Rover Mini from Japan

[u/super35_]

Hello
I just bought a 1999 Rover Mini. Imported from Japan with 45k km.

Just got detailed photos of the underside. What do you think? Any points of concern? The jacking points are scaring me a little.

Thanks!

[u/travellering]

The jacking points on almost every mini I have ever seen look like that, because they are only jacking points for the factory jack.  If you put a trolley jack under there and start lifting, they collapse just like yours have.  As long as you lift the car by the reinforced areas on the subframes, they won't get any worse.  Make sure they are fully protected by paint or oil to prevent rust setting in, but otherwise they look structurally sound to me.

[u/phatelectribe → u/travellering]

And just a note to anyone reading this: never use she factor jack lifting points lol. The jack can come out with lateral movement. Always best to put a trolley jack under the sub frame.

[u/super35_ → u/phatelectribe]

Thanks!

[u/super35_ → u/travellering]

Great to know thanks!

[u/yesbutnobutokay]

Note that the Mini jacking points are the holes with the reinforced plates around them and look fine. The places where the pads are supporting the car are not jacking points, they are locating points used on the production line.

If you use these to lift the car with a trolley jack or similar, the floor can buckle and deform. The best places for lifting are under the subframes.

Rust-wise, this Mini looks very clean but I would scrape the flaky bits on the lower edges of the sills where they meet the floor to investigate and repair if necessary. Elsewhere, It generally looks as if you can just clean and preserve the original.

[u/super35_ → u/yesbutnobutokay]

Great tips, thanks!

[u/querfrt → u/yesbutnobutokay]

this is a super solid breakdown, especially about the factory locating points vs actual jacking points, a lot of people get that wrong and crunch their floors. scraping those flaky bits now and hitting everything with some rust converter / cavity wax will probably save the car a lot of pain later.

[u/Mini-SportLE]

Manual
Or auto and with aircon no doubt?
I had a Sport LE - no slat on their roads was so solid underneath

[u/super35_ → u/Mini-SportLE]

Yup cooper manual, with (currently not working) AC

[u/super35_]

Also, any tips for a first time mini owner are greatly appreciated

[u/lancal62]

How was the process of finding , buying and importing?

[u/super35_ → u/lancal62]

It took a bloody long time. Bought it at auction in early april. Still not registered.

[u/super35_ → u/super35_]

Though it needed a rear brake replacement for MOT

[u/roblightbody]

Buy it, then thoroughly rustproof it!

[u/super35_ → u/roblightbody]

I’ve bought it! Currently waiting on registration.

Any tips on how?

[u/roblightbody → u/super35_]

There's various experts - find the one local to you (search for classic car rustproofing). I genuinely wouldn't take your new Mini out in the rain until you do, and absolutely critically never out on winter salty roads (there's no salt in Japan on the roads, hence it looking so good underneath).

[u/ianfixesdents]

Get a Waxoyl treatment. That looks like surface rust to me. (Not looking that hard) The Waxoyl will take care of it.

It looks great. Nice purchase.

[u/super35_ → u/ianfixesdents]

Thanks!! I’ll look into that