Four Thousand!!!
Whoo-Whoo!


(I need a life)

 

you and me both!!

 

Just did my first oil change since I finished break-in last week. Used four quarts of Castrol Syntec 0W-30 (aka "German Castrol") and an OEM filter. Total cost: $45. Took way too long because I wasn't careful enough when removing the filter and got oil all over hard to reach bits of the engine.

 

Yes you put it in the user CP thing... but you have to make them... DChaps made mine and a couple of others.

 

Ok I met with Lyle and Shannon from VinylStyles today to have everything blacked out. I do have to say that they are cool as hell and certainly took the time to do the job properly. He is meticulous about his work and I would highly highly highly recommend him.

Work done (all in Satin):

Headlight rings (double wrap)
Taillight rings
Beltline
Boot Handle
Emblems
Tinted the White Scuttle Lens
Door Handles (that's no easy task...I watched it takes forever)

Here are a few pics:

Yes the rear chrome license plate holder is going to get thrown out once I get a new one.

Now I just have to find the tinted side reflectors (not the tinted ones at outmotoring) but actual pretinted reflectors (for the wheel arches).

 

Yep, found it
Thanks

 

toolazy, looks real nice!

 

looks great too lazy.

unfortunately I'm not too lazy... I'm gonna give the whole vinyl wrapping a go myself.

got the belt line done tonight. Looks pretty darn good, I'm real happy with it. I might go and trim up some of the corners a little bit more tomorrow, but man does it look good.

 

Thanks.

Post some pics!

 

^I'm gona wax the car today, and hopefully go do a small photo shoot somewhere.
I should have done it before I put the belt line on, because my purpose of the photo shoot is a "before", since so much will be happening in the next week or so.

 

so my car just developed the cold start clatter issue that some cars have. I'm going to call Ottos tomorrow and ask what the story is.

just hit the 1200 mark haha.

 

DChap, I've had the cold start clatter three times. I'm at 2400 miles. Each time involved a similar scenario.

1st time: I had moved the car a few feet away after it sat overnight. Then after about a half hour, I went to put it back where it originally was. Clatter on the second start.

2nd & 3rd time: Again the car was parked overnight. Start up to move the car a few yards to where I wash it. After it's washed, move it back to the original spot. Third startup after it was dried off, and that's when I got the clatter on the 2nd and 3rd occassion.

Not too loud or long, but disconcerting nonetheless. From what I've read here, it doesn't seem like there is a solution yet. Let me know what you find out.

Rich

 

This cold start clatter business.....has me quite concerned. I've not had it yet.....3500 miles. But now I'm going to be listening for it.

 

as far as I am aware BMW knows about the issue and says "it is normal" but I will be calling MINI service tomorrow to ask about it and have it noted down in their system for possible future warranty work (heaven forbid)

 

Supposedly, they are working on a solution. I just keeping notes on it and will make sure it's noted when I bring the car in for service at the first oil change. My "clattering" has been fairly rare and not very severe at all. (Nothing like those on YouTube), so I'm just monitoring it right now. I don't think its a big deal with my car. Funny how it almost always shows up if you have just moved the car a short distance and then restart it a short while later. Very weird.

 

after taking out 3 car seats out of the car and my laptop out of the boot, i branded myself on the ankle.

i guess the branding makes me official now.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/07/...al-fix-coming/

mini knows about the cold start issue and it seems like they should have a fix soon.

I had it happen to me once, because I parked on a serious slope after only driving my car for 30 secs...

 

The cold start-restart seems like the MINI saying "I wanna go for a LONG, Good car ride! None of this few feet business!"
Glad to know if Mystique develops this issue MINI knows about it.

Love the black-out job too lazy! I always thought the black rims around the headlights look like that kid from the Little Rascals!

Should get the side graphics in the mail this week. Anyone know a good decal and clearbra installer in Italy? (haha)

Looking for a house in San Diego--Anyone have feedback on K.Hovnanian homes, in Fallbrook CA? (good or bad feedback appreciated)

 

any word on our badges? E.T.A. ??

 

Just heard back from my ASK MINI rep- was told that yes, it is a 1-3" scratch as I was told by dealer but ASK MINI said it was on the roof, not hood and that because filler is not BMW/MINI policy that the reginal people were working with my dealer and placed and order for a Ziggy clone (don't like the sound of that- isn't every MINI unique?) and neglected to tell me. It IS my choice to take it or not but if not, it may affect resale later on and I have to sign a disclosure if I keep Ziggy :( I just tried calling the dealership to speak to the owner again or my dealer guy to ask a few more questions. I'll have my boyfriend seriously look at the roof today for any noticable mark, I washed it again this weekend and didn't see anything but I was looking at the bonnet. Serious stuff to think about I guess.

 

Oh- I was told because of being sent to the wrong port, everything with my car was kind of chaotic as it was and I wasn't supposed to have been sent Ziggy in the first place due to the filler but someone let it leave port (prob. much to my b*()&^^ about the "lost car"). My ASK MINI rep. said that Ziggy would have been given to a sales manager to drive around, as in one of their cars to take to dealership to dealership but Ziggy got to my hands anyway and if I don't take the new one, that will just be sold on the lot- I don't like that there are two look-alikes!!!! Sigh, oh well. I'll keep you all posted on my decision.

 

i called today, Ottos said they know about the issue, and a solution is trying to be worked out. As for the cause, they think that it is air getting into the oil tank, and the clatter comes from the air escaping.... or something along those lines. they say that no damage is being done.

 

DChap, I'm no mechanic, but I understood that it could also be caused by the failure of the engine to retain enough oil in the top end of the engine. Possibly due to the electric oil pump (???). This is exacerbated by the car being started but only run for a short time. When it is then restarted, there is not enough oil in the top of the engine and thus, the rattle.

Hopefully it will get worked out. There was supposed to be a software fix but I guess that is not working out as they hoped.

Here is a link to an update on the issue in MotoringFile.
http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/02/...issue-exposed/

Here is another more recent update:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/07/...comment-227348

 

DChap- hope you get everything straightened out soon. Sounds like your dealership wants to make sure everything is corrected ASAP.

 

glad to hear ottos is taking care of you dchap... i still have yet to contact my dealer about it, I'm not 100% certain i was hearing the cold start chatter.