Great online community here- I'm picking up my first Mini tomorrow, a hyper blue 2006 Cooper S 6 spd with most of the option packages and 17" webspokes, only 11k miles, very excited!

I enjoy my cars and am first of all an original Ford Mustang fan, having had several, and just got a nicely restored original 66 factory GT a few years ago for summer cruising, but besides V8 power I love a great handling small car also. I've had a 1972 BMW 2002 Tii and 1987 VW GTI in the past, and have been eyeing the new Minis since they came out. After a string of practical family wagons and SUV's (I love my Honda Pilot, but come on), now that I have a 42 mile commute, I've convinced my wife (and myself) that I need a second higher mpg car (and a fun one as well!) for the commute.

I'll be heading over to the wheels and tires forum for some tire advice- first thing I want to do is ditch the OEM runflats- while I love the cars handling I can tell there's an issue with ride harshness and some highway squirelliness (is that a word?) with those things.

One quick question for anyone though- as I was going through options on this car with the non-Mini dealer I'm buying this from, they couldn't tell me if it has a limited slip differential. It's pretty well optioned otherwise so I though it's something the original owner might have gotten. How do I tell if the car has it, other than trying to spin the wheels in some dirt and see what happens? It wasn't going to be a deal breaker so I didn't try to figure it out ahead of time. Thanks.

ride66

 

Welcome!

You may want to take a look at this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=130556

 

Hiya and Welcome aboard - to the world of MINIs!!!

Sorry I can't help you with determining LSD or not - maybe next time you take it in for a service check up, they can run the VIN # for you at the dealer and tell you what the car was ordered with?

Donna

 

Drive it in the snow. We have lots of it here. What's your address? I'll mail you some.

 

Welcome, I know you will enjoy.

 

Thanks mooo- I was hoping someone knew how to tell by looking at the drivetrain but the external mechanicals are probably the same in the LSD and open diffs. Looks like I'll just have to light 'em up and corner hard to find out! Or check with the local dealer.

 

Get the VIN, then call Ralph Schomp Mini and ask for someone in service. They can pull the VIN and tell you if it has a LSD.

That's what I did.

 

Thanks, JohnJohn. I'll just call my local Mini dealer.

 

Welcome! This makes my last post as a 'first gear' but will check back often!

 

Sweet! Hyper blue!? sounds awesome. post pictures!

 

Congrats on the new ride. I too own a '06 HB S w/ 6 speed, black top, sport package and the 17" web spokes. I ordered it new, and have put 25K miles on it in the past 18 months. Its a fantastic car, and no doubt you'll enjoy yours as well.

Some words of advice...

1) Run flats - Ditch em! I went ahead and drove on my original set till the cords were showing. Seriously, I went ahead and used them completely up, and then replaced them about two weeks ago. I thought that the car handled well, but wow, what a difference without them! I bought a set of nice Dunlops for ~$100 each at Discount Tire, and I wish that I had replaced the run flats the first day that I had the car. The car is SO much better with regular tires. Just shop around and get something decent, and you'll never regret it. Ride quality is MUCH better, as is dry/wet traction and overall feel. The run flats flat out suck...

2) Motor mount - Check right away and make sure that the motor mount is not already leaking, and if it is, have it replaced under warranty. That is one of those weak links in the car's design, and even for a non-raced, daily commuter car such as mine, they all seem to bite the dust pretty quick. With 11K on it, yours might already show signs of failing. Any leaks will be obvious.

3) Oil changes - The 'routine maintenance' covers an oil change every 15K miles...Spend the $50 and have the dealer swap it every 5K. In that way, they pay for each third change, and you feel better about it. Plus, if they do the work each time, then there is a record, and you won't have any warranty issues related to who might have done oil changes outside of the dealer. I have known a couple of local MINI owners who got into a debate with engine warranty issues related to 3rd party shops (or themselves) doing out of maintenance cycle oil changes. Anyway, cheap insurance to do them every 5K, and having the dealer do it avoids any future problems.

My ownership experience to date has been fantastic, and I trust that you'll have fun as well. I came from a total V8, rear wheel pony car/vette background, and was worried about the 'feel' of a front wheel drive, little car, and I can honestly say it is great! Granted, it doesn't have that low end grunt of a V8, but it is like driving a slot car/go kart on the street, and as my dad, an old school SCCA/PCA racer likes to put it, its ''quick".

Sorry for the long post, enjoy the car!

David

'06 HB/BLK MCS

 

Thanks dreagan-

Getting new tires this week. Since I will probably want to use the car in winter on at least the dry but cold days in CT, I'll go with UHP all seasons, either the Falken 912s or Goodyear Eagle F1, both of which get great reviews here.