18 replies to this topic

[PLIMERICK]

hi can anyone tell me is it worth while buying a mini off ebay
and what things i should look out for?

[miniman5]

i would recoment veiwing the car before you buy it, as your ligaly contracted to it and all that so you cant jsut say ohh we dont want it any more. make sure every thing is straight and the subframe is ok.

[Sam]

I bought my red Mini from ebay without looking at it, no worries at all. Better then advertised in fact.

My blue Mini was bought through ebay too.

[Dom]

if your not sure of it, you can put the link up to the car and one of our mini docs will check it out for you.

[Jammy]

Its pretty much just like any other sale! I would highly advise going to view, or if you don't you should know what to look for when you pick it up. The seller should tell you EVERYTHING that is wrong with it, if he doesn't and you find stuff that he hasn't mentioned when you pick it up, then its false advertising and you don't have to buy it! BUT you must know to look out for the bad points when you pick it up, since it will be a lot harder going back to some one after a few weeks complaining the car you bought from them was pants!

When you look at it/pick it up check the following -

Rust on the subframes
Rust on the A-panels, in the boot around the arches or under spare tyre or battery box,
Rust on the sills, or inside at the floor pans
Rust on the bottom of the doors
Rust around the headlights
Check the engine bay for any oil leaks
Get a compresion tester (£17 from Halfords), and do a compression test, might save you ALOT of money in the long run
Check to make it goes into all the gears nicely and without crunching (a common thing is for the synchro to go on 2nd gear)
Make sure electrics work, especially indicators and flashers, although this is usually an inexpensive fix
Make sure the car sits level and at the same height at each corner
If any modifications have been done, make sure they have been done properly.

[clubman katie B.F]

a guy who bought a 1275 mini from ebay, took it to surfblue garage complaining of lack of power. they took one look at the engine and told him the reason it is underpowered is that it is a 998cc mini. you need to know what you are looking for. i bought a clubman shell from ebay and it was a painless experience

[PLIMERICK]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...4550330216&rd=1

this is the mini im looking at
the problem is im living in ireland so im thinking of flying into liverpool to met him early next week

he has sent me around 30 pictures and the car looks sound

its a mini tahiti is this a good model?

pat

[rtidbdtr]

Mini looks really nice

Word of warning though,

Item location:  Wrexham
United Kingdom

Wrexham is a distance from liverpool (not even in the same country)so you may need to organise transport there after your flight

[PLIMERICK]

sorry forgot to add

he will pick me up from airport in liverpool

do you have any idea how far is is from wrexham
to hollyhead

[Madmax]

its got a baby seat in it, so i would assume its a lady owner, i think its a good one

i bought my red mini off ebay, didnt go look at it before i paid, in the flesh it was exactly as described, and i got a bargain

[Guess-Works.com]

Quick vehicle check...

Vehicle details
Manufacturer Rover
Model MINI TAHITI
Body type 2 door saloon
Colour Blue
Fuel type Petrol
Date manufactured 31 December 1994
Number of previous owners 5
Last owner change 25 September 2004

So the current owner has only owned it for 8 months.... but for 1k..... worth it...

Same with any auction... set your limit...

[PLIMERICK]

cool so you reakon its worth a grand
im thinking i will gain if i evenually sell it back here in ireland because
there value is getting high here as there are more rear here

[Jammy]

Map of Wrexham

I'd say your looking at a 45 minute drive from Liverpool, depending on how long it takes to get out the city. From Holyhead, I would say its a similar length journey, maybe a bit longer.

If he picks you up in the mini it will give you a great opportunity to see how well it drives!!

[PLIMERICK]

thats what im thinking should get a good feel for the car by then

[Woody]

I bought a mini off ebay , i was daft and relied on the seller being honest after all he was DR ....... , only needs small patch for MOT ,bollx when i went to fetch it the drivers door fell off ! he looked all suprised and said " why did you do that " i said it wasent as described and he said if i didnt take it for the agreed price he would sue me and would definatly win as i had entered into a binding contract
so i took it home and choped it up and put it into the scrap .
the moral of the story is : BUYER BEWARE