21 replies to this topic

[Algordo1100]

Discussed before I'm sure, but....

So. you can get a Japanese import cooper in the uk.
An example ive seen is a 2000 plate car. Totally rust free, all imported and done, registered in the UK with a 'w' plate. Clocks converted over to mph, clean and ready to go with a years tax and MOT. Being sold by the company that imported it.
As its Jap spec it has air con and even though its a 2000 its an SPI, Jap spec never got the MPI (tell me if i'm wrong). Rest of spec is lovely. Full leather, walnut dash, door cappings etc. Looking at 40k miles on the clock.

For such an example you are looking at £5000. Now ive seen late model MPI's in not as good nick without the higher Jap spec fetch a grand more than that recently.

So where is the catch?

Al

[nev_payne]

The later Jap cars are a mongrel setup. They have the ignition pack and dual fuse boxes (engine 4-bladed and interior multi-bladed) and the same cylinder head from MPIs and almost always Air-Con. Might be an old-wives tale as well, but the quality of the import depended upon which island the car resided in. That is, one of the islands puts salt on the roads, one doesn't.

The only "catch" I know of is maintaining anything in the engine bay. If you thought MPIs were pretty shoe-horned in, you've not seen a Jap-Spec. This is a Mini 40 non-sportspack import I grabbed some photos of at Bingley a few years ago:




I feel for anyone needing to bleed the clutch.

Edited by nev_payne, 30 March 2012 - 02:33 PM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Al if you are interested in getting one this way, which I must admit I've thought of before .....check this guy out hes not too far away from you

http://www.japanesei...cialists.co.uk/

I in a rush of madness considered getting an import people carrier (till a few on here told me I was totally bonkers) butttt the chap that owns the place is sound. We got chatting about mini's and he's imported a few for people and said if you want one let me know what model and I can probably import you one over with my own stuff cheaper than you could do yourself

[Algordo1100]

Wow, thats a pretty jammed engine bay!

Still, with minis I think most of us are used to removing one thing to reach another. I noticed the MPI coil pack and ECU, which suggests to me that the only difference is the side mounted radiator. perhaps because there isn't room with the Air con condenser up front. I wonder what the final drive ratio is, as the MPI ratio is frankly awful, unless you happen to be a motorway services national manager.

We actually do have a Japanese import in the family. A Mazda Bongo. We bought it from the chap who imported and converted it into a camper. Its a fine vehicle.

Al

[xrocketengineer]

I have a 1994 Japanese Mini Cooper Monte Carlo, therefore it is BRG not red or black. It is pretty much a standard Cooper SPI with the exception of the air conditioning. I have replaced the ECU, springs, shocks with standard SPI parts. I am replacing the coolant hoses including the heater with silicone ones and they are same as the standard SPI. I am waiting for a gearbox from Guess-Works and it is a standard Copper box. The car has some rust but no panels need replacing. My car appears that was not garaged and the mechanic that worked on it appeared to have been somewhat sloppy. But all in all, is not bad. I only wished I had recognized the symptoms of a worn out differential before it exploded.
Anyway, the 1997 and later Japanese Minis are really an oddball, unique ECU (neither SPI nor MPI), SPI radiator and injection and MPI engine block.
I would say that if you want to get a Japanese Mini get a pre 1997 model and it will a lot easier to get parts.

[mab01uk]

I think in years to come the Japanese spec Mini's will become much sought after rare models in the UK, especially if they have all their original unique spec.........as we have already seen on TMF they are being scrapped (and re-exported to UK/Australia/NZ//USA) in large numbers in Japan despite often being in good condition, due to the strict and very expensive Japanese MOT test. However many Japanese export Mini's were automatic rather than manual transmission.

A couple more crowded underbonnet pictures (first pic was taken at Brooklands last weekend):





The air con condenser rad is fitted in LH inner wing with its own electric fan, receiver/drier on front of block, a/c compressor is under raised larger alternator, so no space for front mpi radiator and the evaporator is under dash parcel shelf on passenger side + pipework between.....
More Details and Part Diagrams Here:
http://www.somerford...onditioning.pdf

Edited by mab01uk, 30 March 2012 - 06:16 PM.

[1964Woody]

I have a 91 Mainstream Cooper that I bought from Japan about 6 months ago. It was in surprisingly good shape for the year because, as said above, the Japanese MOT system is strict. As I have found out, and my knuckles will testify, if you are used to working in a tight Mini engine compartment, once the Air Cond and other items are shoved in there it becomes much much more difficult to do anything. But so far well worth it.

[DAVER]

I live in Japan and had a 94 Monte Carlo last year which I exported back to my home country and today found a mint 95 cooper which I'll hopefully buy (wife permitting) to use for the summer.
Ive found that theres a pretty good range of minis available here at reasonable prices. My mini mechanic told me that the older minis aren't popular here any more and thats one of the main reasons that they are reasonably cheap especially if its from a private seller.
I think the main reason there are still quite a lot of good condition rover minis here is that there were quite a large number imported initially and nowadays the only people who drive them here are enthusists so the cars still on the road are usually well looked after.
The Shaken(MOT) system which is done every 2 years isn't that strict and its suprising the amount of rust they allow. The minis that are being exported from here havent been scrapped but most likely would have been purchased through the large car auctions available to dealers/brokers. The importer in England may also have connections with mini specialist dealers here who will source and then export the car overseas.

[gazza_sidewalk]

looking at that engine bay, i actually regret taking my aircon out of the mini now.

[Black.Ghost]

I have a 1994 Japanese Mini Cooper Monte Carlo, therefore it is BRG not red or black. It is pretty much a standard Cooper SPI with the exception of the air conditioning. I have replaced the ECU, springs, shocks with standard SPI parts. I am replacing the coolant hoses including the heater with silicone ones and they are same as the standard SPI. I am waiting for a gearbox from Guess-Works and it is a standard Copper box. The car has some rust but no panels need replacing. My car appears that was not garaged and the mechanic that worked on it appeared to have been somewhat sloppy. But all in all, is not bad. I only wished I had recognized the symptoms of a worn out differential before it exploded.
Anyway, the 1997 and later Japanese Minis are really an oddball, unique ECU (neither SPI nor MPI), SPI radiator and injection and MPI engine block.
I would say that if you want to get a Japanese Mini get a pre 1997 model and it will a lot easier to get parts.

I think you have a normal SPi Jap spec Cooper with the Monte Carlo pack, which is different to the Monte Carlo LE. The proper Monte Carlos had a special interior that was unique to it, with a red steering wheel, gear knob and gaiter. It also came with red seat belts and was not really like a standard SPi Cooper with regards the interior.

I am looking at buying one at the moment, again a Jap import. Im trying to find out how many genuine Monte Carlos were exported but I think it will prove to be a tricky research project. I don't know if a certain number from the initial 200 were taken over, or whether there were more produced or what.

[xrocketengineer]

You mean an interior like this?




Apparently the Japanese version is not part of the limited edition according to the original VIN on the scuttle. It does have all the features as outlined in the brochures and websites except for the fixed rear glass and no Monte Carlo decals. Also, the front seat belts are brown but the rear ones are red. Probably the front ones were replaced they show a lot of wear.
http://mile141.co.uk...montecarlo.aspx

Edited by xrocketengineer, 16 June 2013 - 01:48 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

Ah ok yeah just like that...the way you described it made it sounds like the standard black and red interior. Do you have a slice of the pie I can eat? No not that one, the humble one....

I wonder why the Japs got BRG ones, Either way, I like the contrast of the interior to the exterior.

[liam-ds]

the 2000 plate you are mentioning will be mpi its just that they don't use the front mounted radiator. this space is taken up by the air con pump. i keep looking trying to find a late one from over there

Liam

[xrocketengineer]

I like the colour combination too. It makes it different and unique. However, the Ebay seller from Canada that sold it to me has had at least three of them for sale at some time or another.

[Sam]

They are strange cars - I've worked on a 1996 Cooper SPI, which had the MPI block (different oil filter location), cylinder head, MPI interior switches etc.

Not sure how long it had been in the UK, but it was just as rusty as a normal Mini.