Wheeler Dealers Series 15

Wheeler Dealers: S15 E3 – Mini Cooper S MC40

Budget: $6,000
Purchase Price: $5,300
Final Cost: $7,890
Selling Price: $9,000
Profit/Loss: +$1,110

Mike finds one of only 1,000 MC40s ever made, the 40th-anniversary homage to the Monte Carlo rally-winning British icon. Can Ant revive its original look?

Work Completed: Full 100,000-mile service, including new oxygen sensors, water pump, thermostat, coolant cap, ignition coil, HT leads, fuel filter, hoses, and serpentine belt. Supercharger reconditioned and cleaned. New left foglamp. New MC40 replica magnetic decals. New suspension dampers and springs. New tyres. Headliner reupholstered. Aftermarket projector headlamps and air intake system replaced with stock units. New rear badge.

Notes: Purchased in Northern California. Previously fitted with lowering springs and aftermarket suspensions. MC40 decals replicated by Sticky Fingers Design. Restored car was taken to the Los Angeles River to pay homage to The Italian Job, then to a Mini-meet in San Clemente, California.

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9 comments

Luis Alberto June 23, 2020 at 3:50 am

I’ve just to see the wheeler dealers Mc40 Mini Cooper S restauration episode. Great great job!!

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Brian Weir November 8, 2019 at 12:05 pm

A lot of the so called oil consumption issues have to do with differences in driving cultures. In Europe, many of these smaller communities have small, narrow streets and sometimes spotty enforcement of traffic laws. The enthusiasts drive these cars like maniacs in a very spirited fashion, and the local repair shops are adept at everything from tune ups to rebuilds to repairing collision damage. These are actually pretty durable little cars.

By comparison, BMW’s and minis are purchased as expensive status symbols, handled like fine china, and usually driven like grannies on their way to church on Sunday. That is, around four miles an hour. The engines never get to reach operating temperature and carbon deposits build on the heads and cylinder walls. Taking personal responsibility for breaking the car isn’t in most people’s enthusiasts dna, and sadly non-enthusiast owners wouldn’t even think of touching a wrench. Instead clueless owners post on the forums what horrible, unreliable cars these are, scrap them, and go buy a Corolla, which is about their speed.

Enthusiast cars being sold to nonenthusiast people who drive these cars into the ground.

Sadly you can’t fix stupid. Kudos to true enthusiasts who understand enthusiast automobiles.

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Steve May 3, 2019 at 2:54 am

I have a chance to purchase a 2004 mc40 w/ 86,000 miles on it for 12,500.00, the 100000 mile inspection has been completed good enterior good paint needs headliner repaired. Is this a good price?

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Carl Mock April 29, 2019 at 8:29 am

I drive a 2004 Mini Cooper S (#826/1000) MC40. Oil usage is caused by leaking seals/gaskets/o-rings of which there are many. I’ve gone completely through my Mini, replaced a myriad of such, and suffer almost no oil usage. It’s definitely not the car for you if you’re not mechanically apt as it does require consistent/periodic maintenance (since it’s made by BMW, dealership repair cost is completely out of line). Also, there are several online Forums where you can learn how to repair almost anything and a supportive online community/forums where help is always gladly provided. I bought my MC40 for $4,000 with 125,000 miles on it and have spent another $3,000 bringing it up to spec, including a new flywheel, clutch and pressure plate. These repairs also include everything seen on Wheeler Dealer. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a limited-edition car for $7,000 that will bring you this much driving enjoyment!

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Dennis April 12, 2019 at 12:48 am

I resonly saw this appisode and was surprises that they didn’t mentioned the oilusage of the (BMW) engine. The French/European PSA GROUP uses this engine also, in all their models resp. Peugeot’s and Citrôens already since 2006. A view years ago I drove a Peugeot 207 1.6 THP 200HP (same engine). After 20000 miles my dealer replaced it because of the rediculous oil use, a stretched distribution chain and the polluted chambers because of that burned oil which is this engine is well none about. Is no one familiar with this phenomenon in the states?

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Bob Marley December 4, 2020 at 11:53 pm

Wrong engine. Wrong car. you are talking about the Prince engine in the gen 2 BMW mini. The MC40 is a gen 1 BMW Mini with the Tritec engine.

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David March 15, 2019 at 2:02 pm

Took my 2006 Mini Cooper S to the local Mini Dealer, ask them how much to Service the Supercharger? Service Tech looked at me like I was nuts. “Why would you want to do that… in 12 years we have Never done one of those here?” She continued…”That’s a big job it will be around $900”. I asked how much to replace one? She says “About $5,000 w labor”. I said. That’s why!! I then talked to a BMW Specialist Shop and my regular mechanic, neither had any experience with servicing a Mini Cooper Supercharger. Wow, I guess we Americans just break & replace vs SERVICE.

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Jr September 28, 2018 at 6:05 pm

O i love this Mini
I used to owne the #40/1000
Great memories little Mini

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Loz June 12, 2018 at 6:22 am

I liked the episode – partially because they did a pretty good job with a modern classic, and partly for personal reasons (I own a 2004 Mini Cooper, albeit not a MC40 edition).

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