The dealership could not recreate the noise for themselves. They have to hear it before they can get authorization for doing anything. I have contacted them and the next time I go in I will try to create the situation that will cause it to happen.

Here are the wheels:


I can't wait.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

 

Has the Dealer said that they have had other MINI Owners complain about the same thing, or are they playing DUBM??!!

Them's SHARP Wheels Mini2na!! Now you've got me wanting those Enkei Wheels I've seen.

 

No, the problem is well documented. It looks like BMW has solved the issue on the MCS as of the 3/09 builds. The noise happens only during startup and warm up SOMETIMES. It has gotten down to the dealer needing to verify the noise AND the timing chain needing to be a certain amount out of spec.

Rasmussen has been great overall about it. From what I am reading they seem to be one of the best in the country. Many dealerships are stonewalling and denying the problem even exists. Go Ann! (I also had a good experience with Josh the last time I was in.)

The weather was great yesterday. I love the summer.

 

I'm glad your satisfied with Rasmussen and that they are really interested in getting a resolution for you!!

AND UMmmmmm...it's still Spring!! But the Temps. are more like Summer, only no Humidity...YEAH!!!

I'm supposed to play with Molly today, but I'm glued to the Nationwide ProAm this morning.

My last Golf Clinic Class did not go so well...I sucked on the course, I did drop a 20ft. putt, but only 1 good drive, and 1 good fairway shot.
I'M BUMMED!!

 

Golf's like that! Hope you had fun anyways.

What a weekend!! Sun and 80. Gotta love it. One more day before it cools off.

So, we got the yard planted for summer, motored around the town, rode bikes and got out in the Kayaks. Who says you can't do it all?

 

What a darling kayak passenger, Mini2Na! The weather sounds wonderful up there. It's about the same here, but I'm hoping for cooler weather since we have our school's Renaissance Faire tomorrow outdoors. 70's would be lovely. 60's (like last year) would be even better. I'm so excited! Finally splurged on a reproduction Renaissance outfit. Super cool!!!!

Scoop's drip has turned to a leak with about 1/4 cup of fluid trailing in the drip pan. Irvine Mini has me scheduled for a drop off on Wednesday to take care of her drips, as well as the warped bonnet scoop. Poor baby!

I guess our babies are hitting the awful teenage awkward years, hm?

 

I got my wheels. They are not on the car yet, but I LOVE them!! Now I have to decide if I can "waste" the run-flats and get new tires before they hit the wear bars.

I want to get these wheels on Frodo!

 

Hmmm... I think you need a major AutoX day. Just TRASH those tyres!!

 

Good luck to Scoop tomorrow!

 

Yes Good Luck tomorrow...Scoopmama and Scoop!! Keep us updated on the progress. Hopefully they already have an idea of where it's coming from and can get Scoop all healed up and back home for the Long Memorial Weekend!!

 

The run-flats have been moved over to the new wheels. They look FANTASTIC!! I will order some AC center cap stickers today, but they are a custom size so I'll have to wait a bit. Pics up later today if I have time.

Ordered my Kuhmo Ecsta XS tire for my old rims. (RJ - I used your 1/2 - 1/2 Simple Green wheel cleaning technique. I'm sure it takes off any protection you have on the wheel surface, but boy does it clean them easily!)

 

A gorgeous MINI weekend! Posted a picture of my purse in the gallery, but I"ll try to load it here. We'll see. Nevermind. Check out the gallery! I don't want to transfer it to upload froma URL!!

Good news! Scoop is perfectly fine (except for the warping Scoop that I"ll have fixed this summer). It wasn't HER oil leak! It was the hubby's car. We parked them side by side overnight. HAH! MY baby wouldn't piddle in the garage! YAY! So, I'm off to a Cuban restaurant for breakfast with a friend. It's in Old Orange circle that dates back to the 1800s. Great architecture. A two mile walk will take you through Victorian, Craftsman and postwar '50s architecture. There's also a 15 mile drive through a twisty canyon road to get there!

Mini2Na- when do we get to see pictures of the wheels? Once you get the center sticker part? Can't wait!

Hope Molly, Bluebelle, Frodo and all other MINI friends have a great long weekend!

 

WOOOO HOOOO!!! Scoop didn't PIDDLE!!! (Hubby's car should be ashamed of itself...blaming a Piddle Puddle on Scoop!! ) I

was to tired to give Molly a bath tonight after we got home. We did take an interesting jaunt to a Nissan Dealership to look at an 2009 Nissan Cube. Wanting to get Hubby a new car as soon as I can get The Molly Car paid off.

The Cube is interesting, very Urbanish...more so than the Soul, I think. Not a whole lot of the necessary (IMO) as one would need, No Roof Rack, Hitch or Sun Roof option. Otherwise a nice looker if you like a Box on Wheels. We checked out the SL Version, I forget what engine was in it, but it is the one that you can do the most upgrades to. It being an 2009 and a new car to boot, I think it is best to wait and see what the 2010 models offer.

As we drove onto the lot Molly got LOTS of compliments...she had a pretty Big Smile on her face!! But I think she was Happy to Leave too, I think she got picked on and was afraid that she'd be left with those mean Verza's!!

 

I can't think a better holiday weekend. It was great because:
1. My son visited.
2. The weather was unbelievable.
3. I got to bike
4. I got to kayak twice
5. I got to motor the gorge
6. I got some outdoor projects done
7. The pool is uncovered, now the work begins there.

I hope all of you had fun over the past 3 days. Here are some pics:

 

AWESOME L@@KIN' WHEELS!!!

Mini2na sounds like you had all the FUN for the rest of US!!

 

Finally I am back online! My computer flew south for the summer and decided not to return. I think he had the swine flu.

I had to read several pages just to catch up. Sounds like everyone is doing well - and some more active than others. I saw Ms. Molly at Lowe's the other day - parked waaaaay out in Timbuktu. I do that too and still no dings.

Well, I got a catelitic (sp?) converter recall in the mail - and Kermit desperately needs new tires. No fancy ones for me - hubby's job has been slow - so just plain ole 15" tires will have to do. He only has 24K on them. Anybody have any preferences on good inexpensive tires?

 

I've gotten good tires at Firestone. I also purchased a good set of Goodyear's at Walmart. Schucks is the best service there is.... COSTCO has the best prices on the tires they carry. I bet that set of advice narrows it down for you.

I pick up my Kuhmo's today. America's Tire was the best installed price around.

I'd just call around with your tire specs to find the best package around. If you are not buying for high performance then I think almost any tire will do you well. Lots of stores will only replace tires with exact matches. Be sure to ask about installation/balancing and if they are including a road hazard warrantee in the price. When getting a quote get the exact model number of the tire. There are a lot of similar sounding tires that are not the same.

Narrow down your choices and then go onto Tire Rack to look at reviews to pick the one you want.

Glad you are back Kimberely and Kermit too!!

 

More sites to check out - thanks! Hubby always goes to Les Schwab, but I read that they don't carry 175 65R15's only 185 65R15's - so I will keep looking. I really don't know how far afield I can stray on my tire size without having problems - and the manual doesn't help.

 

It looks like you have at least two other sizes to pick from. 185/65/15 and 195/60/15. The guy who made the recommendations knows quite a bit. I'd trust his advice.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mendation.html

He recommends specific tires, but the sizes should work.

 

Well, I got some 185 65R15s. We took them out for a spin today to Hood River. They ride so much smoother than the other ones, and then.....on the way back....my engine dummy light came on. This is all that I need. Thank goodness I am still under warranty. This is dreadful. Kermie hasn't been sick a day in his life.

 

Hi all! End of the school year insanity has struck. The weather is cold and drizzly...just like WA! (I like it!!)
Scoop just got a K&N air filter...guarenteed for 1,000,000 miles! Woo-hoo! Can't wait to install and GO!

Hope Kermie is ok and it is just a minor glitch. Frodos wheels are AWESOME- the whole car looks different! Glad to hear from a reliable 3rd source that Bluebelle has no dings!!!

 

Mini2Na those are some niiiiicccceee rims!
I take it you stayed with the 17's?
I am just about due for my second set of tires. I'm thinking about moving to 17's from 16. I still have my eye on the feathers... I'm looking for an all black look.

So glad Scoop is OK. I wonder what joke she will play on her garage mate to get even. BTW I love the purse. Being in Oregon - I have my eye on the matching umbrella (to keep the sun off my head of course )

Kimberely - glad you're back on-line. Sorry to hear about Kermit's cry for help. Hopefully it's just a hangnail... The non-run-flats definitely make the car feel different.

Glad to hear Molly is still turning heads! My hubby decided to name our new little kitten Molly - until "she" got a little older and we discovered "she" was a Mike

Looks like I might be making a quick trip up to Portland for one last service this Wed. I am technically past the 36k mark but due to my prior problems Ann is going to take care of BlueBelle one more time. I am thinking about heading over to ALTA after the service to discuss my intake issues.

 

What you can't have a Boy Cat named MOLLY??!! (Hubby gets a Point in my Book!!)

I've got a question...I'm worried that Molly's tires may not hold out until October. So I'm wondering if I go ahead and get dedicated M&S Tires in say Aug.-Sept. Time Frame am I going to have a Tread Life problem??

Mini2na, did you have America's Tires install your Tire/Rim Combo and if so would you recommend I take MOLLY there when it's time to get her tires replaced??

I've got another Service due in 4900 miles, not sure what, but I'm trying to time Molly's new tires around the same time.

 

I never had run-flats. And, I actually have a spare tire . But the new tires feel a lot smoother anyway. Now as to the engine....my mpg has suffered a lot. they won't see me until the 22nd. I hope the engine doesn't eat itself by then. Thank goodness it is under warranty.

 

Kimberely, good luck with Kermit's recovery. Sorry you have to wait so long.

Minicounter, nice to hear from you. So Bluebell is back to her old beautiful self now? Hope you get the intake CEL issue taken care of. I'm selling my ALTA intake, not because of any problems (I've never run Frodo with it on.) but because I need to stay in stock class for SOLO II. 36K... you are the winner in that regard I think. The 17's will be a bit harsher on the road but the sidewalls are stiffer. (I like them) BEWARE - black wheels need lots of detailing attention. Brake dust is BAD. I may move to Carbontech BobCat pads.

Scoopmama, I can't believe the thoughts that must have run through your head with the leak issue..... but all's well that ends well. PLEASE let me know how the new air filter works for you. Is it one that you clean and then spray oil on to help filter the air? That is a modification I can make and remain stock.

RJ - America's Tire did a great job for me. I ordered my Kuhmo XS summer tires through them at a great price. They could easily beat Tire Factory for me because of the lifetime balance and rotation. You always have to add that to at TF price. As for M&S (mud and snow?) tires... do you mean All-Season tires or do you mean true Snow tires? If All Season, run them all the time and buy them when you need them. If you mean Snow Tires, you won't like them much for regular driving I don't think. They will be much noisier and will not handle nearly as well due to the block tread pattern. They have much larger grooves, which makes for better snow traction, but the tread blocks shift during dry pavement turns. As for tread life, check the wear rating on the tire you are looking at. I know 400 is a good wear rating for an AS tire. (My summer tires for Auto cross are 180)

I got the center caps for my wheels done. I pulled the Team Dynamic centers out and put some Aesthetic Creation MINI Wing domed stickers in. It finishes the wheels.

It looks like Frodo is going in for the Cold Start Full Monty fix. It is my suspicion that the timing chain tensioner on the "s" version is faulty or can go bad over time. That allow the timing chain and guides to wear. If you have the start up noise for very long you will wear the whole timing chain unit and will need to have it replaced. If you have not had the problem, I'd get the tensioner replaced (1/2 hour job) and the big fix should not have to occur. Rasmussen is great about this. It looks like MINI has finally fixed this problem, but you will have to say that your car sounded like a diesel when you started it up at least once.

Here's a plug for MINI Customer Service. They listened. They advocated for me. They cut through red tape. It looks like they solved my problem. Don't be afraid to tell them what you think and need in the survey they send you after service. It works!

Warranty is a good word... for all of us it seems.

Pretty long winded this morning. Off to actually earn some money now!! Have a great day.