12 replies to this topic

[petehuws]

Hello experts, I have an interesting question.
I've just secured a nice 1990 RSP cooper with a £275 deposit, now home after taking a note of the registration number & VIN I'm doing some checks.
The good thing is that the V5 document (when asked to see it at the private sellers) shows it as a 1990 Rover Mini Cooper SE and the VIN is "SAXXNNAMBAD010xxx" which all ties in with it being an RSP, the engine number on the engine identifier plate & the V5 match also but read as 'LBB103991001xx" I was expecting the engine number to be in the format of 12A 2AF 531 0###?
Following this I took out a iCarCheck online (which checks for finance, is it a write off, V5 changes etc) and the only discrepancy is that at some point in the cars life it has had a personal plate put on, (no big deal there), the Engine number again reads as 'LBB103991001xx" on iCarCheck with the notes "Every engine in every car should have a unique number stamped somewhere on it. iCarCheck will tell you what was recorded at the time the car was registered".
If I'm to believe iCarCheck then it implies the engine is original, & as recorded when leaving the factory.
A google check on LBBxxxxxxxxxx engine codes and this shows them as possibly being a replacement engine & even more alarmingly they always seem to reference to 998cc units.
I'm a bit confused.

Many thanks indeed

[MaxAndPaddy]

I dont get that last bit ....the RSP only came with the 1275 engine so dont worry about the 998 side of things. It sounds like your checks have come up ok to me

Good luck with her!!

[petehuws]

MaxAndPaddy, many thanks for your quick reply!
Yes I too know that the only engine that came with the Rsp is the 1275, yet I checked for LLB engines here http://www.minimania.com/web/SCatagory/ENGINE/DisplayType/Calver's%20Corner/DisplayID/1520/ArticleV.cfm and each time a LLB is mentioed it seems to be under a 998 category????
Many thanks

[stickycreambun]

could you not physically see what the engine was? or, got any pics?

[petehuws]

http://s937.photobuc...w&current=8.jpg

it's not a very good one This is all I have & taken from the sellers ad, I've been trying to find out what differences I can spot between 998 & 1275 but failing to see any.

Many thanks

[stitch-86]

Not 100% positive, but I think that only the carbed coopers (i.e 1275 engine) had the sandwich plate on the thermostat housing (meaning they have basically the same plumbing as the SPI's).

Although if it was an RSP I would have tought that the log book would have said RSP and not SE?

Also the alloy wheels were slightly different - stud positioning against the spokes of the wheel (real technical language there) - When you notice the difference you will get what I mean.

[petehuws]

Thanks stitch!
Yes all other things check out, it's got the factory fitted Webasto S/R. and the red / half leather interior of that of the mini 30, albeit with the cooper seat tags. And yes the wheels are RSP, (has the 4 studs inline with the spokes). I've spoken to other RSP owners and for them too the car is listed as a special edition so nothing dodgy there, everything about the car seems fine apart from this unknown engine to me, from what I can tell the engine left the factory with the mini all together back in August 1990, I'd understand if DVLA mentioned it has had an engine swap within its lifetime but this does'nt seem to be the case the engine appears to be original.
All I'm trying to protect is the exclusiveness of the car, I'm definately paying that little extra as it's a reported RSP however I don't want to invest into something that has lost half of it's identity earlier on in life, that said the car drives fine from what I can tell but also did my old 1988 998 Mini Mayfair.

Many thanks!!!

[Naughty 40]

My log book just states Mini Cooper

The SE would be for Special Edition

And also when insuring it make sure that they are aware that it is a special edition

Edited by Naughty 40, 23 May 2012 - 02:11 PM.

[Spitz]

yes...looks to be a 1275 ( head at least )

Edited by Spitz, 23 May 2012 - 04:40 PM.

[petehuws]

Guys, you're all fab! Many thanks, I'll go for it & get some pics up. Many thanks

[1275GTS]

The engine No. for the R.S.P. should be 12A 2AF 531 0###. I have aR.S.P. so if you need any engine photos i will gladly help you out.

Edited by 1275GTS, 24 May 2012 - 11:04 AM.

[jaydee]

Yes thats the 1275 A+ fitted to either mainstream and RSP coopers, the RSP has an 8 row oil cooler at the front on the alternator side.
Ah and you need to count the spark plug from the rad and not the cltch, those are marked unconvetionally, rule of thumb is first cylinder is the front one, front side on a mini si the rad side.

[ibrooks]

As mentioned the head is a 1275 unit but that could have been placed on a 998 block and it's the block that carries the number.

A 1275 head has the top hose pointing straight forwards. If the stat housing isn't fitted look at the bolts - the front two bolts for the stat housing will form a straight line with the front row of head bolts.

A 1275 block - won't have the tappet chest covers on the rear face (unless it's an uber rare early Cooper one at which point it's probably worth as much as the rest of the car in running order).

Looking at the picture the two rivets that hold the engine number plate on look remarkably shiny........