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My MCSa has ants somewhere in the car. I can't figure it out. Don't have an ant problem at my house. The car is garaged. The only thing I can think of is that my kids High School has ants and my son drives the car to school once in a while. Why would they want to be in a car? Are they fans of the 2nd generation Mini? My neighbor said to spray ant spray on paper towels and leave over night inside the car. Any other ideas?
I would definitely spray Raid or its equivalent around and on each tire. Somewhere along the line they have to go into the soil, and this will disrupt them. If you do find the nest, try Amdro. Kills the queen as well as her minions.
Another thought--should work, depending on how sealed the MINI is. Go to the grocery store and get a "No Pest Strip." It's a bar about 6" long, containing Vapona insecticide--costs about 6 bucks. Package is turquoise blue and white, I think--in my store they keep them on the top shelf so you don't see them when you're looking for insecticides. Anyway, I would leave it a day or two in the closed up car. There's not much of a smell. Should work for whatever ails ya! I use them on my pantry, parrot's birdseed and my extensive collection of unmounted butterflies and moths (I mount them for a living), and I change out about every 4 months.
BTW, are they fire ants? Hope not! Difficult to drive when you're getting eaten up alive. Lets you know why they're named that. We have our yard heavily Amdro'd because of them, here in Texas.
__________________ Zippeee! is an '07 MCS, 6-spd, CR/W with Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather packages, LSD, Automatic Windshield Wipers, arm rest, Fluid Silver colorline, and Union Jack mirror covers. Week 3 build, delivered 2/21/07, one of the first R56s in the U.S. Currently at 79,000+ trouble-free miles, and I'm still smiling. (That's a heap o' fun motoring, too--I work out of my home and never commute!)
I suggest a ski trip where the car is allowed to sit in freezing weather at high altitudes for a little bit. The bug strips and sprays aren't a bad idea but then you may have the problem of fumes.
The bug strips and sprays aren't a bad idea but then you may have the problem of fumes.
I wouldn't worry about fumes on the No Pest Strips--my food, and the parrot's (she's 21 years old) have always been exposed to it, and we used them in the bird shop I owned for 10 years.
At any rate, just a couple of days should do it.
__________________ Zippeee! is an '07 MCS, 6-spd, CR/W with Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather packages, LSD, Automatic Windshield Wipers, arm rest, Fluid Silver colorline, and Union Jack mirror covers. Week 3 build, delivered 2/21/07, one of the first R56s in the U.S. Currently at 79,000+ trouble-free miles, and I'm still smiling. (That's a heap o' fun motoring, too--I work out of my home and never commute!)
No ants...but i had a big'ol'spider hiding in my car for a night, and when i came out in the morning there were web strings all over the place. Damn thing crawled all over the interior. I must have picked him up at a soccer game or something. You may have picked the ants up the same way. Did you transport anything that might have been expoesd to them?
__________________ Happiness is an open road and a full tank of gas...HB Club #133 MMC #522
Mini Cooper 2005Black w/Union Jack Top, Chrome Exterior Pkg, Leather, NAV, 17" S-Lites, Chrome side grill, I-pod Adapter, Chrome Trim Rings, Winter PKG, MCS Bonnet, MCS Front Bumper, Carbon Fiber Scoop, black grill, "S" spoiler, Euro arm rest
Might not be a food source in the car. They could just be using it for their home.
I had ants in my Nissan. They had a nests just in front of both front doors. Down low inside the fender. Literally 10,000 ants between the two sides. Dirt had collected in that spot and once the ants found it to be nice and warm they moved in.
Is there any chance they will offer carbon fiber JCW ants in the future?
__________________ Disclaimer: No claim is made that the quality of the MINI-related advice offered by Yucca Patrol
is greater than the quality of MINI-related advice offered by other NAM members.
I had ants in the rocker panels of my truck once. I just sprayed Raid all over the holes they were crawling in and out of. That took care of them.
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2007 MINI Cooper S, all metal parts painted, steering wheel, rubber tires, sideways mounted motor, Italian leather racing shoes, diminutive stature.
__________________ Babaganoosh:2007 MCS Lightning Blue|White roof w/ Union Jack |Cold Weather|Sport Pkg|17" Web spoked wheels|Performance Run Flats|LSD|PDC |Comfort Access|Xenons| Rear Fogs|Punch Carbon Leather|Dk gray color line
Ordered: 07/20 | Born 07/28 | Shipped 07/30| Delivered 09/01||JCW Tuning kit Aug 2009|
Okay I couldn't take it anymore. Just rolled my windows down and lit 2 smoke bombs for ants in the garage. If this dosn't work I will consult a professional if there is such a thing for ant investation in a mini.
I had my lunch in a soft sided cooler...sitting on the floor behind the driver seat.
Jumped in my car, off I went. Happen to glance down and see thousands of ants between the front seats, eating up my lunch! All of sudden I felt all itchy seeing them.
Last weekend it rained 4 inches... and a colony of 'piss' ants decided my Mini was higher ground. They were coming out from under the hood. Needless to say, the 4.5 hr drive home was a sporting event. ha. I'll try the No Pest Strip to get the remaining few. The Mini isnt really sealed tight... I see them coming out from under the rubber seal on the doors (the same place that collects water after a good wash).
__________________ Skaboo!
MiniMusician
(Miranda) 2006 R50 MC BRG/BRG
w/ guitar in back
I believe I've found a German ant and another British ant somewhere crawling around the roof liner at once shortly after picking up the MINI... But I could have been seeing things...
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justaCooper | manual | PW/B | debadged | straightpiped | jcw grill | ddmworks cai | conceived in mother UK on the sixth day of the fifth month, 2008 - born on the 16th day - immigration papers signed on the 19th - boarded a ship on the 21st - slept a night in panama on the second day of the sixth month - entered the west coast of the u.s.a., port hueneme, california, on the 11th of june the very same year.
This has to be the most ridiculous thread in the history of NAM.
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2008 PW/B Clubman S, Black Sports Stripes, Premium/Convenience Pkgs, Interior Chrome, Piano Black/Cream Trimline, Center Armrest, Garmin 760 w/ MINI Logo, FrontGuard Clear Bra, Chrome Bonnet Scoop. Ordered May 26, 2008, Delivered June 20, 2008 (25 days!) Go MINI of Annapolis!
Official Pepper White Clubman Owner's Club, Member #002; Member (Survivor), The Infamous "Week 23 Support Group" Thread!
This has to be the most ridiculous thread in the history of NAM.
Absolutely Not-At-All!!!
I would consider an Ant Colony in my car to be a major issue. A Beehive might be worse.
I prefer to try one of those 'bait' type controls (where they carry it back to their home and feed their Queen), but beyond Amdro for Fire Ant Mounds, have had little success.
By far the best 'killer' I have used is Suspend SC and the local Lesco Service Center sells enough to mix 15-30 gallons for $29.95.
One to Two Fl. OZ per gallon of pure water and it has absolutely no smell or stain, I just use a one gallon pump pressure sprayer and go once around outside of house. For an infestation problem, a small amount sprayed in the area provides an excellent cure.
__________________ 28April2008, 'Trixy' Cooper Automatic+Sunroof+AutoAir+HiFi+CruiseControl+15" Rotator Six Spoke
Mods: European Center Armrest+Wet Okole w/Lumbars over 4" Memory Foam(see Gallery)+XM-Radio+ScanGauge II
I found a spider in my MINI a few days after it was delivered. I think it came with the car. We relocated it to the front yard where I expect it has been searching for a compatible mate.
OMG! Not the dreaded Oxford MINI eating ants! Dude. You are doomed.
__________________ ---------------------------------- High Atop Mt. Tabor -- Portland, ORUSA
Laser Blue MCS, Black Bonnet Stripes, LSD, DSC, Alta Rear Sway Bar, HiFi
One time right after I got out of my MINI, I saw the strangest light blue crustacean-like insect crawling on the bonnet. I wish I had had my camera with me at the time. I kind of hope it's living somewhere inside of my car so I can see it again.
Lets you know why they're named that. We have our yard heavily Amdro'd because of them, here in Texas.
Zippeee! is an '07 MCS, 6-spd, CR/W with Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather packages, LSD, Automatic Windshield Wipers, arm rest, Fluid Silver colorline, and Union Jack mirror covers. Week 3 build, delivered 2/21/07, one of the first R56s in the U.S. Currently at 79,000+ trouble-free miles, and I'm still smiling. (That's a heap o' fun motoring, too--I work out of my home and never commute!)
[Guinness--- Its A Mans Drink ]
FP
Skaboo!
28April2008, 'Trixy' Cooper Automatic+Sunroof+AutoAir+HiFi+CruiseControl+15" Rotator Six Spoke
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'06 CR/W MCa
Cristo .... and his trusty BRG/BRG MC Bliksem 
