I've got a few mods...

 

Just did my first service. Just under 19K. Only changes I have made are to add XM and mount it next to the center pod. I put on a shorty antenna and connected my Garmin to the Mini GPS antenna under the seat. I put the protective plastic over the headlights. I also added rear fog lights as additional brake lights (https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/how-to/181630-added-stop-turn-lights-to-rear-fog-location.html) and got new shoes for the winter (about time to take them off now).

I asked the Service Adviser about the power loss that has been talked about in the forum and he said that he though the effected cars may have receive the non-Works software. I'm not sure I believe there are that many shops that don't know which software to load.

 

Good to hear how you're getting along. We are at 17,000 miles, and Lolly says it's 1500 to service. Getting 34 mpg in town, and liking that a lot Hello to the group!

 

Great in town mileage. That is what I get combined (mostly highway).

 

I drive a lot of highway and get 31-33 every tank. I don't drive like grandma however.

 

I'm a little over 16,000km

So I guess I got a MINI with the quirks then

I've had the waterpump/tensioner job done for the idle squeal. And I just got the chain tensioner job done for the rattle today, actually I'm just waiting for my dealer to pick me up as I type this. Got it done quick too, I just dropped it off yesterday afternoon.

It only rattled a few times and not as bad as some of the vids you can see out there, but easily got them to do the fix. So far my dealership has been great. I haven't had to fight them on anything(*knocks on wood). So as long as I'm taken care of I'm happy.

No mods done though. The only one I'm still thinking about is adding lumbar support to the drivers seat.

Winter tires are still on, not like I needed them this year in Ontario. I shoveled snow only once and even then I almost didn't have to.

My fuel economy could be better....but that's not the cars fault Not likes it's bad, but if I drive really nice I can get some pretty decent numbers.

 

I'm about due for my free oil change (1 year with 6k still to go before service #1) and the only problem I've had is my ipod cable being a little flakey and my passenger window just started a problem where it won't stay closed - it'll go to the top, then drop to half way like it's hitting something. I tried resetting it using hints in the forum, but that didn't fix it. I can finesse it closed with with some deft switch work, but hopefully it'll be fixed at the dealer with a reset of the window.

 

Weather has been good so I finally put the summer rims and tires back on. First test drive on the Team Dynamics Pro Race wheels and its be AWESOME! I missed summer driving on clear roads!

 

Did you go with the TD 1.2's or the 1.0s? Just curious since I've got the 1.2 - love the wheels, but white is soooo hard to keep clean

Will be on my summer tires soon, too. Can't wait to be back on the Dunlop's and off the all-seasons!

 

I got the 1.2s pictured above in matte black. They clear the big brake kit and are noticeably lighter at each corner. Mach V motorsports hooked me up. =]

 

Sweet, the pic on the Mach V (fastmini.net) page for those tires in white is my car (as seen in the sig pic)

 

Hey guys ! I just went for my 1 year oil change. The odometer was around 14.5K when I brought it in yesterday with still about 4.6K on the oil mtn due meter. The service advisor indicated that the it works (and I heard this on this Forum as well) that I bring it back again when the oil mtn meter zeroes out...meaning in 4.6K miles. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense for them to do a free one after 1 yr and over 14K miles and then do another free one in about 3+ months and only 4.6K miles but okay...that's the way it works !

No issues, just had them do a tire rotation and that was it.

But interesting discussion about "Gas". The service advisor, without any prompting, launched into a discussion about gas and how many get 93 octane since 91 octane may only be availbale from Sunoco. He indicated that they have found (and not sure who "they" refers to) that the 93 octane, the ethanol is not that controlled and randomly you could get between 10 & 30% ethanol and anything above 10% can be detrimental to your engine. He then mentioned that it would be best to fill up with "89" Octane fuel - The ethanol is more controlled at 10%. he indicated I was likely to also see some gas and power improvements using 89 Octane. He said some that come to the dealership actually fill up with half a tank at 93 octane and half the tank at 89 Octane to get 91 Octane on the button. But his feeling was to stick with 89 Octane - "Your car will run fine !"

You guys hear about this anywhere on this Forum or from your service advisors ? He did say that the ethanol issue with the higher Octane fuel is more of an east coast problem ?? Maybe because we use Ethanol here more so than on the west coast ?

Anyway - 89 Octane ??

 

I also just got my 1 year change (with 4600 left on the service meter). Wanted them to do a tire rotation, but my fronts are down to the wear bars so I need to get them replaced at some point.

Re: Gas - I've only run 93 in my R56, but I used to run 89 in my R53 and never had an issue. In fact, I used to get better MPG with 89 and I assumed that was because the engine automatically retards itself to avoid knocking at the lower octane. That being said, I never noticed any difference in power between 89 and 93. I guess the big question is, since Shell don't carry 91 are MINI going to stop recommending them as a "top tier gas" provider?

 

Up here, Shell's V-Power is 91 and has zero ethanol in it. I feed my MINI this exclusively.

 

Would you send a tanker down and park it in my yard? Lolly would like a diet of Shell.

 

I just purchased some Volk TE37s! woohoo my dream wheel from my jdm days.

 

Don't forget how much tax is on the price of Canadian gas

Lolly would like it but I doubt your wallet would. Right now I think it's up to about $1.12-1.15 per litre.

At least I don't live in Quebec, I'd guess they're paying around 10 cents per litre more than I am. Still not as bad as my road trip to the east coast 1.5 years ago. I remember driving through Quebec paying over $1.50 per litre for regular

 

Here in Spain its about 1.10 euro a liter for the good stuff!!

 

I'm still considering this 89 Octane recommendation. The 1st generation Problems Forum also has a similar discussion about octane on a Gas posting.

Exxon Mobil is not on the list of top tier gas mfrs. Chevron, Texaco and Shell are on the list.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

 

It's unfortunate that the octane rating isn't a more precise bit of info - this shell game (heh, excuse the pun) of "where's the good stuff" is annoying

 

Hey guys.

Well the MINI once again spends the night at the dealer.

In Jan. I had the water pump/friction wheel replaced for the squeal. Well it came back Saturday. I've only put on about 5000km since. Hopefully it'll get fixed permanently this time.

Cheers

 

Wow, sorry to hear about all the trouble you've been having. Our MINI has been lucky and trouble free. We took her camping last year (yup, camping in a MINI) and took her on a bunch of runs with the local MINI club in addition to using her as a daily driver. She didn't seem to like the winter much but she made it through...

 

update:

Just got a call from the dealer, they're replacing the water pump and friction wheel. Not too surprised, that's what they did last time, lol. Hopefully this pump is a winner though. She'll be ready tomorrow. I think all MINI dealers should have a small inventory of waterpumps and death rattle fixes on hand to speed things up.

@Perihelion: NOBODY likes winter in Alberta but I am jealous of the lack of PST out there. Soon we'll pay more in taxes with the HST

Other than the squeal, and death rattle, she's been good. Nice to hear that your JCW has been treating you well.

 

I got her back on Friday. Squeal is gone(*knocks on wood) hopefully this 3rd waterpump and friction wheel lasts.

 

Fearing an overseas tour of duty with work. If its more than a year long, I may have to sell the JCW...hate to give her up. I love my MINI...