327 replies to this topic

[Shifty]

Probably not, I've 2 of his refurbs and they have been fine.

If you give him a bell he may well have an exchange box ready to go.

[Jasonc]

Hi Dave!

Will be my first mini! As too when I'm going to get one is anybody's guess I'm starting to save now but it's gonna be a long save, you could say I'm not exactly flush with cash lol

[DaveJH]

Probably not, I've 2 of his refurbs and they have been fine.

If you give him a bell he may well have an exchange box ready to go.

Yes, I may do that. I'm going to wait until I get the box out first, I'll see if I can fix it myself or not.

Hi Dave!

Will be my first mini! As too when I'm going to get one is anybody's guess I'm starting to save now but it's gonna be a long save, you could say I'm not exactly flush with cash lol

My advice would be to wait until you can afford one that's in good nick, don't get one cheap like I did. I've spent nearly £4k on this since buying it but it's value has probably risen £1k max. Try and get one from a site like this where the owner has a diary and a reputation, and look at it with someone who knows minis! Where are you?

[Jasonc]

Thanks for the advice, I am in Southampton, probably looking to spend up to £2k but also with some extra for those 'just incase' little problems. In an ideal world I'd get one that I could restore myself, but living in a flat means no driveway or garage lol

[DaveJH]

No driveway or garage is not ideal! I have no garage but loads of driveway. When its sunny it's fine, when it rains I hate having to work on it. Got so desperate I even put up a tent at one point, but that was crazy. Anyway, with £2k you should easily find either a good condition low spec mini or a fair condition higher spec. I'm considering selling this at the end of the summer, I intend for it to be all done except the front end replacement and respray - almost everything else has already been replaced! Hoping for a little over £2k for it, I imagine it would be worth between £3k and £4k once that's done as it'll be immaculate. When are you hoping to have it all saved up by? And yes, keep something in reserve, unless you're lucky I'm sure you'll have plenty of reasons to spend money on it soon enough ;)

[Jasonc]

Not sure when I will have it all saved up, family commitments mean I cant save as much as I would like, I'll save as much as I can get a mini then sell my car and use that money for parts and goodies :)
Where are you based?

[DaveJH]

I'm in Newport, South Wales. Just don't rush into buying it, have you had minis before? It helps to know where you should be looking for problems.

[DaveJH]

Here's a picture from the wedding. Check out my great posture and my rolled up sleeves from a day spent in my tool box and under the bonnet! Luckily everything was fine when it needed to be.

Edited by DaveJH, 16 August 2012 - 12:15 PM.

[Jasonc]

Not had a mini before but have read lots about them and what to look for I have a very mechanically minded brother who I'm sure will help me :) always wanted a mini so have decided that it's time I got one! :)

[DaveJH]

Small update, the engine is out and it appears the diff was the problem. Taking apart the gearbox next to see the extent of the potential damage.

[DaveJH]

OK here are some pictures for you all!

Empty engine bay



Engine out



Diff (spot the missing part?)





And the missing parts themselves



Now I assume that is the diff pin and planet gears which can be replaced with this uprated kit from minispares.

Can someone confirm this for me? Would be nice to know I'm not wasting £51.36 before I order one! Tomorrow I'm popping back down to the garage to make a list of all the things I need to order (mostly gaskets, bushes and bolts etc) before I finally make an order.

I'll also be cleaning up the engine bay and engine with some TFR and maybe a lick of paint.

[DaveJH]

Update time, and unfortunately this is one of the last! The diff has been rebuild with a new uprated diff pin set. All parts of the diff and gearbox have been stripped and checked and everything looks good. Everything is now back together with a new set of gaskets and seals everywhere. I also ordered all new engine mounts, new wheel bearings, new front shocks, new bushes all round. The engine has been cleaned up and looks beautiful! Everything is going back in on monday, and once that happens there will be absolutely nothing mechanically wrong or old with the car. This summer I have done the following:

New suspension all round
New exhaust
New rear subby with all new bushes and other fittings
Refurbished diff, upgraded diff pin, checked gearbox and fitted new seals and gaskets
New engine mounts
New bushes all round up front, new bearings, even new wheel studs and nuts!

The only thing still wrong with this car is the front end, it ideally needs to be replaced along with the windscreen scuttle and then the paint work done. I have totalled everything I've done to the car in the two years I've owned it and it's over £5000! But unfortunately as I enter my 4th and final year at university I just cannot afford to run it anymore. I'm in too much debt and it is the most valuable thing I own. It breaks my heart to do so, especially so close to being finished and having done such a thorough job, but I'm going to have to sell Barney

I'll update this again once I've finished the current job I'm doing before I put the car up for sale. I really hope it'll go to an enthusiast who'll give him as much attention and care as I have! He'll come with about 7 months tax and MOT, ready to go.

[DaveJH]

Update time. The engine is back in, all new engine mount rubbers, gaskets etc (everything I could think of was replaced), it's running fine and soon I'll go home to give everything the once over before putting him on the market. I'm quite busy at university though so I'm not sure when that will be!

[DaveJH]

Wow, I haven't been here for a while! Small update - I'm weeks away from my finals so Barney has remained tucked under his sheet in the corner of the drive, now he's next to my other car as I'm not renewing the MOT and tax on my BMW until after summer. I won't be driving anywhere until my exams finish half way through June, then I'm working out in Jordan for two months in July and August. After that I have no idea what I'll be doing but if I get myself a full time job that pays well enough I'll consider renting a garage and getting back to the mini. I have to pay off my parents at some point though, I owe them over £2k for all the car related stuff I've done this year!

[Shifty]

It's a ghost!-