What did you do with your MINI today?

I am not a big fan of RENEW, some people like it but not me. I use a lot of Gyeon and Kamikaze ceramic coatings when I detail cars so I always have small amounts left over. Both of the lines make a ceramic trim product that work great and lasts for years. I tend to coat the trim with the same high quality coatings I use on the paint so they both have the same lasting characteristics. (Years not months)

These products can all be found by clicking on the Esoteric link in my signature.

 

Sweet wife, our Golden in the back and I logged 180 miles today doing a little fall leaf peeping in the Colorado Rockies, once I get the pictures off the camera I will post a link to some of the better, I enjoyed the drive, my wife enjoyed my camera and getting some nice shots. This was in the 2011, I think my PL feels a bit neglected but we try to keep the White Golden enjoying only one of the MINIs.

Have a great week. Don

 

Replaced the #2 (downstream) O2 sensor.
Kept getting a pending code for the
heater circuit every several weeks
despite normal resistance of 6 ohms
and less than 40K miles.
It never lit the CEL, though.
Will keep scanning every once in a
while and see if the new one solves that.
Also put my rear shock stone chip guards
back on. The fasteners that secure them
broke and don’t seem to be available
separately, and the stupid little guards
cost over $50 each, so I modified some
other fasteners so that they would work.

This one works if you use a paring knife to
bevel off the square corners of the shaft
a little bit.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/securing-clip-priced-each/51711496621/

 

The last time mine was making a noise like that, it turned out to be a loosed end link on the RSB. Found it when I was upgrading from a NM 22mm to an NM 25mm and new end links. Didn't develop the slack until the suspension was unloaded.

 

I finally got my wife's S back from a mechanic who knows what he is doing and who had a code reader that actually located the problems the warning lights were showing. $875 for new supercharger boots and new lower radiator clamps [one of which was broken and the other was barely hanging on]...labor and tax included. I took it out for a ride of about 30 miles today and it runs perfectly, with no more warning lights! I also aired up her tires which had not had air for the last 2 months in the shops while I was searching for someone who knows what he is doing. Looks like I have a new mechanic, too, as it is the first time the labor was less than the parts!

Her S was down since August first.

 

Glad everything worked out ok Jeff.

 

Thanks, Dave...with any luck, I may make a return to MOTD next Spring!

 

Had my oil changed by the Greatest Mechanic "Chris" at El Paso Dealership. Every 5K. Rear brakes at 5mm, soon needing change. Front at 8mm. 27.5K. Wonder if it normal considering I rarely use brakes. They also don't care a bit about leaving the NM power module, never have and if need to be will remove it and put it back himself. Now back up the mountains for my favorite roads with fresh oil!

Stay well, Ara

 

The spec for heater resistance read on my
scan tool is now about 1/5 - 1/10 what it
was with the old O2 sensor (even though
resistance on multimeter at room temp
was the same as the old one).
Looks like the problem is solved.

 

If you are not running your car really hard you should look into non OEM pads like Ankebono Euro ceramic pads. (Very low dust)

 

Ah! Thanks for sharing that. I run it very hard, mountain twisties only, but hardly use brakes. Old habit! So that would be beneficial. Yes! I can't stand the dust but I can't bring myself spending for new Wheels just for that reason even if I could end up with less unsprang weight.

While you are here [!] does Penetrol damages the paint? I am being very careful and "if" wiping it very quickly.

Thanks again.

Stay well, Ara

 

Messed up on the quoting! Reply above. Thanks.

Stay well, Ara

 

Penetrol should only be used on clean dry ”silicone free” black plastic trim. If you get a little on the paint you should wipe it off ASAP before it dries.

 

That is what I thought Dave.O as when drying builds obviously a clear layer.

No problem... as sitting on the stool with Q Tip in hand [and rubber gloves] doing the grills! Looks really nice and will see how long it lasts... Long time I hope! Too tedious for me.

Thanks one more time... Always.


Ara

 

Oh it will look good for a long time as long as you car does not see road salt like the NE or Rust belt.

 

Good to know. I won't use it on the Jeep! I live at 4000 feet and drive up 9400 feet 90 % of the time. Silly me, I don't drive the JCW in the winter. That's when I always feel like selling it but I can't!

Stay well, Ara

 

How do like the little Renegade? To me it looks like a fun little ride. I'd like a car that is unpaved road friendly. My one worry is how long it would go before its Italian heritage would show up & remove the fun. Have you had yours long, how many miles?

Thanks

 

Well, I like it a lot. 45K with "Go Pedal" [Jeep power module], "Auto Flash" [transmission module] and full Ragazon dual quad tip exhaust with Cold Air Intake. Very good power and quick gear changes. Have a great Jeep mechanic in Ruidoso. The only hick up was the coolant reservoir leak which was changed and some kind of radiator fan replacement which was a recall. It is the "Trailhawk" model with an extra inch clearance and rear locker. Electronic lockers which work great even though there was a lot of backlash about it. As usual as most love to bitch about everything. I went through uphill, not intentionally [!!!] 2~3 feet of snow last winter and amazingly she made it with no problem which honestly shocked me! I was at the point of no return on a Forest Rd were the gate was left open and with that much snow I could not make a U turn. So far so good... It is a 2017. I don't like the ride of the Wrangler and especially the door hinges which are clothe and will chop your foot either on the exit or the entrance when parked on an incline!!! Really annoying... Love those $50,000 Jeeps which are kept 6 inches lifted with all the gizmos and have never seen even a Forest Rd! Many of those around here...
[sarcasm!!!]

*** Nice rock chip in the windshield just when I dropped my windshield insurance. $580 + Tax! Can you believe it? I always wondered were the wipers sensors were. They are in the windshield! Which is also soundproof! I wonder how much a JCW windshield would be...

 

Thanks for giving me your experience with the Renegade. Sounds like a pretty nice back road cruiser.