FNG here, my mini eyes were too big for my pocketbook so looking for a Mini for under $8000 in Alabama. Of the two that fit the bill,

1) 2009 S, 41K for $7900

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1fbd18d2
2) 2010 justa, 87K, very close by (Tuscaloosa, AL)

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1e5ff06b


sounds like the N12 motor is more worry free, so I guess that’s good or better?

mini dealer is 50m away, and no local shops when I searched on minirepairshops.com

any advice on finding a good local mechanic who can do a good PPI?

from my research here seems like the big items with the justa are:

valve noise
timing chain replacement
Water pump
thermostat housing
clutch wear

would I ask a good mechanic to use the mini certified checklist as a guide?

https://www.miniusa.com/content/dam/..._Checklist.pdf

 

I looked for mini / bmw specific repair shops near me on yelp, found one with perfect reviews and everything went smoothly. As for which engines to look for when buying used, in my research I found the N18 to have less problems than its N14 counterpart, and I would assume the same applies for the N16 vs N12.