Hello people... im quite new to this whole forum stuff...
anyways... im 17 and have decided to purchase my first mini...i was wondering if you have any advice?
i was also wondering if any particular model would be better as a first car... i hope to keep the car. thank you for your time...

sumanovic

Decide what model you like -
Leyland, Morris or Rover.
Then make some choices from there.

There are different (typical) engine sizes;
848cc (850) , 998cc (1000) , 1980cc (1100) , 1275cc (1275).

Then theres different brakes;
standard drums, spacer drums, 7" discs, 7.5" discs, 8.4" discs, and so on.


Look out for rust.

Mostly depends on your budget.

If you are wanting a good car for not overly much money, you'd pick up a nice Clubman with a 998/1100 and drum brakes.

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oh ok nice, my budget is ranging from about $3000 to about $6000, i could probably go a bit over since dad said he'll pitch in with some money...

anoither question: what do minis run on? leaded or unleaded? and what do i need to do for a conversion to unleaded???

thanks again guys

6K will get you a very nice mini indeed,

If you spend that much, you would probably expect the unleaded head conversion to have alreayd been done.

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No more Minis!......For now.

$6k+ will buy you a nice Mini. Anything over $5K, I would want disc brakes.

Mini's should run on leaded fuel, but because you cant get it anymore, most run on 98 Octane Premium Unleaded (such as BP Ultimate, Shell Optimax, etc) and use an upper cylinder lube (or lead replacement) such as Flashlube (Flashlube is what I run). You basically put 1ml of Flashlube in for every litre of petrol. Usually 1/2 the little squirty bottle per tank.

If the car you buy has already had hardened exhaust valve seats put in, then you don't need to run an additive, but I would still use it. If it hasn't had them put in, I wouldn't bother spending money rebuilding the head for it.

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You can pick up a nice daily runner for $6000.

You can't buy leaded fuel anywhere. All Australian minis were designed to run on leaded. This means running a lead substitute in the fuel, it's as easy as adding a couple of squirts of the stuff direct into your tank each time you fill up.

You can convert the head to unleaded, but it's easier and cheaper to just run the additive.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Yea..what they said..quick replies!

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

No chance of getting a Rover for 6K.

so everytime you fill up you just squirt a few times and thats it? how much approx would it cost to perform the conversion??? i've also been told by a friend that the mini engine can be very un-reliable??? is this true and is ther a way to make it more reliable??

also would it be more beneficial for me to buy a mini for about $5000 and keep the other $1000 for matinence or repairs??? or just buy a car closer to $6000. i have also been told that u need to re grease some areas of the mini after every 5,000 kms. is this true??

does anyone kno of anmy mini specialists or tuning centres in adelaide ? i kno of minispares on south road but thats bout it...

sumanovic

Yes, it's like 1ml for every Litre...

As was said before, it's not worth modifying the head..ie. taking it off unless you have a problem. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

You would be looking around $3-500 i would say once they do a few other things if needed. The actual seats are only like $25ea or something. you need 4, then there is labour and any extra machining work. It will run fine on the lead replacement, if not better.

You WILL need to keep a budget for repairs. It's a 30 year old + car, things are bound to go wrong.


The mini engine is very reliable if it's stock, it'll run forever. It when people start modifying and increasing power from stock that problems arise. That being said, you will find you may need to rebuild the motor if unlucky. It's a second hand car. Maintenance in the key to keeping them on the road, don't expect to just jump in and turn the key and not have to worry about things like oil, water, timing, plugs..etc..

There are grease nipples for the suspension front and rear, these need to be greased regularly. Nothing hard about it.

Brickworx is is SA, give them a try, alot of the SA guys on here go there.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

The more stock the engine, the better it is for reliability. For eg, I have a 1970 Round Nose van, which has a tired old stock 1100. With that thing, all ya need to do is change the oil every 5000km, and it will run forever. On the other hand, i'm always doing maintenance on my daily driver, which is a 1275 LS. It needs a bit more attention, as it isn't quite as stock as the Van, hehe.

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Well commercially you cant but if you have a passport to buy the leaded from the airport you can still use it. Bloody more expensive than drugs though!!

Look for an unmolested one and you will get change from $4000. $6k will get you a pretty sweet ride but realise these cars are hitting 45 soon and good to have a little knowledge about a car(particularly pommy stuff and all their little quirks...)

Hey - if you hit trouble - we are all here(in some capacity anyhoo!!)

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

Also agree with Poeee - I have a slightly warm 998cc Leyland mini(Clubman) with a few carb mods and a bit of head work - 230 000km(original motor)and still ticking and I drive it daily. I dont hammer it mostly and give it a blat now and then but the key is mandatory oil changes!!!!!(mine are 3000km to the kay!) and do the plugs and stuff at 10000k's.

Routine maintenance is the key so set aside a bit of time to do the basics. Grease amnd grease often, do the filter every time you drop the oil, check your brake adjustments monthly along with the tyres, get a basic tool kit for the boot(as well as spare belt, top and bottom hoses, a length of heater hose(about a metre...) coolant, oil and a water bottle)long screwdriver, multi grips and a FBH(flogging big hammer!!).

But again, good luck and have fun is the key...

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

I thought it was a BFH?

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