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Intro And First Mini Purchase Advice Request


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#1 Xinarin13

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 07:48 AM

Hi all!

​My name is Gavin and I just moved to Japan with my wife on her Active Duty orders. While here I decided that I really want a small fun car with a manual transmission like an old mini. I was looking around at all the really cool kei cars over here and noticing that most of them aren't a manual (which I really miss driving). I then came across a few minis and realized that if I spent just a little more than what I had planned that I could get one of the cars on my vehicle bucket list! I have always wanted to own a mini at some point in my life and I think this is my opportunity!

​I am looking at a 1996 Rover Mini in pretty good shape cosmetically, and from what I can tell it isn't too bad mechanically. I took it for a drive and it drives fine (except for the shift knob being just a little too easy to accidentally pull off when shifting to reverse). I have to give it a little more gas than I expected to prevent a stall, but it is a small motor and there were 2 guys in the car.

 

This brings me to the advice portion (and hopefully I am not posting in the wrong section).

 

What should I be looking for in the 1996 mini that would be a warning sign? The only thing I noticed is that the steering was just a bit stiff when stopped but seemed to be just fine while driving... still a bit stiffer than I thought. Is this a major concern? If the power steering pump goes, how hard and expensive is it to replace and could it be something other than that? (it was also a cold morning... in the mid 20's)

 

I'll post some pictures if it will let me (file size and all). The guy took them a while ago, so it is in slightly rougher shape... 2 of the light covers are missing an the chrome window retention strip is orange now (which I know is easy to replace if I can find some) Let me know what you guys think. There are a few more that I am looking at, but for now this one is probably the easiest for me to get as it is another American living on base... less paperwork, confusion, and frustration than having to deal with a Japanese local when I hardly speak any Japanese.

 

I look forward to sharing this forum with you guys!

 

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#2 KTS

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 06:17 PM

Hi Gavin - welcome to the forum

 

i might be wrong, but i don't think power steering was ever an option on a mini....

 

from the photos, it looks in great condition.  Mini's rust, badly, if not looked after; check the conditions of the sills, check for any evidence of rust/bubbling paint along the bottoms of the doors, around the headlights, and where the scuttle meets the back edge of the wings (fenders to you i think!).  lift the carpets and check for rust all around the edge of the footwells.  if you can get under the car, check the condition of the rear subframe and the areas where it attaches to the bodyshell

 

good luck!



#3 Shep76S

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 06:51 PM

Make sure there is no crunching 3rd to 2nd gear, synchromesh damage is common, engine and gearbox out and split to change.
As above, there is no power steering so it will feel heavy at low speeds compared to more modern cars. The Jap cars are quite well sought after in the uk as they have a reputation for low rust.

#4 Shep76S

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 06:52 PM

It looks very clean and would probably be worth £7-8000 in the UK, how much is it?

#5 sonikk4

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 07:07 PM

As mentioned, no power steering so it will be heavyish (a few hours in the gym to sort that issue out) again as said the gears should be smooth with no baulking or graunching.

 

Engine should be smooth especially as that will be injected. No smoke especially on the over run and start up.

 

Rust on Jap spec cars should be minimal so if thats the case keep on top of it. If its not been done already (if you buy it) waxoyl it.

 

Brakes should be good and pull up straight, if not then possible sticking caliper so not the end of the world.



#6 Xinarin13

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Posted 23 January 2018 - 06:24 AM

Huh... my first reply the other day must not have worked... take 2!

Hi Gavin - welcome to the forum

 

i might be wrong, but i don't think power steering was ever an option on a mini....

 

from the photos, it looks in great condition.  Mini's rust, badly, if not looked after; check the conditions of the sills, check for any evidence of rust/bubbling paint along the bottoms of the doors, around the headlights, and where the scuttle meets the back edge of the wings (fenders to you i think!).  lift the carpets and check for rust all around the edge of the footwells.  if you can get under the car, check the condition of the rear subframe and the areas where it attaches to the bodyshell

 

good luck!

 

Gotcha... I'm very new to Minis... they were always a bucket list for way in the future kind of item, but when opportunity knocks... 

​Now it is my job to make sure I do ownership right. I know very little and have a lot of silly questions (i/e the former owner was saying he had to have the movable headlights disabled to meet Jap spec... what on earth are movable headlights and how do they work? Another? How on earth does the heat/air work? Hopefully once I actually have it in my possession I can play with and figure this all out.), so bear with me as I learn and I welcome any and all info, fun facts, and dumbed down explanations anyone is willing to give :D

​As to the mini that is soon to be mine, It looks like it is in great condition. I can't find any rust anywhere save for the passenger door at the bottom corners there is a small amount of paint bubbling which eventually will either need repaired or the skin replaced. I'll check out under the carpets and whatnot when I can. Everything I can get my eyes on underneath looks good except for the exhaust which doesn't appear to be leaking but will eventually need replaced (it was a little dark under there, but I should be able to get it up on a hoist soon to see what it looks like beneath, but the bones look really good.

 

Make sure there is no crunching 3rd to 2nd gear, synchromesh damage is common, engine and gearbox out and split to change.
As above, there is no power steering so it will feel heavy at low speeds compared to more modern cars. The Jap cars are quite well sought after in the uk as they have a reputation for low rust.

 

No crunching, seems to shift very well and supposedly had a mini specialist go through with a fine tooth comb 3 years ago and everything was great.

 

Fun story, I believe this mini is Spanish... The current/former owner bought it in Spain and had it brought here and paid to have the changes made to it so it would meet Japanese road requirements... such as disconnecting 2 of the 4 fog/driving/light bar lights... all of which should be able to easily be reversed. It really is in good condition from what I can tell, again I am no Mini expert, but it looks  good to my eyes.

 

It looks very clean and would probably be worth £7-8000 in the UK, how much is it?

 

I am getting it for $5500 USD from a guy here on base and that includes the approx. $500 vehicle inspection and mandatory insurance for 2 years (JCI and Shaken), so call it 5k.

 

As mentioned, no power steering so it will be heavyish (a few hours in the gym to sort that issue out) again as said the gears should be smooth with no baulking or graunching.

 

Engine should be smooth especially as that will be injected. No smoke especially on the over run and start up.

 

Rust on Jap spec cars should be minimal so if thats the case keep on top of it. If its not been done already (if you buy it) waxoyl it.

 

Brakes should be good and pull up straight, if not then possible sticking caliper so not the end of the world.

You KNOW I shred in the gym!!! (I kid)

​Engine seems very smooth, not much room to give it gas as on base limit is like 30kph in most places but the drive went well... though I stalled it twice before getting the throw and the amount of gas right... I also managed to pull the shift knob off when lifting it to get reverse (something I'll have to look into...)

 

The only really bad thing is the dash... it is cracked up all over (looks like eggshell or wood, but all cracked), but from what I can tell I should be able to replace it myself for less than $200... the pics don't show it, they were a bit old they were, but one thing that has changed from the pics to now is the chrome lock strip in the windows has turned yellow. I used to install windshields for a living though, so I already have the tools (and can do it with a screwdriver anyways) and know how to replace that on the cheap. I found some chrome strip for about $1 per foot so I should be able to replace it for less than $15... which is nothing.

 

Waxoyl... I'm not familiar... If you don't mind treating me like a noob and over explaining the what why and how of it I would be grateful!

​One thing I didn't try... Seemed to require a firm foot, but no fading (thank you discs)... didn't let go of the steering wheel or feel a noticeable pull... in any case, brakes are fairly easy and somewhat cheap to fix/replace.

 

 

 

 

Again, thank you all for commenting, also any advice for a first time/ignorant mini owner is GREATLY appreciated!



#7 KTS

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Posted 25 January 2018 - 11:30 PM

Congratulations - does your wife know that you've a new love in your life; she's 22, english, quite demanding, occasionally very stubborn, but boy is she a good ride when you get her set up right !

 

waxoyl is an anti-corrosion product that's injected into the body cavities (sill voids, doors etc) to delay the inevitable onset of rot.  Unless you live somewhere with 0% humidity, and the tendency of the factory to only paint the bits of the car that you can see, it's considered wise to treat the car regularly.

 

now that you own a mini, you'll need a Haynes manual, and mind your head when working in the engine bay.

 

you'll find out  :proud:


Edited by KTS, 25 January 2018 - 11:52 PM.


#8 Xinarin13

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Posted 26 January 2018 - 02:07 PM

One step ahead of you on the manual... I ordered it on amazon before the purchase was even complete! lol

​Not so sure my wife would take it very well if I worded it like that LOL.






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