Buying Mini Hatch 1.4 - advice needed!
Discussion
Hi guys!
I am on a lookout for my first car and I really have no idea about it all. So I need a bit of advice..
I really want a Mini. But I’m quite limited with the budget so I feel like I must compromise if I really want to get one.
Today I came across this ad on Autotrader. Mini Hatch 1.4 2009 for sale. £1800. Private seller. The mileage is only 89,000. The car looks great and it does seem like it has been really well looked after. I have checked the service history,its MOT has been close to perfect for all the years,only had very minor issues.... The only problem that I can’t get my head around is the fact that the MOT expires in a month.
What do you guys think? Is it dodgy? Worth the risk? I really like it and I’m happy to take the risk but I need some feedback.
Thanks!
I am on a lookout for my first car and I really have no idea about it all. So I need a bit of advice..
I really want a Mini. But I’m quite limited with the budget so I feel like I must compromise if I really want to get one.
Today I came across this ad on Autotrader. Mini Hatch 1.4 2009 for sale. £1800. Private seller. The mileage is only 89,000. The car looks great and it does seem like it has been really well looked after. I have checked the service history,its MOT has been close to perfect for all the years,only had very minor issues.... The only problem that I can’t get my head around is the fact that the MOT expires in a month.
What do you guys think? Is it dodgy? Worth the risk? I really like it and I’m happy to take the risk but I need some feedback.
Thanks!
My only advise regarding a 1.4 Mini is DON'T.
s
tty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.
Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
s
tty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Edited by Mexman on Saturday 20th July 17:18
Mexman said:
My only advise regarding a 1.4 Mini is DON'T.
stty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.
Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Oooooh!!! That’s fair enough. What would you recommend as a car dealer? I have a budget of £2000 and really struggling now-most cars have rubbish MOTs and I don’t know whether I should be so sensitive to it?s
tty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Edited by Mexman on Saturday 20th July 17:18
martatatat said:
Mexman said:
My only advise regarding a 1.4 Mini is DON'T.
stty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.
Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Oooooh!!! That’s fair enough. What would you recommend as a car dealer? I have a budget of £2000 and really struggling now-most cars have rubbish MOTs and I don’t know whether I should be so sensitive to it?s
tty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Edited by Mexman on Saturday 20th July 17:18
That’s what I was looking at first. Old Mini Cooper. 2003. I’ve found a few I liked but the MOT history didn’t look great.
Does the MOT really matters that much? I know there’s no chance to get a car with no issues but it seems like in most cases there’s been quite a lot.
Sorry,I’m completely new to all this!
Does the MOT really matters that much? I know there’s no chance to get a car with no issues but it seems like in most cases there’s been quite a lot.
Sorry,I’m completely new to all this!
ZX10R NIN said:
Alfa Mito
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I just really want a Mini... and I don’t mind an old one as long as it’s in good condition and won’t cause any serious/expensive issues! It’s only for leisure anyway and occasional trip to London.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
martatatat said:
That’s what I was looking at first. Old Mini Cooper. 2003. I’ve found a few I liked but the MOT history didn’t look great.
Does the MOT really matters that much? I know there’s no chance to get a car with no issues but it seems like in most cases there’s been quite a lot.
Sorry,I’m completely new to all this!
My mrs has a mini cooper s and i think they all seem to have some issues Does the MOT really matters that much? I know there’s no chance to get a car with no issues but it seems like in most cases there’s been quite a lot.
Sorry,I’m completely new to all this!
she got hers for 1000 then got a really good service which ended up being another 1000 , but it does seem to be reliable now .
r53 owners page on facebook and mini torque forums are pretty good .
be aware the cooper s does like to drink petrol , i've had a few clio 172/182 and they were loads better on fuel , as much fun on a b road and more boot space than the mini.
I’ve just bought a mini with the 1.6 engine. An R56 model. 78000 miles.
It’s one of the worse purchases I’ve ever made. Drinks oil as mentioned previously, valve stem seals on their way out so it smokes when it’s hot. The engine was clean when I picked it up but everywhere that can leak oil does, rocker cover? Check. Sump, check.
Part of the problem seems to be it only wanted servicing every 30,000 miles.
Every time I drive it it gives me a new dinging noise. Airbag light, play with the seat, fixed. Tyre pressure lights that flicker.
Get a Panda or a Fiesta or ANYTHING ELSE. Mine’s getting a brutally honest eBay auction and a 99p start. A fitting punishment.
It’s one of the worse purchases I’ve ever made. Drinks oil as mentioned previously, valve stem seals on their way out so it smokes when it’s hot. The engine was clean when I picked it up but everywhere that can leak oil does, rocker cover? Check. Sump, check.
Part of the problem seems to be it only wanted servicing every 30,000 miles.
Every time I drive it it gives me a new dinging noise. Airbag light, play with the seat, fixed. Tyre pressure lights that flicker.
Get a Panda or a Fiesta or ANYTHING ELSE. Mine’s getting a brutally honest eBay auction and a 99p start. A fitting punishment.
Edited by pixelatedJH on Friday 5th June 00:36
Mexman said:
My only advise regarding a 1.4 Mini is DON'T.
stty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.
Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Please get your facts right, its a ss
tty Peugeot engine, uses more oil than fuel, even the handbooks tell you this.Half litre every 600 miles if I remember rightly, at this age, more like a litre every 500 miles by now.
CRAP.
Put it this way, as a car trader, we refuse to buy or sell them now, off to auction if we are forced to take one.
You have been warned.
Edited by Mexman on Saturday 20th July 17:18
tty BMW engine, along with the N18 and the series of engines that followed which were also terrible with timing chain issues and high oil consumption as just a few of the issues they suffered.Peugeot used this engine in their cars at the time and had the same regrettable issues, they binned the 1.4 but kept on using the 1.6 THP units (some which were modified from the N14/N18 series).
The N18 is much better than the N14 it replaced, the N16 in the cooper can have issues but is a safer bet than the N14. The 1.4 is the same block as the 1.6 NA but runs different cams. Peugeot don't seem to have resolved the timing chain issues as quickly as BMW did.
They can suffer with oil usage and water leaks, but the rest is ok. Get one with a good history or thats had some work. Just bare in mind you either get a good one or a bad one.
They can suffer with oil usage and water leaks, but the rest is ok. Get one with a good history or thats had some work. Just bare in mind you either get a good one or a bad one.
stevemcs said:
The N18 is much better than the N14 it replaced, the N16 in the cooper can have issues but is a safer bet than the N14. The 1.4 is the same block as the 1.6 NA but runs different cams. Peugeot don't seem to have resolved the timing chain issues as quickly as BMW did.
They can suffer with oil usage and water leaks, but the rest is ok. Get one with a good history or thats had some work. Just bare in mind you either get a good one or a bad one.
BMW never really fixed the timing chain issues, just look at the F20 that replaced this series of engines, it was even WORSE than the N series for timing chain issues, they really needed to sack the person who designed the poor tensioner and cheap plastic parts that made up the kit.They can suffer with oil usage and water leaks, but the rest is ok. Get one with a good history or thats had some work. Just bare in mind you either get a good one or a bad one.
Peugeot had a go at fixing the tensioner, its better than the N14 but still can have failures (just like the N18 did after the N14), they were not allowed to do much with the EP6 engines (Prince) until BMW had introduced their new F20 series, so by 2013 they had a new timing kit, they still use the 1.6 Prince engine, now designated as a Puretech unit, much more reliable than the earlier versions but I still would not want to own one without a warranty.
tonyb1968 said:
Please get your facts right, its a stty BMW engine, along with the N18 and the series of engines that followed which were also terrible with timing chain issues and high oil consumption as just a few of the issues they suffered.
Peugeot used this engine in their cars at the time and had the same regrettable issues, they binned the 1.4 but kept on using the 1.6 THP units (some which were modified from the N14/N18 series).
Please get YOUR facts right.tty BMW engine, along with the N18 and the series of engines that followed which were also terrible with timing chain issues and high oil consumption as just a few of the issues they suffered.Peugeot used this engine in their cars at the time and had the same regrettable issues, they binned the 1.4 but kept on using the 1.6 THP units (some which were modified from the N14/N18 series).
Mk2 Mini 1.4 will have the s
tty Prince PSA engine, produced/manufactured by PSA but assembled by BMW (with a few modifications)Same engine as used in 207s etc..
Edited by Mexman on Sunday 21st July 09:23
Mexman said:
tonyb1968 said:
Please get your facts right, its a stty BMW engine, along with the N18 and the series of engines that followed which were also terrible with timing chain issues and high oil consumption as just a few of the issues they suffered.
Peugeot used this engine in their cars at the time and had the same regrettable issues, they binned the 1.4 but kept on using the 1.6 THP units (some which were modified from the N14/N18 series).
Please get YOUR facts right.tty BMW engine, along with the N18 and the series of engines that followed which were also terrible with timing chain issues and high oil consumption as just a few of the issues they suffered.Peugeot used this engine in their cars at the time and had the same regrettable issues, they binned the 1.4 but kept on using the 1.6 THP units (some which were modified from the N14/N18 series).
Mk2 Mini 1.4 will have the s
tty Prince PSA engine, produced/manufactured by PSA but assembled by BMW (with a few modifications)Same engine as used in 207s etc..
Edited by Mexman on Sunday 21st July 09:23
tonyb1968 said:
Its a BMW engine numbnuts, Peugeot use this engine as they has a part in its development but the vast majority of the issues are on the BMW development side of things (timing chains, high oil consumption, VANOS issues etc). This engine was first fitted into BMW's and Mini's a year before it went into any Peugeot.
I know Wiki can be wrong - but their entry for this engine suggests it's largely a PSA design with some BMW input."The Prince family shares its basic block dimensions with the previous PSA TU engine family. Engineering design was directed by PSA with some support provided by BMW, including their Valvetronic variable valve lift system on the intake side. Other features include on-demand oil and water pumps. Gasoline direct injection with a twin-scroll turbocharger will be used on the higher power versions."
Poppiecock said:
I know Wiki can be wrong - but their entry for this engine suggests it's largely a PSA design with some BMW input.
"The Prince family shares its basic block dimensions with the previous PSA TU engine family. Engineering design was directed by PSA with some support provided by BMW, including their Valvetronic variable valve lift system on the intake side. Other features include on-demand oil and water pumps. Gasoline direct injection with a twin-scroll turbocharger will be used on the higher power versions."
Have a read "The Prince family shares its basic block dimensions with the previous PSA TU engine family. Engineering design was directed by PSA with some support provided by BMW, including their Valvetronic variable valve lift system on the intake side. Other features include on-demand oil and water pumps. Gasoline direct injection with a twin-scroll turbocharger will be used on the higher power versions."
http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/12/14/new_mini_38...
tonyb1968 said:
Its a BMW engine numbnuts, Peugeot use this engine as they has a part in its development but the vast majority of the issues are on the BMW development side of things (timing chains, high oil consumption, VANOS issues etc). This engine was first fitted into BMW's and Mini's a year before it went into any Peugeot.
Wrong way round numb nuts.Its a PSA engine and BMW had a part in its development.
It was fitted in Peugeot 207s firstly in 2006.
First Minis from 2001 used the Tritec engine, up until the Prince engine in 2007.
Mexman said:
tonyb1968 said:
Its a BMW engine numbnuts, Peugeot use this engine as they has a part in its development but the vast majority of the issues are on the BMW development side of things (timing chains, high oil consumption, VANOS issues etc). This engine was first fitted into BMW's and Mini's a year before it went into any Peugeot.
Wrong way round numb nuts.Its a PSA engine and BMW had a part in its development.
It was fitted in Peugeot 207s firstly in 2006.
First Minis from 2001 used the Tritec engine, up until the Prince engine in 2007.
Pretty much all the technology in this engine is BMW's.
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