The first year of home ownership always feels like your standing on the edge of a cliff. There always seems to be just that one more thing.

If your skin is thick enough, and you have the classroom management skills, look at registering as a per-diem substitute. Warning - it is not easy work.

 

just changed my oil. man, no way is waiting until the service indicater tells you to change your oil is a good idea.

Mine went 10K and the oil was pretty black. Im changing mine every 5K and letting MINI change it at the times the car says to..

 

+1 It's just too easy to do.

 

im on post, so its only $4.50 an hour to rent a bay with a lift. Very convenient during lunch..

 

+2

i did mine at 5k and mine was pretty bad too.

I'm going to settle for doing 1 oil change between each scheduled one. I will probably do one at 10k miles, before the scheduled one, just because the engine is still braking in somewhat...


on a side note, upon start up, my car died the other day. it had a crazy rough idle, then stalled. I started it again, still with a rough idle. I revved up to 2k, let it drop to idle again, and it idled fine... might have gotten crap in the fuel lines or something, it made me a little un-easy. I've also been getting the cold start chatter every time I start the car now, reguardless of being on an uneven surface or outside temps. uggh.

 

Getting my oil changed at the dealer with 16.3k on it tomorrow. I got it changed last almost exactly 8 months ago at 1.4k.

 

whew, thats a long time between oil changes zoned.

I am dropping my car off next week at the dealer for the following issues:

Cold start chatter
sticking sun roof when it is hot
rear sun roof making rattle (metal on metal) sound when closed
Window dipper problem
Ambient lighting issue (color on roof does not match door handle)

Boo!!

 

I know!!

I took it in at 10k and the guys checked and said it didn't need it and sent me on my way. I called back at 14k (which was only 2 weeks and one cross country trip later), and they said wait until 16k. Whats worse, my computer says I've still got another 3k to go before the light comes on. I had to strong arm Morristown into doing it!

 

my computer is saying 9k for the oil change (8600 now), i changed it at 5.5k and it was already pretty dark, the filter looked like chocolate. I think Yuko is just a dirty girl, or i've been riding her too hard. There's no way i'd wait til 10k for an oil change. ill be changing one in between scheduled as well.

 

good Luck Essueys on the job hunt! I finally found one and it is the worst job, and ready to tell good by! The owner is crazy and went through 6 people from what i can tell in 3 months! should say something!

Anyway, Nugget goes in this weekend for her first oil change and inspection, tire rotation and and issue with the side mirrors. The mirrors won't adjust "up", they go side to side and down but not up.

How's Maxwell doing, OWG?

 

Yikes!

I've got:
cold start chatter
Sunroof sticking when it's sunny
Window dipper issues.

I haven't paid attention to my ambient lighting.

I do have a ton of other rattles in the car I want them to look at, one in particular that's under the dash.

I'll probably be taking it in in a few weeks.

 

I'll be in for service in two or three weeks.

I've got:
Passenger auto-up goes auto-down if it's open more than two inches
Center dash vent squeak
Ineffectual wiper blades
deformed scoop (i've opened up the vents, so i don't know what they'll say)


Oh, and i've ordered TSW springs, so ill have that put in after i get my service done... or maybe before.

 

you getting the tsw's put in at the dealer?

i still can't decide if i want to go with tsw's or ebiachs...

 

i dont think i can afford the dealers labor charges... lol
ill probably have minicorsa do the install. none of my friends are car guys, most of them are designers/artists or bankers..

 

That conjures quite the mental image. I mean you could probably work up a sitcom around the designers/artists/bankers garage

 

Starting to come together quickly. They are still trying to source part of the evaporative recovery system. Door is hung - rear Quarter is welded in place - body alignment squared (Actually other than a ~3-5mm distortion at point of impact it wasn't disturbed).

I am likely to have him painted with a viper-like stripe - hood/roof/and barn doors. Either a ghosted pure silver or a full on hot choclate. The shop is working up some test strips.

 

It would be a disaster worth watching... i wonder i can pitch that to someone...

Oh, if any of you ahve seen Wipeout lat year on ABC, they're doing something similar for cars (IMO, finally). Pairs of ppl go thru an obstacle course in supplied cars...

 

Still on the the stump for an ABS Sensor and part of the tank evaporation recovery system, but the new panels are on and painted. And the rear suspension has been rehung!

 

I can see Maxwell's guts! It is painful!

 

Wow I'm with zoned on this one. Tough to see the car like this. I didn't even like the looks of my car with the panels off to replace the rear speakers!

I feel like it's been over 30 days since this happened. Does your insurance policy give you a rental over 30 days? I know mine does not.

 

Not as painful as the entire rear suspension being removed, with the rear quarter off. Actually I am delighted - the work is quality. Just need the last of the parts - Should have him back next week.

52 days, but I am not counting. Re: the rental - My insurance covers up to $900. That ran out on the 25th of March. His (they accepted responsibility - kind of hard to avoid when you hit a parked car) insurance is paying for the the balance.

 

Hi Gang,

Reading back thru the posts, I actually ended up buying the 2006 Ford Escape for $7. K and it had 56,000 miles on it. I wrote the "other" one's specs. I got a sticker for the ford that says "MY OTHER CAR IS A MINI" with 2 stickers of the outline of the front of a Cooper. So, if you're being waved at by a grey Escape, its ME.

I'm happy to hear the other guy's insurance is being decent, and Maxwell version 2.0 should be with you again soon

Fingers crossed and good karma all around, I interviewed for the lifeskills educator position with FFSC here in San Diego, I pray its not a posting for an "inside candidate", I truly WANT this position.

Been really active with West Coast MINIs. Went to Kappasphere talk in Temecula, OMG, LOOK UP "NM Engineering" and KAPPASPHERE.
These folks are doing amazing stuff with mods for our model of MINI.

NM-ENG.COM Really awesome inside hood front sway bars, cold air intake that kicks alta's ***, SPRINGS, (Matt and I bought these springs from the kid who won them as a door prize at AMVIV. He had a red JCW, so what did he need BLUE springs for?)

• BRAKE NM Brake Line Kit
Cooper + Cooper S
NM.868856
MSRP: $179.99 Hawk HP Plus Brake Pads
Cooper + Cooper S
- HK.HB560N.677 (Front Pads)
- HK.HB445N.610 (Rear Pads)
Front Price: $116.95
Rear Price: $105.95 Hawk HPS Brake Pads
Cooper + Cooper S
- HK.HB560F.677 (Front Pads)
- HK.HB445F.610 (Rear Pads)
Front Price: $100.95
Rear Price: $76.95• CHASSIS NM Billet Aluminum Tie-Bar
Cooper + Cooper S
NM.358856
MSRP: $319.95• ENGINE NM Hi-Flow Induction Kit
Cooper S
NM.658856
MSRP: $429.99 NM Engine Torque Arm Insert
Cooper + Cooper S
NM.228856
MSRP: $59.95 NM Discharge Pipe
Cooper S
NM.488856
MSRP: $239.95 K&N Drop In Filter - Non Turbo
Cooper
33.2386
Price: $59.95 K&N Drop In Filter - Turbo
Cooper S
33.2936
Price: $59.95• EXHAUST NM Cat-Back Exhaust System
Cooper S
NM.308856
MSRP: TBA• SUSPENSION NM RS Alpha Spring Kit
Cooper + Cooper S
NM.558856
MSRP: $249.99

 

I am liking the new NM engineering stuff. i may go with them for springs.


I'm setup for a service appt on monday morning. gotta get my window thing fixed, it's annoying me now that it's getting nicer out.

I started getting some whining noise and a weird wobble sound out of my clutch. gotta get that looked at too, hopefully it's not similar to the 07 issues where they had to replace the whole clutch assembly.

Also want to alert them to the fact that I get the damn cold start chatter regardless of temp, and see if they have a fix yet.

 

I feel a little violated, i think Maxwell just flashed me.


springs came in yesterday.. now i just gotta find some time to take it in for the swap. Though i think ill wait til after my oil change appt in two weeks or so.

 

Euseys- keeping my fingers crossed for you and the job!!! Good luck.