hello I'm "new" here
 

Hello all. I'm James from Dallas Tx. Just bought my !st Mini Cooper S on 2-23-13. And I have to say... I LOVE IT!!! It's my "mid life crisis" car.

I have a 2005 S. Its British racing green metallic. 6spd auto, moon roof, leather, the "fancy" sound system.

A very fun car.

Here's a couple of questions for who ever to ( and if you don't mind ) to answer for me.

1) If I change out the stock radio, can it still run thur the stock amp and speakers?

2) oil changes. Can I use "any" full synthetic oil? I prefer Valvoline. Or do i have to go with "Mini" oil?

tks for any input!!!

Hey Im in Texas too but in San Antonio! Good thing for you is Dallas/Fort Worth actually has an active and established club up there so you will have a lot of enthusiasts with you. As for your first question I can't answer that because I have never done that and I am no audio expert by any means. For the second question about the oil change, I drive a similar car as you (look at my signature) and all I can say is bring it to the dealer! LOL. I recently got my car serviced because it hit 96xx miles and the dealer did it for me. Congratulations on your new car though!

1st welcome aboard. Does it have the Harman Kardon stereo? IF it does it is not so easy to upgrade it then. If it is not read this https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nd-system.html

Oh boy this opens up a can of worms for the MINIacs. You will get lots of reasons to use what each MINIac prefers. I prefer and almost always use Mobil 1 5w30. Others will use Redline, Amsoil, Royal Pruple,Castrol and MINI brand. Use what you like as long as it is synthetic and you check your oil IMO every 500-1000 miles. Again IMO change it at the least around 7k. I do mine around 5k. Again just my opinion. Good luck

Braminator...... Tks!!! In my Chevy Avalanche I use the Valvoline Dura-blend with is half reg oil and half syn oil and I change it every 5000 or so miles. I'm just kinda partial to them.

raffy888... dealer.... Not unless I have to!!! Most things I can do my self. ( that and I'm to damn cheap to take it there. unless I just can't do it. ) But tks for your input!!!!

As for Mini clubs. How do I find them?

And I like the color!!!

NP. Just remember to use a full synthetic and check your oil every 500-1000 miles. This is very important as MINIs like oil.

I do have one more small question.... How had is it to transplant the "guts" of one remote to another?

wow I did Not know that. Good to know!!! tks!!!

Maybe this will help.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rbishment.html

Check here https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...s/dto_club.php

Register at the forum called "METROPLEX MINI" and thats basically the forum for all of north Texas. Sorry I can't give you a direct link cuz I am sending this through my phone. Trust me just google it, it wont be hard to find. BTW nice car!

Great group!
http://www.metroplexmini.org

Yes indeed! Had a get together yesterday at the Franconia Brewery in McKinney, lots of fun. I don't even have my MINI yet and I joined yesterday. :lol:

Congrats and welcome!

Cool tks guys ( and girls )!! I think I can handle the remote swap. I've seen people on e-bay with cut keys with the guts inside them. Then the uncut with no guts keys. I think this will work and save me a A$$ load of money. The dealer wants 200+ for a cut key and programed remote. It may NOT be my 1978 Z28 camaro ( the hot rod ) but I think I can handle it!!!

And again THANKS FOR THE INPUT!!!!

I'll deff check in to this!!!

Hey one more thing.... How do I add pic's to my signature at the bottom of a post?

Go to your profile and on the left hand side you should see a panel then click on the "Edit Signature"

Cool!!! I think I got it!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: