My name is Michael, i own a 2004 Mini Cooper S. I am getting ready to restore the car. I admit it sounds bad, but, let me give you a back story. I purchased the car back in august of 2006 with 35,000 miles. Cold weather, two tone leather, harmon kardon stereo, K&N cold air kit, 17 inch 8 spoke aluminum, sunroof, black paint, black grille, black scoope, jusy a pretty car. A previous owner must have owned a dog or car, the cabin air filter was full of fur and mold. I got that cleaned out and a couple of weeks later i wheels, was showing off doing reverse doughnuts, and hit a peice of concrete. The Mini seemed ok, until the ride to work the next day, I thought it was going to shake apart. There was over five pounds of dirt packed into the rim. i got that all out and still had a viabration. I checked everything, it was all good. It just viabrates at 80 plus mph. I had a hot date one night and tryed to show out again dumping the clutch at 6300 rpm, car didnt move just a lot of stinky smoke and it wasnt tire, but the clutch was fine even after that horiffic display of nondriving. Awhile later i was driving thru the city and hit a pot hole blowing out the front left tire. I ended up downgrading to some 16 inch black rims with the polished lip. Well I got the windows blacked out and a rock smacked the windsheild, and a month after that I hit a deer doing about 50 mph. mangled the hood, the scoope, right headlamp, grille, and fender flare. Got lucky and since i have a certifaction in auto body repair i got the insurance company to just cut a check for the lowest estimate from a reputible body shop. i had enough to get the hood, and all the chrome parts that i could. Chrome grille, mirror caps, rear hatch handle, and the scoope. after that was all fixed up the amp in the harmon kardon radio went out. radio comes on no sound, cant access the eq. i was driving home and the power steering went out, fuse had popped, put in a new one and the pump never shut off, running the battery down everywhere i stopped, it finally burnt up. i had got used to driving with no power steering by the time i had the money for the pump and the fans were burnt out anyway. I then ran over a dang log on a bridge with cars coming, it broke the slave cylinder and several plastic parts underneath. I sat for a couple of months waiting on the insurance to cut me a check and the battery died, and come to find out the window cracks a little bit when the battery gets low, and it rained like everyday for about two weeks. the carpet got wet and molded, that took some major cleaning, i took the seats out without following the proper procedure and the air bag light came on. set something in the back seat that eat a hole in the back seat. I did a full brake job, and hit a coyete doing 80 and put a hole in front bumper, my mom backed into it puting a big hole in rear pumper, hit a raccon knocked out fog lamp, hit a curb and broke the lower valence and it fell off going down the interstate. battery had went bad, and my little brother hooked battery up backwards, and i dont know it that caused it or it was a coincidence or not but the radiator fan and the altanator went out at the same time. got it back running and radiator started leaking, then the resivor exploded. then it died on the way to work, cranked right back up, noticed car was getting warm, got off interstate, let it cool and it wouldnt start back. been broke since may this year (2012) with 195,000 and i miss the car. I and going to get it back to 110% before i drive it again, i will get some motor upgrades, exhaut, pulley set, new clutch, new rims, new interior, new stereo, the whole nine yards. I would welcome any suggestions on what upgrades to do. I hope i dont sound like a dummy when i ask questions, thanks for letting me join the group!

 

Man, I feel for you. You must have a positive attitude to put up with all this. Sure you didn't make this all up? I was breathless on what could happen next. Good luck

 

You're not allowed to drive my car . . . EVER.

 

I've owned the car for six years and i put 160000 hard miles on it. Like i stole it every where i went. Dirt roads, hills, mud, trails, and pavement. I put the car to the test and id say as hard as i was on the car its held up well.

 

I think you need a pickup truck. Poor mini.

 

Your power steering pump runs on a fuse?

That's interesting.

 

The power steering pump is ran by an electric motor. The pump is ran by a belt off the motor on most vehicles, but they ran this one electric as to not rob any horsepower from the engine. Common problem for them to overheat and burn up pump on those early models.

 

Quite the story, remind me to never move to AR! I too think you need a pickup instead, probably a Toyota Hilux lol.

 

See the problem with a pickup is they don't handle. I own some trucks. I never saw a problem with my driving the cars were made to rally. I can promise That a chevy wont hold up like my Mini. I've always thought id be a good road tester. I suppose whom ever they got was pretty good because mine has held up very well. Considering years of abuse.

 

Wow...just...wow.

 

I was kidding about the truck, these are fun cars and they're meant to be had fun in. While it sounds like a few of those things may have happened out of carelessness, most seem like accidents. I wouldn't think someone would go hunting animals on the road in their MINI.

As long as you keep it on the road, keep having fun in it, and don't let it rot in storage or in your backyard I say all the power to you! But yeah, you're not allowed to drive my car either

 

I take no offense my mini won't like me drive it either
Lol. And yes i don't intentionally run over animals. The log fell off a trailer in front of Me while crossing a two lane bridge with traffic coming couldn't avoid it. The doughnut that was all my fault. I did forget one. A freind told me i should take better care of my car i told him the next owner would be the scrap yard i am going to drive it until the wheels fall off. Within a week Durning my brake job i had my.brother put the wheels back on. I took off and noticed a vibration. Fifty feet from the drive I slowdown turned around went back home 25 feet to drive way drive front fell Off. Bottom a arm poked hole into rim had to get a new wheel. I need to.say the scrap yard will be the next owner because i have no interest in getting rid of car. When it breaks ill fix it. And i will be a little easier next time. Heck i was. 25 and single and had the whole world to explore i drove from Arkansas to last vegas stopping at some museums and.grand canyon and Cadillac ranch on way home. Im 33 and married now and have more respect for my stuff now. I mean I'm done jumping railroad tracks and dirt clods unless it in a race of course. I love my car. I bought it the first time i saw it. The dealer just got it hadn't. Even washed it yet. I bought the car to drive and the only time i don't enjoy my car is when I'm pushing it.up hill..

 

I'm book marking this thread and I'm going to come back and read it every time I get a nail in my a tire, or someone cuts me off... every time the price of gas goes up.

Mods you desperately need: Horse shoe, rabbits foot, and a jar of four leaf clovers.