I bought mine knowing nothing...

I stared at the non running car for about 2 hours wondering how the transmission worked the whole time we were playing with it trying to get it running...Took 15 mins to get it running after it sat for 6 years or something...and about 2 hours later i still didnt understand the trans.Bought it needing a clutch...what a nightmare to someone who doesnt know anything about the car.

Id vote to get it rrunning and drive it first so you know where youre at,what it could use and just have some fun with it ...its too easy to fall behind and lose motivation or funds and sell..especially if you havent enjoyed it first ..Gives you something to look forward to and motivate you to get it back up and running.

I agree with previous post.  Drive it and become familiar with the car and all of its quirks.   You should be able to perform most if not all maintenance short of rebuilding an engine or replacing body panels.

There's an incredible amount of information readily available from this site.  Frequent posters, like CooperTune, MalSal, DLawson, MiniMike, Se7en, and many others are always posting useful information to help diagnose and fix problems.

 

i agree 100% with above, i bought mine in july of 2014, and started my rest in nov, it is a lot of work for a beginner(which i am). i would do it piece by piece in the future, so i can consistently enjoy it.

get it driving and drive it.  Once you tear it all down, the chances are 50-50 that you'll end up over your head, out of money and time, and sell it off in pieces as a project only the strong hearted would want to purchase, and you'll lose money when

you sell a disassembled vehicle.

Drive it. That's why you bought it.

I vote to keep it running and work on it a little at a time.  Some people are good at doing a complete tear down and rebuild in a timely fashion but other folks (myself included) lose motivation when it's a seemingly never-ending project.

I'm not sure what I might need worked on as of yet. I'm still trying to decide if I want to just get it mobile or start stripping all the way down so I will know it inside and out.

What you have to remember when you look for a Brit car repair shop is that these people are used to wrenching on Jags, Astin Martins, Bentleys, Rolls or other exotic Brit cars, so bringing in your mini could be costly-I am always leery of the service manager meeting you at the reception desk in a white smock and looking like he just graduated from Oxford- Keep looking around, you will find a shade tree mechanic who can do the job at a fraction of the price and you get to look over his shoulder as he works-

Reminds me of my Dad back in the day, A german "square head" type of customer, "Red, (my dad) , working on the engine, , what do you see in there ?????, My Dad, "Herman if you get that G D Big Head out of there maybe l can see whats wrong !!!!!!!=

Funny that scenario has stuck in my head for 65 years...... Great PR but it worked-

Did l say my Dad hated Brit cars with a passion ??? Even when he was forced to sell Brit Ford Prefects back in 1949-

I got into Brit cars on a fluke years ago and am still stuck there-

BIG AL

What kind of work are you looking to have done? Email me.

Thank you guys.  It's nice to know there are some options in my area.

Try Beek's Auto in Gardiner, N.Y. I've not done business with them but the owner, Derick Karabec is a tried and true Mini owner and a total gentleman. He's been in the business for 22 years.

there is a shop in briar cliff, "briar cliff Classics" they deal with british classics, one of the mechanics has a few minis. i took my car there to get it a look over from a pro, but it was expensive. but it looks like people who take their cars their have some bucks.. personally i can't afford them.

Thank you Steve. You are a bit futher south than I was hoping for, but you are pretty close to my parents (Chesapeake, VA) and I am down there a few times a year.  If any one hears of someone a little more local to me please let me know.

I'm well south of you but I do have a little shop where I do classic mini work. Rebuilding engines and trannys to owners specs, as well as suspension brakes and subframe rebuilds. I have a fair collection of used, new and recon parts for all years. My email is in my profile. No contact info in yours. Steve (CTR)

Transmission work is picking up as these unit age. 

Al .... It's close enough to Kingston to recommend Derek. I don't have Derek's contact info with me, so maybe you could send it to 72franknmini?

Just where is Yorkton NY ?

BIG AL

I am sure I will be tapping this forum's knowledge base quite often.  My skills are what I would consider low-moderate.  I can change plugs, oil, and usually brakes.  Welding, engine rebuilding is a bit beyond me for now.  I'd planned on tearing most of the mini down and putting back together myself (learning as I go), however having a local mini shop for the tough spots and keeping me from over-spending as I rebuild would be helpful. 

How are your wrenching skills? There is a wealth of knowledge here to walk you through every possible Mini problem.

I recently acquired a classic mini and am in need of a trusted classic mini repair shop near Yorktown Heights, NY.  I apparently was struck with shiny object syndrome when I bought it and did not notice the items in need of help that are a bit over my knowledge base.  Any help would be appreciated.