Week 31 (7/26-8/1/2009) Support Group

[Miniac81]

Hello!

How's your clubman going? I'm having a blast driving the mini around, and have just hit the 2000 mile mark. Do you know when the first oil change should be done?

Happy motoring!

[R55|4|M]

It's been alot of fun and very versitle. I have made several runs to Sam's and hauled the family around too! On the oil, MINI recommends the first change at 15,000, and every 10,000 thereafter, but there are a wide variety of opinions on the subject. Basically, you'll be out of pocket if you want it done more frequently.

[R55|4|M]

It has been just over a year since we started motoring. Happy Anniversary! I hope you have been enjoying your MINI (did you ever come up with a name?) as much as I have.

Unfortunately, I put over 16,000 miles on Monte in year one, but at least they were all fun to drive. I am in the process of moving to a new position at work which will not have me out on the road as often, so I am counting on my annual miles coming down this year.

Did you get to participate in MINI Takes the States or any other events? I had planned to go on the rally to Atlanta, Knoxville, Indianapolis (and take the lap around Indy) and St. Louis, but I had to cancel the night before I was to leave due to the infamous 'circumstances beyond my control.' Hopefully, I will get a chance to go in 2012.

As is often the case with MINIs, I have had a couple of mechanical issues this year. I was victimized by the high pressure fuel pump problem at about 4000 miles. It is good to see that MINI realized they have a faulty part and extended the warranty to cover future failures. I also had the module that controls my HD and satellite radio fail and it took a couple of days for them to find the problem. All in all, not too bad a track record for a full year. I just hit my first service interval, so Monte will be going in to get an oil change, another tire rotation and some new wiper blades in the next week or so.

I hope all has been well with you and your MINI and heres to another great year of motoring!

Carry On,

M

[Ron Avery]

4,600 miles and all is well, I have not had my JCW for a year yet. It has been around 10 months. I get around 24 MPG in town and around 34MPG highway.
The only problem is once and a while when I start the car after it has been driven,and release the parking brake. I get a yellow Brake light not the red one with brake on. It is the same light but yellow in color. I have check the fluid, it is fine. If I restart the car the light goes out. I called the dealer and Mini USA and they have no idea what it could be. It has only done it about 4. tines. So I will wait for my first service.
Ron

[Miniac81]

Greetings! Happy 1 year! I spent the anniversary date, September 4th, giving Minibear a good scrub. She now has 14,500+/- miles on her. (The Minibear name stuck, it's so girly I know.)

I did not participate in Mini Takes the States, but I did do a roadtrip of my own this past summer. My boyfriend and I spent 4th of July weekend driving from San Diego up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Monterey, Napa, and back down. It was amazing! Such a great curvy drive, she's totally broken in now. That was a 1,100 mile trip.

I, too, fell victim to the fuel pump issue right around the 5k mark. When I took her in, nothing seemed to be the problem, even though I insisted that she wasn't starting properly when I would turn on the car. So, at first, I thought it was a starter issue, and when I took her in for the second time, sure enough, it was the fuel pump. They replaced the fuel pump free of charge and I had my tires rotated (for $30) around that time--which reminds me, I'm due to get those rotated again. The only other issue that has arisen is that my low tire warning light has turned on twice. I learned to reset that warning (directions are in the manual). I had a Mini Cooper non-S/automatic rental for the week--and I was so relieved to get my Minibear back--serious separation issues!

I'm due for the first oil change in about 1,300 miles. When I got that fuel pump replaced the dealer mentioned getting a 15k fuel induction service. It's about $240. Do you know anything about that? I'm not sure whether it's something that's really necessary.

I'm so glad you updated me on your cars! Keep motoring on!