Cheap 2010 Mini One 1.6 Petrol

[darkwolf]

Bought this a few months back as a backup stop gap car just incase I ended up without wheels as at the time wasn’t sure if I was moving on my Range Rover which I decided to keep in the end.

I actually let my brother borrow it for a month during August as he was inbetween motors and I’ve taken ownership again as he’s now bought an Audi TT 

I’m not actually sure I need it now as I need to reduce and rework the cars in the household so I’m going to offer it up for sale instead. (Pics as it’s sat on my drive)

Quick summary.

2010 Mini One 1.6 Petrol LCI (facelift R56) 
Mileage around 113k from memory
MOT January 2025 
Some history (receipts etc) 
The lady owner I bought it from owned it for about 10 years and it’s been in my name twice and my bothers hence I think the V5 is showing 5 owners but technically it’s less than that as mentioned. 

I honestly think it’s a half decent motor it starts, stops and goes and drives fairly decent but it’s cheap for a reason namely;

NS Noticeable drone not excessively loud but it’s there and I’m unsure if Wheel bearing or a really noisy tyre. I did inspect the rear wheel bearing as I thought that’s where I could hear the noise but it spins freely and isn’t noisy when jacked up so assume it’s either the front bearing or as mentioned maybe a tyre. 

I have noticed sometimes it does have occasional smoke when idling. Engine sounds fine and it doesn’t give me the impression it’s breathing hard eg I don’t think it’s piston/ring related my guess would be possibly slight valve stem seals wear which is causing the occasional smoke. 

When I first bought it there was some rough running which I identified as being Vanos related. I changed the oil for correct grade as Vanos solenoids love clean correct oil and also removed and cleaned both Vanos solenoids. I also replaced the PCV valve as these are a known issue which can cause smoke and/or rough running. These measures cured the rough running and it runs fine now but as mentioned occasionally it does puff a little smoke at idle it’s not excessively eg clouds and no signs when looking in the mirrors but if standing outside you can occasionally see signs. 

Tyres all legal tread but show signs of age and from being stood.

The NS front wheel arch liner ideally needs replacing as it looks like the previous owner had a problem with the screen washer bottle which is cable tied in position and I can’t work out why they damaged the liner probably trying to pull it out of situ with clips fastened which maybe damaged the liner.

I remember the lady owner telling me something happened to the bonnet release catch cable so maybe they tried to access it through the liner to gain access. 

The bonnet opens fine and it looks like the cable was replaced. 

Both wiper blades are split (I have brand new ones ready to fit which I’ll do or include if I forget) 

Apart from the above as mentioned it’s half decent and a cheap stop gap car or even a project car perhaps. 

Also being the one model it’s much cheaper on insurance than the cooper which as we all know insurance companies love to load. 

My location is near Long Eaton, Derbyshire 5 mins from J25 M1 

Can be inspected and test driven it’s fully legal eg insured and taxed and V5 in my name etc 

Far too good to scrap so I’m offering it at a bargain £500 to hopefully help someone out looking for a cheap stop gap car or to do up as a project etc.

 

[darkwolf]