Hello, I have the opportunity to buy a very clean 2008 Mini Cooper. It starts nice, looks nice, idles, and runs/drives great, it has 143,000 miles.......all for only $2000 dollars. HOWEVER, the check engine light was on, so I scanned the codes and got these 3 Codes:
1. P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire
2. P2195 Oxygen Sensor Signal Biased / Stuck Lean Bank 1 Sensor 1
3. P2187 System too lean at idle bank 1

I took it to a local garage that say they work on imports. The mechanic looked at it for 30 minutes and said he was not sure but did not want to get into this issue.......... But he was not sure what the issue was!!????

Any one have any ideas I recommendations? I feel that buying this car at $2000 is a good deal but I don't want to get beat up on the car putting a ton of parts, labor, and cash into it.

Thank you,
Ed

 

Well imo, If you can do the work yourself Its worth it.. hell I'd buy it. Cause its replacing parts. Cylinder misfire could be a simple plug replacement tune-up plus coil packs.
O2 Sensor again replace!! running lean is fuel reading no biggy..my TT ran lean for years. Check the Vin on car fax how many owners?
So i'm just an average Joe guessta- mateing on the issues! 143,000 miles how is the compression? bushings, brakes, shocks, wear and tear items. Oil loss etc,.
For an 08' that's quite a few miles, (I have an 09' S with 43,000) If he works on imports and says does not want to get into an issue find another Tech!

 

Sometimes codes that are thrown are erroneous and you can throw multiple parts at the car trying to solve the problem. Ask the seller what he's done about the CE light. He may have already tried some things and gave up in frustration.

Still for $2000, that's hard to pass up.

 

Where are you located? Find a good Indy shop in your area that works with MINI's pay for a full check up and go from there for 2,000 I would buy it and spend another grand or so fixing stuff that needs fixing and you still have a decent car for a decent price, pay 35.00 or 40.00 for a car fax. Good luck

 

I know the owner personally and they are a very good friend, they are the originally owner of the car. This car was taken to a shop in Fort Walton Beach, FL due to a Cylinder 3 misfire code.

I just hung up the phone with the mechanic of the car. He said he personally ran a compression check on it. Static pressure was excellent. However, when the engine gets warm, the compression check for cylinder 3 is lower than the others. He also moved the coil packs around to swap cylinders.

He then just told me he is about 60% sure the valve guides are worn. He told me for around $3000 he could pull the head off and have it re worked. Seems high to me?????

Anyone have any other theories or ideas? This becomes less of a good deal if I have to put $3000 in it to rebuild the head......plus the other cosmetic things I want to do to the car.

Thanks again for any help or ideas.

Ed

 

I think I have decided to pull the head off and have it re-worked. My question....once we are that far into the engine, is there anything else that would be worth replacing? Are there high fail items that would be worth replacing while I have the car broke down? (Thermostat? Water pump? timing chain, timing gear, timing, tensioner and guides? any seals? etc.....????)

Thank you
Ed

 

Well I'm only a few mos into my first MCS. So from what I have read. The Thermo Housing tends to leak and Thermostat malfunctions. So IMO it would benefit you to change that asap. And the old adage if its not broken don't fix it. But with that many miles I would suggest it. I'm one for proactive replacing before things go boom, but that's just me. I came from and 01' Audi TT started with 17,000 sold with 186,000 miles and I did all repairs on that and still runs like a top. Hope my Mini lasts that long

 

I think if the rest of the car is in good condition and it's accident free you could probably part it out and make money if you're getting it for $2000 and have the free time to do it. If given the opportunity I'd probably buy it, spend a little money to take it to a MINI dealer or specialist for an accurate diagnosis and go from there.