I’m selling an 05 Mini worth £3k or so. It’s got no service history for the last 5 years/20K and I was gonna change the oil and filter, is it worth changing the coolant and brake fluid too? I’ve done hardly any miles in the 6 months I’ve owned it (long story) just didn’t get round to doing this stuff before. It’s in decent shape so I though this might help sell it.

If you can it yourself it’ll cost next to.nothing so won’t hurt. Probably won’t get back the cost of paying a garage to do it though.

Oh yeah all diy. Q is whether it makes it easier to sell (at a good price)?

Can’t see how it would make any difference to the price or saleability unless the current fluid looks dirty.

I don’t know that most buyers would be swayed by knowing that the brake fluid and/or coolant had been changed. A lot of buyers wouldn’t know what they do…

Both coolant and brake fluid can either be easy or a ballache to change (due to bleeding) depending on the car, I don’t know much about minis. I would say that cars with ABS are slightly more complicated to change the fluid on.

If you are trying to get the most for it then I think most buyers would feel more reassured seeing a garage service stamp in the book.

Not knowing how to open the bonnet is probably my number one turn off. Personally wouldn’t bother changing the brake fluid, just make sure all levels are topped.

<p>Again, fluids can be left, if anyone is that bothered they can go to the hassle of doing it themselves.</p><p></p><p>Out of curiosity, where do you actually dispose of coolant/brake fluid?</p>

The village pond.

The village pond.

I hope that’s a joke.

Out of curiosity, where do you actually dispose of coolant/brake fluid?

Take it to your local council tip, they have collection points for all that sort of stuff. Please don’t pour it down any drain, it’s hazardous waste.

We don’t have a pond so it goes in the river it soon washes away.

I would say that cars with ABS are slightly more complicated to change the fluid on.

How far back do you need to go to find a car that doesn’t have ABS?

IME. When selling cars, most of the interested parties will be part time, hobby, driveway “dealers” who model themselves on Mike Brewer. Nothing you do will stop them from offering you half of what you think the car is worth. Good luck.

If it’s got no service history then that’s going to put 90% of people off straight away so I wouldn’t bother changing.

“How far back do you need to go to find a car that doesn’t have ABS?”

Pre 2004 for passenger cars and 2006 for lgv

That’s when it became mandatory.

Not that hard to bleed just need to know what your doing and don’t turn the key on till their is fluid in the system.

I’d be more worried about lack of service history, rather than whether the levels were topped up.

People expect FSH on a 13 year old 60K car?

Oh well, it is stw I suppose…

Ta for the helpful comments .

I wouldn’t say a FSH is expected, its just that there will be cars of that age with one. A bit of extra home spannering won’t really add anything and may actually put some people off.

I don’t know that most buyers would be swayed by knowing that the brake fluid and/or coolant had been changed. A lot of buyers wouldn’t know what they do…

And its a mini – different set of purchasing criteria 🙂

I think the kind of buyer who would be interested in whether or not  you’d changed a few fluids probably wouldn’t really believe you if you said you had.

In my experience – what sells cars for the best price is being honest about their short comings rather than bigging up their virtues. People are more assured by that sort of full disclosure (saying the brake fluid probably needs replacing than saying it has been replaced). People would expect to have to give a new old car a decent service anyway. Drawing attention to trivial merits makes people feel like you’re sugar coating it – that attention is being drawn away from serious flaws.

Ta – yes I’d be an honest seller pitfalls aswell…

People expect FSH on a 13 year old 60K car?

I’d be nice to see some evidence that it’s been looked after, not necessarily dealer stamps, but receipts and evidence of servicing.

Currently buying a s/h car and it’s a bloody minefield!

<p>

Take it to your local council tip, they have collection points for all that sort of stuff. Please don’t pour it down any drain, it’s hazardous waste.

</p><p>Ours doesn’t have anything for glycol, just motor oil. Back to square one.</p>

I would just get the local indie to do a basic oil/filter service so you have some evidence of service history. Might cost £100 and you may not get it all back but it will certainly make it easier to sell.

We sold our Mini a few weeks ago and even with FSH (main dealer then local Mini/BMW specialist) people were still haggling and offering daft low prices..

Ta, I’ve already got the oil and filter though!

As it’s a convertible with slightly higher spec I’m hoping it won’t be too tricky to sell.

Oh and I just remembered I serviced a caliper on my Smart (including bleeding) without any issues, ABS still fine. Must’ve been lucky!

Just be prepared for the tyre kickers – try to sound them out on the phone. Ultimately I was grateful when someone called and just told me their top price over the phone.. I ended up spending over an hour with several people in person, doing test drives etc. for them to offer me £4,000 when it was advertised at £4,900. One particular bloke got both barrels after I washed the car especially for him with a raging hangover!