on the road having the best motoring time of his life and doesn't have time to post.

 

Well heres the R52 JCW I picked up from a member on here back in march. 64k for 5k. I've done some upgrading since. Mostly a car for my wife to drive when its nice but I do get to have fun in it occasionally.

 

The exit. Then, a private seller and another MINI for starters. Lots of these cars available out there without getting the shaft from a used car lot, let alone the Stealership.

For when you get done watching Mod MINI's dissertation:

 

Only thing wrong with my '07 S convertible (Sidewalk) with 148K is the sunroof...I have to pry open the passenger side latch mechanism to get it to release...it fully opens then. Closes fine until it gets to the end....I have to push the same latch closed. A little bit of a PITA but otherwise a fun car.

 

Convertible top: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...o-go-down.html

Rear weather-stripping: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ting-away.html

Kits, you need the R52 ones: https://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_...oldings_23815/


Have almost 300k on mine, otherwise its going strong.

 

Hi ECS - Thanks - I had seen those thread topics before. I showed the shop (Bay Bridge Motors in Oakland) the linkage kit you have, and they said they tried it on a customer's car a year ago, and it failed to fix the problem. (I had taken my car in for a bunch of smaller updates and asked them if they could fix the sunroof mechanism also).

They didn't want to do the same work on my car and potentially have the repair not work...they ate the cost of the previous customer's repair. So I am not sure what to do. By many accounts, this is the "best" MINI shop in my area.

 

Hello,

Glad to help, its the linkages or the cables. One or the other unless the tracks are shot. Then its getting a used top and salvaging the top. I have done tons my R52 with it all apart and fixed both. Some people just dont want to do it because its a lot of work. I don't know that shop.

Go to a convertible top place that does custom hot rods and cars, they can do it. They install things close to this all day long. Haartz is the manufacture of most tops and they produce for Corvettes and other higher end domestic cars. They do them at shop like that.

 

Thanks again. I have never had a convertible before, so I will have to call around to various convertible top repair shops. Interesting that Haartz doesn't list MINI on its "find your top" search feature.

 

Yep, yea they might not be in production anymore but i know from the twill and markings they made it at one point. They also might not be selling it into the aftermarket, We see that and work with manufactures to release product, sometime they have these contracts.
In fact many people dont know that we work closely/directly with manufactures whom have contracts with MINI.

 

I'm finding out that the search for a shop will take some time. At first shop (going by local Yelp ratings for convertible tops), got a quote for $1200 T&M for just the linkage repair. Went to another shop (well regarded for tops and upholstery) and they said they don't do the mechanicals on top replacements/repairs. I can imagine that if I am going to spend $$$ on the linkage repair, I should replace the whole top. It is in decent shape, but it is 14+ years old and a replacement would be a good plan. Car drives great, and interior is perfect. All the 148K on it was highway commute mileage, and it was well maintained. So putting $$ into it seems worth it to me. Just not $1200 to fix the linkage only.

 

Yes, if you can get a local MINI owner to help you out you can save $$$