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foxy1305
Member
| Joined: | Saturday December 15th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
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Posted: Thursday January 10th, 2008 10:53 pm |
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| not sure how to post a link, but can anyone have a look at item number 190188920737 on ebay and pass any comments. It is being advertised as straight and genuine. I have checked about the mk1 bumpers and the answer given was inaccurate and seemed to indicate the seller was not an 'enthusiat'. I am as said before on the lookout for a mk 2 cooper and this one does fit the bill, but I am wary that if its bought from a 'trader' or 'opportiunist' it may not be as it seems. Dos anyone have any thoughts good or bad
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Mk 3 S Meister
MCR Member
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 08:06 am |
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Although it looks like an original car, it is not as original as it looks at first glance.
A couple of questions spring to mind:
No sign of the chassis plate, why?
Why does it have 850 cables for opening the doors?
Seems to have a suspension leak on the left hand side. Personally I wouldn't bid on it without having a very good look around it.
Last edited on Friday January 11th, 2008 08:07 am by Mk 3 S Meister |
minorparts
Member
| Joined: | Friday March 23rd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 862 |
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 08:17 am |
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From a quick glance at not very good photos, I would say it is well worth a further investigation. His start price isn't high is it. Yes, it shouldn't have corner bars but that is a very small deviation and 4 or 5 owners down the line the current owner isn't likely to know everything about the car. The front panel appears to be a later one, but what 40year old Mini Cooper won't realistically have had a few panels changed by now? I don't know how far away it is from you but if I was looking for a Mk2 I'd certainly go and look. It has most of the correct trim bits on it and the boot board brackets etc. I don't quite understand his comments regarding not fitting the 'S' wheels, because the 'S' didn't have arches anyway.... They may well be the more common 'reverse rims' anyway but these do not generally require arches either and do make a Cooper a bit more distinctive.
Go and have a look if you can, contact the seller and ask how long he has owned it, how much history he has etc. Even if he is a dealer, it doesn't mean the car will be any less genuine. Try and take somebody with you when you view if possible. Two pairs of eyes are always better.
Beyond the details that show in the photos, rust, probably covered up, is likely to be the biggest problem, so lift all the carpets, rear seat base, rear companion box linings etc. etc. and check carefully around the boot floor, underside, sills etc. If the car looks half-way decent, set yourself a top figure, then go for it. It might be worth offering him the money upon viewing the car - prior to the auction ending. A lot of ebay cars do sell that way. Take cash with you - it can be very tempting to some sellers!
One more small point, carefully check over the paperwork, the V5 document and anything else the seller has before you offer money.
Best of luck. I'm sure others will also have some good ideas too. There are SOME good cars on ebay. This may be one . And for that money, it has to be worth a look.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 09:40 am |
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It's worth carrying a magnet and a handkerchief and then you can check that the car is all steel and not full of filler, cardboard or other such crap.
The magnet will only stick to steel and the handkerchief will protect the paint if the seller isn't too happy with you using the magnet.
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Glen Ponder
MCR Member
| Joined: | Sunday November 13th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 885 |
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 10:25 am |
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I wouldn't get too carried away with wrong details like bumper over riders , most of these cars have been tarted up. sooped up, taken to bits, rebuilt or reshelled dring their lifespan and it matters little whether the current seller is knowledgable about Coopers, it's the buyer who should do his homework ( might also be a good idea to get a copy of the Mini Cooper Buyers Guide from the MCR to give you a few pointers) . A knowledgable seller doesn't have to be an honest one ! I would say that the car could well need some serious fettling if the owner's not kept on top of it ( Meister may well be right about that front hydro unit !)
For the kind of money this car will go for I wouldn't be too concerned about the detail, (it's not as if it's a £20K log 'bookjob') , you can put it right, and yes it could be a reshell into a standard Mk2 but could still make a very nice solid and useable classic car. Ask to see a Heritage Certificate and check any numbers on the car against that and the logbook . Good luck ! 
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foxy1305
Member
| Joined: | Saturday December 15th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 10:31 am |
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thanks for the replies
I'm in Somerset so its quite a trek
Its a good price at the moment, will see how the auction goes
Didnt notice the bootlace door pulls. It may have had new doors but what I'm struggling to understand is that changing these to the cooper pulls would be the first thing on my list to do. Not attending to this, worries me that other 'hidden things' will not be as they should. I'm probably expecting too much. I am just wanting to get an honest (not perfect) car. The search for SYD199G goes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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fyp741c
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| Joined: | Saturday March 18th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 143 |
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 12:58 pm |
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| ashtray needs a lid
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android
Member
| Joined: | Wednesday November 9th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 228 |
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 02:24 pm |
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Even further away I know but an alternative and it looks like a nice little tidyup project if beige is your thing :-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUSTIN-MINI-COOPER-BEIGE-WHITE_W0QQitemZ160197054208QQihZ006QQcategoryZ2192QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Again a few minor details wrong and the hydro pump up needs to settle a little bit (or is he a closet 'custom car' jackup sort from the '70's ?! No rear axle to light up,damn !!)! Get some photo's of inside the boot before you set off to view though (boot brackets).
DroidLast edited on Friday January 11th, 2008 02:28 pm by android |
Andrew1967
MCR Member
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Posted: Friday January 11th, 2008 04:44 pm |
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If you fancy one to restore, this one looks VERY honest. 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190188935175&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009
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