Mini Bini now bought

[Vince70]

I wasn’t sure if it should go in the modern section or not as the car is 16 years old but my girlfriends daughter wants a mini so she’s picking a 2002 mini one up on Saturday and it looks a nice straight car in the pictures but I was wondering about the gearbox.

 

It’s got the Midlands gearbox which is known to be fragile and so I asked the seller if it whines or has any problems and the seller said when it’s cold it sometimes has trouble engaging reverse gear.

 

Now this is the 3rd Bini R50 I’ve bought for someone and if it was any other motor I wouldn’t really worry (or I bought it for myself) and it will get the gearbox oil changed as soon as it’s back home but could somebody tell me if you would take a chance.

 

The car isn’t expensive as she’s paid just under a grand for it so would you take the gamble

[Fat_Pirate]

Yes - mine had this issue, ti's the first sign of trouble apparently but it didn't get any worse and I was able to get around it - put the car in first THEN reverse, switch off and put it in reverse, etc - a new, inexperienced driver may not be comfortable with this though.

 

My neighbour owns the car now, he's happy with it as is too.

[SierraMikeHotel]

There is a thread in the modern section that may assist you. Can't link as I'm on my phone but it's towards the top at the moment "BMW mini what goes wrong"

[New POD]

How much is a reconditioned gearbox?

 

Is the repair procedure to take off the front including cross member and haul the engine and gearbox forward?

 

Worst that could happen is an as new box with new clutch and a big bill and a var thats fast becoming a classic.

 

Says the man whose daughter has a September 2001 built cooper with 80k on the clock driven by a budding michelle moulton.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I wouldn't reject it purely because reverse is a bit difficult when it's cold.  My R50 does this and it's had a recon 'box.  When I dropped its oil a few weeks back, there were no filings on the bung and it's otherwise perfect so I'm not expecting trouble.

 

Under a £1k, take a risk.

[timolloyd]

Seconded. Ours is a bit iffy, but patience and/or in and out of 1st sees it right. Rather like my ‘79 mini in fact!

[Parky]

Transmission specialist could probably sort this for a couple of hundred if you get the box out yourself. However lots of boxes are tricky when they are cold so a fluid change will help no doubt.

 

Both our dailies need to go into first before reverse will go in. In fact it is so common on my cars I instinctively do it every time regardless

 

I remember you got your brothers gear oil changed - what did you use? Was it the Granville one I suggested? Give that a shot again or try Redline MTL if the GF can afford it!

[Vince70]

Well we picked the car up and it really is an immaculate motor and it was a 4 hour drive back due to finding the seller hadn’t cleaned the car out and when we stopped for something to eat on the return journey and I had a closer look at the car we found it had some important documents and money in a card behind the seat so we took it back which added a bit of time.

 

The gearbox seems ok but it is getting the oil changed next week and the power steering is ok although after the 4 hour journey the steering did start making a whining noise when parking up but I think it’s ok.

 

I would of snapped it up as I doubt I could find another for £950 in that condition and mileage and it even came with a full tank of fuel.

[Wingz123]

Well done on returning the money and docs - this car will do her a good turn now

[Vince70]

Well hopefully we will get some good Karma with the car now lol

[UltraWomble]

 

Both our dailies need to go into first before reverse will go in. In fact it is so common on my cars I instinctively do it every time regardless

I thought it was just me!

[cort16]

That looks nice for £950 quid

[Vince70]

 

I’ve now bought a couple of litres of this stuff.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Looks like an absolute cracker.

[Parky]

Looks good, liquid yellow really suits them. And the 15 inch wheel option makes for a better ride and cheaper boots if they ever need changing.

[Vince70]

I found a very high spec 53 reg Mini Cooper a few ago for a friend and it was a real nice example and she still has the car and it had the 16/17 inch wheels with run flats on the thing and the ride was terrible and she found the steering heavy and it would knock your fillings out going over the slightest bump so we changed the wheels over for a set of 15s and it transformed the car.

 

I was very lucky as I got a brand new set of 15 inch genuine wheels and tyres for £140 which was a real bargain off my neighbour who took them off his new mini the day he bought it.

[purplebargeken]

Yellow Bini. My fave. Well jell.

[Noel Tidybeard]

check the rear washer isnt blocked as it will leak through motor and start filling the boot

they made the pipe through the wiper spindle in a material that seems to degrade when wet!?! go figure

 

airbag light ? TADTS

[Vince70]

Thinking about it I now I will have to take a look at the rear washer as it was a bit weak and on the other two minis I had the same trouble. I can’t remember how I repaired them now but I know I used a cable tie on the last one I repaired for my brother.

[Christine]

Anyone need a Mini wheel trim ?

 

 

We've just seen a chick    in a mini struggling to get reverse... and i said to my daughter   " I bet that's a 52 plate ...."   As she pulled away ...it was!      

 

Stuff you learn on 'ere 

[tapir]

looks like a great buy especially for the money

[New POD]

check the rear washer isnt blocked as it will leak through motor and start filling the boot

they made the pipe through the wiper spindle in a material that seems to degrade when wet!?! go figure

 

airbag light ? TADTS

Ours was the connector to the passenger seat belt tensioner.

 

Invest in a Bmw specific code reader. And turn it off.

[Fat_Pirate]

Mine has the 17" wheels and mega-stiff suspension... conversations in the car go like this: "Do you want to go FUCKING HELL to the supermarket?  We're low on JESUS bread and I need something to put in sandwiches CHRIST THAT WAS AN ACTUAL LANDMINE next week".  I like 'em though, they're good news - fun to drive, decent quality, no rot, cheap and easy parts.  No good for more than 2 people or pounding motorways though.  

[HH-R]

Almost every car I've ever driven without a synchromesh on reverse has been a twat to engage. The only exceptions I can remember were the Fiat Pandas.

[anonymous user]

Ours was the connector to the passenger seat belt tensioner.

 

Invest in a Bmw specific code reader. And turn it off.

Is that the connector under the seat, if so I did that on mine

[New POD]

 

Why the Generation 1 BINI is best (for finding cats

 

MINI_UAOM.pdf

 

 

I have 1000's of pages of genuine USA spec Dealer Manuals in PDF format. If anyone wants me to email them, PM me. 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately the Liquid Yellow mini is not right unless it has a black roof.  

 

I can't say I disagree about the 16 inch / 17 inch wheel statements, when fitted with runflats. 

 

Daughter's 51 Cooper (Chilli Pack with Leather seats and 16 inch alloys, has normal tyres, and I've NEVER felt uncomfortable driving it. The seat adjustment is great if you have a rear passenger with no legs. Almost infinite. 

[New POD]

 No good for more than 2 people or pounding motorways though.  

 

I disagree. Daughter and wife are both slight. and if I have to go in the back, there is room enough, and the seats aren't bad. Never been in the back for more than an hour though. 

 

Daughter and wife have both driven to/from Cardiff and back in a weekend (430 mile round trip, with no ill effects) - Apart from the time when the Brake light was permanently on.  

[New POD]

Is that the connector under the seat, if so I did that on mine

 

 

YES.  At the extremes of seat travel, the connector and wires are pulled tight, when you let someone out of the rear. If they then kick the wires you'd get a momentary break which would throw the airbag light on.  Having found an OBD II reader that did all the body control stuff, I was able to test that theory.  Fixed by Tapeing the connector to the bottom of the seat, and cutting the carpet a little to allow the cable a bit of play. And turning off the engine, before letting people out of the back. 

 

The irritating thing, is not that it throws up a fault. But that when it does a self check on start up, and knows it's not faulty, still leaves the light on.  

[Tamworthbay]

Been in the back of a mates and it’s truly miserable, he is 5’6” and I am only 5’11” so hardly like a basketball team outing and it was not good. Front seats are ok but ride is very hard for my aging joints.

[Vince70]

What is it with all the mini owners I know as my brother now has just contacted me to say his lacquer has fallen of his Chilli red example and it was obviously my fault again as I found him the car in the first place so can I do something about it lol.

 

He did also forget to mention that it was pressure washed to death by the local car wash which took lumps of lacquer off as he was too lazy to wash the car himself.

 

Also my friend who has the green cooper who I haven’t seen in about a year now wants me to take a look at the passenger window on her car and service it as that was obviously my fault the window has packed up after 4 years of use and because I now found these minis for friends and family it must mean that free lifetime servicing and warranty work comes with them lol.

 

 

Maybe when they all bought their cars and they had the TLC packs in the service folders it meant I must carry it out for nothing and because I have a Halfords socket set it must make me a BMW mini mechanic lol.