Newbie

[MWR56]

Hi everyone
Thought I would introduce myself,I'm mark and hopefully going to be a mini Cooper s owner shortly.
I'm looking at buying a 2005 s I've don't a bit of research and main points of concern is steering , early gearboxes but hopefully swerve that if I get a 2005 with the getrag box and heard about rear brake lines needing replacing.
Any info from all you tried and tested owners would be appreciated.
I've owned road cars ranging from original mini to Volvo v70 t5.
Also raced original minis race spec and race spec 1.4 8 valve vauxhall corsa and now in the process of building a front space framed corsa with a Volvo t5 engine to be fitted.
Mark.

[iddrew]

Hi MWR56 and welcome

I also just joined and having a great time here. You'll find out that the people here are really friendly and extremely helpful! Hope you'll have a good time here and always post and share your opinions

A little bit of advice i used when buying My 2004 Mini Cooper S was:

1) Always make sure they have a Full Service History (so you'll know what the car has been through, what has changed and needs changing etc)

2) Look very carefully for rust especially under te car and in the engine bay. A cool little trick to see if the body itself is rusting is to fold the seats forwards and at the back of the seats on each edge (left and right) there is a bare piece of metal. If that's rusting, chances are the whole body or at least part of it is.

3) when inspecting, put you hand on the exhaust while the car is switched off, tell the person with you to start the engine, and as soon as it starts take your hand off. If a plum of smoke comes out, there is a problem.

4) ask to make sure that the car was never in an accident where the chassis was bent, that's a BIG NO GO!

5) and always keep in mind that the Super Charger on the MCS has to bee changed at about 100,000 (although some have lasted longer and some have gone before) so see that you don't buy it with way too much milage on it.


Lastly, if you want to be picky, see if a buddy of your has an OBD2 connector cable, download a free diagnostics software and plug the car in to see exactly if something is wrong. but only if you're really picky (i know i had done that )


All in all, Good luck mate and show us some pics as soon as you get it

[BlueBeastie]

^^ What he said!

[MWR56]

Quote: Originally Posted by iddrew (original)

Hi MWR56 and welcome

I also just joined and having a great time here. You'll find out that the people here are really friendly and extremely helpful! Hope you'll have a good time here and always post and share your opinions

A little bit of advice i used when buying My 2004 Mini Cooper S was:

1) Always make sure they have a Full Service History (so you'll know what the car has been through, what has changed and needs changing etc)

2) Look very carefully for rust especially under te car and in the engine bay. A cool little trick to see if the body itself is rusting is to fold the seats forwards and at the back of the seats on each edge (left and right) there is a bare piece of metal. If that's rusting, chances are the whole body or at least part of it is.

3) when inspecting, put you hand on the exhaust while the car is switched off, tell the person with you to start the engine, and as soon as it starts take your hand off. If a plum of smoke comes out, there is a problem.

4) ask to make sure that the car was never in an accident where the chassis was bent, that's a BIG NO GO!

5) and always keep in mind that the Super Charger on the MCS has to bee changed at about 100,000 (although some have lasted longer and some have gone before) so see that you don't buy it with way too much milage on it.


Lastly, if you want to be picky, see if a buddy of your has an OBD2 connector cable, download a free diagnostics software and plug the car in to see exactly if something is wrong. but only if you're really picky (i know i had done that )


All in all, Good luck mate and show us some pics as soon as you get it

Thank you for your reply will defiantly be looking for signs of rust,didn't know about the life expectancy of the charger the main car we have in mind does have 89000 on the clock but with full BMW mini service history but I will keep this in mind when we hopefully view the car this weekend.
Thanks again, mark.

[iddrew]

No Problem Mark,

I Hope that everything goes well and looking forward to seeing your MCS once you get it

Regards,
Andrew