Some advice on Cooper S please.

[ters]

Please advise if a 2003 S (R50?) with 175000km is worth considering? The owner says the oil pressure light sometimes comes on at idle.....seems to be a common sensor problem (Info on web).
Also the powersteering pump needs attention. I have a 2006 Bantam the guy is considering swopping me for. +- R55000 worth.

Please give your much valued opinions!raise:

Ters.

 

[ters]

I know forums are quiet this time of year.....but please guys, if I snooze on this one, it will be to late, or I get a bottomless money hole. I would like to have the missus use it as a daily, currently she has a Getz. Nothing wrong with the Hyundai, upgrade for her.

Married folk will know: happy wife=happy hubby....:rollsmile:

Ters.

ps. I think his low price is because people think repairs on them is an Engineering degree option only....

 

[dvst8]

I owned a 2002 r53 and had no major issues.

Never heard of the oil pressure light issue before.

If the car has been maintained, i rate go for it, 55k is a steal for an S.

Awesome fun little cars.

:thumbs:

 

[zaleonardz]

The power steering is going to cost you about 12 to sort.

Its both electrical as well as mechanical, the fan fails, pump overheats, and poof.

Oil pressure problems could be very serious, could be a faulty sensor, or a oil pump saying bye.

If its a faulty sensor, your good to go, if its an oil pump, and its been driving like that for a while, you will be rebuilding a motor at 30 to 40k, or a scrapyard motor for like 20k plus another 5 to 10k to put it in.

The scientific approach would be to have the oil analyzed, if there is metal particles, you run for the hills, if not, sort out the sensor and or pump, and you have a good deal.

 

[Cooper]

It's not worth it, don't go for it.

You going to spend a bit to sort it out and with the mileage being fairly high, something else is going to go wrong eventually.

Rather buy a properly sorted one that doesn't have such high mileage. You shouldn't be spending more than 70k on a 03 S with good mileage.

 

[pre325]

Recon power steering pump is 4500

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Not sure bout the oil pressure light problem...

 

[herr bmw]

i would sort out the oil pump to be on the safe side anyway with such high mileage,rather safe than sorry,also check auto trader as you might get one with less kilos for a better price

my son(13)is crazy about mini and asks if we can just go down to the dealer to look,always walk out of there with some thing in there range,asked if his first car can be a mini

 

[Nikhil]

when someone says Mini I think super knocking :fencelook:

 

[Mrcloc]

I don't think it's worth it. The maintenance on these is potentially quite heavy (my mother has owned 3 or 4 Mini Coopers and a Cooper S). It's almost as though each one has its own problem, which never goes away.

There are many other options which are probably safer. I'd say a Polo GTi or Fiesta ST will probably be more reliable and still fun (although not nearly as fast ).

 

[dvst8]

I'd say a Polo GTi or Fiesta ST will probably be more reliable and still fun (although not nearly as fast ).

I have to disagree, I had a Fieste ST and a Mini Cooper S. ST was brand new and gave me lots of crap. I've also driven both the older Polo GTi and Newer one, the Mini is a totally different car to drive.

Mini beats the others by miles in the fun factor.

:thumbs:

 

[Mrcloc]

I'd say a Polo GTi or Fiesta ST will probably be more reliable and still fun (although not nearly as fast ).

I have to disagree, I had a Fieste ST and a Mini Cooper S. ST was brand new and gave me lots of crap. I've also driven both the older Polo GTi and Newer one, the Mini is a totally different car to drive.

Mini beats the others by miles in the fun factor.

:thumbs:

I'm glad to hear that. The Cooper S is very fun indeed. My mother's 135kW one is also very fast.

ITO reliability though, I must still say that the Cooper S is potentially going to cost a lot of money. If the FSH is clean, then maybe it's a good one with minimal issues...

 

[ters]

Thank you all for the time you took to reply!:thumbs: Decided not worth taking a chance..... I will be selling the Bantam and start looking for another oldie :fencelook:. Plan to trade the Getz next year on a B(MW)avarian for the wife.

Thank you all! :ty:

Ters.

 

[Willy]

when someone says Mini I think super knocking :fencelook:

Only with the PSA turbo motors. He is talking R53 Cooper S. The supercharged ones.

As for the polo's and fiestas, We have had members that went down that dark road and returned quickly.

I'd rather look at spending a bit more with less mileage. But that said, My little R53 I had, had 150 000 very hard Km on. only did power steering pump.

 

[Nikhil]

when someone says Mini I think super knocking :fencelook:

Only with the PSA turbo motors. He is talking R53 Cooper S. The supercharged ones.

As for the polo's and fiestas, We have had members that went down that dark road and returned quickly.

I'd rather look at spending a bit more with less mileage. But that said, My little R53 I had, had 150 000 very hard Km on. only did power steering pump.

ooooh ok! yeah I dont know anything about Mini's lol.

 

[Kurt Adv]

I know forums are quiet this time of year.....but please guys, if I snooze on this one, it will be to late, or I get a bottomless money hole. I would like to have the missus use it as a daily, currently she has a Getz. Nothing wrong with the Hyundai, upgrade for her.

Married folk will know: happy wife=happy hubby....:rollsmile:

Ters.

ps. I think his low price is because people think repairs on them is an Engineering degree option only....

I might be interested in the Getz if you're selling.

 

[Photokid]

How much is the bantam worth?
I know of a JCW Mini, 2009 or so I think, advertised for around R150k.
I can get proper details if you're interested.

 

[ters]

I might be interested in the Getz if you're selling.

Unfortunately it does not meet your search criteria....no ABS (2006, 1.3i) Mine is the pre-facelift. To be honest, they are not as economical as everybody believes. Spares are not as cheap, or easy to come by. They are super reliable though. Some nice ones on Gum? http://www.gumtree.co.za/s-cars/gauteng/hyundai+getz/v1c9077l3100003q0p1

Ters.

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How much is the bantam worth?
I know of a JCW Mini, 2009 or so I think, advertised for around R150k.
I can get proper details if you're interested.

Appreciate your reply! Bantam is up for 55k....bit above my wallet.
I would love to own one. I have a positive buyer for Jan 2014 for the Bantam, or swop for an E39 540 also.

Ters.