What year is the Mayfair?

'94 (M)

Don't use an aa or rac inspection! They're useless

Don't use an aa or rac inspection! They're useless

Explain.

Who are the alternatives that CAN be trusted?

 

Who do you and the collective recommend then?

 

got to get this right, as if it goes badly titties up, it WILL be me that gets it in the neck from this lot here, guaranteed. 

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

Yes please explain.

What is your experience of the AA or RAC doing a vehicle Inspection and report?

 

Are they Unprofessional, unqualified, not any good at actually inspecting and making a Written Report.

 

They are not cheap, but useless is rather a sweeping statement,   some are rather good IME.

 

george

Yes please explain.

What is your experience of the AA or RAC doing a vehicle Inspection and report?

 

Are they Unprofessional, unqualified, not any good at actually inspecting and making a Written Report.

 

They are not cheap, but useless is rather a sweeping statement,   some are rather good IME.

 

george

Bad one off experience perhaps?

It can and does happen in defence.

 

Just so much want to get this right though.

 

Not expecting brand new and perfection, just something that is useable with no hidden and expensive bodgey  nightmares in the making just waiting to bite the lad.

He's got zero mechanical knowledge so is happy with my recommendation that he does the purchasing procedure properly, as it's ALL his money that he's worked bloody hard for and saved.

 

I could go and check it out, but I'm really not up to crawling around on my back with a torch and magnet.

Don't consider myself as fully up to speed as really required on Mini matters anyway to be quite honest.

 

Saves a 170 mile 'round trip with the expense of,too and the best part of a day.

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

The grandfather used to sell classic cars for a living so a buyer says can the AA come down with me to check the car over on the ramp! So that was all sorted! The AA man turns up to check this 1275 Austin Healey Sprite over and then starts going on about how the power steering which the more knowledgeable of you will know was NEVER fitted to a 1275 Sprite was missing resulting in the sale falling through, I acknowledge that the statement was sweeping and may not be accurate to current AA or RAC standards so I apologise for the miswording but that's our experience of them, since then whenever an expensive car is being looked at we pay our mechanic to come with us to check them over as he is ex Lotus so very meticulous and a great guy!

A text has come flooding in from the owner of this Mini Mayfair he's got the 'hots' for, and he claims it's sound underneath with no welding.

 

I've got the cub to text him back to see if he minds us employing a professional to inspect it thoroughly.

Does he mean it doesnt need any welding or it hasnt had any welding? id be very suspicious of a 20 year old mini that has never had any welding done to it,you never know though,but yes a through examination is required,1st thing i looked at on my pick up was the condition of the underside.

Brand spanking and on better fuel then, the road test max speed was mid seventies, maybe lower for the van/pickup.

Feels a lot more of course.

She will do 60-65mph but feels happier at 55mph,poor little 850cc is 35 years old & deserved to be looked after,with it being a pick up they are very basic,carpets only so you hear every noise but its all part of the fun. 

The grandfather used to sell classic cars for a living so a buyer says can the AA come down with me to check the car over on the ramp! So that was all sorted! The AA man turns up to check this 1275 Austin Healey Sprite over and then starts going on about how the power steering which the more knowledgeable of you will know was NEVER fitted to a 1275 Sprite was missing resulting in the sale falling through, I acknowledge that the statement was sweeping and may not be accurate to current AA or RAC standards so I apologise for the miswording but that's our experience of them, since then whenever an expensive car is being looked at we pay our mechanic to come with us to check them over as he is ex Lotus so very meticulous and a great guy!

Really? 

Does he mean it doesnt need any welding or it hasnt had any welding? id be very suspicious of a 20 year old mini that has never had any welding done to it,you never know though,but yes a through examination is required,1st thing i looked at on my pick up was the condition of the underside.

Hasn't...apparently.

 

Really not bothered if it has, PROVIDING it's been done to a good standard.

 

Moggsie has had plenty over the years.

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

Really?

Yes IME they are very good at checking out more modern cars however I'm not entirely confident that the training they are provided with extends in depth to Classic Cars, Mr Ree you mentioned a mechanic that knows his stuff about Minis, would he go down to check it out for a fee?

Yes IME they are very good at checking out more modern cars however I'm not entirely confident that the training they are provided with extends in depth to Classic Cars, Mr Ree you mentioned a mechanic that knows his stuff about Minis, would he go down to check it out for a fee?

Depends on the size of the fee obviously, but more than likely, yes, unless I can find a good one more locally in Brum

£135 for the RAC.

Fortunately being a member courtesy of Skoda has knocked £20 off the usual price.

 

Hopefully, sufficient minor faults will be found to use as a chipping tool on the vehicle price.

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

Forums are handy for things like people with mechanical knowledge being Members of the forum you are on..

Like Briskoda.

 

Maybe a friendly member with Mechanical Knowledge in your area will go out of their way to have a look see along with you.

You can offer expenses and they might accept or just do the favour.

 

Always worth an ask, 

what is the worst that can happen, you look you see, you think about it, and maybe go back again and look see.

 

Or if you are interested in a Purchase,

offer the seller to pay for the car to go in for a MOT at your Expense, and the Purchase or Offer will be dependent on the outcome.

It costs less than a Inspection Fee, and can be worth the Cost of the Test.

After all if it passes, it has a 12 month MOT when you collect it.

 

george

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

Forums are handy for things like people with mechanical knowledge being Members of the forum you are on..

Like Briskoda.

Maybe a friendly member with Mechanical Knowledge in your area will go out of their way to have a look see along with you.

You can offer expenses and they might accept or just do the favour.

Always worth an ask,

what is the worst that can happen, you look you see, you think about it, and maybe go back again and look see.

Or if you are interested in a Purchase,

offer the seller to pay for the car to go in for a MOT at your Expense, and the Purchase or Offer will be dependent on the outcome.

It costs less than a Inspection Fee, and can be worth the Cost of the Test.

After all if it passes, it has a 12 month MOT when you collect it.

george

This^^^ that is really good advice Mr Ree

As many people have said Rust is the main factor for Mini's, parts and fairly cheap for them however and many of the body panels are still available, albeit even the heritage panels are getting fiddly to fit correct now due to the presses being so worn. I've built a good 5/6 Mini's now from the ground up and I work for one of the largest Mini companies based in the UK where we carry out full restorations and general maintenance. (I however work on the engineering side of things are produce many of the obsolete part's that are no longer widely available since Rover went under.

 

As pointed out the main area's to check are the A-panels, Scuttle panel (especially on SPi/Mpi models) front panel where the subframe bolts through, rear subframe mounting point's, floor panels and also front shocker mounting points.

 

Here was my last Mini rebuild I did, I regret selling this car

Started out like this

 

Ended up looking like this

 

 

 

 

 

There's one that I see locally that's got Sierra 4X4 Cosworth running gear fitted to it.

There's one that I see locally that's got Sierra 4X4 Cosworth running gear fitted to it.

There used to one round my way too. I think the same guy had a Reliant Rialto with the same running gear.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

This^^^ that is really good advice Mr Ree

Yup.

Can't disagree with that either.

Yup.

Can't disagree with that either.

I would have offered as I was heading to see SWMBO but the clio has gone bang :/

I would have offered as I was heading to see SWMBO but the clio has gone bang :/

Does ANYTHING actually ever go right for you Toxiomondo? 

Forums are handy for things like people with mechanical knowledge being Members of the forum you are on..

Like Briskoda.

 

Maybe a friendly member with Mechanical Knowledge in your area will go out of their way to have a look see along with you.

You can offer expenses and they might accept or just do the favour.

 

Always worth an ask, 

what is the worst that can happen, you look you see, you think about it, and maybe go back again and look see.

 

Or if you are interested in a Purchase,

offer the seller to pay for the car to go in for a MOT at your Expense, and the Purchase or Offer will be dependent on the outcome.

It costs less than a Inspection Fee, and can be worth the Cost of the Test.

After all if it passes, it has a 12 month MOT when you collect it.

 

george

Think I may go with that plan now actually, and go down there for the initial inspection, and with a bit of luck they'll let me have a sniff around underneath it too if I ask them nicely.

Does ANYTHING actually ever go right for you Toxiomondo?

Yes :no: spark plug came flying out and hit the top of the bonnet causing a nice dent as to how it came loose I do not know, the garage I go to changed me a coil pack at mot time but nothing since, picked a new plug from the boot once I got it home put it in and torqued up and sweet as a nut

If they are not prepared for you to do a thorough inspection then you know what you should do...

Pretty sure my boss still has this looking for a home

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/288711-for-sale-1989-mini-automatic-only-22000-miles/?hl=%2Bmini+%2Bautomatic#entry3438040