Changed out the shifter. What a pain. Had to drop the exhaust and all that. But I love it though! Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
PS lines, oil filter housing, and oil pan gasket leaks, for starters. Then, we have a busted front radiator support, as well as a need for both lower control arm bushing replacement. Also I'm thinking the damage my wife has done to the aero bumper over the years will probably lead to a replacement, as the cable ties holding it on won't last forever. Other than that, considering it IS a 2006 MCSa with just over 90k, it's a steal! Crap....and, I forgot to mention the SES and EML lights continuing to go on and off.
Depends........how much does a new car cost? How much are the payments? $4K isn't a lot compared to new......
True, but I DO have 2 other MINIs, and my wife and I are the only ones who drive, as my cockapoo juuuust cannot seem to reach the pedals, let alone see over the dashboard.
Sell it “as is” and someone will make a project car out of it. All those leaks are normal and are easy to fix. The rad support will need replacing and you can not get new Aero bumpers anymore. I tried and the best you can get is used ones to refurbish.
It's your call Jeff, but I feel that MINI has a lot of life left in it. Best of luck with your difficult decision. One thought about your wife giving up on driving, what happens if you can no longer drive?
Perish THAT thought. I plan to keep on driving til they have to pry my fingers off the steering wheel. This whole ordeal has been disappointing. When we bought this car in 2012, it only had 26k [now it has 90k] on it and we had planned on it to last the rest of our lives. I'm not interested in buying another car. Come Hell or high water, I'm sticking with what I have. My MCS has 50k more than her car does and the R50 is still plugging along at 81k although who really knows how long this newer CVT will last.
Re the CVT - we have two notable ones in our club, one is coming up on 200K, the other on 300K miles. Both have the fluid changed regularly at the dealer (so they use the correct fluid)
When I first bought my R50, it was used with only 2500 miles. It was my first MINI since the 1959 Morris Mini Minor I had while I was in high school. I had no idea back in 2003 that the cvt was a tranny that wouldn't take a lot of abuse, so I took it to two Phil Wicks Driving Schools, one in IN, at Putnam Park and the other in IL, at Autobahn Country Club. It seemed to do okay, so then I took it to the tail of the Dragon in 2004 and to 3 trips to MOTD before that poor cvt finally went belly up. I then replaced it with a remanufactured cvt and this time around will change the fluid regularly and take better care of the car. The mechanic I have in Columbus, OH, recommends every 30k and that's the plan, as the MINI dealer in dublin, OH, claims that the fluid is "permanent" [we KNOW that's a lie]. These days, I mostly drive the car to BCDs or Mini Meet East, although 2 years ago, it made yet another trip to MOTD [hopefully its last one there, but, you never know]....not a fast car, but certainly the most fun!
I'm going to get the front control arm bushings replaced, as well as the oil pan gasket and keep the engine oil and power steering fluid tanks filled. There are 3 or 4 other places here in town that may have the code scanner I need to address the EML and SES light problems, but the other stuff will have to wait for now.
Got a couple shots before the disassembly starts. October will be here before I know it, and then, the Greening begins.
Mine is the British Racing Green, with the white top. Wish the top was black. Might tackle that eventually. Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Silk Green was a one and done color. It came out in the Summer of '02 and was gone by November of the same year. My R50 Silk Green is a 9/02 build, with white accents, emerald interior, black dash and green/black leather seats. It has a Welsh Dragon sunroof cover and is the Welsh Mini.
The MINI kept me busy all afternoon. Rear brake pads (G-Loc GS-1) and plain coated Zimmerman rotors. Did the fronts a couple months ago, just getting around to the rears now. Koni Sports rear shocks (set to 3/4 turn- 270 degrees from full soft). Plan to do the fronts next weekend. Staying with stock springs all around to retain decent suspension travel and ground clearance. Boy, it’s hard to get that top nut on the Koni even with a spring compressor and pushing down hard on the top mount. The lock washer is thick and makes the nut want to cross thread. I got one on after many tries and put the other side on without the lock washer (very easy without it). Used loctite and a few extra foot lbs for good measure.
Couldn't wait until October, wanted to see the new LED's in, so there they are. I dig 'em if for the simple fact they have orange indicators and no chrome. Seat Covers came in, too. Will give those a test fit tomorrow, but I'm really pleased with the quality. Very well made, nice thick neoprene and I should have gotten covers ages ago. Installed the Blacked out LED 3rd brake light from Out Motoring, dead as a door-nail. Fortunately, that's a super easy thing to get into. got a sheet of coming next week so that I can make some lower rear bumper inserts/vents. https://www.etsy.com/listing/706412047/ccg-plastic-diamond-grill-mesh-sheet?ref=shop_home_active_13&frs=1 Monday, the battery box guard should be here from GTT, UK. I found these fins, pretty heavy ABS, very rigid, for which I think will work for fabricating a rear diffuser. I have some measurements to do, and fortunately, over the years, many folks have given it a go so I'll try to take the best parts from all of them, and make my own. hat bin is full of MINI stuff just waiting. Blackout grill is marked and ready to cut so I can get around the driving light mounts.