Automobilia etc....

#1,328
#1,328
My Miata is going to be for sale this spring. Anyone sold a car themselves? Any tips? My buddy encouraged eBay motors because it's more secure, it cuts out a lot of of the low balling bs.

It's a clean car, so I feel like I should have no trouble selling it. Issue is the book value isn't really useful for a car like this.
 
#1,329
#1,329
Nerd-Vol said:
My Miata is going to be for sale this spring. Anyone sold a car themselves? Any tips? My buddy encouraged eBay motors because it's more secure, it cuts out a lot of of the low balling bs.

It's a clean car, so I feel like I should have no trouble selling it. Issue is the book value isn't really useful for a car like this.
Click to expand...

Ebay is a good place to sell. Lots of people go there and are looking to buy. I was going to put one on ebay but it sold before I did.
 
#1,330
#1,330
Nerd-Vol said:
My Miata is going to be for sale this spring. Anyone sold a car themselves? Any tips? My buddy encouraged eBay motors because it's more secure, it cuts out a lot of of the low balling bs.

It's a clean car, so I feel like I should have no trouble selling it. Issue is the book value isn't really useful for a car like this.
Click to expand...

Yankee will probably be interested to upgrade from the Mustang 😄
 
#1,333
#1,333
Question for anyone more knowledgable than me
It's on my Mini, had it in a shop getting new tail lights and headlights went with rhe blacked out frames instead of the chrome that was on there
When they were bringing it back they blew a head gasket
They are replacing it and I should get it back tomorrow or Sunday but they told me it blew because there was a bubble in the antifreeze radiator system
That it was a closed system and when it developed an air bubble it caused the head gasket to go

I've never heard of that and don't know if it BS or not, I'm not really pushing the issue with them since there correcting it
Just wondering if that air bubble explanation is legit
 
#1,334
#1,334
vol_in_ar said:
Question for anyone more knowledgable than me
It's on my Mini, had it in a shop getting new tail lights and headlights went with rhe blacked out frames instead of the chrome that was on there
When they were bringing it back they blew a head gasket
They are replacing it and I should get it back tomorrow or Sunday but they told me it blew because there was a bubble in the antifreeze radiator system
That it was a closed system and when it developed an air bubble it caused the head gasket to go

I've never heard of that and don't know if it BS or not, I'm not really pushing the issue with them since there correcting it
Just wondering if that air bubble explanation is legit
Click to expand...

There is such thing as a bubble in the cooling system but in my experience there is usually something to cause it. Like replacing the thermostat or something like that. Something that would open the cooling system. I do have to say that I haven't seen one cause a head gasket to blow. I have seen them cause one to run hot. I guess if it ran hot long enough it would cause the head gasket to blow.
 
#1,335
#1,335
Nerd-Vol said:
My Miata is going to be for sale this spring. Anyone sold a car themselves? Any tips? My buddy encouraged eBay motors because it's more secure, it cuts out a lot of of the low balling bs.

It's a clean car, so I feel like I should have no trouble selling it. Issue is the book value isn't really useful for a car like this.
Click to expand...

A Miata shouldn't be all that awful to FSBO. Its something that most people who are interested in it will know what it is, what it's worth, etc. They'll be more knowledgeable is what I guess I'm saying.

The old $5 [FOR SALE] sign is pretty effective when your car is just sitting around where its visible. Miata forums and/or Clubs can be a decent place to check too.

But, BY FAR, the most effective place I've seen is posting an ad in a worksite's classifieds. I know the DOE sites both put some out. If you know anybody that works out there, that's the way to fly.

Craigslist can work... But I loathe wading through the freak parade it brings out.
 
#1,336
#1,336
vol_in_ar said:
Question for anyone more knowledgable than me
It's on my Mini, had it in a shop getting new tail lights and headlights went with rhe blacked out frames instead of the chrome that was on there
When they were bringing it back they blew a head gasket
They are replacing it and I should get it back tomorrow or Sunday but they told me it blew because there was a bubble in the antifreeze radiator system
That it was a closed system and when it developed an air bubble it caused the head gasket to go

I've never heard of that and don't know if it BS or not, I'm not really pushing the issue with them since there correcting it
Just wondering if that air bubble explanation is legit
Click to expand...

How do they know it was air? What of engine is it?
 
#1,337
#1,337
Orangesmokey said:
There is such thing as a bubble in the cooling system but in my experience there is usually something to cause it. Like replacing the thermostat or something like that. Something that would open the cooling system. I do have to say that I haven't seen one cause a head gasket to blow. I have seen them cause one to run hot. I guess if it ran hot long enough it would cause the head gasket to blow.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I have a Land Rover and if you do anything to the cooling system then normally you have to bleed the cooling system. If air wasn't in there before you took I wouldn't think it suddenly appear. Sounds like they ran it hot for some reason. Odd for sure. But I would have to say no to the magic air theory. But I am not familiar with those engines. There could be some weird quirks about the motor. Dobut it though.
 
#1,338
#1,338
knucklehead_vol said:
I agree with this. I have a Land Rover and if you do anything to the cooling system then normally you have to bleed the cooling system. If air wasn't in there before you took I wouldn't think it suddenly appear. Sounds like they ran it hot for some reason. Odd for sure. But I would have to say no to the magic air theory. But I am not familiar with those engines. There could be some weird quirks about the motor. Dobut it though.
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Thanks OS and KV
I'm not sure on the motor but it's a 2006 Mini S convertible , which RR do you have
I have a '11 RR sport

Ill see how the mini runs when they drop it off
 
#1,339
#1,339
vol_in_ar said:
Thanks OS and KV
I'm not sure on the motor but it's a 2006 Mini S convertible , which RR do you have
I have a '11 RR sport

Ill see how the mini runs when they drop it off
Click to expand...

2002 P38
2003 Discovery II

Looking to buy a 2008 RR. Those are the last year's of the 300 hp motor.

I would take it to another shop and have them look at it. Blown headgasket just seems odd, blown headgaskets are from overheating or wrong type of coolant. The chemicals in some coolants, like dexcon can deteriorate the gasket quicker. Air will usually make your overflow tank bubble like crazy.

Here is a pic of a new cam I got for my DII.
 

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#1,341
#1,341
knucklehead_vol said:
I don't know a lot about the Mini's. And was thinking they probably have some aluminum parts. Looks like the head could be. Have another shop check it out. Aluminum does not like to be overheated. Causes all kinds of problems. It doesn't look like the block is aluminum. Read this...

Blown head gasket after routine fix - MINI Cooper Forum
Click to expand...

Thank you
I'll have another shop here in NWA look at it, especially with you pointing out the aluminum head
 
#1,342
#1,342
vol_in_ar said:
Question for anyone more knowledgable than me
It's on my Mini, had it in a shop getting new tail lights and headlights went with rhe blacked out frames instead of the chrome that was on there
When they were bringing it back they blew a head gasket
They are replacing it and I should get it back tomorrow or Sunday but they told me it blew because there was a bubble in the antifreeze radiator system
That it was a closed system and when it developed an air bubble it caused the head gasket to go

I've never heard of that and don't know if it BS or not, I'm not really pushing the issue with them since there correcting it
Just wondering if that air bubble explanation is legit
Click to expand...

well I'm not sure what they mean by a closed system,I assume it is the same as an american car with a tank on the fender well ?

if a car does blow a head gasket,it will leak anti freeze.since they brought it up,the first thing I would ask is how did it get an air bubble in it from changing the tail light brackets and how hard was the car being drove when it happened

I'm just guessing,but if there repairing it with no cost to you,something happened somewhere
 
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#1,343
#1,343
Closed coolant system means no over flow on the ground. Older cars, and I mean older, didn't have over flow tanks, just a tube running from the filler neck on the radiator down the side of the radiator. Also, back in those old days, you had to remove the rad cap to add coolant (Open System).

Now, you never open the rad cap unless you are doing maintenance on the cooling system. Coolant, when needed, is added only to the over flow tank (resivoir). This is the closed system.

Wow, an air bubble in the coolant system! This is usually caused by one of three happenstances:

1. The top of the radiator is lower than the top of the coolant ports of the engine(by design). The engines coolant ports are designed to pass air bubbles to the highest point of the cooling system naturally.

If the radiator tank is lower than the
Engines coolant ports, then there should be an air bleeder incorporated in the coolant system at the highest point, usually at the rear top of the manifold and/or, on ocasion, in the heater core hoses, because of the way the mfg routes them.

2. Poor coolant passage design by the mfg. Although rare, it does occur. Instead of passing air, the poor design traps air, thus causing a "hot spot" within the engine.

Hot spots lead to catastrophic failure.

3. Blockage or catastrophic water pump failure (impeller dislodged or corroded to the point it will not circulate fluid).
 
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#1,344
#1,344
VAR, I did a little research on the Mini. The following is the procedure for replacing the coolant (Pay particular attention to #4 and #6):


1. Remove*radiator cap.
2. Remove*lower hose*from radiator, and*heater hoses*at bulkhead. USE CAUTION WHEN COOLANT IS HOT.
3. Reinstall hoses after coolant has drained.
4. Open the coolant bleed screws in the upper hose and the heater return hose (protect the generator).
5. Fill the engine with*MINI Cooper Antifreeze*(50/50 mix) through*thermostat housing*(expansion coolant tank in the Cooper S).
6. Close bleed screws when air free coolant flows.
7. Continue to fill through thermostat housing (or expansion tank).
8. Fill expansions tank to 'Max'.
9. Start engine and run at idle. Top up coolant as necessary.
10. Turn off engine and install pressure cap.
Click to expand...

Edit: NEVER perform this operation on a warm/Hot engine. NEVER!
 
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#1,346
#1,346
Nerd-Vol said:
I'm assuming that the shop is footing the bill for this?
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If they are, this tells me some one in that shop did something they weren't supposed to. Doing it at no cost is an honest mechanics Mia culpa. Good on them for that, at least.
 
#1,347
#1,347
governmentmule said:
well I'm not sure what they mean by a closed system,I assume it is the same as an american car with a tank on the fender well ?

if a car does blow a head gasket,it will leak anti freeze.since they brought it up,the first thing I would ask is how did it get an air bubble in it from changing the tail light brackets and how hard was the car being drove when it happened

I'm just guessing,but if there repairing it with no cost to you,something happened somewhere
Click to expand...

Normally they will leak antifreeze but some motors have different water ways and coolant may not leak. In some vehicles you have to do something like a leak down test. There are other methods too.
 
#1,348
#1,348
malinoisvol said:
VAR, I did a little research on the Mini. The following is the procedure for replacing the coolant (Pay particular attention to #4 and #6):




Edit: NEVER perform this operation on a warm/Hot engine. NEVER!
Click to expand...

Sounds about right. But he didn't take it in for mechanical work, at least that is how I took it. Only a light trim replacement.

Ar I would ask to see the headgasket so you can see of the gasket actually blew and which cylinders they were.
 
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#1,350
#1,350
malinoisvol said:
VAR, I did a little research on the Mini. The following is the procedure for replacing the coolant (Pay particular attention to #4 and #6):




Edit: NEVER perform this operation on a warm/Hot engine. NEVER!
Click to expand...

i'll probably never be performing, I'm just going to take it too a better mechanic going forward

I had a guy I work with that needed to borrow a car, so I let him use it for a few weeks, then when he returned it to work, I had the shop pick it up to do the headlights and tail lights, so given the circumstances, it's hard to know who's at fault...

I didn't drive it between it being returned, and the other shop picking it up
 
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