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

I might recommend connecting a hose to the blow-off line nipple. It only needs to be a foot and a half or so... just long enough to direct any overflow away from the headers (under the airbox is a good place to aim). Zip tie it to the other stuff running under there. I had that same tank and cap. The tank is fine and seemed well made, but the cap is a POS and was constantly blowing coolant everywhere (I didn't have the nipple on mine... just a hole under the cap. When I finally got around to detailing the engine bay and doing dress-up under there, I got rid of it as I was sick of coolant being blown everywhere under the bonnet.

I've heard of others who found Stant caps to fit that tank. I tried 2 or 3 times but the ones that worked for them never fit for me. I finally gave up and bought a Canton tank (I like the matching PS tank anyway).

 

I'll offer a bit of advice. If you have a ride along instructor listen to him/her. No one wins a track day. When you drive home with no damage it is a win!

Take the tools you think you'll need along with oil, coolant & brake fluid. Water & some energy food for yourself. A chair & umbrella are good too.

Have a great time Lee! Let us know how it goes.

 

1st of 5 cold mornings in a row.
Winter tires went on this am.
Changed the rear bar from the
middle setting to the soft setting
until spring and summer tires.

 

I've not had good luck with that type of repair. Time to source out a good glass place in your area. When mine was replaced they used Pilkington glass & it was great. Make sure whoever you use knows how to put glass in a MINI. The upper seal needs to be replaced & so will the plastic widgets that hold the A pillar plastic pieces on. Hope your insurance is going to pick up the cost.

 

I thought a lot about my MINI today, does that count?
I haven't seen it in almost 4 years, and some stuff that popped up last week has me thinking again... I'm waiting on a phone call, hoping for the best, and preparing mysef for years of debt. If all goes well, it will have a new home, and I can finally bring it down from Colorado and start playing with it again!

 

Took our JCW Clubbie to lunch yesterday, today is cloudy, cool and waiting on an ice drizzle. Never can tell if it is fall or early winter here in Colorado.

Take care, be safe and mask up.

Don

 

Cars don't like to sit. Take it for a back road romp!

 

I had just put the winter tires on. I will post up shots of that soon. Next day, it warmed up above the freezing temps at night. Kind of like the washing car your car makes it rain syndrome.

 

Snow tyres are great. IMO they are got to have footwear for a MINI. Well other cars too. The only trouble with them is once you've driven in real snow with them you will never go back to 3 season tires.

I think I'll try & wait another couple of weeks before the snow shoes go on Skooby. The GTI doesn't get snow shoes, if it snows I take the clubster or I stay home.

 

Well, sold my R50! WHAT? Colin sold his RaceR50? And bought my best friend’s awesome 2011 R56S! Truly brand new with only 35k miles and modded to run the Dragon, autox and track! I’ve been instructing the former owner and her modify her MINI for the past 9 years.

 

Got on Steam and took advantage of Cyber Monday sales. Bought some more racing games for my PC. Some games were 90% off. I am really tired today because I spent the night racing online. There is so-o-o-o much to learn about setting up an F1 car. But much simpler is racing a MINI around the Macau GP circuit.

 

I used to autocross a bit, but these days of social distancing. Once set up, it's also a lot less expensive to race online. The graphics on some the newer games are stunning.

 

This guy has gone to the next level, it's insane:

 

M

my set up is nowhere near as elaborate. I am very much entry level. Even at that level, getting wife acceptance factor for any upgrades is challenging.

 

Not done yet, but I got these after a lot of hemming and hawing. Been following this guy on IG for a while, and these were too good not to pass up. FAR less expensive than the same ones coming out of the UK. Build quality is solid, really well done for an independent guy. Will try to get them in this weekend and update with pics/video.

 

Yesterday I watched THE ITALIAN JOB . That always get me pumped up to drive the mini.

 

Hi folks! I feel like I should introduce myself in the new members thread.

I haven't been blowing off the MINI forum. I'm just focused on too many other things, right now -- like trying to make a few bucks during Covid-19. 2020 was a rough year -- for a lot of people.

As for my MINI, It get's driven about 200-300 miles a month these days/months. No place to go that doesn't involve me spending money.

I had a O2 sensor go bad, as well as a diverter valve. Then a bi-xenon bulb died. My friends at RAC Performance fixed everything for cost of parts only. I still do ads for them from time-to-time, so we barter -- labor for labor.

The biggest problem I am having is rats! One of my stupid neighbors didn't like the feral cats running around the neighborhood, so she had Animal Control round them up to be euthanized. Cats gone, rats moved in. Lately, one has been building nests in my engine compartment. The first one almost set my car on fire. I cleared most of another huge nest out today. I couldn't get all of it. I had a pretty major surgery a few weeks ago, so I'm limited on what I can do for awhile. I did scratch my right hand and forearm to the point of bleeding.

I have rat traps all over the garage, and just haven't figured out this rat's path, yet.

So, basically, I have to look under the hood every time I want to drive my MINI.

CD

 

Thanks. The surgeon had to cut through some abdominal muscle. Been there before with cancer surgery 13 years ago. I just have to avoid doing anything stupid, like lift things too heavy, or push cars around (normally part of my job). I can do day to day stuff just fine. I just have to remain aware of my limits.

My current mission is to kill the %$#*& rat/rats that keep building nests in my MINI.

CD