I had some errands to run on Sunday and it was a beautiful, sunny day, so I got Rufus out of the garage. I made my 2-3 stops and then blasted down the highway for 10 miles or so. There had been a slight stumble when I first started the car up, but it smoothed out 75% of the way by the time I made it to my first stop and resolved itself 100% after the highway jaunt. The car is tight, sprightly and DONE!
Even better... the check-engine light turned itself off! (I think I had a bad tank of gas on my last fill-up and I filled up the tank just before putting the car away a few months back).
I'm not sure, but my car is never really done. There is always something to do like service or upgrade. It's an on going project.
After 2 weeks of sitting I took the Clubby to Lowe's and then HomeDepot for a local jaunt, it enjoyed the short but sport mode jaunt. FYI, EGO products and not being offered at HD anymore, HD at Lowe's local is a joke, so AMAZON to the rescue for a new blade for the summer. I think I will let the blade guy at a local farmers market sharpen and balance my two old blades if he can. . EGO branded blades at the big A or on a 1 to 2 month order cycle back-ordered. A local reseller can get me one via AMAZON by Friday, my lawn with be forest high by then. Putting the best old blade on I guess. Yes, this was whine, not wine. Time to go wash the Clubby and hit a local hardware store. Enjoy your week.
(Yesterday) washed car, replaced front MINI badge that had faded completely to chrome, and drove on ramps to wipe some oil off the bottom of the engine from a previous leaking valve cover gasket and snugged up the 16 oil pan bolts. Hopefully the oil won’t return, but if it does, I stand a better chance at identifying a source.
Saturday night I ordered some parts from Outmotoring for my wife's R57. Talked to Aaron this morning to make sure I ordered the correct parts and got an email they will be here tomorrow. Thanks Aaron and Outmotoring!
Glued the passenger side of the rear sunroof perforated roller shade back to the middle 1/8 inch of its thin metal strip 1/2 inch at a time. Only had to take the rear glass off to do it, but otherwise the same job as post 11 of this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/how-to/292952-how-to-replace-front-sunshade-sunscreen-r56-cooper-s.html#post4121501 $250 less than replacing the cartridge, and it works pretty much like new. Hopefully the glue will hold up.
I got Rufus out for a good hour or two drive on Saturday. I was able to hop in and just drive (no battery issues, etc). It was a beautiful day, so afterwards he got a light dusting, an interior clean-up (a bit of dust accumulation) and a vac. He's snug under his cover again!
Went to start up my MINI this morning and it did not start. The starter motor clicked, but didn't turn. Looks like the battery died overnight. In the last 16 years, I have replaced the battery twice. This one has taken some abuse as the alternator failed about 4 years ago and I ran the car on battery until the battery ran out. So it was a matter of time. Anybody recommend a battery other than a MINI battery from the dealer parts department?
Not sure what you can get in Canada, but I'd recommend an AGM battery. They will take a lot of abuse. Is the border still closed? If not run down to Bellingham & hit a parts store. NAPA or O'Reilly should have what you need. Change it out in the lot & head back north.
Put on rear WMW rear end links. I had these on my previous MINI, too. Same as Detroit Tuning and the old TSW ones. Rubber boot enclosed ends and steel construction. Should last forever and won’t get dirty, noisy or seize up like a lot of them do (as my old Webb ones did). I don’t have coil overs or lowering springs, and I know the stock ones are strong enough for even the 25.5mm rear hollow bar I have, but I wanted them anyway. Only tricky part is tightening up the adjusting bolts and keeping the angle of the ends aligned at the same time.
Today, I took my MINI out on a shakedown cruise. The report: NO CODES, NO LEAKS, NO OVERHEATING! I believe all was successful. After getting all the intake related parts to address the P1498 back on, I replaced the A/C compressor clutch and installed a new aftermarket radiator from CSF. It has been fun but I'm glad to have this phase of restoration complete and it all put back together.
Pulled it out of the garage and gave it a wash. Now all I need is to clean the engine compartment and that takes a while maybe next week.
Unfortunately, yes. The border is still closed. I was not able to do the Maryhill run with my PSMINI friends.
It is AWD. So far, inital impressions are great. It's no JCW in the performance department, but it's plenty peppy for my daily/grocery-go-getter. It's feature rich, even more so than our Crosstrek. Styling, I really like it. Can't wait for my wheels and tires to get here, as I rally dislike the wheels, but that's about it. SUPER comfy. Seats are well bolstered, and while I wish they offered Leather in the N Line, these again are fine for what I'm doing. As I get into the nuts and bolts, I'll keep you posted!
