Oppo, what would you do?

"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
08/31/2020 at 11:30 • Filed to: None

My wife was driving 2005 Mini Cooper S for a while. Couple of years ago, there was a snow storm and she slid into a back of another car. No injuries. Minor cosmetic damage.

I fixed most of the cosmetic damage, not professional, but its OK for a 15 year old car. S he needed a car after accident so she went and leased an MDX.

Mini has been sitting around and I’ve noticed the break pedal went to the floor. Replaced the Master Cylinder and bled the brakes. Still issue persists. I suspect there is air in ABS system.

Option one - I fix the brakes and attempt to sell the car.

Option two - I don’t fix the brakes and donate the car.

If I donate, of course I would be taking a bath on what I have in the car plus all the repairs I did.

My heart bleeds at the thought of donating a car with 50K miles on the clock.

DISCUSSION (61)

sony1492 > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:40

Fix the brakes.

DipodomysDeserti > sony1492
08/31/2020 at 11:44

This man knows Minis ^^^^

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:44

Fix brakes, if you can’t pay someone else to do it. Can’t be that hard.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:44

Demo derby car, who needs brakes

facw > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:44

I would fix them (or frankly pay to get them fixed). Still probably economically than hit you’d take on the donation? If not, then go right ahead and donate. I wouldn’t get hung up on the earlier work you did on it though.

Aremmes > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:49

Fix the brakes. Bleeding the ABS likely requires a particular procedure. Also check that you don't have a leak elsewhere, e.g. a caliper or line somewhere.

Cash Rewards > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:51

I owned a 05 Cooper S and regretting selling the thing for years

someassemblyrequired > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:52

It’s a BMW, probably has some sort of special bleed procedure and/or tool for getting the air out of the ABS pump

CompactLuxuryFan > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:58

Trouble began when the solution to an accident with minor cosmetic damage was to go lease a new car. Then having done that, keeping the old car just sitting around. And having done all of that, donating the car years later would be a further mistake. Fixing the brakes should amount to many many thousands of dollars more in your pocket. That said, how trashed is the car generally? Cause you make it sound like it’s in horrible shape but we have no reason to believe that’s the case.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 11:59

I would say fixing the brakes is a no-brainer. Also, if all it needed was cosmetic repairs, curi ous why she went out and leased an MDX? Surely the Mini was not out-of-service for that long after the accident if it was just cosmetic stuff?

Tripper > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:01

Fix the brakes and keep it! T hese cars get MURDERED on the used market. My wife also had an 05 cooper S that we both loved. We traded it on her Forester because they offered $2500 and the car was worth $1k at best. That was dumb because we’ll end up with another one before too long.

shop-teacher > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:01

Option 3, get a quote as-is to sell to Car Max or Carvana.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:01

Assuming you have a Windows PC, u can use INPA to operate the valves in the ABS modules and bleed it. I have not tried it but was planning to do it this week, I can report back in case you are interested in doing that.

The Snowman > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:02

Fix the brakes then sell the car then make a charitable donation.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 12:03

^^this

They sell for very cheap on the market for how much fun they are...

notsomethingstructural > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:10

If it’s 50k miles fix the brakes and fix them correctly

PartyPooper2012 > CompactLuxuryFan
08/31/2020 at 12:11

It is not trashed at all. It’s actually a very good car. Unfortunately, it is missing a clutch pedal so I’ve been driving the C5 with all 3 pedals. Otherwise, I would be whipping that Mini like it can. Fun little car. But it’s taking up valuable space in garage and I want to stick the vette in the garage during winter time.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:12

Attempt to fix the brakes. IF you need help, find a local independent shop and see if they can at least diagnose it for you for a small fee. Might be an easy fix. Heck, it might even be cheap for someone to fix it for you, but you don’t know until you try.

PartyPooper2012 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/31/2020 at 12:12

The impact caused a small hole in a radiator. I replaced a radiator with a new one, but she was not willing to wait for parts to arrive and needed a car. She was also very excited to get into something bigger.

PartyPooper2012 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2020 at 12:14

I bought a hand held gizmo to operate the valves... but I think i need to add pressure to brake system to bleed properly. Either way, it requires some work and brake fluids. I can fix it.

PartyPooper2012 > DipodomysDeserti
08/31/2020 at 12:15

Does he want minis? I know one for sale from a reputable oppo

PartyPooper2012 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2020 at 12:15

ugh! I don’t want to keep it tho. Taking up room I don’t want taken up

onlytwowheels > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:16

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/31-BRAKES-Bleeding_Brakes/31-BRAKES-Bleeding_Brakes.htm

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PEL0100.htm?pn=PEL-0100

PartyPooper2012 > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/31/2020 at 12:16

No! This car is too nice to go bang it up. But it is for sale if you want to... :P

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:16

Best of luck!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:18

Sell it to Tripper!

DipodomysDeserti > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:19

Pretty sure he’s done with Minis for a while.

PartyPooper2012 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2020 at 12:23

thank you, kindly

Tripper > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2020 at 12:26

They are so much more fun than even the R56 (let alone the newer ones) IMHO.

Tripper > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:27

Where are you located? Maybe interested?

Tripper > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/31/2020 at 12:28

Super easy sell with the Mrs. as she fucking loves these

sony1492 > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:33

Not goin down that road again

benn454 > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 12:50

*narrows eyes*

Are you sure this wasn't all planned by your wife so she could get a new car?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 13:11

Ah, gotcha!

CompactLuxuryFan > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 13:28

Ok but then why even consider donating? Clearly the solution is to sell, whether with the brakes fixed or not.

PartyPooper2012 > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 13:29

I am in Connecticut. Let me know if you want a more precise location.

PartyPooper2012 > CompactLuxuryFan
08/31/2020 at 13:30

paranoia of letting someone else behind the wheel of a car with no brakes.

RacinBob > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 13:55

I always get puzzled about brake bleeding problems. If it is the ABS controller that has the air,, m y question is since this problem happened before changing the master cyl, how did air get into the ABS?

Now after changing the master, it is easy to let air into the system unless you bench bled the master and then cracked the lines into it and let it trickle down. So maybe that is the problem now but why before?

I think there is more to the story, By the way, in my opinion you the only way to judge whether the system is bled is with the engine off. I think vacuum boosters provide so much force that they flex calipers. I certainly have experienced that with my race car where i could stomp on it at idle and get to the floor, but never once had a problem while driving. Stuff will flex and lines my expand all giving the impression of air in the system

Tripper > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 13:58

Oh cool, I’m near Philadelphia. I’d def want it to be a drive home situation though. Quick 411 on the car? Color etc?

PartyPooper2012 > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 14:02

It’s black with white roof. About 54K on the clock. I found it in PA a while back. Was sitting in a barn. Previous owner bought it in boston. Drove it a bit and put it away. Used Fiat 500 instead.

Has sunroof. There was a recall on passenger seat airbag and that was taken care of.

Like I said, I did the repairs myself so it’s not factory.

I am only guessing if ABS has air trapped or if there is a bigger problem. There is no other place where air could be so that’s where I am at.

CompactLuxuryFan > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 14:03

Haha well I wouldn’t think people would request a test drive of a car without brakes but I guess you never know! Fix the brakes and then hopefully only let maybe one person that is actually going to buy it behind the wheel anyway.

PartyPooper2012 > CompactLuxuryFan
08/31/2020 at 14:05

Gather round folks - pull straws. Short straw gets you an opportunity to test drive a small vehicle with no brakes!

PartyPooper2012 > benn454
08/31/2020 at 14:07

I am not putting the reply to your comment in writing. It will live in my head for as long as I shall live.

Tripper > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 14:07

Assuming it’s a manual I will see if Mrs. Tripper is interested. My landscaper pal might have a trailer that I can put a car on

PartyPooper2012 > RacinBob
08/31/2020 at 14:13

Good sir, if I knew where the air was coming from, I would have promptly applied some used chewed gum to the area as to seal the air leak.

Same area that has an air leak, would have probably let some break fluids out... none found.

I am tempted to call it a freak accident where ABS somehow gulped some air in.

Other possibilities involve ABS pump sucking air in some unfathomable fashion.

Brake fluid reservoir has never gone dry during my ownership.

Yes, it is possible during Master Cylinder replacement, I introduced a bit more air... where it came from initially - no idea.

PartyPooper2012 > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 14:14

no! NO!. It isn’t manual. If it were manual, I would sell my last pair of pants to fix it.

It has paddle shifters and all sorts of fancy fake news shifting available, but it is NOT MANUAL

CobraJoe > shop-teacher
08/31/2020 at 14:18

Option 3, get a quote as-is to sell to Car Max or Carvana.

Even selling to a scrap yard might be a reasonable option, and they’d come with a flatbed to pick it up.

Tripper > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 14:34

Ah bummer. That changes everything, I’d yank anything of value for ebay purposes then donate it if they’ll still take it after you pillage, or a salvage yard will usually pay you a little something for it.

PartyPooper2012 > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 14:45

No sweat. I will repair the brakes and stick it on craigslist. Glad everyone agrees fixing the brakes and selling is better than donating to a crusher

Jb boin > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 15:11

I don’t know about the Mini but for VW cars the procedure is to ask the ABS controller using VCDS (which obviously won’t be compatible with the mini) or another similar solution to activate itself when bleeding so air would go out of it.

PartyPooper2012 > Jb boin
08/31/2020 at 15:52

I think the procedure here is to pressurize brake system and activate ABS shenanigans while releasing caliper bleed screws.

It isn’t hard to do with a set of extra hands... but I only got two.

PartyPooper2012 > Cash Rewards
08/31/2020 at 15:53

Boy, do I have a deal for you!

RacinBob > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 16:09

Well, air doesn’t magically appear in a sealed system. It’s been sitting for 6 months so I would pull the wheels and see if a pad is hung up in the bracket. If so, the pad won’ t push up against the rotor and instead the cylinder is bending the pad and the master cyl is running out of travel. Either that or a bulging brake line would explain it for me.

Cash Rewards > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 16:18

Honestly, I went from that to a gti to a civic and missed the MINI until got my Miata. If not for a Miata, we'd talk

PartyPooper2012 > RacinBob
08/31/2020 at 16:27

or perhaps a mechanic working on brakes introduced some air. I did have a mechanic work on brakes previously... long before accident and brakes were getting soft then.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Cash Rewards
08/31/2020 at 16:44

R53 Cooper is best Cooper. I’ve owned or leased all generations of the S’s. The early cars were just so much more fun. My wife liked the R56 JCW better. It was a bit more comfortable on long trips, got better gas mileage, and was british racing green with gold “ BBS” wheels. Looked nice, just a bit too soft around the edges. It couldn’t keep up withe the R53 in the twisties at speed though.

Cash Rewards > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
08/31/2020 at 17:06

Agreed. I autocrossed mine, drove it most of the way across the country, up Pike's peak before it was paved, never a problem. Drove the hell out of that car, never did anything but go fast and make nice noises

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Tripper
08/31/2020 at 17:40

Are u still interested in my e46? I can send you some pics right now

RacinBob > PartyPooper2012
08/31/2020 at 18:48

I have bled more brakes and changed more pads than almost everybody and in my opinion, unless it is a rudimentary mistake, its almost always something other than air in the system. The first thing I would look at is whether the pads are reasonable free on the caliper brackets. I live in salt country and my “07 Si. Last pad change I have to use a huge screw driver to get them free. One pad was absolutely hung up. If the pads are not free, they cannot sit against the rotors. That gap will eat up your master cylinder volume in a hurry.

It is hard to get air into a closed system. And its relatively easy to bleed most systems. Keep an open mind and check your pads.

PartyPooper2012 > RacinBob
09/01/2020 at 05:32

I will do that. thank you, sir. I am open to any and all ideas at this point... except one where I have to tow the mini to a dealership. Pay tow guy few hundred and dealer a thousand and tow back another few hundred.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Tripper
09/02/2020 at 07:36

For sure! I drove a R56 at an autox event once (swapped cars) and it just felt big an numb...