10 replies to this topic

[Pac]

Alright yoonz

I've been in to minis for about 6 years now and i'm about to buy one from ebay I know most places you get rust eg subframes, floorpan, doors etc but i'm far from an expert so i was hopeing some of you guys can give me some tips for checking if i'm buying a dog or not.

I have about £1500 to spend on a mini is this sort of cash gonna get me a half decent one? i dont want to spend too much on the car as its gonna undertake some hard core work e.g Vtec conversion so i'm sure most of the car is gonna end up getting rebuilt anyhow. The most important bit for me is that the car is solid not really fussed about condition of engine or paint work but it would be a bonus if i can find a mini in alround good condition for the money i have to spend

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[Adam the Flatulent]

make sure it has a wheel in each corner (and preferably one int the boot) it needs a body, 6 windows would help and make sure it doesnt have any holes you can out your hand in!!! (my dad should have read this thread......)

if i buy a car i always take my dad along with me and let him do it cause i don't know what i'm looking for either mate sorry. but at least your thread is att he top of the lis (for now) so maybe one of the gurus will see it and be able to help.

Also don't buy them off ebay its not a good idea look in autotrader and minimag things like that.

add

[Tomm]

I remeber they had a whole guide in mini mag once. Rust is not good but there will always be rust on a mini unless its a minus or amazingly amazing. You want to check under the carpets, if they are stuck down take this as a bad sign unless the owner has a good enough excuse for doing it. Rear valances are usually rotten and so is the battery box but these are pretty easy pannels to replace, cheap aswell. If the millage is low and the car looks well used with no service history then take it that the milage has gone around the clock. Also want to check the floor pans and around the window seals for holes or rust. Also want to check that the gears engage in every position even revers.

Sorry i am still learning but i hope i have helped in some way.

Tomm

[Mini Mad Rich]

See if you can get a test drive in one and see how it feels. Its a much better way of seeing if the car is good or not

Hope thats any help

Rich

[Clubby1275GT]

when buying a mini dont give it a 5 min check, take an hour checking it.
when they desribe it check all things described both good and bad, if any of them turn out to be wrong then ask them to knock the price down to compensate.
u ideally want to check it in the day and even take a jack with u and get it off the ground.
check the wheels for play, check the sills and all panels check incase any panels have been over welded, usually a-panels are just put over the old ones and spot welded in.
look for orange peel paintwork, usually suggests a repair job has been done or a slight colour mismatch.
check for engine smoke, check oil for and water or mayo under the cap, check water and ask to see the engine running for 10 mins, check for leaks while this is happening, also get him to take u round the block and then stop and leave it running, if any oil will leak it will do it now.
get them to use all gears whilst driving and also when stationary.
defo pull the carpets up as can hold a multitude of sins.
lock to lock the steering, check for play in the rack/column, if a column drop has been put in ask them if they losened the rack when they did so.
Look for any strange wear on tyres or evidence of tyres being swapped over to even them out,
look if the back two or front two are alot balder than the other two, probably means they have been ragging it off the lights.
u expect rust on a mini but u need to know if its serious or not.
usual places are around the windscreen, scuttle panel, bottom of the doors, bottom of the a-panels, sills, inside rear door bins and below headlights
anywhere really that my austin/leyland/rover decided to leave that water could gather!
hope this helps! and makes a little sense!

[Dom]

Some valid points made. There is also THIS you could read through in the FAQ section.

[Natalie]

Don't know if it has been mentioned, but take a torch with you so you can see underneth better
Print out the buyers guide from here and take it with you, it's really useful

Edited by PinkGirly, 14 September 2006 - 05:53 PM.

[tino]

Take a magnet with you to check for filler. Look in all the place's that have been mentioned. Most thing's have been mentioned but take your time an don't rush if it's a genuine seller they won't mind you checking out everything about the car.

[Pac]

Cheers for all the info, it’s a big help, I like the magnet idea! should be going to look at a mini on Tuesday its a L reg. Mini Mayfair 1.3 in red with cooper alloys and 33k on the clock.

Not too keen on the fact that it’s an auto but willing to over look this as the history of the car seems good and the fact I’m planning an engine conversion anyway.

Its been owned by the nurse from my work from new she says the only reason she’s getting rid is because the car chopped the end of her finger off when she was adjusting the seat!?! And she now hates the car.

It’s also got full service history and I’m told it has been maintained regardless of cost

Wants £1400 ono you think that’s a good price? If I put the charm on I reckon I could get it for £1000

[Natalie]

Seems like a good price, and if you work with the seller (did I read that right?) then you know whether she's honest etc... does that mean that you've also seen the car on a regular basis, can see that it's well looked after

[Pac]

No only seen the car about 2 times shes the nurse at our place but only comes in once in a while to do heatlh checks etc , seems honest though