New guy checking in for the first time. Thanks for all the info I have already taken, and will get in the future.

I've almost been a MINI owner for a week now.. but a British car guy from way back, so I have a certain degree of self-loathing.

 

Hi and welcome to the NAM family, Dannorth!!
Congrats non your Mini buy. Tell us what it is, how you found it and why, then show us some pics, as we always like to see a Mini!

 

Sure - the details!

Car is a 2003 R53 6 speed, about 132K kms, almost completely stock - only mod was a CAI, and that was only because the original air box got damaged. (By fire. A low point in the car's existence. But the damage was very minor) It started life with its first owner in Victoria, British Columbia and I bought it from a guy in Langley, BC. Not sure how many loves it had in between.

Why a MINI? That's kind of a loaded question, isn't it? HAHA! Well.. I had been driving a 2005 Honda Civic "Special Edition" (So special it didn't even have power windows) that belonged to my better half for about the last 4 years. I am a gearhead car guy from way back, and as such a Civic just offers nothing for your automotive sense of pride. Or dignity. The only thing that Civic has going for it is the 5 speed manual box and 35 MPG.

And I'm a Spitfire guy! As such, the classic MINI was always the rival, but in a friendly kind of way. But I prefer newer tech than they had in the original triumph / Austin days. That's why one of my Spits has a home built EFI system and the other is getting a whole soul transplant (Engine, trans, electrical). Obviously I'm not afraid of bolts or wires. I'm an Electrician by trade, and currently work as the Product Support Supervisor for a company that builds high tech slide outs (pop-outs) and automatic leveling systems for coaches for coaches costing all the way up to about $2.5M USD. Like these: https://www.newellcoach.com/

Some of my other car history includes a 1965 Chevelle Malibu Convertible, 1968 Thunderbird and a 1995 E36 325IS. I don't really dig "normal" cars for the most part.

Things on the To-Do list for the MINI:
- Black out the chrome bits (some of it is in pretty bad shape, and Plasti-dip is easy to undo)
- One noisy wheel bearing somewhere..
- DSC light doesn't work??
- Odometer reset button inop
- Bypass valve isn't closing properly / leaks
- better radio

 

 

Very nice looking Mini. There is much information here to bring it back to new! The Km are very low for the year.Look into doing services on it, before any mods. There is a bunch of infor in the gen 1 area.
If it has run flats on it, you get a better ride with regular tubeless tires. I keep a portable electric tire pump and repair kit in the back.
Keep us posted on your progress!

 

No run flats.. at least I don't THINK they are.. I better check! Air compressor is a good idea.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Howdy!

Nice looking car.

(I thought I posted here yesterday, but obviously it didn't take)

Motor On!