[mike1967]

yep i would ie they do suffer head gaskets they also suffer with thermostat housings cracking also dont bleed easy lost count the amount of gasket i have done on 70-130.000 miles tritec engines also if have been boiled tend to crack cylinder head, test drive it for a good 10 miles is best advise, stay away from auto cars geaboxes are terrible break easy

 

[mike1967]

thermostat housing on gen 1 cars easy job would always change thermostat as well also would check the radiator on gen cars they are getting so old now £30 new ones on ebay, would also at same time all for piece of mind do water pump as well and refill with fresh antifreeze or the best one is water free coolant so much better stuff cures the bleeding problems as well as dont boil so easy as water will but not cheap worth it,

Evans Waterless Coolant Antifreeze For Engine Radiator Performance Cooling Cars | eBay

This eliminates the worry about topping up or recharging with antifreeze every winter. EVANS WATERLESS COOLANT FOR ENGINE RADIATOR PERFORMANCE COOLING. Since the 1930’s, engine coolants have been based on a mixture of ethylene glycol, water and corrosion inhibitors.

www.ebay.co.uk

also can sniff test them link below for kit

Bt-3 2x50ml Combustion Leak Tester Kit Co2 Head Gasket Block Test Fluid 2a for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bt-3 2x50ml Combustion Leak Tester Kit Co2 Head Gasket Block Test Fluid 2a at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[mike1967]

Sorry for the delay! Thank you again Mike, very useful info. In the meanwhile I've started looking for other models too, as apparently I cannot find a truly tidy, problem-free Mini...
[/Q
maybe try and find another brand that is as old without problems really do believe they do not exist unless very low mileage and never really used, i bought a 2012 vauxhall insignia 4 months ago with 50k on it, so far glow plugs and glow plug relay dpf filter and o ring on oil pump done and timing belt and water pump also changed the oil in gearbox with fully syn and mollyslip additive to help prevent the normal f40 vauxhall gearbox pit fall or doing the main shaft bearings, one before was a 2010 outlander/c crosser ie same car that was most of bushes and arms under it at 80k and dpf filter and some other bits,, beofre that jeep patriot on 2009 70k that had same all bushes and some ecu issues etc, bth my clubmans had dpf related issues one was 58-reg the worst one that had 40k engine fitted to it from a breaker up north who was the only breaker to give me the reg number for the engine as to do mileage checks on it, £900 engine plug a £200 turbo plus ecu map and dpf and egr deleted that car is still banging around guy loves it, the 59 reg clubman also had new turbo and dpf delete etc new clutch and flywheel etc, my daughter has had honda cars for years even they have the odd issue with afge and mileage 1.8vtec cracked its head and we found the block had cracked as well silly alloy castings that honda know are a issue and have a recal on them.. i could keep writing about the endless rubbish we are forced to own by makers designs to fail in my view , older the car the more the risk as rubber and wiring electronics dont age well.. trouble is so many people have decided that under 100k should be a good car, i say 100k is worn to its first rebuild stage