I hope so... that would be fun!

I'm thinking we might do the points 32 to 40 on the way down to see the kids in Sacramento beforehand and then meet up with them at the start of the trip and break off at 30 to come home.

So then you could follow us up - take off a month or two, fish in our river and have your fill of house/land projects!

 

Mini2na...I was, but you are right they are a bit out of mine/most anybody's price range at the moment especially for an emergency situation like this. I will have to figure out something else, AutoSocks or Fly. I will be checking with Ann @ Rasmussen tomorrow to see what she might suggest.

 

Ann is the BEST! From lots that I've heard in these Forums, we have one of the best dealers in the country.

 

Wow! It took me 20 minutes just to catch up with you all!
1. I cannot keep up with the detailing queen. MF towels (Target) Black Wow, Mac Guires ultra quick detailer and Stoner's Invisible Glass is it! For now.

2. Sybil? How did the GPS device get that name??? When I borrow my husband's, I either shift the accent to an Australian one (Ya haeve rayched the cah pahk. Turn rayght.) or listen to a weird language (Norwegian, Afrikaans, Hungarian) just for laughs if I already know what I'm doing. I think in Norwegian, recalculating is "bah-reckoningh" or something cool.

5,000 miles on little Scoop! She's such a baby!

 

I've safely arrived at my Destination, yesterday afternoon 2:45pm approx. I did drive a total of 13.5 hrs. on Tuesday, however. I wouldn't recommend it, but surprising as it sounds I wasn't all that tired. The Siskyou Summit was bare pavement, thank goodness. So yes I was worried for nothing, but better to be safe than sorry. Never was able to get chains, I talked with Ann who had given away a pair of AutoSocks, and didn't carry chains in stock.

Speaking of sorry on last last leg of my journey into the Beautiful Valley of the Sun I had stopped in Blythe for fuel, after leaving the station and getting back on the Freeway, I had a Detour just before the AZ Boarder. An accident had closed the Freeway, if I had not stopped I may have been in or seen the accident.

I fueled a few more times than I needed to but I'm no longer familiar with this area, it has changed so much since I left (199?). I grew up in the Valley from the age of 2 until I graudated HS and left and came back several times before leaving for good.

Scoopmama I passed through your Beautiful State on the to AZ, CA drivers sure are bound and determined to get where they are going. I know it's nothing new to you, but is that why Scoop has kept garaged and pampered??

I will be pulling out on Sunday Morning up with the Roosters heading back to WA via CA (somewhere) haven't figured out where I'm staying the night just yet, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a 10hr. drive instead of a 13.5.

 

Glad you and Molly made is safely. Here's to a safe trip back.

 

Thanks Mini2na!!

My Dad got to ride in Molly today, he was pretty impressed!!

She got an Oil Change, the Rear License Plate Light replaced (under Warranty) and a Bath @ Mini North Scottsdale. It was Great Service, too. I was even offered my 1 year FREE Oil Change, but I declined because Molly already has her Yearly Maintenance appointment on April 17th.

My Brother and 2 Nephews will be arriving tomorrow, I can't wait to snap a pic. of my Brother in Molly, he's 6'4"!! And of course my two adorable Nephews.

I'm sad to be leaving my Mom & Step Dad behind, thankfully I'm leaving my Step Dad (reason I came down in the 1st place), much healthier than before, he had Heart Surgery on Monday.

I've also been able to reconnect with my Step Sister and have had a fabulous time. Oh...and I won't mention the 70+ Deg. Days!! Can you say "Panoramic Sun Roof Weather!!"...I knew you could!!

I know I'm coming back to the Cold & Wet PNW, I'm hoping to bring a Little Bit of Sunshine back with me!!

TTFN

 

Glad you arrived safely and all is going well.
You can definitely leave some of that sunshine off here on your way through - although all it really does this time of year is torture and taunt me (and my staff).
Do watch out for the tumbleweeds. Blubelle got a mouth-full when we were down there this time last year.





Have a safe trip back and let me know if Molly wants to meet a dusty, dirty BlueBelle.

 

You guessed it. Sybil was named after our trip to AZ last year. After the map-quest map had the school bus driving in circles the Garmin and BlueBelle took the lead for most of the rest of the trip. After saving us and then taking us on some rather interesting side-trips - everyone decided she had earned a name. She needed one befitting her erratic behavior at times and entertaining voices.

Your pampered little Scoop needs to take a trip up north in June!

 

RJ - Have another safe trip. The PNW has seen a couple of gorgeous days, but the rain will return today.

Minicounter - Love the pic of Bluebell's diet. Could that be what is causing her indigestion and trips to the spa?

I just got done with some yard work for some people. Not my prefered job type, but it IS work.

 

Or maybe it's because she wants more.... I know her mom could use some of the sun and warmth that went along with it.

 

Minicounter...I remember seeing this pic. a while back. I think it was even before Molly ever arrived in the US. No Twisty Dirt Roads in the area I was in, well maybe Scottsdale, but they are usually Gold Plated so I try to avoid them!!

I'M BACK!!! In case you couldn't guess!!

Got back about 4:15PM this afternoon. Stayed in Firebaugh, CA last night. Only Drove about 8.5hrs. on Sunday and finished up today with 11.5hrs. I stopped 5 times Today for Fuel (not including the corner station) and a quick stop (Drive-Thru) for Lunch. I've learned that I can eat Chicken while Driving!!

I must have had Angels looking out for me on this trip. You already know about the Detour in AZ, well in OR (Mount Shasta City) I stopped and fueled and bought a Coke. After pulling out and back onto the Freeway I saw an "Accident Ahead" sign. This time it was a Budget Rental Truck that I had passed earlier in the day. I was a bit shaken up after this. I don't know what sign this was supposed to be, but I can only think that Angels were somehow watching over me.

 

Actually BlueBelle picked up her hitchhiker on one of the gosh-forsaken straight boring roads.

RJ - So glad you and Molly are back safe and sound!! Probably a good thing you didn't get too far north on Sunday since the weather was so ugly.
I think our babies come with their own guardian Angels - it's part of the 36k mile full service. I wonder if I got it in my extended warranty?

 

I have missed out on so much. I had to log in to this site! Kermit got a rock thrown in his face the day before. Crack! Small though, but it is on the driver's side.

Has anyone gotten the extended maintenence plan? It is pricey but I am contemplating it. I am already at 22K. One is supposed to purchase before the warranty runs out, else it is really pricey.

 

Welcome back Kimberely! Sorry about Kemits bo-bo Those big cars and trucks ahead of us sometime take issue with our babies nipping at their behinds.

We did get the warranty when BlueBelle was in her 20k somethings (she now has over 34k on her ) We didn't get the service one that ends at 36k because Portland is a bit of a drive and I found a local guy I trust her with (he works a lot with high performance cars but doesn't soak you price-wise)

We got the 100k warranty with I don't know how many years (we always get to the mileage first) I normally think they are a waste of money but with her being such a "princess" and having so many problems early on we thought it would be a good idea. We also had some MINI dollars from our credit card that we used to take some of the sting off. As I recall they needed to do some sort of inspection before issuing it. We had them do it with one of the services.

Now all that being said - we had to pay for the shop time this last go-around. (fortunately we had more MINI dollars for that) It's still a little under debate because the extended warranty is suppose to cover aftermarket parts as well. They tell me it needs to be a failed part to be covered. So far we haven't conclusively decided that.

 

MINI dollars take sooooo long to accumulate. Unless I pay my mortgage with the darned card - it could take forever to have any measurable MINI dollars.

 

I'm dealing with the Cold Start Chatter issue, so I'm thinking of going for the extended warantee too. Where do I check it out?

I have not heard of many issues with the Cooper Kimberely, but the S is another story.

 

We got the warranty that the dealership sells. I know there are probably less expensive ones out there...

We put our utilities, medical expenses, gas (which last summer was probably = to our mortgage ) and other personal purchases on the card so we've been able to use $400 in points so far. They have a feature to automatically pay the balance so I don't forget and loose what I've gained by paying interest.

Mini2na - sorry to hear you're dealing with the cold-start problem. I'm not sure if I have that or not - it does sound different first thing but maybe I'm just used to it and don't notice.

I have still been working on my CEL issue. Went 3 weeks after returning the intake to stock without a fault. We put the ALTA back on Monday and by Tuesday night I had the CEL again. One thing we didn't do originally was to remove the plastic piece in the hood-scoop. We didn't like all that junk getting in the engine area. We reset the CEL yesterday and removed the piece and will see what happens.

Mini2na - if I remember correctly you opened up the rest of the area on the plastic piece for Frodo. Did you just drill them out? (I'm too lazy to look back to see if you told us earlier)

 

I took the grill (honeycomb) piece out and drilled out each section that was filled in. I think I left some of the edge ones filled in because the got too small on the edges. I then took a dremel tool and reamed them out along the honeycomb edges so it looked pretty good.

My suggestion is to drill at the outside edge of each honeycomb space from the front side, being careful to not rub up against the sides. Then dremel out the rest (in between the two drilled holes) from the back side, being careful to only dremel in as far as the plastic goes and not so far as to damage the sides of the honeycomb. CLEAR AS MUD????

Actually, you can do almost anything you want to open the scoop up. It is difficult to see at all unless you get right down on it and do an inspection.

I don't think it will do anything to your CEL issue. It might provide more cooler air, but my bet that is not the problems.

Did you remove the BOV (noise generator) during the intake install?

 

Thanks for the tips ... Since the closest thing I use to a drill is a two-hole paper punch..... I think I'll pass the info on to my partner-in-crime

When we put the CAI on the first time we removed the BOV like they said in the instructions. This time when we put the ALTA back on we left it in. This time the CEL came on much sooner than before.

I compared notes with one other person on NAM with the same code and found our similarities were: 2007 MCSa, ALTA CAI purchased in June, 2008, Xenon lights and black roof , His was a week 27 build - mine is 32. He finally took it off and went with JCW (lucky dog).

Another odd thing is that MINI pulled a different code than my local guy did. I guess MINI has some different proprietary codes ...

Such a fun diversion from ..... taxes...

 

I still have not installed my CAI. I'm waiting until I'm out of warrantee.

Good luck with tax season. Home stretch now..... but a long one.

 

Oooohhhhh come on in.... the water's fine If I understand it correctly some of the warrantee is good until 50k!

Thanks for the encouragement It's truly time to start sprinting!

 

Well you called it MINI2NA - the CEL is back. Exact same pattern as before... we'll see what happens next. But.. meanwhile BlueBelle had an admirer that got too close this morning

On my way in this morning I saw 2 dogs on the highway coming toward me in the far passing lane on a twisty part of the road. Just as I got to them one darted across and hit my front wheel. He was a medium sized dog and it must have broke his neck as he died instantly as he bounced off the side. I've had some dogs come up to chase before but the only things I've had hit the side were deer.

Sooo here is BlueBelle and her new boo-boo

 

I would have been horribly traumatized to have accidentally killed a dog. How dreadful! My thoughts are with the poor people who lost their dog and to your Bluebelle (and you of course!)

 

Well Gang a Cold has got me under the weather, so poor Molly will have to go without a bath this weekend. I was in bed all day yesterday with a 99.9deg. fever. I'm up and around today but taking it easy, doing laundry and watching Golf....man I wish the Sun would come out so we can all play and motor our Babies!!

As most have already mentioned I too will be getting the Extended Warranty through Rasmussen, not that Molly has had any issues, but for the value and the cost I think it is a wise purchase.

Minicounter...what a horrible thing to have happen to Bluebelle. I also feel sorry for the Pooches, we have 2 of our own, but if the owner is stupid enough to let them roam on busy streets something is bound to happen. Let us know how Bluebelle is doing.