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

So today I had the snow boots put on Skooby. All ready for winter.

Discount Tire once again did a fine job. Once again they over tightened the lug bolts. When I got home I buzzed each one loose with my impact & torqued them to the proper spec.

 

Well finally got the new starter in and had the same results. Did a little more research, had a few more ideas to try and it turned out to be the grounding strap on the top engine mount. I had removed it to replace the belt tensioner and it seems I didn’t tighten it down after I put it on by hand. Live and learn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yes your MINI is old & won't bring a ton of money. That being said used car prices are at historic highs & you may get more now than you think. Tough choices.

I sold my MINI seven years ago. It wasn't an easy choice, but orthopedic doc said I had to stop kicking a clutch. My plan was to buy an R56, but after a test drive I really didn't care for that car. Ended up with a GTI & I'm very happy I bought it. Yes I missed my MINI for a bit, but life goes on. If I hanker to drive a MINI I'll take Lady Babs Skooby to the car warsh.

CD do what is best for you.....

 

Thanks for all the feedback on my MINI dilemma. I really do love that car. Maybe when Spring arrives, I will drive it more.

If I do decide to sell it, I will post it here first. I would like it to go to someone who will treat it right. I would hate to see it go to some teenager who will trash it, although there are very few people under the age of 40 who even know how to drive a stick.

CD

 

It’s a thought. At least this seems strait forward from what I am reading. From everything I have read with both lights out it’s pointing towards the reverse-backup switch on the tranny. Picked one up during lunch and will try installing tonight[emoji1696]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Glad to hear you got it in time. Many years ago and the only time I let the wife drive my car. She had a problem. With the mods I had done it was running to lean and blew a hole through the head so needless to say it cost a lot , but I learned to pay a little more attention and put a set of gauges (afr, oil pressure & temp water temp boost) so a could see what was going on. I've not had a problem since.

 

Close! It was the tube from the Jarvic 7 going to the water pump, it was leaking at the pump side. They did put in a new Jarvic 7 though, figure it's good insurance while they had the old one off anyways. Only down/upside to my shop only using OEM parts is the cost of those damn things. She's back on the road though, good as newish. And this was her 4th or 5th time on a flatbed... lol! Owned her since 34k, at 157k at the moment.

 

To each his own, but I think cars are made to in joy. Driving cleaning, polishing or just looking at them. If I had the money I would have a dozen of them. As far as the mini go's when I do drive it I go back to being a kid again. For that I expert to have a problem now and then. Nothing I can't handle.

 

That's the other problem. When I moved to Frisco 25 years ago, there were 8,000 people, and the country roads were minutes away. I could jump into the Miata, drop the top, and go play in the country any time I felt like it. Now, we have a population of 207,000, and those country roads are turning into subdivisions. Basically, where I live, driving the Audi Q5 around is a better experience than driving the MCS. If you are going to stop, go, stop, go, stop go (you get the picture), you may as well do it in a luxury car with an automatic and a Bang & Olufsen 5.1 surround audio system.

CD

 

After I replaced the HID bulbs in Skooby I noticed that the driver side headlight warsher was DOA. Rather than spend $98 on a new one I took a gamble & bought a used one for $39. Slapped it in & all is good. No more dry headlights. Not a bad job 20 minutes for this old fart. Think I need a nap now....

 

My bone doctor was able to make my left knew work better without pain -- or surgery. But, stop and go driving is still a pain, but in the a$$.

My MINI is fixed, and back home. I need to do a couple of simple things, then put it up for sale. I've been fighting those little voices telling me, "Maybe you should keep it, now that is all fixed." But, I just spent about 1/4 of the car's current value fixing it.

CD

 

Yup... Connects to a power washer....

I was amazed at how long the suds stuck to the car... I was able to wash the whole MINI without the soap running off the vehicle...

The foam cannon uses a ratio of 1 part soap to 5 parts water in the container.... Did the whole MINI and still had enough to do the P-car as well...

I think that because the foam sits on the paint for as long as it did, it helps to hydrate the dirt better and probably does a better job of not scratching the paint when I wipe it with the mit.

Can't provide any testing proof of this, but I'm happy with the final results....

 

Finally, the 14 day weather forecast is
favorable for changing from winter to
summer tires (plus 1 hole stiffer on the
rear sway bar and 1/4 turn stiffer on the
front Koni Yellows).
Did that this afternoon.
Will do my wife’s car next weekend.

 

I cleaned the engine bay. Still waiting for my bright work to come back from the polishers. Maybe next week. then it should be fun trying to put the intercooler back on. I got new boots and they are real sung. I'm getting to old for this.

 

It has been awhile, after the covid saga and owning the JCW clubby for 1.7 years, 2 years in July, if finally took the snow tires off. Not much wear with as I just turned over 2900 milds on the Clubby. As I said earlier, looking to change it out, but I do love the Clubby JCW, fast and fairly comfortable. Not sure I could enjoy a long, long to the coast trip from Colorado and I do not want two car payments at this fine age in retirement. We shall see. Might get it out on Sunday and go visit the AUDI dealer when no sales people are hanging on UPs.

Later, we got a great weekend going here in Colorado.

Don

 

Went to a MINI Club car show at Autobahn racetrack.

We usually get to take a few moderate speed lunchtime laps, but this year we werent allowed.
I was able to take a few laps in my car driven by an instructor and long time friend.

Not sure if the video link to my Flickr account will work, so I'll also include a still shot

link to video:
https://flic.kr/p/2nkADVF

 

I agree the the sound of the supercharger is intoxicating and just blends well with the R53.

 

These guys make a metal water pipe...

 

Today I went to open the MINI boot and I felt a small tear in the rubber boot handle switch cover.
Turns out on the R56 you need to buy the entire assembly (Item #5) and then have the cover painted... Just for the failed rubber switch cover.
On the first Gen, you could buy just the rubber piece....



Found a aftermarket cover over at Outmotoring... Order placed....

 

Took Checkers on a 300 mile drive today. Went to a cars & coffee that was a little different. They had all kind of cars from American classics, hot rods new and old imports and a little of everything else.