Most liked posts in thread: My new MCS 2006 convertible

Hey Jim, welcome to M/A! The popping or backfire as you called it is very normal for an S! The third brake light assy is an LED circuit so something on the board could be bad.
Spark plugs are not too hard to replace but you do need a long plug socket with thin wall and you have to remove the intercooler to get to the plugs.

 

Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.

 

welcome to m/a

 

Congrats, great find! I'm still lovin' mine after 126K.

 

Welcome aboard!

Mr Jim has it on the answers. I just checked my plugs, no need to remove the intercooler. People will actually change the exhaust to get more backfire (pop and burble)

 

Welcome to the coolest MINI forum on the net... You are home now!

 

Welcome to the in crowd! The few, the funnest, the topless. Topless motoring is motoring at it's best. Enjoy the pop and burble too.

You will want to rotate you tires about every 5000 miles to even out wear from the negative camber built into the suspension. Also, make it a habit to check the fluid levels regularly. Be proactive instead of the growing current trend of having to re-act.

If you replace the plugs yourself, torque them exactly. There are threads about of people not installing them correctly and haveing the plugs blow out of the block or dinging the piston.

Take very good care of the canvas. 303 products or RaggTopp are about the best. Don't run the top up and down a lot without cleaning it, the brush attachment on your shopvac works well. The dirt and grit will cut the fabric and you'll be faced with a very expensive repair. It doesn't hurt to give the scissor joints a shot of dry lube once in a while either.

If it didn't come with one, search ebay and other sources for a wind deflector. Just make sure it is for the R52 and not the R57. You really want one of these as they kill the wind noise and make motoring even more pleasant.

Here are a few URLs that you may find useful:
Top Tier Gasoline
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
Mini Cooper Info. 1st gen. Minis, Mini Parts, Mini performance, Mini specs This includes a huge list of independent shops from all over the country.
RealOEM.com * Diagram Selection
LightInSight - Windshield Mounted Traffic Light Lens
You really want a lightinsight but they are currently out of stock so keep an eye on the website.
MotorcycleRoads.US - Great Motorcycle Roads in the US
MotoringFile | MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman

 

Great to have you here at M/A! The world's best MINI site!

 

No spare on the S

 

Tire Repair Kit - Griot's Garage

The above link will take you to a solution. I carry this kit in the boot along with a spare quart if oil and some quick detailing supplies from the same company.

 

There is no spare. The car came with runflats. I'd gather the previous owner replaced them with non-runflats. The ride is much better, the cost is much lower and choices available are much greater.

Many of our sponsors have spare tire kits. However, storage in a convertible is iffy at best.

A Tire Plug kit along with a bottle of Slime and a portable compressor is another way to go.

 

Tire repair kit can be sourced at wallyworld for a lot cheaper than Griots wants for one. Amazon also carries it.

Slime 40013 Smart Spair Emergency Tire Repair Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

...and ask yourself do you want to turn over your unscheduled roadside stop to a product made as cheaply as possible by the lowest bidder. I can tell you a very scary story from a friend who bought a 12ga Remington Wingmaster manufactured to wallyworld's exacting specifications. Caveat emptor.

 

That is good advice.

Do you think Griots products are not spec'd the same way? Yes the Slime kit may be cheap stuff, but I'd bet Griots is too. Griots just tarts their stuff up to look pretty.

I can tell you the Slime kit listed above works fine. I have one & have used it.

 

Just back from a short errand and had a mo to think about what I posted. There are lots of good products running loose that do a fine job of replaceing a spare tire. I should have prefaced my comment with some explaination as to why I have such a dislike for anything relating to wallyworld. I allowed that to cloud my opinion and if there is anyone out there who was mortally offended by what I posted, I sincerely hope you can get over it. I can't get over how I feel about that organization. Have a nice day.:biggrin5::biggrin5:

 

Congratulations. You've got a great find. If you don't have maintenance records it would be prudent change out all the fluids. It's part of the life blood of the R52. Treat your R52 with respect and it will reciprocate. Good luck.

 

Since the removal of the runflats I have since replaced them with tyreshield.com - The domain is for sale! and a compressor. Sofar knock on wood.