"Seasoned" Mini Owner-New to NAM

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Jan 28, 2018 | 10:07 AM

datanerd

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1st Gear

Joined: Jan 2018

Posts: 30

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From: Greater Boston

"Seasoned" Mini Owner-New to NAM

Hello all,

I'm the happy owner of a 2013 Countryman S. I bought it new, as the family car, since it has exactly the size, interior capacity, and performance necessary for a family of 3 (and one car-sick prone pit bull terrier) to survive greater Boston driving (and parking) conditions. We've loved the car from day-one. We even did the whole dealership shtick of naming the car. 4+ years later, Mrs. datanerd, datanerd Jr, and I still refer to "her" by her full name, Lady Churchill Von Goefastah, or simply "Lady Churchill." At least, whenever we're talking to each other about her we do that...

The car has ~30k miles on it and the warranty ran out last year, so now I'm the primary mechanic. My first job, after the last alignment could only bring the right rear wheel almost into spec (Boston roads are ROUGH!) was to replace all four rear control arms with adjustable control arms. After that, the rear alignment is dead on--But both left & right tie rod adjustments are completely frozen (down-side of road salt I suppose), so my steering wheel is cocked ever-so-slightly.

This means my next job will be replacing both tie-rod assemblies. Book time is 4 hours, so between parts and labor, the NTB where I get alignments done wanted close to $1,000. I'm pretty sure I can get the parts for around $200, Tools for another ~$300, and beat book time by ~2 hours. Hopefully I'll get to this in the next couple weks. I'll let you know that goes... I haven't seen a how-to post for that yet, so if you know of one, I'd love to check it out. If there isn't one yet, then maybe I'll document my process.

I look forward to reading up on all of the things that I need to be on top of for this model & mileage; as well as which OBD software, repair manual(s), etc. that I should add to my tool crib. Any links to helpful threads on those topics would be appreciated, if you know were they are.

I've worked on all manner of cars, both gas & diesel, from the time I was 14 (my first job was in my neighbor's auto-shop) until about 8 years ago. Over the years, I've replaced engines, transmissions, crankshafts, heads, pistons, cams, all manner of drive and suspension components, and I don't even know how many mods, on vehicles ranging from VW (Type I, II, and TDI), Mercedes diesels, diesel trucks heavy equipment, and who-knows-what-else. Even though I haven't worked much on the Mini (yet) I look forward to getting to know it mechanically as well as I know it from the cockpit.

Happy to join a group of like-minded motorists!