8 replies to this topic

[arsenalboy]

would you buy a japanese import mini are there any pitfulls to buying one

[Gexx]

would you buy a japanese import mini are there any pitfulls to buying one

Is it from a website?

I've bought a fair few Jap import, Jap cars - and they are generally excellent.

Make sure the car is MOT'd before you buy it If it is jap it will not have a fog light fitted as standardand the dials will be in Kilometers. Also it would be advisable to get the car Waxoiled as they don't really the same problem with salty roads we do

[mab01uk]

would you buy a japanese import mini are there any pitfulls to buying one

Air Conditioning is standard, check it blows cold, nice option to have but it does make work under the bonnet a bit more difficult due to lack of space. Condenser rad and electric fan is in LH inner wing, Compressor is below alternator and Evaporator rad is under passenger parcel shelf combined with the Heater unit.

Attached Files

•  air_con_mpi.jpg   78.15K   52 downloads
•  7d10_19.JPG   27.26K   41 downloads

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2008 - 06:48 PM.

[mrslaphead]

Also check the suspension bushes and balljoints, the japanese tend not to service these things just look after the engine.
The bodywork shouldnt be a problem though (apart from a dent in the footwells which most of them have)
Other than that there shouldnt be any real problems, just a few little bits like theres a sensor at the back of the cat which UK cars dont have.
At the end of the day its a mini, just one thats never seen a salty road.
Ive had mine for nearly two years and its been fine, done 18000 miles and apart from a crank sensor its not caused any problems

[Aria Aradhea]

would you buy a japanese import mini are there any pitfulls to buying one

Air Conditioning is standard, check it blows cold, nice option to have but it does make work under the bonnet a bit more difficult due to lack of space. Condenser rad and electric fan is in LH inner wing, Compressor is below alternator and Evaporator rad is under passenger parcel shelf combined with the Heater unit.

Is that a front-mounted Rad with aircon fitted in your first pic? I thought all Japanese Minis has side-mounted radiator because there's no room for the compressor if the rad was put in front....

[mab01uk]

would you buy a japanese import mini are there any pitfulls to buying one

Air Conditioning is standard, check it blows cold, nice option to have but it does make work under the bonnet a bit more difficult due to lack of space. Condenser rad and electric fan is in LH inner wing, Compressor is below alternator and Evaporator rad is under passenger parcel shelf combined with the Heater unit.

Is that a front-mounted Rad with aircon fitted in your first pic? I thought all Japanese Minis has side-mounted radiator because there's no room for the compressor if the rad was put in front....

Your right, well spotted I posted the MPI by mistake. The 2nd pic is the Jap spec SPI with air con, the first pic is an MPI with front mounted rad + air con........................can't remember now whether this one was actually rare factory fitted or an aftermarket installation but a very neat job.

[Aria Aradhea]

Your right, well spotted I posted the MPI by mistake. The 2nd pic is the Jap spec SPI with air con, the first pic is an MPI with front mounted rad + air con........................can't remember now whether this one was actually rare factory fitted or an aftermarket installation but a very neat job.

It is a very neat job indeed... makes you wonder why hasn't all Jap spec Mini received the MPI treatment like that....

arsenalboy, having an aircon is great, but you have to remember that it saps power from the engine and it make the engine work harder, and so the temperature will be higher than one without aircon. It will also drink more fuel...

Jap spec SPi Cooper will also have lower compression engine than their UK counterparts... Perhaps because of the standard-fitment aircon raised worries of overheating the engine...?

But, Jap spec Minis tend to be more rust-free, have better specification than UK cars (my 1990 Mayfair is a "Mayfair II", a Japanese only release with seats and trim from the Mini30 / RSP Cooper!) and generally more looked-after.

If I could get my hand on another one, I would certainly buy it...

[taffy1967]

I believe Rover sent them over with side mounted radiators as Japan didn't have the same drive by noise laws as us here in the UK?

Plus it was probably easier for the Longbridge boys to shoe-horn the air-con in with the side mounted radiator?

Edited by taffy1967, 15 December 2008 - 06:41 PM.

[mab01uk]

I've done a bit more research........................the MPI Air Con above seems to be an aftermarket system supplied and fitted by Astro Air. It was available for late model (1997-2000) MPI Minis in the UK. Unfortunately I,m informed Astro Air Mini A/C kits are no longer in production.

Here is some of the spec for an Mini MPI system, based on the way Astro Air did it:-

1) pushed the front mounted radiator forward about an inch (25mm).

2) lengthen the lower radiator hose outlet pipe so it will still connect ("why not buy a longer bottom hose?" Take a look at complex MPI bottom hose and you'll understand why).

3) cut a hole into the lower left hand inner wing panel to make room for the A/C compressor (I think main compressor body seems to face opposite way round to Japan SPI compressor - look closely at the underbonnet pic above and you will see the refrigerant pipes connecting to the rear end of compressor?).

4) cut into the right hand inner wing panel to make room for condensor & electric fan (as Japan models).

5) cut holes in the bulkhead for the refrigerant lines.

6) 2nd condensor located on the rear subframe?

7.) The Astro Air unit also had a LH under-dash evaporator feeding the cold air through plastic flexible hoses to 2-off standard Mini eyeball type air vents,all fitted below the parcel shelf in a large heater type centre console housing.

Astroair Ltd
Image House
Green Farm Road
Newport Pagnell
Buckinghamshire MK16 0AF
01908 610222

(I think John Cooper Garages and Wood & Pickett may also have supplied this system as an option?)

Attached Files

•  mpi_air_con_int.jpg   3.96K   6 downloads

Edited by mab01uk, 15 December 2008 - 08:01 PM.