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

Picking up my car today.

 

Lmao! Sorry, no selling. My friend had Achilles tendon surgery 8 weeks ago. She has been cooped up well before the Pandemic! Changed out her Bridgestone Blizzaks for her all-season wheel/tires Hopefully her doctor will clear her to drive Monday. Her R56 S(N18) autox/track MINI is in the garage!

 

Organizing a MINI doughnut run to Krispy Kreme doughnuts drive through. The lock down does not allow restaurants to be open, but the drive thru takeout window is. So we're going to get a bunch of MINIs together and go through the line up. Any MINI driver in the Vancouver BC Canada area interested is welcome to join us on May 9 (next Saturday). The short drive will include Krispy Kreme doughnuts in North Delta, Ladner Village, BC Ferries terminal passenger pick up, the South Fraser Perimeter Highway and River Road. Other locations TBD.

Since we are social distancing, we will NOT be getting out of our cars for this event. It strictly a driving event. Speeding certificates at your own risk.

 

Oil change, summer tires back on and a wash.

 

Rufus came back from having 2 new tires mounted/balanced, new steering knuckles, ABS sensors and Hubs/bearings up front and a full corner-balance and alignment. He got a wash and vac... step #1 for some polishing and a few coats of ceramic to come over the next month or so.

 

I haven't driven the MINI since March 11, when I took the dog to the vet for a check up. It has been in the carport since then. I washed it the day I parked it. Today, I decided to clean the interior and saw that the outside had a thick layer of pollen on it, I went for a short drive to blow off the pollen and it didn't budge so I washed it.

 

New Valentine V1 G2 showed up today.

 

Don, this is my 3rd upgrade. I have the unit hard wired in my car with the remote head in front of my tach.
People that have never owned a V1 always trash it without ever using one. GPS is a radar detector makes in weaker ,but people read reviews and think they know everything.

I have run one of these for over 10 years and always get free software upgrades and when the hardware was the limitation Valentine always has 50% off discount to upgrade to the latest hardware.

 

I used to have a radar detector (not in my MINI). Until somebody smashed my side window and under my bumper and ripped it off. There were witnesses that saw who did it, but the police did nothing (of course).

Since then, I have not had a radar detector. I just drive reasonably safely for conditions. I have only had one velocity certificate the last 10 years, and it wasn't me driving.

 

Today I got a new R53 to detail this week. Pictures will come in a few days.

 

Waiting for the DriveShaft Shop to finish my custom axles for the R50, just picked up new polyurethane sway bar bushings and low speed fan resistor from Summit Racing Equipment. Figured while I was installing the new warrantied Koni Yellows and axles, let refresh bushings too! Hoping axles will be here soon, the passenger cv joint is really squalking now! Lol

 

Put new sparkplugs in the 02 Mini, Gave it a good wash and wax before the heat today.

Replaced the side mirror rubbers on the 05 and about to do the plugs on it also.

 

One can only wear the crown for so long.

 

I can't depose him, having picked up my new addiction to Gyeon products from him. I was a Zaino guy for years but a bunch of my Zaino product ran out or expired around the same time last year, so I decided to make the switch on Dave's recommendation.

 

About a year ago I took my 10 year-old Volvo into a mechanic to work on (AC issue). He opened the hood, looked in at the engine bay that was much in the same shape as this and said "Ahhhh... this is going to be so nice to work on! Thank you so much for keeping the engine bay clean! It's so much easier to see what's wrong when you can actually SEE the engine!" I'd imagine that leaks / issues of all sorts are much easier to find when things were clean before the problem started. That Volvo, in particular, has all sorts of nooks and crannies that collect leaves and dirt. I'd be surprised if most of 'em didn't have rust issues where that crap likes to build up. I don't even go crazy on the Volvo... just a once a year spray w/ engine cleaner, agitate the really dirty bits with a brush and gentle hose-down.

 

The intake hose split on the ‘05. I ordered a silicone replacement from Detroit Tuned and it arrived today.

325D2040-887B-4BAF-9886-A12DD30280A9 by Skidmarks posted Jun 20, 2020 at 8:22 PM

 

It was gas the 2011 MINI and do a brushless wash for the dust and bits, then I brought the 11 home, did a hand wash with Adam's Waterless wash to finish the wash, then I figured oh hell why not, so I did a full Adam's detailing shine on top. Should be good for another month of covid sitting. Sure need to clean the inside, this is DOG car (Golden Retriever walks in the park), so a bit hairy but it is my wife's car too.

Guess I will get out the hair bricks and the vacuum since I am allergic to all that hair puffing around.

Take care folks, CV is on the rise again.

Don

 

I took a nice ride on I-95 to Delaware to run an errand. The way down was nice 6 lanes wide and everyone was doing 95. The way home it was a little busy with Shore traffic but just as fun.

 

I drove my MINI to town to get my first haircut this year. I was pretty shaggy.