Most liked posts in thread: What did you do with your MINI today?

Ordered one of those Dimple magnetic manual trans plugs to go along with my fluid change this coming weekend. Can't hurt!

 

Started early in the Mini garage today before it gets toasty in there when the temp peaks in the mid-90s. It's still cooler than the two 100+ record breaker days Denver had last week. It has been unusually humid this summer for Denver; swamp coolers (evaporative coolers) don't work well when it gets humid. I don't mind heat but really dislike humidity; there's a reason I left Pennsylvania 40 years ago!

The current garage project is prepping a race Mini for the 60th Anniversary Mini challenge race in Portland at the beginning of September. This one hasn't been raced in 20 years so it needs a new fuel cell and roll bar upgrades to meet current rules, total go-through of brakes and suspension, build a new race motor, and repair body damage from the last time I raced it. At least I have a transmission ready to go. Well, I think it's ready to go. I'll post some pictures if I can figure out how to.

 

With my two Miatas, pretty much every Miata owner waved at each other. It is rare that another MINI owner waves back at me. But hey, I can be friendly, even if other MINI owners don't want to acknowledge me.

CD

 

Swapped out the MTF last night. She's also now Dimple plug equipped! Almost made a big booboo though. I left the GP belly pan under the car when I backed out to take a test run and check for leaks. I did catch a corner of it but no damage. Praise the lort. I wanted to check for leaks because I got (and installed) the magnetic plug with a washer but the OE bolt didn't have a washer. I was dreading that I'd have to do another MTF change this weekend No leaks, all good. As of last night, all of her fluids have been refreshed.

 

I've been researching that too. I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Thanks man!

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I cheated on Wolfgang for a couple of days. Had a fun couple of days with this guy, The Green Machine.



I will be sure to make it up to Wolfgang, with a spa day very soon.

 

Replaced the manual transmission fluid today and dumped a bunch of used motor oil and transmission oil into the recycling tank at Advanced Auto.
(37K miles - original fluid had lost quite a bit of viscosity per Blackstone oil analysis).
Used BMW MTF-LT-4 75W90 - same as the original fill. Should be good for another 40-50K.

 

It rides very well. I'm comparing it to blown oe suspension so I have a better ride quality and absorbs bumps and uneven roads in a good manner.

It does ride on the softer side due to its progressive rates but I do not feel they are bouncy at all at highway speeds.

It's exactly what I was looking for. Just wanted to replace worn oe suspension but lower it at the same time.

Highly recommend for a daily driver looking to lower their rides.


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Yea they are getting restored as well.





Going with Black and Gold Font combo:



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Yes it has an old school lever. My GTI is a 2013 & has none of that modern carp in it. Although it has the now mandatory stability control & I hate it.

 

This piece fell off my MINI's glove box latch back in June.


That meant for the last two months, opening the glove box mean doing the index finger contortionist method of opening the door.
Last night I found a big thick paper clip and fixed it. I have a working glove box door latch again. No way I was going pay $200 for a new glove box over a 10 cent piece of plastic.

 

Once I saw I could turn off the DSC nanny I have never turned it back on.

You are not really driving a MINI they way it should be driven with DSC on.

 

I don't know how to permanently turn off dsc, but I always flip it off when I turn my mini on. So fun!

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She's running as good as ever ((knocks on wood)). Brake pads, rotors, and wear sensors showed up today! Might stick the brakes on tonight or tomorrow night. Or Saturday sometime

 

I cut the wires on the silly break pad sensors and soldered them together and tied them out of the way.

I check my pads twice a year when I swap summer tires to winter tires (because it snows in PA) just like my father and his father did. I don’t need a silly sensor.

 

You will like the G-Loc GS 1’s . I run them in my front JCW big Brembo’s and love them for a daily pad.

For the Dragon I swap out the fronts for G-Loc R8’s and I run R-8’s in the rear all year long.

 

Yes. Wide open headers and exhaust. Those small displacement 8-cylinder Alfa engines have a very distinctive sound.





CD

 

Think I may have figured out the Cylinder 1 misfire. Had injectors out and looked in at the intake valves. Stems are oily as hell. Only cylinder 1 intake stems though. Might explain the oily residue on the spark plug, and rough few starts until it smooths out. Usually have to turn it off and on a few times then runs perfect. Then if it sits long enough, same thing again. Guess I'm doing some valve seal replacing this weekend.

Let me know if this sounds about right.

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My passenger side sun visor lost the
ability to hold up the piece you flip up
to see the mirror and turn on the lights.
I got tired of complaints that you have to
hold that up with one hand to use the
lighted mirror from my wife, so I replaced
the passenger sun visor (sort of).
I tried fixing the old one first, but there
we’re a few broken clips and tabs and
cracks that prevented any repair.
The new one has a bad ground wire
between the connector and the guts.
I had already soaked off the warning
decal, making it harder to return, so I
popped off the plastic part that clips
into the new frame and put it on the
old frame with the still working wiring
and bulbs. Works fine now.