Starting a four year old mini..............

[Mini1275]

..............so what's going to be needed/done to get a cooper which has been stood for four years going again?. Oil, plugs etc but will I have to do things like draining the fuel tank and lines, replacing gaskets etc?.

The guy has said it'll start with a battery, he can be trusted as we know him but I'm not sure you can expect a car (mini!) to start up after a few years of being sat in a garage.....?

Thanks!

[DanGT]

Water change and brakes. Then once going check water and oil levels and drips under the car. The most lightly thing is pipes have had it, this could be water oil or brakes. So make a good check befor any road use.

[matt998cc]

you could try draining the fuel tank if you know how but i would just chuck in 5 litres of petrol and crank her over, i did this to mine and have had no problems after 3000 miles of driving just make sure you fully service it and clean electrical connections that look corroded , especially earthing straps.

[darkcat]

I have an ALMOST identical situation, just bought one (1994 cooper 1300 spi), been sat in a garage for 3 years, arrives wednesday, i was thinking oil, warer, plugs, pads, petrol, battery.

got a proper bargain on this one, VERY solid body, i think its been garaged most of its life :-D

a few crusty bits but nothing i cant sort easily.

[ace01]

Personally, before anything else I would check the oil and then try for oil pressure, ie plugs out wait for light on dash to go out (or if you have a gauge)etc.

[Mini1275]

Thanks chaps,

the guy with the Mini tried to get it running before we took it away as we said we atleast wanted to see it fire up. We had a phone call from the guy selling it last night to say it turned over (albeit very slowly) but didn't fire up but he said that it would only be the starter motor .

He also said something about the immobiliser batteries being dead....