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

Hey VV, your weather situation was certainly worse than mine, but at least neither one of us lives (lived?) in Mexico Beach, Florida.

CD

 

Also that bike has a HUGE sunroof.

 

You know it chrips because the battery is low right? If you replace the battery the wrong way it will still chirp. If you put in a low charge battery it will still chirp. If you remove the battery and still leave it hard wired it’s still going to chirp.

If you disconnect it completely , remove the battery and set it down until morning it would not have chirped anymore. .... have fun buying a new one.

 

Ummmm that would absolutely fail an electrical/ fire code inspection, but I completely understand why you do it.

 

Code here requires a smoke alarm inside every bedroom, and one outside every bedroom door. They don't put them in or near kitchens, for the reasons you mentioned already.

CD

 

I started the car this morning, and I heard a squeaking sound. Once warmed up, the sound goes away. I looked inside and think it is coming out of the idler pulley on the belt tensioner. The belt looks good. With the cooler and damper overnight weather here, I suspect moisture has gotten into the bearing. Time for a new tensioner? This is my second one. They seem to be lasting around 7 or 8 years.

 

Moi aussi

 

As a building inspector I can assure you we all would have seen this little mod.........

And I always suggest getting the CO/smoke combo's.

 

So how much is that going to cost you?

 

I called Best Auto Werks in Columbus as it is closer than Detroit; however, the person I talked to quoted me a very high price and when asked how they changed fluids, he didn't seem to know anything about the procedure. When I told him that I had an R52 S he said I had a CVT transmission. Didn't inspire much confidence.

 

I ran a few errands in my dry, but dirty MINI. No wash, today. Another inch or two coming tomorrow. I need to install those new blades.

Dave.0, the Bosch ICON blades were on sale for a good price, and here in North Texas, they dry out before they get used up.

CD

 

I need a TX inspection, and a new registration. 25 bucks for the Inspection, and about 60 bucks for the registration. We don't get an inspection sticker here, anymore. They alert the State so we can get the registration renewed. One sticker in the windshield.

But, they can't do a State inspection in the rain, because the brake test has to be done on dry ground. We've had about five partial days of that all month.

CD

 

Many failed Pa cars end up being sold in Ohio. We have no state inspections. I few counties have emission testing, but that's it.

 

Texas inspection is done by independent garages, but any garages that wants to do inspections have to do them on ANY cars, so the Ferrari dealer has to inspect a beat down '76 Monte Carlo... or not do inspections. They don't do inspections, although they will get it done for Ferrari owners somewhere else, as a courtesy.

My MINI dealer does them and they are no big deal. On newer cars, they plug into the OBD2 port for emissions. Nothing goes on a lift. You do have to have safe tread on the tires, and all the lights have to work, but only pre-OBD cars have to go on the dyno with the sensor up the tailpipe.

The brake test is done in a section of parking lot with painted marks. Pretty elementary, but that's Texas.

The state registration on my MINI is 63 bucks. On a super-duty pickup, the price is lower, as it is considered a "commercial vehicle," whether or not it is used commercially. They call it the "Hummer discount," or something like that. Texans are proud of their carbon footprints. Some will spend 500-bucks a month on fuel just to piss-off a liberal. My feeling is, "Go ahead and shoot yourself in the foot, if it makes you feel good."

CD

 

Oops....something broke on the Countryman. Wife hit a curb and the Flat tire light came on immediately, even though the tires are not flat. Also, a loud grinding noise on the front. Tow truck guy thinks she broke an axle. From the description, it sounds more like a broken CV joint on the axle...so an axle. It got towed (Flat decked) to the dealer service center.

I will drop by later to have a look.

MINI dealer says they will try and get it through as a warranty claim. But since the wife hit a curb, it might be an insurance claim. Of which we bought new car replacement insurance. Hitting a curb should not break an axle on an SUV so hopefully, the warranty sticks.

Ugh...

 

Good luck, I hope it isn't that bad. The wheel speed / ABS sensor probably is damaged causing the flat tire nanny to shine her light.

 

I just went down and took a look. It looks like a transmission mount broke and the engine is sitting on top of the drive shaft. The shock tower looks like it hit the hood or something. Can't really tell there is any damage looking at it, but the engine does look to be sitting lower than it should be.

 

That must have been one hellacious curb. Hope the repairs go quick and smoothly.