MCS buying help

[Thunderbird213]

In the market for a 1st or 2nd gen MCS, here are my current options:

1: 2008 R52 sidewalk, 48k miles, £6500, private seller.
MOT advisories from 2021 and 2022 are power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage behind steering rack and exhaust has a minor leak.
Should I be worried about these?

2: 2007 R52, 38k miles, 4 owners, £6000, private seller.
MOT history mostly ok other than tyres, brakes and a couple of years with oil leaks. Needs new tyres and exhaust bracket is broken.

Is it better if the car is a year younger or has 10k less miles? Should I be worried about the advisories on the 2008?

Also considering a 2011 R57, 54k miles, £8000 from a small dealer.

Edited by Thunderbird213 on Friday 4th March 14:41

[and31]

You really need to go and have a look and drive them-I wouldn’t be concerned about any of the issues on the r52’s
Don’t know much about 2nd gen cars

[Ozzer2006]

I have 2 r52 MCS one is used daily and the other is used more sparingly and for fun with an engine built by 1320. All the things listed are very common on the MCS. But they aren't particularly cheap to run. Check the cost of a new exhaust as these can be rather expensive as are the tyres if you want decent run flats (I would change to non run flats) but none of the issues mentioned are anything serious I would buy on colour or spec. I unfortunately can't help with the r57. The main advice I can give is go and enjoy them because they are brilliant fun.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

As above, the MOT bits are relatively minor. Tyres about £400 all round for something half decent. Exhaust possibly a slight spanner in the works - lots of original ones will have rotted away so finding new OEM ones in decent condition could be tricky. Lots of owners fit stainless systems instead anyway - Malian do a cheap one thats meant to be ok but then you're looking at Millteks etc which new are £500+ I think.

Engines are pretty bulletproof though, moreso than the Gen2 stuff. Spares are plentiful and as a result, pretty cheap if you look in the right places (ebay is awash with over inflated prices, the forums/facebook groups far more realistic).

If the cosmetics are similar and given the MOTs both through up stuff I wouldn't be overly bothered about, I'd buy based on spec and service history. Heated leather would be nice to have especially in a 52. Sat Nav is well dated and as a result, pretty useless so wouldn't get too hung up on that. Chilli pack (I think) will get the LSD on cars of that era and then theres cosmetics like Aero bumpers etc, optional wheels.

[E-bmw]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Chilli pack (I think) will get the LSD on cars of that era

Just remember this is only true of 05/06 cars and an online vin check will confirm absolutely.