Please help! Pas Side wheel replaced after damage - pulls when driving straight? - MINI Cooper Forum

DarkStryder360 · #1 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 07:23 PM

I am really really keen on getting a Clubman Cooper S - I went to view one today, everything was great, apart from one thing...

The owner said that due to pot hole damage, the passenger side wheel was 'repaired', so when I took it for a test drive I found the steering to be pulling slightly away from me (no specific direction) when driving in a straight line, I really had to hold on (also, it wasn't my car so I was extra cautious)

But the main problem I noticed when I let it roll up to a roundabout, I could feel that during each rotation of the wheel it pulled away from me again. It wouldn't stay still, it would kick out a bit.

They have the receipts to prove the car wheel was replaced, and the tracking etc was done last March... so I thought to myself, this could be fixed, solely by getting tracking/wheel balancing done. But I am not that clued up on this sort of thing.

My issue is I don't want to pass on a good deal with something that can be fixed, but also, I don't want to buy something that could potential break me financially haha!

Please, anyone that has had this sort of experience in tyres/tracking/or pothole damage, please let me know!

The Nun · #2 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 07:55 PM

Something must be still buckled if you can feel a pull at each rotation of the wheel?
Jack the car up and spin the wheel to see if its running true.
The only other thing that could cause a symptom like that would be a grabbing brake on the affected wheel due to seizing caliper or a disc not running true?

DarkStryder360 · #3 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 08:02 PM

Cheers for the reply - this is the problem, I haven't bought it yet. I only got to feel this on the viewing - he live over an hour away, so it would be hard to check for wheels running true

He mentioned that he had done 8000 miles on it, driving like it was, but he couldn't notice a problem.

If the affected wheels' caliper/brake disc was the issue, how much would the fix be?

The Nun · #4 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 08:09 PM

If youre buying it get it sorted as part of the deal I would think would be the sensible thing, if the seller wont do anything then walk away as they obviously have something to hide.
Theres plenty of others out there so no point buying something youve got concerns about is there?

DarkStryder360 · #5 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 08:12 PM

I know, but if the owner doesn't know the problem, or feel it, how would I get him to come around to fixing an issue? ha.

And as for Clubman Cooper S's, there aren't all that many around, around my price range, with decent miles

Thanks for your advice though!

bmwr606 · #6 (**permalink**) Feb 2nd, 2013, 08:37 PM

how about the seller pays for a fresh MOT inspection? surely they would find any problem(s)?

scott

Paul@1320 · #7 (**permalink**) Feb 3rd, 2013, 07:08 AM

Where is the car located ?

Mugello · #8 (**permalink**) Feb 3rd, 2013, 09:00 PM

Get an AA man to check it out? Obviously the damage was severe enough to need a wheel replaced so could have affected the suspension component or perhaps geometry has not been set correctly despite what the owner said.

InjectedGT · #9 (**permalink**) Feb 4th, 2013, 05:02 AM

If a seller of a car says he "doesn't notice" a problem so apparent and concerning, walk away. There's clearly some underlying suspension or steering issues that he is hiding. He's hoping for that unknowing buyer to come by and not notice it as he "doesn't notice it" and buy a car with a major issue. Unfortunately, that's my advice. Unless you can take it to a qualified professional and get an exact diagnosis of the problem on the sellers dime or for free, walk away. Shady sellers like that are to be avoided.

The Nun · #10 (**permalink**) Feb 4th, 2013, 03:59 PM

Exactly, dig deeper and no doubt thats a reason it could be for sale anyway?

Its not really worth the risk as if its reasonably cheap by the time you have it sorted it might cost you more than a top price one, especially if you go down the route of having to replace suspension components?

Dont go on what he says, my neighbour says his car doesnt need cleaning, its filthy, but he thinks its ok, same thing.

InjectedGT · #11 (**permalink**) Feb 4th, 2013, 11:08 PM

A sellers word is never to be taken as truth. Unfortunately we don't live in a 100% honest society. I bought a car recently with a check engine light with the seller saying "It's just an evap code. probably a bad gas cap seal or bad charcoal canister". I politely asked if he was ok with me reading the code with my scanner when I came to see it. He allowed it, I confirmed it only had 1 code and it was an evap code, I bought the car. If a seller ever hesitates to allow you to have a high dollar item like a car(with a problem) checked out to confirm the problem, they have something to hide that you don't want to find later.