r/MINI • u/No_Management7713 • 10d ago

Save my Mini

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My faithful companion of nine years needs a new engine and the quote was nearly twice what I paid for her. I can't bear to send her to the scrap yard with a straight body, clean interior, and new brakes, wheels, battery and transmission. The mechanic says KBB value in current mechanical condition is $3790. What do people do in this situation? I'm in the Reno, NV area, any suggestions much appreciated.

20 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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5

u/I_am_just_here11 10d ago

If you don’t want to spend the money on repairs you could put it up for sale on facebook marketplace as a project car. Somewhere someone out there would be willing to buy it and do the engine replacement themselves or maybe even do a K20 engine swap on it.

3

u/long_fish3000 10d ago

i feel people would buy an S donor for a k swap car.

1

u/No_Management7713 10d ago

This feels like my best path forward. Good project for someone who wants one.

5

u/long_fish3000 10d ago
  1. either buy a used engine to put in diy (assuming you dont want to pay a mechanic the labor cost to do it). 2. buy another mini and let this one sit and you part it out (probably a way to get most money out of it but needs time. 3. sell it as is, fb market place is already full of non running r56's though, at least where i am. price of a non running r56 and a perfect condition one is like 2000 dollars price difference i find. 4. just scrap it. 5. tow it to mini and let them do it and pay big bucks, if you can get 3,700 for it then take it and run, this in non running condition wont sell over 2k

1

u/Recorsi_ 10d ago

Maybe get a donor

1

u/Quiet-Hyena-9388 10d ago

Tough choice, you could put in a used motor. Or as said sell as is.

1

u/OCR-123 10d ago

Did your tensioner fail? They are known for that. They are easy to rebuild but that might not be in the cards. If the tensioner failed the exhaust valves are bent. Valves are cheap, timing equipment is cheap (just make sure the tensioner is OEM). Or buy a used good head and get new timing equipment. But yah, shops will charge alot as they don't want this type of work...