Ack!! Advice on used car purchase....

[K8-EEE]

OK long story short I ha test driven this really beautiful 2005 mini-cooper that seemed very well maintained. The lady selling it seems very nice too, she is buying a bigger car. She is a teacher and not a car salesperson or anything.

She called me to say that yesterday the "check engine" light went on. I was supposed to get the car tomorrow. She was dismayed when she took it to her regular place and they estimated $1500 to fix. This is the biggest repair bill she has ever faced. She is now worried about selling me "a lemon" and says I can either cancel out of the deal or pay her our agreed price minus the repairs.

The car is for my daughter's 21st b-day and she really loved it - I'm spooked that the repair would be the beginning of a cycle of repairs though everybody I know that has a Mini loves it. What would you do?

[ohiosmith]

1. Does she look like this?

Get it to a mechanic.

[bluedigger]

2. I'd find out what was wrong with it. n/t

[Taverner]

3. That is incredibly responsible of her

[K8-EEE]

9. She's VERY nice.....oh, AND had a DU sticker on her car!

I forgot that important point, LOL!

[Digit]

4. Find out who diagnosed the problem(s) and take it to a different mechanic to find out what is wrong

If you then want to go through with the purchase, ask her for a warranty.
How long has she had it? It is possible that she purchased it second hand herself and if so, you
won't know the history. Red flag.
One more thing you might do is ask her for the service records to see if there has been a pattern of
deferred maintenance. Another red flag.
It is going to come down to discovering what the problem is and if those problems are the type which
can be persistent. I read that the machine to check the engine light needs to be done at the dealership
as it takes special fittings that most shops won't have.

Good Luck!

[K8-EEE]

6. She is 2nd owner but had it 4 years and has always gone to this same repair place

The repair place has a gazillion rave yelp reviews.

[RebelOne]

5. My car's check engine light would come on frequently,

but it was due to a loose gas cap. I would tighten the cap and the light would go off in a few days.

[K8-EEE]

8. Yes I have had that experience too, always do "three clicks"

Is the advice they gave me.

[Wait Wut]

7. Mine has been on for 3 years.

But, because it is for your daughter, I'd get a second opinion from your own mechanic. The lady sounds honest enough, so she should understand.

I don't know squat about Mini's, but $1500 is an enormous pricetag for a fix. That second opinion just may save her some money, too.

[Moondog]

10. I had a Mini for a couple of years, but bought it new

and sold it while it was still under warranty. (They really are a hoot to drive. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the car, and I might get another some day - one of my vices is that I swap out cars with greater than average frequency.) They can be very expensive to repair if a fairly major system goes.

What I would do - take it to an independent mechanic that specializes in BMW / Minis (they're made by BMW these days), a Mini dealer, or a BMW dealer, in that order, and have them take a good long look at it. Tell them what the owner told you, see what they have to say, and make a decision.

[K8-EEE]

11. I think that is good advice! Thanks nt