Okay, hi everybody-

Recently bought an '07 S, auto. It sat in a garage in Maine for several years because the original owner got deathly sick and he finally relented, after 4 years of me badgering him, to sell it to me. 20,000 miles, and it runs great.
First thing I did was to change the oil and that smoothed out a bit of roughness at low speed.

A few questions,
1- Is there a web site to go to with my VIN# to check out the recalls and the compliance with such. I know it had one done, but the previous owner didn't know for what? I know I can take it to a dealer and have it checked, but it is tucked away for the winter at home in the garage, covered. We are retired and spend about 10 months a year in our motorhome. We are presently in Gulfport, MS and the Mini is in Eastern NC. It's just a toy to us, and I had to get the auto tranny to have the bride go along with this deal- Unfortunately, I can't "pull" the Mini behind the motorhome unless I put it on a dolly- I don't want to deal with that.

I always wanted a sports car and this little beauty fills that bill to a "T".

2- The first thing I need to do is add a cruise control. I have the 3 spoke steering wheel and have been reading the threads here on this forum about some success others have had doing this. I found myself going far faster than I needed to in this little hummer and that spells trouble-
I'm an 'ole pilot (USAF and Corporate) and am use to an autopilot doing much of the "cruising" work for me-

Oh, I guess that's enough for me for now and I'm real happy to finally get on this forum to learn all about my little "Toy". It is the exact color, and model, of the aft end of the Mini shown on this NAM forum opening page.

One other bit of trivia I'd like to pass along. We had a German couple (a doctor and his wife) visit the campground we stay at, and work at in Maine, recently in September about the time I closed the deal on our Mini. He told me with a big smile that "Mini" is the most profitable division of BMW. I guess that's good- He must have stock in BMW, Huh?

One other thing. I immediately added a Scan Gauge II to the dash (instrument panel to us aviators) so I could see some of the parameters displayed I was so used to seeing in my former professional career. That was a good move on my part since the Mini has hardly any of the displayed items I'd like to see.

Cheers, hello, and happy motoring to all,

 

Congratulations on your purchase. It will be FUN.


If you have the key fob with you. Take it into any MINI dealership and they can read it for you. That should give you the information you need on recalls and campaigns.

 

Frodo--

Thanks, great info. I do have two extra FOB's with me now. Can BMW do that also?

Golly, I might have to go to New Orleans for a day or two, for that-




Oh shoot- I guess no trip to New Orleans for me. I called Scott at the Mini dealer in Baton Rouge, LA and he said "just give me Vin # over the phone-" I did, and I'm due for the heat shield addition and timing belt check. The Radiator fan job was completedf in July 2012.
I also asked about the Cruise Control mod and he said since I have the paddles I don't need a different turn signal stalk- just a computer re-program after the MFSW (multi function steering wheel) switches/controls are installed-

 

Good to know that they can do it from calling in the VIN.