Just pre-ordered a new MCSC. Have read many posts on this forum (but probably not ALL of them). Have some questions:

1. External Audio Jack. Dealer wants $160 to install an external audio jack for the radio. It is listed as $40 on MC's setup site. They say that is the part only and installation is extra. I saw an earlier post suggesting that it was an easy install. Where can I find installation instructions to decide whether I'm up to doing this myself?

2. Gasoline. Manual says use premium gas. Dealer says NY gas formulations allow use of regular gas and that there is no reason to use premium. Some prior posts suggest you get better gas mileage, performance and life using premium. Is anyone happy using regular or is everyone using premium?

3. Carpet Mats. Dealer would not throw them in - paid sticker and got nothing off. Saw some posts of people getting as much as $500 off sticker, but that may have been for taking a car off the lot as configured (with extras you didn't really want) rather than ordering. In any case, should I buy the dealer's carpet mats, or is there somewhere else selling cheaper and just as good? Checked ebay and there is a lower price for mats, but I'm not sure if they are good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=7986696443

Anyone use them and find them good? Do people prefer carpeted mats or rubber?

4. PDA Holder. Anyone use a PDA in their mini for GPS navigation? What mounting device do you use?

5. Break-in. Dealer says I can go right on the freeway to drive home (2.5 hours), but that I should just not use cruise control. I recall from prior car purchases that (1) it is important to use different speeds during the breakin period, so that a long freeway run at constant speed would be bad, and (2) that I should not go ove 45 mph. Dealer says under 85 mph is fine. Opinions?

6. Waxing. What should I use for best finish, and how long should I wait after purchase before using it?

Great site. I apologize in advance if people think these questions have been adequately answered earlier. Thanks for all the advice

 

I have not taken delivery of my MINI yet but here is what I plan to do.

1) I am ordering the aux jack and installing it myself. It seems easy enough. I think there are instructions on motoringfile.com and mini2 forums.

2) If the manual says to use premium gas then I would use premium. The car would probably run fine on regular but that is not what it was designed for.

3) Don't know yet

4) Don't know

5) Here is what it says in the owners manual.
Engine
Up to 1,250 miles / 2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following engine or
road speeds:
4,500 rpm or
95 mph / 150 km/h.
Comply with the local speed limits.
Absolutely avoid putting the accelerator in
full-throttle or kickdown position.
After having driven 1,250 miles / 2,000 km,
engine and road speeds can be gradually
increased.
6) I ordered the Zaino Z1 kit and have heard good things about it.

 

1- Do it yourself.. very easy to do according to those who have done it. I have the cable and will do it myself shortly.
2- Use premium.. dealer will tell u anything to make a sale...They are wrong
3- I got $400 off the price of car and I ordered with no trade. They would not give me mats... they told me their cost is only $6 less than retail.
5- Best to vary engine speed.... so take back roads... or vary hwy speeds by dropping down a gear, slowing and speeding up, etc...
6- I would wait 30 days before waxing... they do this with new paint... time to setup... but 2 weeks would probabl y be fine.. IMHO

 

http://mini.uglydoris.com/archives/000028.html

Use 91 octane or better. Do whatever the manual says or they can say you voided ur warrenty

We got rubber (came with the car) and hate them. Hard to clean. I guess this a personal choice. If I had a choice, I'd get carpeted ones.

See https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=46659 post #6. Follow the links.

Go here http://motoringfile.com/ click on the 05 manual download. It clears says to keep it under 95 and to vary the speeds

This is a religion question. You will find to camps, the synthetics (Zaino) and the original Carnuba waxes. Take your pick, both sides have zeolots. Read https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...splay.php?f=12 also you might try http://www.autogeek.net/carwax.html they seem to recommend both, a sythentic polish first followed by the real carnuba stuff.

As to when to use them, I've had my car about four months now and have not done a full wax yet. I have, however, done touchups with Pinnacle spray carnuba Mist. Its just a touchup between real waxes but I got to say at this point, I reall dont need to do a real wax for month. If its just before winter, I might just get it detailed.


Good luck!

 

5) Here is what it says in the owners manual.
Engine
Up to 1,250 miles / 2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following engine or
road speeds:
4,500 rpm or
95 mph / 150 km/h.
Comply with the local speed limits.
Absolutely avoid putting the accelerator in
full-throttle or kickdown position.
After having driven 1,250 miles / 2,000 km,
engine and road speeds can be gradually
increased.

So now what do I do? My dealer said just don't go above 4500 rpm for the first 1200 miles and she'll be broken in. So I haven't. But my 800 mile road trip home from the dealer was with the cruise control set over 80 mph for most of the trip. And I'm sure I floored it at least a dozen times in fourth and fifth gears to get back up to speed after being slowed down by cars in front of me. Now I'm concerned. Any advice?

 

Well, some people will tell you that there is no need for a breakin period for modern cars. Others say the opposite. Who to believe. I would believe the manual. I think the reference to WOT is to keep you under 4500 but I dont know for sure. Whatever, don't admit it. This is a good excuse for the dealer to deny warrenty claims. If they think you abused the break-in ... caveat emptor? Maybe someone else knows more about this ...

 

I would get in 5th or 6th floor it till it would't go any faster then slow down to 35 mph and do it again all the way home. that sould heat it up enough to seat rings.

 

That sounds like the exact opposite of what the manual says?

 

Thanks to everyone who respondes.

Especially Chows4us for the links. With respect to the Aux kit, if I can get my fat hands up through the access panel to the back of the radio then the install looks pretty easy. I also like the idea of having access to the cable from the bottom rather than the glove box. Great tip.

Steve Thies: Don't fret too much. Most people do not follow the break-in procedures on their new cars, and thinks work out ok. Since the purpose of the breakin is to make sure the piston rings get seated properly (and constant speeds are not best for that), I'd suggest you make sure that you do as much variable speed driving as possible. I would not adopt a torture test procedure - gentle but varying speeds should be fine. Plus, that's the most fun way to drive the mini.

 

Regarding the "breaking in" of the new MINI, as I understand it, my first oil change should come at 10,000 miles, based on the fact that I will be using the approved Synthetic oil. Back in the old days (whenever they were) the practice was to change the oil in 1,000 miles or so, so as to remove any chips, etc. that might be there as a result of the manufacturing process. So what to do now? Change at 10,000 miles, or sometime sooner? I've got about 3,500 on mine (MC, Astro Black, CVT, Premium package) and I would expect to change the oil and filter sometime this week. I've been using Mobil One since the early eighties, mostly because it would allow the motor to spin over easier in the cold weather up here in sometimes sunny Chagrin Falls, Ohio-on the edge of the infamous "snow belt". You Caleephornya guys and guyettes aren't missing anything, when it comes to snow. Anywayz, I'm interested in other's thoughts on the oil change timing. Thanx, Mike Predina

 

Dealer says that the oil gets changed in England after the motor is shipped from Brazil, so the 10K mile change is really the second change. My car has net yet been built, so I have some time to think about this. I suspect Mini knows what it's talking about, and 10K miles is ok, but I'd be interested in other opinions.