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

Replaced the battery in the F60 Countryman's key fob. Followed the instructions in the Youtube video.

 

I put air in the front right tire... I've got a slow leak there. All of the rest were down a bit due to cold temps, but that one tire was down 15-20 psi. I've got a ton of new construction in our neighborhood (the 1940's era starter homes coming down with new homes going up in their place) and I'm guessing there is a screw in the tread somewhere. I'll have to pull the wheel and give it a good look soon. My weekends have been pretty rainy or still had puddles everywhere from late week rains, so I haven't moved poor Rufus in weeks!

I really need to get out in the garage to put the new boot handle on and get it covered in vinyl, but I'm in the middle of a fence refresh project around the house and that seems to be sucking up most of my weekend free time. Who would have known how long it takes to drive 1,000+ 2" screws into a fence?!? (Well... that and a lot of re-leveling and tree trimming / clean-up. The power company came through and butchered a lot of trees along our back property line for power line clearance and left branches everywhere and did some fence damage, which my 2 dogs have made it their mission to find all of the loose boards and holes in the fence)

 

The screwing itself doesn't take much time... it's the other fiddling about with other things that seems to really consume the hours. You gotta make sure that the tools are charged, get supplies, get the area ready, prepare your wood...

 

You guys are hilarious. I do admit, I hate winter and chipping ice of my MINIs. We are going below zero this weekend and about 8 inches of fresh Colorado snow. If you ski and can get here, the mountain slopes are wonderful, watch out for a few avalanges, we have lost people again this year.



Don

 

Stare at potential jcw club sports whispering “soon, soon”

 

It's not bad in the winter either. I don't get any snow but high wings (40-50) and heavy rain and it held up well. It has a steel frame and is anchored with long spikes in to the asphalt. It's 10x20 so there's good room inside. If not your car make room in the garage by putting the bikes and the other thing in the portable.

 

Today we're in the icy weather, so tinkering happened.

I wanted to do a little "something", and mulled it over, but did a carbon inlay in the vent. I've got a little carbon pin striping tape that will really clean up the contour if need be. It looks much cleaner when the panel is vertical.

Got the grill part done too, I think it was the right call on the mesh.

 

I got it from SHELTER LOGIC. They have several choices and sizes including custom built.

 

I'm thinking about going down and starting it to charge the battery. It's been a while.

 

Well I started Checkers today. It coughed a little and tried not to start, but it started on the second try. I let it run a while to heat the oil & water to running temp. All's well.

 

Vacuumed out the interior of the R53 and the Countryman. Was going to wash the outside, but found out my hose nozzle is broken. Then it started to rain so they both still look like they've been offroading.

 

Thanks. It was the first MINI I bought since selling my classic in 1966. I love the car, although it's not an S, so I bought a new S in 2006, too, to keep the R50 company. Both cars have seen a lot of the Dragon.

 

Wow! That bright green isn't MY style, but the car is beautifully executed! Very nice work.

 

Just think of it as the granny smith apple of MINI's!

 

S

So was I. It always makes me feel like I'm back in my teen years. I need therapy.

 

I'm waiting to get the snows off my S and then having some work done on it before making my final decision on which car to drive to the Dragon with...the R50 or the R53? Power or a nice, but nimble mosey along car?

 

MINI drivers are feeling pretty couped up. It was great to get out and just go for a short drive together. I might organize a big circle drive around the Vancouver area one of these days if the restrictions drag on.

Will have to find some twisty roads to travel where everybody except MINIs have to slow down.

 

I ordered parts!! Various gaskets, rivets, and a motor mount! As my restoration continues, I am now contemplating something that isn't an easy decision. As you can see from my Avatar pic, I have the "U" bonnet stripe. It has lost all of it's gloss. I actually took the pressure washer to it yesterday to clean some of the stains off of it. However, the time has come for me to decide whether to replace it or not. Either way, the bonnet (hood) could use a repaint as it has a lot of rock chips from years of runs, dragons, and spirited driving I suspect that removing the stripe now will expose quite a fade line. Repainting the bonnet would remedy that, but then should I just go with no stripe and not have to worry about the vinyl fading years from now?