Hello there,

My name's Matt Smith (not the Dr Who one... unfortunately)... presently living in the East Bay of San Francisco area... very recently back from living in East Africa and Haiti for the last 5+ years...

... and NOW a first time Mini owner!!

i purchased a 2004 Mini Cooper S (manual-6) with 78k miles in very good condition today.

~ Premium Combo #1 and Sport #2 options

~ Breaks Replaced less than 200 miles ago

~ Dinan installed chip, exhaust , air box

~ All scheduled maintenance performed

Just wondering if anyone out there has any tips and "to knows" for a very wet-behind-the-ears new used Mini owner.

Thanks... all the best!!

Matt

 

Hey Matt, congrats on your MINI and welcome to NAM! First Gen MINIs (02 - 06) are great cars in many ways, a total blast to drive.

Some things to know:

* MINIs are not Hondas or Toyotas. They need a bit more care & feeding; be diligent about maintenance. A lot of owners do maintenance & repairs on their own, but if you're not as mechanically inclined (I'm in that boat), find an experienced, reliable, reputable independent MINI shop to do work for you. Look for a local MINI club & meet the area owners for camaraderie and for helpful tips on good shops. You can also check here for independent shops.

* MINIs run best on high-test gas. Don't skimp on "regular" unleaded: find a top tier vendor (Shell, Mobil, etc.) and give your baby the good stuff, 91 or 93 octane if you can find it. Skip the endless threads of debate and just do it

* MINIs engines LOVE to rev. Under the right conditions don't be afraid to let the powerplant spool up. Except when the motor's cold, I usually shift from 4K - 5.5K RPMs but you can rev to the redline if you feel the urge.

* Enjoy the hell outta your car. They're meant to be driven and enjoyed, so get out there, find some twisty roads and run riot.

Drive 'er in good health!

 

Congrats! Make it a habit of checking all fluid levels weekly. When we are on a road trip I check them daily. May sound a little OCD but 90 seconds of your time checking these items could save you a lot of grief.

 

Thanks, guys!!.... really appreciate the valuable input!