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

Casey get well & by all means adopt a few garage cats. You want tough cats not fluffy lap cats.



I've been very fortunate that Mickey Rat & friends have never moved in & munched wires.

 

Starting the process of replacing the (4) TPMS transmitters (dead batteries) in my wheels. Having the tires removed from the rims so I can change out the modules. I'll be cleaning up the rims and getting them ready for the Spring tire sale.

 

While working on replacing the TPMS in my wheels I noticed I was getting some sun damage on the wheel center caps. The UV clear coat had started turning yellow and frosted looking. Same surface damage you get on the headlight from the sun.... Fitted them to the shop lathe and hit the surface with 2000 grit wet sandpaper and a little dish soap to remove the damaged UV coating. Then went over them with some Meguiar's plastic polish, followed by a coating of clear UV spray paint...

Looking much better now...

 

This is going to get expensive. One of my front wheel bearing has worn and getting it replaced. Service guy just called and told me the wheel speed sensor is seized also. The sensor on the other side was replaced just a few months ago. I guess I should have had them replace this one too. But then, they would have noticed the worn wheel bearing and the cost of the service during the early part of the pandemic would have been really high.

 

I really was not intending to spend a lot of money on my car anymore. But I haven't found anything that has the same balance of reasonable affordability, usability and fun-to-drive/performance as the R53, or even current MINIs. Though others are approaching that balance as we wait.

My car is 16 years old and has 290,000 kms on the odometer. If not for the COVID dempanic, my car was on schedule to have 300,000 kms on it by Jan 1 this year. If MINI had kept their regular schedule of MINI generations, I would be trading in my R53 for the 4th gen (Gxx) MINI Cooper S this year. Instead, doing a wait n see for another couple of years.

Hey...the current gen F56 loaner isn't all that bad. But feeling bigger and just a bit less nimble than my R53. But I already have an F generation MINI.

 

I put the kids bikes and other things out in the weather and put your car inside or do what I did buy a portable garage.

 

Mine only did it sometimes. Like going dome the freeway at speed it would just cut out, but I could some times restart it before it would come to a stop. They said it could be from heat. When it got heated it would expand and open up. I have an 2005 MCSa

 

Hey... given the COVID-induced change shortage, that $10 in quarters might be worth more than $10!

 

Put the interior back in my MINI today!

 

I'm bringing the R50 to Fontana in late April. I drove it the first time I came to the Dragon in 2004 and this will be its last time there. It's an early '03 ['09/'02 build]...Silk Green with a Welsh flag roof cover, white accents and green/black leather interior. It will have some new Generals, a cleaned braking system and hi temp brake fluid so I don't toast the pads this time...LOL. I'm hoping for a trouble-free ride down and back home again...the R50's last long Dragon-slaying trip.

I'll be doing the15th and last Cigar Salon [for me] Wednesday night [April 28] on the Porch, from around 7:30 or so for anyone wanting to attend. Free cigars to smoke, but NO VAPES or E-cigarettes, PLEASE.

Jeff

 

Good job. R53 MINIs are all over 15 years old now. This is uncharted territory for most of us because growing up, the rule of thumb has always been if your car lasts 10 years and/or 100,000 miles, it was a good car. At 15 years old and (some of us) closing in on, or already over 200,000 miles with only routine maintenance, we never know what will go next. With all the plastics of modern cars, there will be parts cracking and leaking and whatnot. A forum like this will be more and more a valuable resource as our older gen MINIs age. I believe there is a thread on M/A that asked who was planning on keeping their R53 forever. I wonder how many of those who are on that thread are still here.

It will be interesting to see if the R56 gen and F56 gen MINIs turn out to be just as, or even more durable in spite of all the complaints of unreliability of our (all 3 generations) cars.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

I have documented details, I just need to write it up and post it somewhere. I think the R53 is not so bad to work on. Like anything, you have to learn the systems. I guess I'm used to it though as I grew up in cars that were older than me. Today I researched engine mounts. Mine has just started leaking - must be all the newfound power - HAHA. I've decided to stay OEM though since I really don't like the compromise of increased cabin noise and vibration that many have reported with the aftermarket mounts.

 

Thanks all. A couple more. New bumper inserts are made, will try to get to them this weekend, though running the spaces open would be awesome if I didn't have a battery box.

 

Good on you for noticing that. So many people run around with the cords showing. I as a rule pitch mine for new ones when the tread gets to 3/32".

 

Drove Skooby over to Discount Tire this morning. Snow shoes removed & summer shoes installed.

 

Put the wheel arches and side skirts back on GIR after cleaning and refreshing them


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Got the rear caliper sensor pad replaced today.. S runs great...all set to go. Leaving Tuesday for MOTD and, hopefully some warmer and nicer weather.

 

Turned 90k on my '03 R50 today.

 

It's been about 4 weeks since Checkers has been started so today was a good day. As usual it started right up.