Are all minis rusty corroded rubbish, or is it just mine...?
Discussion
2 weeks ago, went to change the rear brake pads. Ended up replacing 4 discs, 4 calipers, and all the pads. Needed to attack it with a blowtorch to get some of the stuff apart.
Then when I did that, the brake lines were corroded to hell and back. In fact 1 burst on the lift. Replaced.
Yesterday it failed it's MOT (Wheel bearing, numberplate lights and the exhaust)
Changed the wheel bearing, but not without snapping the heads off 2 bolts, and needing to drill them out, and retap them (2 hour job becomes 6)becuase the tinworm is taken hold of the major mechanical bits. The exhaust is fair enough, but the number plate lights are showing signs of a wiring problem (not found yet).
And on top of that, the MOT man seems to have missed a wishbone bush or 2, the central locking is flacky, the drivers side window don't work, and the engine uses oil at an alarming rate.
And it's only a 52 plate with 122k.
Is it mine,or are all minis not built to go the distance??
(But it does drive nicely).
Then when I did that, the brake lines were corroded to hell and back. In fact 1 burst on the lift. Replaced.
Yesterday it failed it's MOT (Wheel bearing, numberplate lights and the exhaust)
Changed the wheel bearing, but not without snapping the heads off 2 bolts, and needing to drill them out, and retap them (2 hour job becomes 6)becuase the tinworm is taken hold of the major mechanical bits. The exhaust is fair enough, but the number plate lights are showing signs of a wiring problem (not found yet).
And on top of that, the MOT man seems to have missed a wishbone bush or 2, the central locking is flacky, the drivers side window don't work, and the engine uses oil at an alarming rate.
And it's only a 52 plate with 122k.
Is it mine,or are all minis not built to go the distance??
(But it does drive nicely).
Sounds like it's simply been neglected to Me!
As for:
Lets put this into perspective: Back in the day My Father owned a car that had corrosion issues at 6 months old! (a FIAT 128 for those who are curious!)
BTW, this should really be posted here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
It's a MINI - not a BMW
As for:
bearman68 said:
.....And it's only a 52 plate with 122k......
So that's an 11 year old car that's done enough mileage to go round the Earth 5 time or get halfway to the moon!Lets put this into perspective: Back in the day My Father owned a car that had corrosion issues at 6 months old! (a FIAT 128 for those who are curious!)
BTW, this should really be posted here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
It's a MINI - not a BMW
Hmmm maybe neglect it is then.... I just compare it to my Pug which is older (2000), probably equally as neglected, more miles (251) and you can take apart and put back together without the drama of broken bolts. And it doesn't use any oil.
So,should I keep it, or should it go... Tempted to keep it now it's had loads spent on it, but I fear there's more to come.
So,should I keep it, or should it go... Tempted to keep it now it's had loads spent on it, but I fear there's more to come.
No, the bodywork is actually pretty good, it's just a money pit at the mo.
I do worry about the siezed bolt stuff though. IME broken bolts are more normally asscoiated with stuff that's nearly dead, so it's a bit surprising to find this happening on such a 'young' car - OK, I know 52 'aint young in actual terms, but you should see the other cars I work on.
I do worry about the siezed bolt stuff though. IME broken bolts are more normally asscoiated with stuff that's nearly dead, so it's a bit surprising to find this happening on such a 'young' car - OK, I know 52 'aint young in actual terms, but you should see the other cars I work on.
Check the seal carriers at the bottom of the doors, they're aluminium and rot badly. Not expensive or difficult to change.
Mine was a 51 Plate Cooper with 65000 miles on and had similar corrosion problems, needed to strip the rear brakes as all seized up. Rear exhaust box rotted through it's bracket and hanger. Various bolts and exposed metalwork under the bonnet corroded and looked naff.
It also had a swimming pool in the drivers footwell that rotted through a diode and caused the brake lights to stick on.
Brother has had it for nearly 2 years and apart from the pax door lock playing up nothing has gone wrong or fallen off.
I'm guessing mine hadn't had much TLC before I got my hands on it and sorted all the above problems. Bodywork seems sound on them but miscellaneous fittings and fixings are made from naff materials which do seize and corrode.
Yours doesn't sound too bad given the age and mileage.
Mine was a 51 Plate Cooper with 65000 miles on and had similar corrosion problems, needed to strip the rear brakes as all seized up. Rear exhaust box rotted through it's bracket and hanger. Various bolts and exposed metalwork under the bonnet corroded and looked naff.
It also had a swimming pool in the drivers footwell that rotted through a diode and caused the brake lights to stick on.
Brother has had it for nearly 2 years and apart from the pax door lock playing up nothing has gone wrong or fallen off.
I'm guessing mine hadn't had much TLC before I got my hands on it and sorted all the above problems. Bodywork seems sound on them but miscellaneous fittings and fixings are made from naff materials which do seize and corrode.
Yours doesn't sound too bad given the age and mileage.
Interesting someone mentioned seaside. I checked the previous owners postcode to get a reason why my wifes Cooper S is so badly corroded. Ive just replaced 2x fr wheel bearings, replaced the subframe and replaced most of the bolts and bushes as well as 4x discs and pads and the exhaust.
A quality vehicle Arnold Clark said. "Sold as seen" they said.
Anyway its now perfect but I was surprised.
A quality vehicle Arnold Clark said. "Sold as seen" they said.
Anyway its now perfect but I was surprised.
Not just yours. My 55 Cooper S is like that. I've spannered all manner of motors over the years & I've never known a car like it for fighting you all the way. Corroded bolts, rusty fittings it's a real doozy for it. Just done the brake pipes both sides as rotten as you like. Wheel bearing - ended up having to drill the disc bolt out. Replaced catback, one of the hangar strap attachments at the body end snapped - had to be welded back on.
It is a noticeable car for crappy fixings. Body wise it's fine, but far from the easiest once you get underneath it.
It is a noticeable car for crappy fixings. Body wise it's fine, but far from the easiest once you get underneath it.
iSore said:
The Mini is basically a British Leyland product built down to a price in an old BL factory. As such, the quality is about the same as an equivalent Corsa.
Just bought a 51 reg Cooper, for the wife. I'd say the build quality is like a Metro, with smattering of BMW. Remember that the gestation of new cars is in excess of 5 years in most cases, so it probably was seen as the replacement to the Rover 100.
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