I wanted to buy one of these cars before I started my last project car(420 hp civic hatch daily driver) and blew it up 3 times, sold it, bought a daily truck, rented a garage and started a del sol project, traded in my truck bought a mini and now here I am.



The only gripe I have about this car so far and I can't believe I didn't notice it before I bought the car is that there's no engine temp gauge on the cooper S. Maybe the JCW version has one but this one sure doesn't. The first time I merged onto I95 when driving the car home I got on the gas from 50-70 while merging with traffic. Upon getting off the interstate there was a small amount of smoke coming from the hood(it was dark so I could easilly see it). I called the dealer and he assured me it's just because it's brand new with 10 miles on it and told me not to take it above 90 for the first 1000 miles which of course I havent. Is this normal? I havent owned a new car since I bought a civic hatchback in 2000.

 

This is a 1st I have heard this. Get one of these http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii/

Many including myself use this for all the info you could ever want from your MINI.

 

There arent gauge cluster options that match the rest of the car? I'm into the car looking streamline and adding a digital box abot my wheel looks cheap imo.

 

you can try here - not factory - but nice
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...ries/1-gauges/

and they offer the factory JCW kit too
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...Gauge_Kit.html



which you could also get thru the dealer of course

The smoke on a brand new car can just be protective coatings cooking off, including cosmoline that's gotten to places it should not be, or even a paper label; and in the GEN1 S it was common for some water to find it's way to the intercooler thru the hoodscoop and steam off especially on a cold day . . I WOULD look around under the bonnet tho - especially if you know your way around under there as you say you do.

p.s. pls put a 'location' in your profile so we'll know if you are close enuf for us the provide hands on help.

 

Welcome ! If you don't have nav. You can get a Garmin Nuvi with Bluetooth and pair it with their ecoroute obd2 Bluetooth dongle. Looks like a nice gauge cluster can be displayed including coolant temp. I'm requesting one for my birthday. Lots of good reviews. It will also read and turn off codes plus navigate. Anyone have input on this product chime in please.

 

I looked and didnt find anything. Probably the detail prep crap on the engine. I don't know much about mini's. I wanted one in 07 and started another honda but this time went with something different. Those gauges you have shown me are exactly what I'm looking for.

 

+1 on the Scangauge. It's a pretty nifty setup.