Hi All

Really gutted just bought a Mini cooper and it's broke down. Really worried started running very rough, so wife drove it home. When I got back had a look and the water tank is empty and there is a Brown sandy substance with Golden sort of grains. There doesn't seem to be any creamy sludge on the oil filler cap as I have seen with previous cars.

I'm thinking head gasket ?? anyone any idea what this might cost.

Your advice is appreciated.

Cheers

The brown sandy stuff with golden grains sounds like a leak sealer someone has poured into the rad hoping it will seal the leakage, it probably would a normal one like in a radiator, but not a head gasket?
You need to have the system pressure tested to be sure where it is, it would only take a few mins for a decent garage to do this for you.
Of course the gunge could have just blocked up the system preventing correct circulation.
But it does sound very much like it could be the head gasket? Is this the reason the previous owner sold it I wonder?