Took a nice hour drive up some backroads to the restaurant I am having my sister's bridal shower at. I'm actually drinking beer :eek6: The world might end today.
Big day for my MINI: a) a second oil change at a bit more than 7500 miles, pulled off with no trauma. I'd planned on replacing the Fumoto valve I'd installed at the 1200 mile change. But geez: it's just so convenient! Oil pan in place, push up a lever and rotate 90 degrees. No mess, no spilling, no used oil down your sleeve. So I didn't swap it for the magnetic plug as I'd planned...and I'll just continue to be a bit vigilant about straddling high-center gravel roads, castoff mufflers, and such. (Fumoto valve, a quick drain plug with a valve to turn, doesn't have to be removed. On the R56, the drain plug is in the bottom of the pan, so the valve sticks down 7/8", unfortunately). b) rotated wheels/tires, which let me also clean them back/front. Wow do these cars generate brake dust! c) enjoyed using my wheel hangers again, those small dowel-like devices that thread in place of one lug bolt on German cars to help guide the wheel off / on. Wish I'd had these through all the years of VWs and my 190E. Far easier to use these than to try to align the wheel bolt holes by taking a seat, then using your feet and arms to raise it just so to thread in the first bolt. Each bolt got a nice coat of anti-seize today on the way back in. d) then a nice wash/wax to clean up a week's worth of road dust / dirt. I found my first rock chip on the lower bumper, and my first road-tar deposits on the right door. I got a chance finally to use Prima Hydro on a wet car, and was pleased with the shine when dried. Easy and fast. Just some normal maintenance...and more bonding with my MINI!
Why? Because you are drinking a beer or because all the prepositional phrases of the universe will unite and destroy us all?
Be prepared for a rotation error shortly. More than likely during the first 4 or 5 miles at highway speed. Happens every time I rotate. Check the pressure just to make sure then reset and continue bonding. Only solution for brake dust is ceramics. I'm just a little to Scots to change them out yet just because while there is still good milage left on the OE pads.
Cleaned up the MINI and met up with a bunch of HRMINI, Tar Heel MINI, and DC Metro MINI folks and drove out to Cooper Vineyards for our annual MINI rally. About 68 MINIs total showed up. Awesome!
Thanks for the heads up on the rotation error; I wouldn't have expected to see that. I hear you on the pads...and my rationale is similar, I'm too much of a Midwesterner to change stuff before it's worn out. Although I'll make an exception for partially worn tires that get noisy: really hate that, out they go!