I'll admit I'm the huge weirdo here that is getting a forum account before I'm actually owning a Mini - long story short I'm eyeing up a Countryman at this point, and I found that the search function works a lot better when you have an account. There's a treasure trove of knowledge here and I'm digging through it for a great idea of what I'm getting myself into.

Hopefully over the next few weeks (specifically when Uncle Sam gets done with my bank account) I'll be joining the ranks. Looking forward to becoming a small-car nutcase with you all!

 

Welcome! I kinda did that myself before I took the plundge.
Best of luck and post up some pics when ya get it.

 

Welcome to the forums, lots of knowledge on here. Do you have pics of what you are looking at in the CM ?

 

Thanks! I don't have pictures of the CM at this point but I did find something interesting - the local Mini dealer up the road has a certified Next CM, same year with a manual transmission, with 25k but for $4k more. The one I was looking at (and researching fervently) is the same year, manual but with no warranty and 63k on the odometer. Now I'm wondering if $4k is worth almost 40k fewer miles and the warranty (alongside Mini Connect in the dealer car, which the other one doesn't have).

The only reason I am trepident about the warranty is that I wanted to flash a tune on the N18 motor, because torque is a marvelous thing and also get a trailer hitch for a motorcycle or dirtbike. It's a shame to waste a 100k mile warranty if they'll void it over each. Decisions, decisions...

 

It might be worth it for the extras and warranty. Some dealers are tune friendly , some are not , its case by case.

 

Welcome to NAM and good luck with your purchase! Looks like you're doing some research before the buy, which is always a good thing. Once you pick up your CM be sure to share it with us.

 

I am absolutely flabbergasted. You openly admit to using the search engine!!! 99% of the rookies that come in here asking questions that have already been answered dozens of times get all pi$$y when the use of that function is suggested and some other joker pops in and opines that the search engine sucks. You are a bright shiny spike in a barrel of rusty nails. Welcome to MINI-dom. Hope your 'search' is successful and you immediately post the requisite pictures.
Truth be told I did exactly the same thing while waiting for our MINI.

 

Most people say they used the search engine and couldn't find the answer. The sad truth is they don't know how to perform a search. Someone posted that they spent hours searching and couldn't find the answer, took me 30 seconds. Either I'm a genius or the education system is lacking, probably somewhere in the middle. MiniRant over, Welcome!

The site: command is far better than the internal search function here.

 

If folks have trouble with search features here, can always use Google by just prefixing what you are looking for with words: "North American Motoring" .....That will almost always work 99.9% of the time.

 

Hahaha yeah, it's actually kind of convenient because it gives you answers 24/7.

That said, thanks for all the warm welcomes. Unfortunately the Mini CM I was going to see tonight was sold before I got there - as it was low miles and really clean, it's not surprising at all. The dealer did tell me they have another CM but this time an All4 CMs with a manual in Texas, which they'd have to ship over here to Georgia. I'm not crazy about shipping a car here and possibly not liking it, but they're not asking for much for it and gave it the Mini Next program so it might be worth it. Off to read about All4s!

Edit: Thanks again for the google suggestion, it does seem to be a bit more "exact" although the search engine here is far from terrible.

 

This site offers additonal imformation that along with NAM may be helpful. Good luck : thttp://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-countryman/

 

Well I finally got my Countryman!



Ah geez, that's embarrassing. Somehow I ended up with a Clubman.

I happened upon a used 2013 Mini Next Clubman S with only 25k on the odometer, along with all the good stuff like the warranty to 100k, etc. etc. The best part? The 6-speed manual. It's not a Countryman, sure, but the Clubman was what I was originally looking for and I was thrilled when I saw it pop up at the dealer's local inventory. I bought it before they even put it near the lot.

It's been marvelous driving it around for a while now, but I do have one kinda strange question: I've never owned a Mini before and my only experience with them was with the R53 model, but I'm curious about the N18 engine as it's making a strange noise when I rev the motor. It reminds me a lot of when I am doing a brake job on a disc brake, and when you spin the rotor by hand it makes that quiet "metal-on-metal" scraping noise. The engine makes the same exact noise when revving (the pitch increases with engine speed) which originally made me think that there could be an issue with the pulleys for the belt. That said, this thing was literally "certified" 5 days ago so I'm not sure how on earth a tech would miss that. Does the N18 normally have that "metal-on-metal" noise? Also, I'm taking the loud clicking to be the high-pressure fuel pump, as my Mazdaspeed3 made the exact same noise.

Also, has anyone used the Carly for BMW app on their phone to code their Mini? I'm genuinely curious if it'll let me turn the sunroof into a 1-touch open and close, but I don't want to blow $44.95 to find that it doesn't...

Thanks again for all the advice!

 

Congrats.

Things change and if something fits what you want, then go for it.

The N18 should not have a metal on metal noise ? The ticking noise is the injectors.

 

This does not sound normal. Might try driving another Clubman to see if the same noise is present on other like models....