I haven't been around for a while since I sold my '06 MC. Lately, I've been thinking about getting another one. The local MINI dealer has an '09 MC (not an S) with 28K miles. I stopped by to drive it and for the most part it seemed OK. What concerned me a bit was the valvetrain clattering on the cold startup. The injectors were loud too, but I know what that sound is. Once the car warmed up a bit, the engine was much quieter. I understand this year has VANOS, but not the additional Valvetronic. Lastly, I asked to see the service report and it showed that the previous owner did all the "required" MINI maintenance, i.e. the only oil change shown was at 15K.

Should I still consider this unit? When I had my '06 MC, I changed the oil at 2500 miles, then 5K and additional 5K intervals until I sold it. But I'm particular about those things unlike the majority of drivers. I'm concerned that the single 15K oil change may have been too long especially if it consumed some oil and the previous owner may have been oblivious and never even topped it up.

The warranty is good until March of 2013.

Suggestions? Should I take the chance? Am I overly worried? Again, this is for an MC, not an MC-S. The Gen-1's had a SOHC and were much quieter, I know. Is it normal for the Gen-2 Peugeot engine to be that much noisier?

Thanks!

Al

 

Regarding oil changes, you might try to contact the previous owner to see what they did regarding service and what their user experience was. I change my oil every 5K but my service record at MINI will show only every 15K, because I do the other changes at home. My experience in checking with previous owners on vehicles has always been good and I have always been truthful when contacted by anyone looking to purchase a vehicle we have owned previously.

 

Definately. Wish he had kept a book, too. I change mine off the books (had maintenance agreement) in between dealer changes. There is no record of this
other than my book.

Also, the engine is very clattery since new I have had no problems with it
96k miles.

 

Yep, these engines do not purr like a kitten. I've always enjoyed the symphony that is the engine from the seat of my motorcycle; where you can particularly hear the valves and injectors, etc, so it doesn't bother me to hear all that.

 

highlander - there's no record of who the previous owner was. Confidentiality provisions won't allow the dealer to disclose that info.

condor - good to know the base engine was clattery from the beginning. I guess I'm a little gunshy since I bought a pickup truck not too long ago that was running well with a small tap but turned out to be a wrist pin knock... Still runs well but would be a major repair.

- Al

 

Take the VIN# to the DMV and get a lookup there. All of that info is public domain.

 

Sorry to hear that, I our state the selling dealer must disclose the name and contact information of the previous owner.

 

sbeezy - tried that, can't do it. Motor Vehicles will only release personal information for law enforcement purposes. Thanks though!

 

If it were me I wouldn't obsess over the oil change thing. I'd have someone inspect the parts, it's still under warranty. I'd make sure the car were priced right and was what you want in a Mini. Frequency of oil changes is more of a factor to the old guys who got the "every 3 months or 3,000 miles, whatever comes first" idea. I used to do that too back in the day. It was pretty good marketing by Pennzoil and Quaker State! People on these boards have had their Mini's oil analyzed at 8k miles and found no breakdown. It's probably good much longer than that, but nobody's done it. My Jeep Grand Chererokee's oil was fine at 7500 miles and that wasn't synthetic either.

 

titles and registration dept maybe?