Your buying a 5 year old used car. They won't check every single item for a potential future failure. Even if the mount was to fail it's an easy fix and would be covered by AUC warranty.
Don't assume an Approved Used Car is the best of the best and has gone through rigorous testing and checks, they simply don't put that much effort in. Some of the AUC cars I've seen have been a right state.

 

Your buying a 5 year old used car. They won't check every single item for a potential future failure. Even if the mount was to fail it's an easy fix and would be covered by AUC warranty.
Don't assume an Approved Used Car is the best of the best and has gone through rigorous testing and checks, they simply don't put that much effort in. Some of the AUC cars I've seen have been a right state.

Well the quote I got back from the dealer re an engine mount failure was the warranty would not cover it unless it was such that it caused the vehicle to fail the MOT.... which is not very inspiring. Not sure just how bad the failure would need to become in order for the car to fail the MOT. But for sure you would think if left to that point it may have contributed to damage of other internal components in the engine as well.... Sign of the time eh.

 

I think you're over thinking it. Engine mount simple, wiring loom not so but how many have you heard of . A handful at most. Every car that's been used is simply going to develop a fault at some point. That the f series has so few is testament to its build. I'd be more worried about the paint rub on the door of the f56. My friend bought a 2014 cooper and it's very rusty there. I'll be sorting it for her soon.

 

No idea but it is a rare fault I think.

 

I'm sure they probably are. I guess the mounts will be worse depending on driving style and road quality. And the wiring loom issue may be only a problem in 15 to 16 year cars or so the story seems to go.

 

I would not assume a car dealer is rational and logical all the time. I'd just assume you will need to do the upper mount once, and then the new part number should be good for much longer. The warranty does not cover it I belve from my experience. Re the wire loom, even if they know about it they will be mum. Here is a thread on the harness: F56 Mini Cooper S JCW - Wiring Harness Water Ingress

 

Yeah I had a read at that thread re wiring loo.. So worked out where to be looking. Any idea if I can check the right side top mount without dismantling any of the car to get access to it?

 

If you have a mini dealer warranty ie Mini approved used in the UK wear and tear items are tyres brake discs pads clutch friction materials etc..I'd expect an engine mount and wiring loom to be covered. They'd both be covered under the consumer act that states a high value item ie our cars should be fit for purpose for 6 years and or the car dealer has to cover the car for any fault deemed to be developing at point of sale for 6 months. I'd buy from a UK mini dealer with a good reputation without fail. Sooner Lincoln wouldn't let you down but some may try to get out of things!

 

Yeah it's one reason I was looking at mini approved but am aware there are differences in how willing to help certain dealers are. Just asking the same questions of different dealers is one thing that highlights this. When i asked the salesman at Sytner the exact same info about a car's brakes and battery (thickness of pads and discs, and measured battery life remaining) and this lass mentioned above, answers were direct and straightforward from the lad at sytner and I got a run around to begin with from her. To be fair i was angling at a haggle on price in both cases, but it was the same to either dealer and night and day difference in response. Strange differences in approach.

Anyway the car I'm looking at principally here is a Dec 17 jcw with 21k miles on it. Seems OK but was looking for an easy way to check the mounts and was surprised to hear they would not check this part before selling a used car on. Didn't seem right. The idea she cannot tell me straight up if they would be covered on warranty seems ridiculous to me. They should know their own warranty and be happy to tell you yes or no, its not a maybe or better yet why don't you guess if we're going to cover it? Bizarre.

 

Look at mini used approved warranty as a back-stop/insurance against future problems,
rather than any deeper checking or preventative maintenance prior to sale to joe public.

workshop time comes off their bottom line, if a problem surfaces in 13 months time then that’s for the client to cover, why repair or replace “ just in case” when it’s the same cost to dealerships further down the line as it is pre-sale,