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.
Hi! I am new to Mini Coopers, as I have never owned one. I am considering purchasing one, a 2012 JCW Paceman All 4..very nice vehicle. I have been driving (and working on) Subarus for 10 years, but it is time for something different. I will put a post up with questions either tonight or in the morning. Thanks!
Yes, got to drive one yesterday, and loved it! Great steering, and shifts good. Lots more room than I thought it would have. Going to finalize the paperwork tomorrow and buy it...can't wait! Getting anxious to get this done!
Got the car today, and boy is it fun! Car drives great, and handles like it is on rails! Very little body roll, and a pretty good ride for a car with stiff tires and suspension. Still trying to figure everything out on it. This is going to be a fun ride!
I'll have lots of questions in the future about it, so thanks in advance.
Apologies for not getting the pics yet...hope to take some tomorrow. A few questions:
Time for oil change. I know 5W30 full synthetic is recommended. Would Valvoline SynPower work, along with a Wix filter kit (get then at Oriellys).?
I need to top off the coolant tank. It is just below the bottom arrow. Should I get a gallon of antifreeze to top it off, or would some distilled water be ok at this point (won't need much)?
Changed the oil today. Used Valvoline 5W30 full synthetic, and a Microgard (Wix) filter from Oreilly's. Was not easy to get to the filter, having to move the coolant bottle out of the way. Pretty tight fit. I thought about removing the entire hose, but would not want to drip coolant into the filter housing, and would not like doing this every time. If I could get to it from underneath, night save some aggravation (maybe). Wound up filling to just the top of the stick...I hope I didn't overfill it too much. First time learning...
Also added some distilled water to the coolant tank, since it was low. Figured a small amount (less than a cup) would be ok for now until I get some antifreeze (going to get the Zerex G05 - not sure if I should just get the premix or not).
Got pictures of the car...looks pretty sweet!
I think the previous owner must have lived or driven on a dirt road...pretty dusty. Keep getting dust washing down the side of the car. Will have to clean this up later. Would have some more pics of the inside, but will need to do that when there is not as much glare from the sun.
I do have one other question...on the radio, one of the buttons is missing:
Is there any place that I can get a replacement button for this? Stereo in this rocks, and I would hate to try to replace this...does not look like fun.
Found out a few things about the car
One of the other things that I found out yesterday was that I was unable to open the back sunroof. I could get the front one open and slide it back. I tried moving the switch forward to have both open, like the manual said, but no good. I'm either doing something wrong, or the back glass is either stuck or the motor or mechanism doesn't work. Not a bit deal...at least it is closed and does not leak (checked that at a car wash - not an automatic wash either).
Car is very interesting to look at and listen to, as in the ambient lighting that can change the colors. Noticed that it will stay on for a while, and you can hear a buzzing noise coming from the engine compartment. If will do this for several minutes before it finally stops. Also noticed that the turbo seems to make a bit of noise, like a buzzing, when it is off...possibly cooling off.
Also noticed that the first night I had it home, I locked the car, and heard what sounded like a tapping, almost like morse code. Might have been the security system. Finally quit after about 5 minutes.
Overall, the car is a blast to drive, and a whole lot of fun!
I notice when I turn my car off the radio plays for about 5 minutes, so not surprised that you hear something going on. Just one of the quirky details about our little Minis. I like the red accents. About the needed button, check junk yards. Should be able to get one cheap. Same for whatever part you may need to fix the sunroof.
Hi from Cincinnati. After you turn the car off you will hear it cooling off the turbo. I drove 4.5 hours home doing 85 plus the whole time and it was the first time I heard the 2nd fan kick on for coolant. Nice looking ride btw. If your coolant is blue get the mini/bmw stuff and I’m pretty sure it’s already mixed, just pour it in.
Last edited by Jason Cornelius; Mar 9, 2020 at 05:49 PM.
Looking at the specs (yes, I am in Engineering so I look at specs for a living ), the G48 has some properties that seem a little better than the G05, such as better resistance to water pump cavitation (G48 rated 10-perfect, over the spec of 8), and also complies with the Mini/BMW spec GS 94000). Also mentions the color is blue, so that would mix right in. Thanks for the links...pretty interesting.
I saw something in one of the manuals that came with it about additional maintenance that should be performed on JCW models, but I don't have the card that was supposed to be with the manual that had the additional maintenance on it. Are there other things I need to know about the JCW models that are not in the manuals? I know at some point I will have to work on it, and would like to stay on top of the maintenance to save me trouble and money. Hopefully, this car won't be a lot of trouble...had too many vehicles like that.
Car is running great, Just changed the air filter, now it has that and a fresh oil change. Should be good to go for a while.
I was too 4 months ago. Spent a long time reading, searching, YouTubing, and actually turning a wrench on the mini, not saying you won’t but you know where I’m coming from. I might be a bit extreme with it but I can tell you if something is wrong, doesn’t sound right, or if PepBoys left 2 of his jack blocks after tire installation.
I have been driving cars long enough that I tend to hear every noise, click and rattle. It is especially unnerving when you have a vehicle you are unfamiliar with, so you are wondering what that noise was, and whether there is a problem. Call it "new" car jitters or whatever, it takes a while to get used to a new-to-you vehicle. Like you, after a while I should get used to the new sounds...hopefully they will be good sounds .
I was reading some of the other posts on the forum, specifically about octane ratings. I checked the cap on my car, and it said to use minimum 89 octane (which I am). I noticed something else I did not see the first time, something about "use fuel additive regularly". What kind of additive?
I was reading some of the other posts on the forum, specifically about octane ratings. I checked the cap on my car, and it said to use minimum 89 octane (which I am). I noticed something else I did not see the first time, something about "use fuel additive regularly". What kind of additive?
im pretty sure it’s Techron that Mini uses, just has their name on the bottle. For me personally, I put 93 in no matter what and I try to make sure it’s from a national brand like Shell, BP, Exxon, etc. My last tank of gas was 2 gal e85, then filled rest of the way with 93. The 4 bucks for 2 gal e85 is way cheaper than any of the additives out there. I’ll try to dig up those threads since I know your going to want more info. A lot of them mentioned Mario or he has responded to them, he is one of the guys that tunes our babies.
Thanks for the info. I don't think we even have a Chevron station around here, and I'm not sure if I can get E85 or not. I usually fill up at Circle K (Shell or Marathon)l, at JayC (Kroger), or Casey's. Not sure what brands tho others are, but I think the last tank was Marathon (first time I had filled the tank, so I don't know what was used previously).. I've been driving all week in this, and am just now pas half a tank...have about a 25 mile round trip each day, so it is doing really good on gas. Car runs great!
I seem to remember reading somewhere years back that you could increase the octane level by mixing grades. Now sure how much change you would make doing that, but it should be enough to prevent detonation.
Mixing octanes is basically what I was doing with the e85 mix, should have brought her up to 95/96 octane. She ran smooth no pings or knocks, just a happy mini that wants to drive. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethano...arest?fuel=E85 this website should help find where e85 is available around you. I used it when I was heading down to the Dragon, just in case I felt like I got some bad 93. You can get the Techron stuff at any auto parts store. When I get to work I’ll do some digging, think I have a lite day ahead, so I’ll be studying for some Amazon certs. You will probably be ok with 93 only.
Glad this has a small tank....filling up a 25 gallon tank on a older car would be way too expensive. Glad I can run 87 in my 2001 F150 5.4, It's not great on gas...has 25 gal tank Still good truck though.
Glad this has a small tank....filling up a 25 gallon tank on a older car would be way too expensive. Glad I can run 87 in my 2001 F150 5.4, It's not great on gas...has 25 gal tank Still good truck though.
my dad, last weekend, told me he had a 67 olds 442, I can imagine today drive that from gas station to gas station. I think the biggest gas tank I have had was on either my mustang or wife’s escape at maybe 15 gallons.
Paceman is pretty rare, and even more so in a JCW so congrats.
), the G48 has some properties that seem a little better than the G05, such as better resistance to water pump cavitation (G48 rated 10-perfect, over the spec of 8), and also complies with the Mini/BMW spec GS 94000). Also mentions the color is blue, so that would mix right in. Thanks for the links...pretty interesting.