1st Gen R50 Cooper I'm one pissed mini owner!!!

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by dawnie, Apr 22, 2014.

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  1. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
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    $170 battery?!!! OUCH. I did put a $$$ optima red-top in mine...but different reason there....
    no REASON to use an OEM MINI battery.......gen2 cars SOMETIMES need to be "registered"...it is related to the auto-start/stop feature..the computer needs the info such as battery type/size to work right...but ANY battery that fits is fine for a gen1....usually no special info needed.....
     
  2. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
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    one more tip...
    after you install the battery....and you shut off the car...
    listen to your car....make sure you do not hear a humming...some MINI's end up with dead batteries due to a PS pump issue...not likely an issue here..just want you to be aware of it!
    Hopefully the tranny is A-ok now!! Good luck!!
     
  3. dawnie

    dawnie New Member

    Mar 8, 2014
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    Port Orchard,WA
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    I know I was in shock for $170 for a battery too but after diving into a few boards and hearing about batteries not fitting correctly and reading about what people are buying and its a perfect fit I decided to use Autozone, not preferred choice but I live in a small town with 3 auto stores.One doesn't carry what I need and in past burnt me in poor knowledge. The other is my preferred but so far cant find data on if what they carry actually will fit right. Plus they are $20 more... My uncle who is a non mini mechanic is looking to see what prices he can get...

    On another note we jump started DB last night. Before the jump the voltage on battery was reading 12V and after jump with car running was 14.6V. After letting him charge a bit we turned him off then 45 min later he started just fine... 18 hours later of sitting I went to start him again and no such luck...
     
  4. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Dec 22, 2009
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    You need a battery, standing voltage should be at least 12.6.....

    Also running the car for 20 min is not enough to charge a battery up fully, it just puts a surface charge on it.
     
  5. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    Sep 18, 2010
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    Retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief
    The Great Irrigated Desert of Central CA
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    Buy an Interstate battery. Mine has never failed me.
     
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    May 4, 2009
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    Jinx :mad2:
     
  7. dawnie

    dawnie New Member

    Mar 8, 2014
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    Port Orchard,WA
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    Thanks guys for all the input!!! Since I have a Justa and not an MCS the batteries fit differently... I did go with the one from AutoZone and so far so good... Though now every little noise I have mild panic... LOL keep telling myself to breathe, after all I got AAA...
     
  8. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
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    Did the new battery have any effect on the transmission issues?
     
  9. Friskie

    Friskie Well-Known Member

    Jul 20, 2009
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    Even if it did be sure to get that gear box flushed ASAP and do so as earlier recommended at 20 to 30K intervals.
     
  10. dawnie

    dawnie New Member

    Mar 8, 2014
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    Port Orchard,WA
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    Strange but YES!!!! D.B. Is running like new... So we decided that we will start flushes, tune-up, etc... I have limited info on services done thanks to carfax maintenance reports and those are only as good as the person who reported them. I'm 600 miles shy of 55k (I do lots of driving for work)and need to get him in top shape so that I can get many many years of work and play...
     
  11. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

    Jan 9, 2012
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    Maysville, North Carolina USA
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    Glad to hear things are working again. It is amazing how expensive stuff is to take care of on these cars though, no matter how simple they seem.
     

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