Since I no longer track my S and since my time at MOTD is getting shorter [age both ways...car AND driver will do that], what front and rear struts are recommended? I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks! I have been reading around, and saw them, but, since it's been years since I have had anything new like that...I was unsure. besides, there are so many KONI applications out there and I'm so mechanically braindead anyway that I would NEVER make the right decision without some outside help! So, again, THANKS!
Call Steven at eMINIparts & see what a set of oem struts & shocks cost. Yours lasted 100,000 miles. Bilstein also makes a decent strut. Tire Rack seems to have the best price on them.
Well, it is an old car. I keep thinking it's time for new struts on my car also. In previous cars, shocks or struts were replaced within 10 years of "normal" use and the R53 gen cars are at 15 years or older now. So it probably is time. Along with suspension bushings and anything else that moves. My alternator had just gone and I should have no complaints about it because I got 15 years and 260,000 kilometers out of it. Same with my second belt tensioner, and third top right engine mount. I had all that done and picked up my car just before the weekend. I must say, all the engine noises I was getting worried about might have been the alternator and the tensioner going. Because the engine runs a quiet and smooth as when it was new again. So along with suspension parts, other things we should prepare to replace.... Power steering hoses, valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, anything plastic that holds fluid in the engine bay, fuel filter and fuel pump (they are not really lifetime, but they do last pretty long). Thankfully, the first gen modern MINI are fairly easy to replace parts and electronics are not too overwhelming to get around.
Replaced the right headlight today and aimed it. It was an easy swap. New Osram Xenarc Night Breaker Laser D1S bulbs, too. I was going to swap my old headlight's xenon control module into the new headlight assembly, but low and behold the headlight part has been superceded and now only takes a module with an oval gasket instead of the old one with the square gasket. Any searches for the original headlight 63122754794 (right bi-xenon with white lens) brings up the newer part 63127270026, so you really can't get the old style one anymore anyway. I had to order a new module for another $200+, but they gave me free overnight shipping. I guess I can use the old module in the left headlight if that one ever fails. The new Osram bulbs are brighter (by at least 1/2 stop by light meter measuring the hot spot up close and about 5 feet away, and slightly bluer. There's a very faint blue coating on the bulb and I estimate the color is definitely slightly more than 4200K but also less than 5000K. Probably about 4500K. That's good in my book. While I had the old headlight out, I could see what was wrong with my right foglight which was loose in its mount and I was able to snap it back in securely. The original owner or his lackeys must have been heavy handed with replacing bulbs somewhere along the way for the headlight projector mount to break and the foglight to be partially out of its mount. Also drained the OCC, topped off the oil which was 1/3 qt low, and refilled the washer fluid. I'm glad the R55 holds more washer fluid than my R50 did. I was always filling that up.
The original Headlights went hazy yellow, so replaced them today. Easy job and happy with the result Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I haven't done anything with my MINI in at least a month, other than drive it and put gas in it. I think I've only put gas in it once. But, at least my MINI has spent its downtime in my garage, and not parked at DFW Airport, like almost all of December. That little turbocharged engine does enjoy those 32-degree mornings. CD
All that we've done with the family MINI is drive it to add more miles & coat it with salt. Tomorrow it's supposed to go up to 40 & rain. Guess I'll park it outside for a mother nature warsh. The GTI sits in the warm dry garage all clean & shiny.
Took mine about for a nice run and filled the tank with Shell 93 for the first time this year. Then I washed it when it was 33 degrees out. Today it was a nice warm 43 degrees out so I washed the wife’s car. Did not feel like 43 in the shade with the wind but hay the driveway did not freeze today while wash, rinse and drying.
Vacuumed out the inside, treated the leather parts with leather cleaner and treatment, Cleaned off the dash and console with interior cleaner, cleaned the windows, rain-x on the outside of the windshield. Q_tipped, the air vents and other plastic joint parts where there was dust/dirt. Silicon greased the door hinges. It was a dry warm +4C day outside yesterday. That was for my R53 and the Countryman .
I don't care if your mother did have you tested...she went to a quack that couldn't tell an OCD from a psychopath
Dave.O would be pleased to know my LXM grill badge (on the rear of the car) fell off or was taken yesterday. I have replaced it with a Motoring Alliance badge.