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

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I completed the Aston Sunday and got my MINI back in the garage. I still have to align my new bi-xenon HiD lights. I did sell and ship my old OEM set today.

 

Believe me...I know the feeling. While certain activities get harder and some impossible (wrenching), other activities get easier. Relaxing and enjoying the drive...time spent relaxing with friends...and just looking around and smelling the roses. Keep involved, keep going forward and learn to enjoy life more. It works if you let it....

 

Hit 230,000 miles. Did an oil change on it yesterday too.

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Drove home from work behind sub-10mph
pickup trucks driving at 45 degree angles
most of the time.
I had absolutely no trouble with full tread
new winter tires.

 

I drive 2 of our 3 MINIs year around, inclement weather or not. The R50 is a mostly 3-season car as it doesn't have snows, but it still is driven in Winter when the roads are okay, as in not icy or clogged with snow. Cold weather doesn't bother it at all

 

I don't even drive mine in the rain.

 

....and the hits keep on coming. Just realized I crossed another mileage milestone this morning. I've never had a car with this much mileage on it before so I'm in uncharted reliability territory here. Yet it's still pulling strong.

 

Got her back from the shop on Saturday, good as new.

 

So the verdict on Bitsy was some oil pressure control solenoid and the corresponding wiring which required something being soldered to the DME and some re-pinning. The solenoid setup sits in the oil pan and the wires from the unit run out the block and apparently they fill up with oil causing issues eventually. The car did have the "updated" version previously installed, so this is her 3rd. The boys at Bavarian did an awesome job. Figure I jacked something up replacing all those gaskets and oil lines. Twas quite the job, and kinda glad I didn't mess it up worse

 

Yesterday I washed my car and put in back in the garage. I am starting to detail for the 'Cavalcade of Customs' in January. Still, have to install Reddline pedals, diamond plate floor mats and trunk pad, clean up the gauge wiring, install puddle lights, put in an accessory circuit Which will be independent of the stock harness, install 'red' neon light under the hood, change the upper radiator hoses, and a few other things. At least it will keep me off the streets...

 

Went to the QCC (Queen City Coopers) Christmas party. A Blast. I got a Harbor Freight socket set...which I am re-gifting at the British Car club Christmas party tonight. Drove my MINI and it runs SOOOO much better in the cold weather I am thinking about getting a Meth kit for the cooling the rest of the year.

 

I replaced the stock hologen high beams with H7 LED’s.

Yes everything fits in the housing easy and it still seals without any issues .

https://gtrlighting.com/gtr-lighting-ultra-series-led-headlight-bulbs-h7-3rd-generation/

 

I took my car to the dealer today. Thanks to sitting in a garage in Key Largo, I need a valve cover gasket, a thermostat, and a power steering hose. That's what happens to rubber products sitting in heat and humidity. If it's made out of plastic or rubber, I will probably have to replace it. At least I get a discount at the dealer and they are installing my red upper radiator hoses also.

 

It was unusual circumstances that caused me to have the dealer do the head work. Normally I would have my regular mechanic or myself do it. They did a complete rebuild replacing all valves, etc. I'm 90% certain something was overlooked. I don't believe a valve just burns up for nothing. It was done, then 1000 miles later, it happened again, then 10K until this failure. I treated this car like I was going to keep it forever as I do all of my things. I'm going to cut my losses and get out. Most likely will try to sell it as is. I'm sure there is an enthusiast who can take on fixing it and have a great car, I just can't spend the cash.

 

While waiting for 3 weeks for a part to come in for the Countryman, the local MINI dealer gave us a 2019 Cooper to drive, then I guess they sold it so they called me and swapped it out for a new Cooper S. I'll do a comparison review on another thread but here are pictures. Everybody knows red is faster so they balanced it out by making it a Cooper instead of a Cooper S.

BTW...yah...the engine mount part that the wife broke had to come from Germany and it took almost a month to get here.

 

Took my car out yesterday to run errands for my wife without her in the car. Fun times

 

Yesterday:

Drove it for the first time in 2.5 weeks... then gave it the oil change it's been needing. Then took it for nice little run up to some @$$#0L3'$ place (because his wife is a Saint, and knows how to cook like no other) to meet up with some friends.

Today:

Run to the BJs wholesale club to stock up for the New Year's Day feast of Pork & Sauerkraut.