First time buyer!

[Pistontwister]

Hi all,

In the process of trying to buy a decent Mini. Was originally thinking of looking for a 70s or maybe even 80s car but Im open to going right up to a 2000 for a good example. Im not looking specifically for anything flash like a Cooper, just a solid little 1L that requires little attention to start and has an NCT.

I have been to look at one from a classic's dealer on donedeal and was disappointed the reality didnt live up to the pictures. An early 90s car with a fair bit of surface rust, a lot of bad patch work done and a new coat of paint on top of that. The rear suspension was gone as well. All this for almost 3 grand! Good restored cars in Ireland are a little out of my budget at 4 grand plus. Im looking to spend 3, 3250 absolute max.

I have bought a classic in the UK before on ebay and was lucky that it was a solid car with no hidden nightmares, but given the Mini's love of rusting, Im very wary of buying unseen.
So any advice welcome! Was thinking of maybe trying to get a contact in the UK from the club scene to check one out for me.

[woody]

Welcome to the forum.
A few things to concider, you mention a preferance for 1Ltr . which would limit your serch up to 1992. If this is for insurance reasons you may need to concider that some insurance companies don't insure old cars and classic policies are only open to over 25's. Some people prefair to go for pre '80 cars because they are NCT exempt and this adds a price premium over early '80 cars in a simular condition. Your budget should get you a nice car in good condition and if you buy from a club member here you will proberbly get some history and even photos of car over the last few years so you know what your buying.
Good luck with your search.

[Pistontwister]

Thanks Woody.

Sorry yeah I should have mentioned I'm actually 30+ and have recently sold a 2L car so insurance isnt a problem. Im not intending to go to any track days so a 1L is fine with me.
I would prefer a pre - 80 car alright, because this is going to be a second car and if it was in good enough condition would only be a Sunday driver and for the odd show.
Club member sale would be ideal yeah. Last car I bought was also a club car and it was very sound.

[kona]

There was a nice baby blue one on donedeal there last week, a 70s 1L job. Looked well and was 3,5 or so. Could still be there.

There was a MINT BRG cooper too but he was looking for a bit more. Ill say one thing, buy cheap with minis and youll be in the doodoo.

[Frisco]

I have a solid 2000 cooper here that's well within your budget. I have a couple of small jobs to do to it (ball joints and shocks) so was going to put it up for sale in a few weeks

[Pistontwister]

There was a nice baby blue one on donedeal there last week, a 70s 1L job. Looked well and was 3,5 or so. Could still be there.

There was a MINT BRG cooper too but he was looking for a bit more. Ill say one thing, buy cheap with minis and youll be in the doodoo.

Didnt see that of late, must be gone.

Yes I saw 2 BRG Coopers actually. Really great looking examples, out of my price range though if I remember, both around 5k I think.

@ Frisco - PM'ed

[kona]

There was a nice baby blue one on donedeal there last week, a 70s 1L job. Looked well and was 3,5 or so. Could still be there.

There was a MINT BRG cooper too but he was looking for a bit more. Ill say one thing, buy cheap with minis and youll be in the doodoo.

Didnt see that of late, must be gone.

Yes I saw 2 BRG Coopers actually. Really great looking examples, out of my price range though if I remember, both around 5k I think.

@ Frisco - PM'ed

http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for ... 00/7654860


Still up there.

[Frisco]

@ Frisco - PM'ed

Replied

[Pistontwister]

There was a nice baby blue one on donedeal there last week, a 70s 1L job. Looked well and was 3,5 or so. Could still be there.

There was a MINT BRG cooper too but he was looking for a bit more. Ill say one thing, buy cheap with minis and youll be in the doodoo.

Didnt see that of late, must be gone.

Yes I saw 2 BRG Coopers actually. Really great looking examples, out of my price range though if I remember, both around 5k I think.

@ Frisco - PM'ed

http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for ... 00/7654860


Still up there.

Very nice. Very tempting. Wonder would he consider a mahoosive discount! lol

[kona]

[/quote]

Very nice. Very tempting. Wonder would he consider a mahoosive discount! lol[/quote]

No harm in asking!

[spud1979]

Here's one within your budget

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7474371
Mini Cooper

[Frisco]

Here's one within your budget

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7474371
Mini Cooper

Other than the log book which bit of that is from 1971?

[spud1979]

If it was converted in England it's legit, if done here it's not.

[Pistontwister]

Can either of yis give me a short summary on what you're talking about!?

[daniel garry]

Can either of yis give me a short summary on what you're talking about!?

Its a late model cooper and someones just got a '71 log book and plates and are trying to pass it off as a tax and nct exempt car

[Pistontwister]

Can either of yis give me a short summary on what you're talking about!?

Its a late model cooper and someones just got a '71 log book and plates and are trying to pass it off as a tax and nct exempt car

I see, thanks. What gives it away at a glance?

[daniel garry]

Can either of yis give me a short summary on what you're talking about!?

Its a late model cooper and someones just got a '71 log book and plates and are trying to pass it off as a tax and nct exempt car

I see, thanks. What gives it away at a glance?

Wheels, arches, stripes, 1.3 engine, lack of pre 80 boasting! Yes there is a possibility that the last fella did all these mods to a 71 car but its very unlikely!

[Frisco]

If it was converted in England it's legit, if done here it's not.

A late 90s car could never end up with an old Irish plate regardless of where it come from and to get an age related plate in the UK it would need to be a brand new unused shell with pretty much every part of the original car bolted to it.

It's basically a ringer so about €2999 overpriced IMO

[Pistontwister]

I managed to find a very tidy '92 Mini City which I bought from Tony Cooney on the forum here. Drove it home Friday afternoon. Very happy with it, in great nick and only needs a couple of small things before the NCT.

Have to order a CV joint and boot, steering rack cover and and oil seal for where the engine meets the driveshaft. Could anyone tell if these are the ones that would suit?

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 0to%20shop

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 0to%20shop

Noticed that the 'pot joint' on one side is spewing out grease in the surrounding area. The boot can be peeled back by hand even though a cable tie is on there. Do they need a special clip?

[woody]

Thats a nice car your after getting.
Those parts you list should do the job.
I usually wrap wire around the pot joint boot to hold it, old school.

[Pistontwister]

Yeah its a grand bus. Very happy with it. Once I sort out this clicking steering and stop this little leak, its good to go.

Ordered the cv joint from a local motorfactor but he's advising me to get the oil seal in an engineering place nearby which stocks every kind of oil seal ever made apparently. Problem is they don't deal with reg's or chasis numbers. You just have to take them in the original seal. I kind of want to pick the lot up tomorrow and intend to start the job next week. Is there a site with dimensions/properties of parts I could get the info on the seal from? I don't see anything about it on Minispares.