I couldn't stand to see my friends 2005 Mini S waste away in her driveway - I had to save it. One owner, carefully maintained, 65k miles with a rotten automatic transmission issue. Planned to fix the transmission trouble n flip it. I've been told I have too many toys already.. Just fix n flip. Don't get attached to its cuteness. The second I drove it I was hooked, now I won't give it up/ have to fix it. Mechanic says it's a valve body issue, going to fix soon and then drive it like I stole it. I'm interested in adding racing stripes and other mods as I find them. Always room for her in my driveway!
At 65k, maybe all that is needed is a tranny fluid change. Where are you located? Columbus, OH, has a great mechanic who can solve that, if you are close by. As for valve body issues, I don't know, especially if the car was well-maintained. I have 2 '06 MCSas and my daily driver has 117k on it. I had its tranny fluid changed at around 85k and it has been clear sailing ever since. The other has 66k and I'll be getting its fluid changed before the snow flies, even though it is showing no problems. It's a bone stock S, while mine is heavily modded and has seen lots of twisties as well as track use. Good luck!