Hey Fellas

[chess]

Jut a guy looking at buying a used 04-06 Cooper S, 6Spd....

 

Ive looked at a few, and havent found anyone really trying to deal....

 

I am way down in Southern Maryland (California, MD) area to be exact.

 

Hope to chat more with yall !

 

Cheers

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

Good luck on your search, I don't know of any available right now. Good luck in your search.

[Edge]

Jut a guy looking at buying a used 04-06 Cooper S, 6Spd....

 

Ive looked at a few, and havent found anyone really trying to deal....

I don't have any leads to give you, but I would recommend concentrating on an 05 or 06 instead of an 02-04. The reason is simple - in 2005, MINI did a "refresh" of the MINI, making a bunch of subtle but often important changes. The 05/06 are better built MINIs over their predecessors.

 

There are a few key visual cues to quickly identify pre-refresh from post-refresh 1st Gens, just to be sure you know what you're getting. The most obvious one, from the outside - the reverse lights. If there is one reverse light and it's in the middle of the bumper, then it's an 02-04 pre-refresh. If there are 2 reverse lights, each in the bottom of the tail lights, then it is an 05+ post-refresh (includes 05/06 for R50/R53 hardtops, or 05-08 for the R52 convertible).

 

Another indicator is the interior clock. if there is a clock pod in the headliner, dead in the middle (in front of the rear-view mirror), then it's a 02-04 pre-refresh. They moved the clock inside the OBC display (inside the speedo) in the 05+ refreshed models.

 

Finally, the dash. 5-piece dash in 02-04, 3-piece dash in 05+.

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

I totally agree with Edge, you want a post refresh 1st gen! They are like tanks, so mighty

[spdjnke]

I might be able to help. What are you looking for a hardtop or convertible? What kind of budget are you working with? How soon are you looking to purchase?

 

 

Jut a guy looking at buying a used 04-06 Cooper S, 6Spd....

 

Ive looked at a few, and havent found anyone really trying to deal....

 

I am way down in Southern Maryland (California, MD) area to be exact.

 

Hope to chat more with yall !

 

Cheers

[chess]

I might be able to help. What are you looking for a hardtop or convertible? What kind of budget are you working with? How soon are you looking to purchase?

 

Hey man.... doesn't matter id probably prefer hardtop over that...

 

Budget... depends.... I have been looking on craigslist and i see 04-06 from 3750-7k.... so that price range....

 

How soon, doesn't matter I mean tomorrow or today..

 

I had one local to me, but they wanted 3k, wouldn't get the inspection done, I saw when they had it done it needed new front rotors, brake pads, and a rear caliper to be replaced. All which I can do, but then the dreaded CEL lights were on,and I looked them up. They weren't willing to budge, nor get it inspected like I said above... It was a deal killer!!

[chess]

I don't have any leads to give you, but I would recommend concentrating on an 05 or 06 instead of an 02-04. The reason is simple - in 2005, MINI did a "refresh" of the MINI, making a bunch of subtle but often important changes. The 05/06 are better built MINIs over their predecessors.

 

There are a few key visual cues to quickly identify pre-refresh from post-refresh 1st Gens, just to be sure you know what you're getting. The most obvious one, from the outside - the reverse lights. If there is one reverse light and it's in the middle of the bumper, then it's an 02-04 pre-refresh. If there are 2 reverse lights, each in the bottom of the tail lights, then it is an 05+ post-refresh (includes 05/06 for R50/R53 hardtops, or 05-08 for the R52 convertible).

 

Another indicator is the interior clock. if there is a clock pod in the headliner, dead in the middle (in front of the rear-view mirror), then it's a 02-04 pre-refresh. They moved the clock inside the OBC display (inside the speedo) in the 05+ refreshed models.

 

Finally, the dash. 5-piece dash in 02-04, 3-piece dash in 05+.

 

Edge: You are the man... Thanks so much boss... I will look at going that route then !.

 

Much Appreciated !!!

[1975_mini]

Edge: You are the man... Thanks so much boss... I will look at going that route then !.

 

Much Appreciated !!!

 

Edge is our resident encyclopedia on MINI.:top:

[Edge]

Edge: You are the man... Thanks so much boss... I will look at going that route then !.

 

Much Appreciated !!!

Edge is our resident encyclopedia on MINI.:top:

Very kind of you... but it's only remotely true for 1st Gens. My detailed knowledge drops off considerably with 2nd & 3rd Gens... of which I can mostly only speak to my experiences driving them (mostly loaners, with a bit of added seat time from generous fellow MINI owners thrown in).