Time for the annual occurrence of this checklist. It's a PDF, download and print if you like. Oil – Close to 5K mark on current Oil? Go for an early change. Under Bonnet Check –Look for leaks, broken/worn engine mounts, worn plug wires Gearbox Oil – If near 2 years or 50K miles - Change Brakes – Check Rotors and Pads – Have at least 50% left Brake Fluid – If near 1 year or 25K miles – Change Coolant – MINI recommends every 4 years from build date for a change, every 2 years would not hurt. Tires – Tread level should be at least ½, check for uneven wear Wheels – Check Torque on lugs 83ft/lb 1st gen, 102ft/lb 2nd gen – Check often on site. See Chad at Detroit Tuned tent to use his torque wrench. Wipers – Replace blades if older – It could be quite wet at MOTD Lights – Check all lights to verify operation Battery – good condition, make sure is securely fastened Suspension – Check all bushings for wear, replace as needed Steering – Check for wear – replace anything questionable Exhaust – Secure with no leaks, check mounts Wheel Bearings – Check for excessive play Running The Dragon even at the posted limit taxes all the systems on our MINIs. 311 Turns in rapid succession will find the weaknesses if not attended to ahead of time. Please be sure to check you braking system well. Check list compiled with the assistance of Chad from Detroit Tuned.
Is it really necessary to change the gear box oil? Car goes in tomorrow for pre-Dragon work, and I know they'll tell me it's not necessary, but I want to hear from the experts.
Do it now while you still have gears to enjoy. Even if you don't drive hard with that many miles it needs to be done.
I'll be taking care of most of it this weekend. I've got to find some wipers that aren't beam type and aren't clunky monsters. What happened to just changing the blades and not the whole thing?
Get these they look like slim beams but are old style with 8 contact points and just have a cover on them. I just put these on my car and they are not huge and work great. These are the same ones Savvy ordered and told me about them . PIAA silicone glades will not rot and crack like rubber wipers. I ordered 2. 18's http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JA393Y2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
What BMW/Mini means, is that the fluid is good for the lifetime of the transmission. Change it at 50k, regardless of what anyone else says. Reminds me, I need to order gear fluid for the fiancee's R56.