28 replies to this topic

[GeorgeBC]

Hi All

 

I am considering buying a car and wanted to know if anyone new any history about it. Its for sale at a local garage and i had a quick look last night when the garage was closed. It looks quite good from my untrained eye but is it priced about right? Its a 2000 W reg car with 39k miles. The bottom of the drivers door has started to rust under the paint and theres a tiny patch starting near the passenger side drivers lamp. The roof gutter has a tiny patch of rust just above the centre of the rear windscreen. It has new sills and the inner arches looked immaculate and freshly sealed.

 

I plan on going back to the garage this afternoon to have a look under the boot and bonnet etc. Ive read guides on here so have a rough idea what to look at. Is there anything i should be worried about that others can tell from this ebay advert?

 

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

George

[Badboytunes]

That looks really clean, although I would go over it with a fine tooth comb as they say. Lift carpets and check for rust everywhere. These later cars fall apart quite quickly. That said, on the face of it, it doesnt llok bad at all.

 

However, if it was my £7k+ I wiould get a totally mint earlier car with afew tasty mods.

[GeorgeBC]

Thanks for the quick response.

 

Yes i have read that the new ones tend to rot worst than older cars. I want a standard car as i have a modified car that i do trackdays in so just want a nice clean road car. It wont be used in winter so will just be a fun summer car. I've always wanted a mini but have never owned one. I didn't plan on buying one as i wasn't looking but then i saw this turn up at a local garage with a good reputation. It has all the service stamps and looks well cared for. Do the carpets come up easily? Im not sure how the garage would feel about me pulling them up.

[mpialan]

The later cars, 96 onwards, used inferior grade steel for the shell. From your description, new sills, bits of rust here and there, I would view with utmost caution.

 

I am not saying that it is a bad car, but just be careful. If possible, find someone who knows about Minis, especially later ones, and ask them to give it a good once over.

 

Pay particular attention to the A Panels, especially on the inside, the underside of the Windscreen Scuttle, Bulkhead, Inner Wings, Subframe Mounts, Boot Floor. What seems on the outside to be a very sound investment may need a lot of remedial work.

 

The bits of rust that you describe may be superficial, but may be a sign of hidden horrors.

 

I hope I am proved wrong, the car is as good as it looks and it gives you many years of happy Mini ownership.

 

Keep us posted,

[MaxAndPaddy]

+1 on scuttle and A panels. At face value looks pretty tidy and unmolested for a late sport and prices on them are strong at the moment, so even at a garage price that doesn't look unreasonable although I would be pusing for a few quid off.

[some1158]

Make sure the new sills are not oversills and that they have the vents!

[Devo]

Hello George welcome to the forum, its a lot of money they're asking for it though. Even being a nice car and all, you could buy a rust free mini for around half of your budget on ebay.

[Badboytunes]

I have zoomed in as much as I can on my pc, its looks like it may have cover sill on. If you see this post before you go and view, take a photo of the sills and post on here.

[GeorgeBC]

Not left yet as i'm just waiting for my mechanic friend. I had a good look at the sills last night but i'm afraid i'm not sure of the difference. I guess it will be stepped underneath if its a cover?

 

Looking at the ebay ones the prices vary massively dependant on condition. This one has full service history with decent miles but i appreciate condition is more important than mileage. I thought it was priced fairly for a cooper sport if i could get it down a bit and i'm happy with the hidden areas. This one finishes soon on ebay and has had some rust treated and full respray. Has anyone any experience of the mersey mini centre? Theres no mention of service history with this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so far guys!

[Bubblebobble]

That paint job doesnt look very good to me , and that second picture shows the end of the sill has been poorly finished off with the welding visible , with what looks like  a missed bit or hole to let the rain in !!

 

 Ebay is not particulary good , as all the cars are high pricied , not in any small part due to one company selling about 30 on there for high prices , leading you to believe thats how much you have to pay . Also due to the prices of minis nowadays , they are in the ' give it a quick blow over and flog it category ' , of tarting up and flogging .

 

 That first car would worry me , that its had some rust repairs - Were they done correctely ? Are they oversills with the originals underneath still rotting? Were they just replaced beacuse they were obviously gone ,  and to  sell it before it needs alot more serious rust replacing ?

 

 I would advertise on here for something , you will pay less and get a car from a enthusiast , not someone trying to pass of a ticking rust bomb or make  £2000 on a sale .

Edited by Bubblebobble, 06 September 2014 - 02:00 PM.

[minidaves]

the one in the top picture i would say is repaired on the front with filler or we need better res pictures, but i cant see the vertical line in the panel that should be below the headlamps 

[some1158]

Not left yet as i'm just waiting for my mechanic friend. I had a good look at the sills last night but i'm afraid i'm not sure of the difference. I guess it will be stepped underneath if its a cover?

 

See this for pictures - http://www.minifinit...ic.php?p=888787 - but basically the raised squares on the correct type of sill are open at the lower edge. Oversills have the squares but they are fully enclosed, and more seriously the oversill goes down further under the car. The result is a weaker box section, and the likelihood of a rust sandwich forming. Not insoluble but could be expensive and tricky, and suggests shortcuts elsewhere.

[GeorgeBC]

Thanks for that it clears up any doubt nicely as they aren't over sills.

 

I've not gone to view it today but may go tomorrow. You guys have put me off a tad and made me realise i am rushing into it a bit just because its a decent looking local car. I may still buy it but i am going to do more research, the chance of it being overpriced has surprised me. I was thinking i might get it close to 7k if i take it sold as seen rather than with any warranty. The garage has taken it in as part ex for a Morgan so they may want rid. The ebay one finished at 3.5k with the reserve not met 

 

I like the whole look of the exterior and interior of the cooper sport compared to other models and as i want to leave it standard i think this model is the one i want. I am not shy in getting my hands dirty but would like to find a nice car and keep on top of the jobs.

[MaxAndPaddy]

As a forecourt price, for a low mileage Cooper Sport, I wouldn't say it was particularly over priced, although condition will be key. Low mileage Cooper Sports have been fetching strong prices recently, well they have been advertised with strong prices, whether the sellers have got them might not be the same.

 

I think what other posters are saying is that you can still get a lot of mini for a lot less money if you looked outside of a cooper sport, certainly it is worth considering one that needs a bit of work for a lower price and from a private buyer.

 

Having said that, particularly with these cars, the premium is getting one with a low mileage, I still think its a good buy if that's what you are after. If you were after a daily drive, I would be looking at something else.

[GeorgeBC]

Thanks for everyones help. I have just put a deposit down on it so its mine, I'm very happy with the car and what ive paid for it. I suppose cars are worth what someones willing to pay for it and im happy. 

 

The boot floor is immaculate and not been plated, no sign of rust under the bonnet but managed find a touch of flakey rusted paint right in the corner of the scuttle panel where it meets the wings. I pulled the carpets up and everythings in excellent condition. Theres a small plate in the footwell next to where the new sill has been welded in on the drivers side. Worryingly there was a bit of damp under the carpet on top of the new sills so i need to find where this moisture is coming from and treat it, i think the valeter may of been a bit keen with the pressure washer. Theres no knocks or bangs on the test drive, the 4 speed box feels tight, it brakes straight and the engine started easily from cold and sounded sweet.

 

I plan to keep the car in excellent condition and standard. The first job ill be doing is removing the interior and carpets and checking everything out properly. Thanks for the advice!

 

George