10 replies to this topic

[Rickmayne]

It tears me up to have to sell my min, but can't afford to keep it going

I bought it april 09 for £2500 from a garage which agreed to MOT it if I paid the asking price. I had a quick look over it but not being a good mechanic or knowing much about minis (at the time) I thought it looked fine. After 1 month I sent it to a different garage because it wasnt ticking smoothly and they said it was, and I quote "a deathtrap". I had £800 of work done on it to strip and replace both back brake cylinders, new water pump, new exhaust manifold, 2 new tyres, redo knackered steering track rod and gaiter, new dizzy, new rotor arm and to patch up big corrosion on the rear subframe (they told me it wasnt necessary to replace, lying *illegitimate person*s). I managed to claim some money back for the track rod and welding because I took it back to the garage who MOT'd it and threatened to report them as the vehicle history pointed these out as advisorys 3 years previously.

After this it was overheating madly and intermittently losing ignition lights -they told me to replace the head gasket which I did, and it was here that I realised that the wiring in the engine was a big mess. Did this, drove it around for a bit and was still overheating, then the ignition lights went permenantly so I sent it to a classic mini specialist garage.

They pointed out loads of problems with the wiring - some fool took out the inertial switch and MAP sensor to start - and also said that the rear subframe needed to be replaced in addition to the driver footwell needing welding. They got it running and sorted alot of wiring for £200 - they say its safe to drive and its running quite nicely, but in addition to all of this it needs a tuneup as the air filter is letting air in and stuff. Still got a good kick to it though.

I'm only an amateur mechaninc so I cant do these, and being a student I cant afford to have all of the work done, so its up for sale. I've listed the good things still on the car and the problems I'm aware of below along with the standard pictures. A rough valuation would be greatly appreciated.

Pros:
Original 12" alloys
Ridiculous big race exhaust and new manifold
All the new work done on breaks, rotor arm, dizzy, wiring, head gasket etc mentioned above
Tax/MOT till May
I've stripped and redone the wiring in the driving compartment (voltmeter, stereo, nice speakers, new speedo cable, tacho put in)
Wings/bonnet releatively rust free (im told by a mini specialist)
Original leather part seats
New walnut dash
Plush chrome gear with wavy grill
Really nice engine/gearbox with 75k on the clock - good runner (apart from air filter needing redoing)
New, good spec dual core rad
Immobiliser

Cons:
Needs new rear subframe
Needs welding done on driver footwell
Wiring is safe but needs a good look at by competent mechanic - if the inertial switch is missing, its unsure how else its been butchered
Needs tune up
Bolt on thermostat needs drilling as someone snapped the bolt head off
Brakes need checking - dont trust the garage who did them

With a bit of TLC it will be a great little runner - ideal if you want to do all of the work yourself or if you want to throw a grand or so at getting it into good condition

Pictures: Side on (too big to upload, sry)
Back end
Front end

Attached Files

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Edited by Rickmayne, 25 February 2010 - 04:50 PM.

[Scallywag630]

Sorry to hear about your problem car......thay can/are all expensive at times.

If just the floor and rear subby are the extent of the rust, and with the other problems, I think you are looking at £750-£1000.

[battleroc]

i would keep it if i was you

sounds like the car owes you money

sure someone here could look at it for you and do the jobs for a lower price .....sounds like garages you have taken it to sound a bit dodge
as you said the mini specialist said " needs a tune" you cant really tune a spi as ecu runs a lot of the cars tunning ....i would deffiantly check air lines on ecu that run to filter on the throttle body as these can split and make car run ruff

hope this helps
and i hope you keep the car

[Rickmayne]

thx for the feedback

I really do want to keep it but ive bashed my student loan into the red already cant feasibly spend any more than £100-200 and the MOTs due in may

[Senile Old Git]

value would be around the £700 mark, subject to door skins, A panels, front panel and scuttle condition

Edited by Senile Old Git, 25 February 2010 - 08:52 PM.

[Shifty]

From your description it sounds like its got the potential to be a bag of nightmares!!

Fair play though, you've been honest about its condition. If you continue to be this honest then you'll never sell it!!

As it is its gonna be around the £800-900 mark

With the right(by that I mean much less honest) eBay ad it could realise £1200ish

If you can't do the work yourself then you're in a sticky situation.

[Rickmayne]

Ah, was hoping for a little more than that. For the want of up to £200 more I'd rather be honest and not make an enemy to be honest Could do a bit of tidying on the wiring and look at the air tubes to make sure its running sweet (thanks for suggestion!) to add a £100 or so to make it up to a 4 figure settlement.

Have checked the panels - A panels, scuttle and wings seem to be fine, but the driver side door has a bit of rust on the sill.

Failing that, will sell it to a 17yr old chav for £1500 as a first car by telling him its "fast"

Thanks very much for the input all

[Shifty]

Good luck with the sale.

Its better to be honest than risk potential issues when selling the car.

[Senile Old Git]

send me some pictures of the A panels, door skins, under the headlights, boot floor, scuttle, drivers and passenger foot wells ... This is the sort of car we can deal with

[Rickmayne]

Failing that, will sell it to a 17yr old chav for £1500 as a first car by telling him its "fast"

what 17 year old chav has £1500 for insurance..................silly me, they don't bother with that!!!

On a serious note, send me some pictures of the A panels, door skins, under the headlights, boot floor, scuttle, drivers and passenger foot wells ... This is the sort of car we can deal with

Ah thanks, would be good! Will rattle of some pictures 2moro when its light and pm ya.

Good idea tho, and do you know if its possible to get a burberry roof kit?
(Joking, I know thats sacreligious to the same degree as going for a slash on a church or burning down a vicar)

Edited by Rickmayne, 25 February 2010 - 11:15 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

Whoosh... that's seen some action in the garage department !