When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1st GearNew members: make an initial post and introduce yourself as you shift from Neutral to First Gear. Current members: meet some of the new members.
New to the Mini world and will have to do a lot of reading because I have two projects.
I bought my 1st Mini last week. It is a 2007 base automatic that has been parked for over a year. The body and interior appear to be in very good condition but...The previous owner experienced a mechanical break down and just parked it in his driveway and forgot about it. I'm still going over the basics but I did get it started and it popped about 20 codes. Most of them were repeating and were cylinder misfires with a couple of camshaft position errors mixed in. I troubleshot it down to bad ignition coils (pulled one coil at a time and monitored running condition). I was able to make the dead cylinders run by switching the coil packs around. I have a complete set of coils on order as well as plugs then we will see what is next. Additional problems include the AC not blowing cold but the compressor is turning on and the radio display appears to not light up.
Then today I ran across a 2009 John Cooper Works 6 speed that really suits me better (maybe they are all stick shift, I know nothing about the brand). I have no history on this car (it came from an auction) and there is no key. It is more of a project than the car above but I'm much more excited about this one. It has a ripped front bumper cover, a broken passenger headlight (just the mounts), and a small dent in the hood around the headlight, all from the same incident (if I had to guess). There appears to be no damage to the actual metal bumper, radiator mount, or anything else from this accident. It really just looks cosmetic. The engine mechanical condition is totally unknown but I did make sure the motor was not seized up (put it in gear and rolled car forward). So I will be picking this one up later this week and keeping my fingers crossed that I didn't purchase someone else's nightmare.
Lots of research to do...but I do plan on making a thread or two as I go along. I'll post a picture or two of each car here when I get time (I'm slacking at work right now).
Thanks,
John
Last edited by Chevycruizer; Dec 27, 2019 at 10:39 AM.
I got Mini #1 street legal today which is no easy task in Hawaii once a vehicle has gone non current. It takes a trip to a safety inspection station which if everything passes as far as safety items you will still fail for no registration. So then you have to go to a satellite city hall to pay your registration. Now you have to go back to the same inspection station and have them do it again. Now your legal.
I have to to work on a uploading a video but I will show my troubleshooting of the misfire if anyone is interested.
I added a can of AC stop leak and dye then a can of refrigant. It is now blowing cold. If it holds pressure I will evacuate the system and put it under vacuum and charge it properly soon.
The radio lights sporadically worked on the drive today, not enough to read anything but at least it wasn’t completely blank. I’m researching the fix.
I am am getting a battery tomorrow and then some new tires. It currently has some Brigstone Potenza run flats on it. Two of them are in great shape but the other two are bald. Does anyone have an opinion on mixing regular tires with run flats?
I will do more research but some of the displays on the HVAC are not working. I get the fan speed, blower location with arrows, and a snow flake but no Max or recirculate symbol.
I also have a red brake symbol on the tach (not on the LCD). I know it’s not from the emergency brake (I hear a beeping when I pull the handle). It’s also not from the fluid level sensor on the brake reservoir (I get different lights when I unplug that). It might be one of the brake pad sensors. I will try the reset procedures and then pull a wheel or two. Are the sensors only on left front and right rear?
Congrats, looks like a JCW . Post up some more pics. I would get a good scan tool ( Like the schwaben tool) to see whats all going on, most of it might just be tied to that bad battery,
Congrats, looks like a JCW . Post up some more pics. I would get a good scan tool ( Like the schwaben tool) to see whats all going on, most of it might just be tied to that bad battery,
Got a link to the tool you mentioned? I know there are a lot of different models that work better or are programmed for a certain manufacturer.
Am I reading this right. You bought a 2007 MINI last week that has not run in a year, and you got it running and inspected in a week. I was excessively jealous with the first few lines of the post, "in Hawaii and just bought 2 MINIs". And now this!
I was going to advise you to test drive a MINI so you know what to expect in a few months when you are able to get one of them running.
Congratulations on your finds. Enjoy them on the open roads on the other side of the island. I was there in the late 80s and found a lot of roads that would be perfect for a MINI once you got out of the city.
Am I reading this right. You bought a 2007 MINI last week that has not run in a year, and you got it running and inspected in a week. I was excessively jealous with the first few lines of the post, "in Hawaii and just bought 2 MINIs". And now this!
I was going to advise you to test drive a MINI so you know what to expect in a few months when you are able to get one of them running.
Congratulations on your finds. Enjoy them on the open roads on the other side of the island. I was there in the late 80s and found a lot of roads that would be perfect for a MINI once you got out of the city.
Yep, I’m a big gear head. I got a little lucky with the first one. It was an easy fix to get it started (drain old gas, check fluids, temp install a good battery). Then once it fired I could hear and see a major misfire. I unplugged one coil at a time until I found the dead cylinder. Then I shut it down and swapped two coil locations and I got the misfire to move. The inspection shop is just down the road from me and I must have had him do 30 cars over the years so I know what he looks at. I made sure those items were good to go and got the inspection sticker. Now I am working on all of the other things.
As as far as driving a Mini...this is the first time I have ever even sat in one. Well other than the original version when I was in Sicily.
I was stationed in Kaneohe Bay for three years back in the 2000's. Just a handful of Sailors in a bunch of Marines.
Just so everyone knows cars in Hawaii gain about one to two thousand dollars in value just because they are on the island. The maritime shipping company was charging $1100 dollars to bring a car from Long Beach California to Oahu back then and I'm sure it has to be more now.
And not only would a MINI be wonderful up on the North Shore it has to be an advantage for city parking in those ridiculously small stalls.
Motor on!
Last edited by ernesto rex; Dec 21, 2019 at 08:45 AM.
Reason: Grammer
Agreed on the cost of cars out here.,,it’s just stupid expensive.
It has just gotten worse and worse traffic wise even in the 3 years that I have been here. I can’t imagine how much it has changed since 2000 or 1980 like another poster mentioned.
Mini update:
Mini #1...ordered a second key from minipartsdirect.com, delt with Mark in parts. Awesome customer service. Key should be here in a day or two.
I just received spark plugs and the special socket so I’m doing them today. Also got an O ring kit for a nasty oil leak on the vacuum pump.
New battery to install as well. I hope that straightens out my electric gremlins (stereo display and auto HVAC display).
Mini #2...got it towed out of the auction lot and home. Vacuumed up the interior. I have a bad rotten or moldy smell in the interior. I sprinkled some carpet smell good stuff on it yesterday. If that doesn’t do the trick then I’m thinking about pulling the entire carpet out for a major shampoo job. Is there anything special I should look out for? I read not to mess with the steering column because if a steering wheel position sensor.
Ordered a used headlight to to replace all of the broken mounting tads. While I was in there I found that the plastic radiator support that the headlight mounts to is broken as well. I found some good prices on the part but shipping is as much or more to get it to me. I may try plastic welding/fiberglass/add a metal support for a temp fix.
I don’t have any keys for this one and I’m waiting for the title before I can even get an order placed.
Mini #1 display early in a drive Mini #1 display later in the drive
Last edited by Chevycruizer; Dec 22, 2019 at 08:26 AM.
I Would look to see if you have a leaking sunroof drain. Leave the carpet out for a bit after you pull it and sit in it when it rains to see where the water is coming from. I have no experience with the R56, but my guess on the display is that it may be faulty. Unfortunately, it is not unheard of to get cracked and oxidized solder joints in newer cars due to lead free solder (ROHS compliant, uses antimony instead.). Worse yet, many newer car use wiring insulated with a corn starch based compound that insects and rodents love to dine on. Unlike earlier vinyl wiring, it is considered environmentally friendly because it is biodegradable, but at the cost of long term reliability. This can become a real issue with vehicles that sit since they can become nesting habitat for woodland creatures.
I didnt have time to work in either car today other than a key check.
The 2nd key for Mini #1 arrived 2 days early. Big thanks to Mark at minipartsdirect.com. I did verify the mechanical key and the fob work the car perfectly.
I will I’ll be going through the same process as soon as the auction house sends me a title for Mini #2, the JCW edition.
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is that the carpet padding in these is very thick. It can be as much as 2 inches of foam and is adhered to the carpet. The carpet may not feel wet but the padding underneath can be. I had to dry mine out a few months ago after a carpet cleaning went awry and it took about a week. Good luck with your MINIS! They are expensive to fix, but a lot of fun when they work right!
The radio display going out is a common issue. No one seems to carry the replacement screens anymore, not sure why. It took me two junkyard radios to find one with a display that worked. For reference: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-alpine-p...bly/cd73lcd~a/
I got a decent amount done today and the wife helped with interior cleaning/detailing.
Mini #1...got the spark plugs changed and reinstalled all of the misc plastic panels that I had off for the battery, spark plugs, and rear brake light bulbs that I replaced. I also put an O ring kit on the vacuum pump to fix an oil leak.
Mini #2...the “new” used from eBay headlight arrived. It looks way clearer than the one on the car now I have to do a headlight restore on the other to make it match. I worked on the dent in the hood(from the accident that broke the headlight). It’s not perfect but it’s close and it doesn’t hit the headlight when I open and close the hood.
The wife used one of those Bissel pet spot machines on the carpet. She sucked up some nasty stuff. It was either coffee or coke because it was black. The smell is less but still there. I still plan on removing the carpet for a super scrub and multiple days of drying in the sun.
I added distilled water water to the cooling system and it dripped out almost as fast as I could add it. It seems to be coming from the drivers side of the cylinder head. I didn’t take anything apart for a closer look. I think there is a large plastic water outlet down there with sensors and possibly the thermostat. I just hope it’s an easy or at least inexpensive fix.
Mini 2 damage as purchased. Old vs used replacement headlight. Here is the broken plastic radiator support. German Daschund approved. Replacement headlight and start of dent removal.
Mini #1. I ordered the replacement LCD display from eBay. I ordered two new tires. I could not find the exact model tire that matches the back. I guess they discontinued or changed the model names.
Mini #2. I had some time on the holiday and the power was out at my house for like 6 hours. It was during a rain storm so I set up a 10x10 sunshade tent over the car to deflect the rain. I’m sure everyone who drove by had to do a double take. I still got completely soaked, but hey its Hawaii and it was a warm rain. Anyway, I confirmed the leak but also found additional damage to the cooling system. I ended up pulling the intake manifold to get to the water pipe. Now I’m on hold for parts to arrive. I will prob take a look at the intake valves and walnut blast them while I’m waiting...pictures below.
I think that I also found the source of the terrible smell in the interior. The passenger window is in the state where it is down just a fraction of an inch (like when you first open the door to assist the glass clearing the roof gutter). During the rain storm, I got into the car before I started working on it and there was already a pool of water in the passenger floor boards. As a reminder this car came from an auction and who knows how long it sat out in the weather. Now I will definitely remove the carpet. Suspect leak on thermostat housing. Not liking the look of the grey slime! Here you can see the crack. This is what bothers me the most. It appears that radiator stop leak was used in this motor. I’m going to do some tests with this housing to see what if any chemical treatments will remove the sticky residue. The water pipe snapped off inside the water pump. Here is the other end of the water pipe.
Last edited by Chevycruizer; Dec 26, 2019 at 10:08 AM.
The radio display LCD screen arrived. I’ll probably wait to get to this. It’s not a major problem, just more of an inconvenience.
Mini #2...I temporarily hooked up power and was able to get the windows fully rolled up. Hopefully that stops anymore water in the interior.
The title arrived so I was able to order the key.
I ordered a thermostat, water pipe, and water pump.
While everything is is pulled apart I decided to clean the intake valves. I only worked on one port and I am going to need more tooth brushes, LOL. Thick carbon mess. Here I was just pulling it out of the port.
Last edited by Chevycruizer; Dec 28, 2019 at 12:51 AM.
Mini #1. I ordered the replacement LCD display from eBay. I ordered two new tires. I could not find the exact model tire that matches the back. I guess they discontinued or changed the model names.
Mini #2. I had some time on the holiday and the power was out at my house for like 6 hours. It was during a rain storm so I set up a 10x10 sunshade tent over the car to deflect the rain. I’m sure everyone who drove by had to do a double take. I still got completely soaked, but hey its Hawaii and it was a warm rain. Anyway, I confirmed the leak but also found additional damage to the cooling system. I ended up pulling the intake manifold to get to the water pipe. Now I’m on hold for parts to arrive. I will prob take a look at the intake valves and walnut blast them while I’m waiting...pictures below.
I think that I also found the source of the terrible smell in the interior. The passenger window is in the state where it is down just a fraction of an inch (like when you first open the door to assist the glass clearing the roof gutter). During the rain storm, I got into the car before I started working on it and there was already a pool of water in the passenger floor boards. As a reminder this car came from an auction and who knows how long it sat out in the weather. Now I will definitely remove the carpet. Suspect leak on thermostat housing. Not liking the look of the grey slime! Here you can see the crack. This is what bothers me the most. It appears that radiator stop leak was used in this motor. I’m going to do some tests with this housing to see what if any chemical treatments will remove the sticky residue. The water pipe snapped off inside the water pump. Here is the other end of the water pipe.
Yep, bet that was used there. I would try the best flush fluid you trust and then back flush the system. You will need a hose, I would clean the rubber hoses as much as you can.
Yep, bet that was used there. I would try the best flush fluid you trust and them back flush the system. You will need a hose, I would clean the rubber hoses as much as you can.
I have been reading lots of threads on best chemicals used for flushing. It looks like it will be a multi stage application. I'll post my steps and materials used if it works good.
