Ersatz means substitute in German and this Mini earned its name in San Antonio TX.

I was driving my BMW from California to Florida and stopped for fuel and coffee before I got into San Antonio as the GPS was showing heavy construction ahead and I didn't want to run out of gas in a congested area.

After fueling I park to the side of the stand and go in for coffee. I reemerge just in time to see the rear end of a twin engine boat being dislodged from the front end of the Bimmer.

The guy has his buddies in the truck and they exit to inspect the damage on their boat. So far nobody is concerned about my car and the driver -he has 100 lbs on me- ignores my request about insurance information.

I call 911 and while I communicate my whereabouts the driver and his buddies reenter the truck and depart the scene.I think they may be pulling off to the side but no, they get on the freeway and are gone. I off course have photos of the truck, the boat and trailer, the driver and the buddies and the three license numbers. I also have two friendly witnesses complete with Emails and telephone numbers.

The Bimmer is sitting there in a pool of radiator fluid mixed with oil and transmission cooler fluids. Not good. The cops arrive, write things up and suggest that I stop and get a copy of the report for my insurance.

So the Bimmer gets on a flatbed and with me up front begins the journey to the San Antonio BMW dealer. Long story ensues but the inspection shows a very expensive fix is in order and the entire car will have to be repainted.

Is the car totaled? We don't know yet but fact is that this Bimmer won't be back on the freeways any time soon. I spend the night in San Antonio and on the next day I learn from my insurance agent in CA that the hit and run artist has no insurance on his truck or boat or trailer which explains his leaving of the scene.

Staying in San Antonio will not help in my negotiations with the insurance so I decide to look for transportation to complete my trip and to see me through to the resolution of the Bimmer's fate.

This is how I came to drive a Mini for the first time. I had heard about the Minis' strong resale value and I figured that I'd be able to resell it and lose less than paying for an expensive rental for several weeks.

The BMW dealer was also a Mini dealer and they had a few cars to look at, the BRG being one of them. With my belongings transferred in the car and a fat check in the hands of the dealer, two hours later I was looking at San Antonio in the Mini's rear view mirror.

Now the Mini has some 3,000 miles on it and I'm learning to live with its corks, and boy it has more corks than a French vineyard but in the sum of all things it is also quite enjoyable. So I've decided to keep it and maybe even replace it with a JCW to be ordered to my specs.

So I will be spending a little time visiting here and learning how to best correct the corks that can be helped and learn to live with the rest of them.

For one thing this car needs some real tires and a stiffer rear sway bar but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Nice meeting you all.

 

Welcome to NAM and the world of MINIs! That was some story - sorry to hear about your BMW.

 

Welcome to the NAMily.

Most of the quirks or corks as you say are workable through a reflash or aftermarket part.

Are you going to give it a name?
Here are a few, though I don't know if they're taken.

GRNHRNT - Green Hornet
GRNGBLN - Green Gobblin
MEANGRN - Mean Green
GRNTHUM - Green Thumb

 

Hard answer. I've never named a car before and this one may not break the habit either.
Maybe the next one, in case I decide to special order a JCW, in BRG off course.

Thanks for the welcome you all.