12 replies to this topic

[Southy]

Right im in the process of looking for a 1275 engine for my mini and ive managed to find an accident damaged maestro on ebay which is about 15mins down the road from me but im a bit unsure about the details which are posted he says its a 2001 model on an X reg but they didnt make these cars then with the A series, did they????Some of the pics dont work for me, dont suppose they work for any of you guys??

Have a read its item number 170201184986

[minivanman]

I'm pretty sure the maestro had a golf/VW gearbox mounted to it somehow? I think guessworks was converting one back to a mini box.

[Sam Walters]

finished in 94. hes telling lies. go down there check the engine turns over by hand if you cant start it, oh and engine number he may be fobbing you off with a 998 in there.

[Southy]

Hmmm not really worth buying the car if it doesnt come with the mini type gearbox as thats whatt i need mostly as mine is a bit fubar'd to say the least....
I think it could be a good idea to skirt around this car as something doesnt smell right too me, 6k on the clock, 2001 reg it all doesnt add up.

[imabitnaughtyxx]

Hmmm not really worth buying the car if it doesnt come with the mini type gearbox as thats whatt i need mostly as mine is a bit fubar'd to say the least....
I think it could be a good idea to skirt around this car as something doesnt smell right too me, 6k on the clock, 2001 reg it all doesnt add up.

sure its a maestro not a micra or something similar sounding?
edit: sorry did not read properly, now done homework and reposted xx

Edited by imabitnaughtyxx, 18 March 2008 - 09:45 PM.

[slyoldfox2001]

i think u need to change the crankshaft as well, but could be wrong

[Southy]

Hmmm not really worth buying the car if it doesnt come with the mini type gearbox as thats whatt i need mostly as mine is a bit fubar'd to say the least....
I think it could be a good idea to skirt around this car as something doesnt smell right too me, 6k on the clock, 2001 reg it all doesnt add up.

sure its a maestro not a micra or something similar sounding?

Well according to th infromation given, its an accident damaged car, for spares/repairs with an A series with 6k on the clock. He says 'as is normal practice with insurance companys i did not receive a registration document with this car' is this true as ive never had an accident damaged car or tired buying one?

[imabitnaughtyxx]

right just done a bit of research and
'At just £4995 each, the new cars had a very basic specification not far removed from the Clubman models and used the old 1.3 litre A+ engine. They appealed to many due to their low price and simplicity, being in high demand all the time they were being offered. Apparently the last "Ledbury" Maestro registered was a 51 reg.'
apparently the last one ever registered was in 2003.
might have an A+ engine with A+ gearbox depends on date of MANUFACTURE not registration
my rover dealer shut down last year and had a 1984 maestro that was unregistered and a mini as well! they can technically get an 08 reg.

go see the car thats my opinion

[Southy]

Hmmm now you have found that imabitnaughtyxx its made me feel a little bit easier about it all.

If i were to bid on the car and win and when i go to collect, view the car (as bidding ends TONIGHT at 11.30) if i see the car and the engine isnt as mentioned im fully entitled to walk away from it arent I?As its not what was stated in the auction

[Southy]

Right i sent him a message about the car and asking for info, he gave me a brief history as to why its registered as a 2001 X reg, the car is one of the last batch made in 1995-96 and its registered as a X reg due to a deal dropping through on an export and 2500 cars were then sold to ledbury and converted back to RHD.

I also asked him for the engine number but he said he will only send me this AFTER the auction has ended...Ive asked him regarding information about the gearbox and hopefully it will be what im after.

[Bungle]

i think guessworks is converting a maestro engine to sit on a mini gearbox

[Dan]

You won't like the answer about the gearbox. The Meastro does indeed use an A series engine but you won't recognise it as one. It is a conventional engine with the gearbox on the end rather than in the sump, using a Volkswagen sourced transmission as said above. It is a completely different block casting from those used in the Mini and Metro, it has the oil filter mounting cast into the block like the MPi block does. It can be used on a Mini gearbox but you will need a new crank. Basically you will be buying a block, head, rods and pistons for the price of a whole car and then be left with the remains to get rid of. You won't be able to back out of the auction simply because the engine isn't what you thought it was, it is as described. The A series engine came in many forms over the years but you can't use all of them.

[Southy]

Thanks for the reply Dan i decided to not bother bidding on the item in the end as i was unsure about what would need to be done to sit it on a mini gearbox, and by the sounds of it i did the right thing, looks like i decided on the right choice, will be much easier to just buy myself a full a series engine....