PPI for mini - dealer or local?

[Insomniator]

I'm interested in a 2006 mini cooper s with 50k on it. I can drive the car 20 miles away to the Princeton Mini dealership for a 31 point inspection mentioned here for 80 bucks http://www.princetonmini.com/MiscPage_2

The dealer selling me the car suggested a closer foreign car specialist so I called them up and the guy sounded kinda like a salesman... all super happy I'm calling to get a car inspected before i buy it blah blah... and the inspection is only 40 bucks which sounds low...

Do you think the dealer that suggested that shop is probably buddies with them? I don't know how deep the network of screwing people on used cars goes.

Would you take it to a independent dealer or a local place suggested by the people?

 

[Doublejr]

If you have a personal mechanic I would recommend bringing it to them, if you have a good relationship. Being a Mini I would bring it to someone you trust, not on a suggestion. My buddy's gf just bought one about the same age as yours and it was a heap because the previous owner did not maintain it. She neglected to get a used car check on it.

Not sure I would trust the advice from a dealer that is trying to sell you the vehicle.

 

[satyajitmenon]

http://www.bimmershops.com/bmwshops/new-jersey/

Anyone near you? Granted they're BMW indy shops. But some of them might service Mini's too....

 

[Insomniator]

Well good thing I decided to take it to the mini dealer --

Needs:

Thermostat
Power Steering Fan
Power Steering Pump
Water Pump/O ring
1 Motor Mount
Bushings

~$3500 at the mini dealer/I figure 2k with my mechanic

Also has 4 chopped tires and needs an alignment.

I absolutely love the car but the guy will have to work with me... I'm obviously not paying their posted price after this report.

 

[overst33r]

50k miles and they found all that? Sounds like an abused car. Move on.

 

[KDKPSJ]

lol. Even my 6 years old E90 325i with 70k (which I got CPO at 7k in 2007 and my brother still driving it) doesn't have such maintenance bill.. Definitely move on.

 

[Insomniator]

Well if I could get the car for the same price with all these parts NEW I'd consider it a decent deal. Car is in perfect shape and already a few grand less than what I've seen out there.

Mini's are not cheap to fix and they don't last the longest.

 

[manimal]

Play wheeler dealer and ask 5k off. I would at least walk away for a bit tell him your moving on and you may get more than 5k off

Safer to walk away if you have to pay retail for the work.

 

[Insomniator]

5k?! The car is only listed at 13 and I doubt they'd even take 11.

Whats the cheapest they could have paid for the car themselves? 10? I don't have much exp with this kind of thing.

 

[ElFenix]

Car is in perfect shape

no, it's not.


move on.

 

[manimal]

5k?! The car is only listed at 13 and I doubt they'd even take 11.

Whats the cheapest they could have paid for the car themselves? 10? I don't have much exp with this kind of thing.

At auction something like that could be had for under 8k.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Well if I could get the car for the same price with all these parts NEW I'd consider it a decent deal. Car is in perfect shape and already a few grand less than what I've seen out there.

Mini's are not cheap to fix and they don't last the longest.

No.

Well good thing I decided to take it to the mini dealer --

Needs:

Thermostat
Power Steering Fan
Power Steering Pump
Water Pump/O ring
1 Motor Mount
Bushings

~$3500 at the mini dealer/I figure 2k with my mechanic

Also has 4 chopped tires and needs an alignment.

I absolutely love the car but the guy will have to work with me... I'm obviously not paying their posted price after this report.

Mini's aren't exactly rare cars. Don't see why you wouldn't want to find a better example of one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

5k?! The car is only listed at 13 and I doubt they'd even take 11.

Whats the cheapest they could have paid for the car themselves? 10? I don't have much exp with this kind of thing.

Trade in for fair to good looks to be in the $8400-9500 range. I'd bet they probably started with an offer at around $6,000 would be my guess.

Is this an S model? What options does it have? Auto or manual?

 

[Insomniator]

Trade in for fair to good looks to be in the $8400-9500 range. I'd bet they probably started with an offer at around $6,000 would be my guess.

Is this an S model? What options does it have? Auto or manual?

S with a 6 speed, moonroof, 17in wheels... everything but the trip comp. I know there are plenty out there I'm just tired of looking, and driving around, and missing work hours, and dealing with people. Really liked this car but you guys are right its a heap.

I guess I meant just meant perfect body/interior... and I was digging the color.

 

[JulesMaximus]

S with a 6 speed, moonroof, 17in wheels... everything but the trip comp. I know there are plenty out there I'm just tired of looking, and driving around, and missing work hours, and dealing with people. Really liked this car but you guys are right its a heap.

I guess I meant just meant perfect body/interior... and I was digging the color.

Tell them if they fix the issues the dealer noted, replace the tires and give it an alignment, that you'll buy it. Otherwise you'll walk. Seems to me they would do it since it only costs them the parts.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah... MINI's are NOT cheap to fix. They use a bunch of specialized parts that cost a fortune to replace... Like a $20 oil filter that's the size of a tea cup!

They also need synthetic oil, specialized BMW coolant, 91 octane gas... You get the idea.

 

[Demo24]

minis aren't necessarily the most reliable cars anyway, I'd suggest trying to find one that didn't already need quite a bit of work at relatively low mileage.

 

[DeviousTrap]

At auction something like that could be had for under 8k.

You'd be surprised, used car prices are still way too high.

Last week from Manheim:

For Week Ending Feb 1
Above Average Below
Sale Price $14,680 $11,202 $7,724
Odometer 30,971 61,941 92,912
Total Sold All 35

 

[Insomniator]

Well I just found a 2005 JCW that they are letting me take overnight and do whatever i want with. Its going to both my mechanic and the Princeton dealer near work.

This car is so freakin awesome. Its just expensive but I might have to suck it up. Hope it comes back with a cleaner bill of health than the last.

 

[manimal]

Well I just found a 2005 JCW that they are letting me take overnight and do whatever i want with. Its going to both my mechanic and the Princeton dealer near work.

This car is so freakin awesome. Its just expensive but I might have to suck it up. Hope it comes back with a cleaner bill of health than the last.

Nice!!!

Keep us posted.

 

[T2urtle]

Yeah... MINI's are NOT cheap to fix. They use a bunch of specialized parts that cost a fortune to replace... Like a $20 oil filter that's the size of a tea cup!

They also need synthetic oil, specialized BMW coolant, 91 octane gas... You get the idea.

I know they are pricey but it cant be that pricey VS owning a BMW.

Is their motor used in another car here or around the world?

a $20 filter reguardless of size is not a problem as long as its not in a place where i have to remove random odd items to get to, like oil filters in a VW phateon.

 

[Insomniator]

Well I doubt this JCW will come out with a clean bill of health... I doubt the JCW is worth 5k more than a regular S to me... esp when I'm gonna drive either into the ground anyway.

Decisions decisions...