Asking for input
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OVERDRIVE
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,489
Likes: 629
From: Fuquay Varina, NC
Asking for input
If you check out the Gen1, 2 and 3 areas will note that some good information is in place for both Newbies and Oldies on their respective cars. What are some good questions that you had when you first bought your Countryman and then some others as the cars aged?
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
r53coop,
I got my 2014 Countryman in October and had no idea where the battery was and more importantly, how to access it. I think this is something that should be on the top of the list of the first things to find out. Found a video on youtube how to access it and remove it.
Its easy to get to once you know how to do it, but can be intimidating at first.
Thanks
I got my 2014 Countryman in October and had no idea where the battery was and more importantly, how to access it. I think this is something that should be on the top of the list of the first things to find out. Found a video on youtube how to access it and remove it.
Its easy to get to once you know how to do it, but can be intimidating at first.
Thanks
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
The battery is a good one, I found mine in our ‘12 S ALL4 by pure accident. After getting it, I wanted to familiarize myself with the location of the dipstick and other essentials. While looking my son pointed and said “what’s that little compartment thingy” while pointing at it. I decided to find out, and there was the battery.....was really surprised by the placement of it.
Another is the importance of keeping the oil level topped up, along with regular oil changes, because of the VANOS and other reasons why it’s essential.
Another is the importance of keeping the oil level topped up, along with regular oil changes, because of the VANOS and other reasons why it’s essential.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
I think sometimes people get frightened away a little bit by reading about the some of these issues. If I had read some of these before I bought my Countryman I may very well never have bought it. I think there is a bit of fear about reliability for a lot of folks. The repair costs are another issue with these. The labor charges for some of the stuff is definitely prohibitive. But now I also know that once you get a little bit more familiar with them, you realize that a lot of the maintenance can be done yourself by somebody that is mechanically inclined. And the other users on this sight are a phenomenal resource for educating yourself and learning how to do some of the work yourself. I have found that most are happy to help and lend you their knowledge and experience.
TLDR: Don’t be scared away by the negative reports, these are fantastically fun cars and maintenance isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be.
TLDR: Don’t be scared away by the negative reports, these are fantastically fun cars and maintenance isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be.
Neutral
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 4
From: NM
I'm interested in learning more about vehicle programming. The R60 thread has a bunch of dead links in it. I've found a version of software and a recent spdatens. Figured out that I need to use the R56 one, but since the guide links are dead, seems like there is a lot of really great info that has kind of fallen by the wayside.
I'm working my way through figuring out the map updates on my 2011. Looks like I need to get the FSC and that's sent me back to the vehicle programming path as I should be able to get the FSC that way if the little "easy" script way doesn't work. Sure wish I could see all that GDrive info that is no longer there. I'm not clueless when it comes to vehicle programming, so having that kind of howto info spelled out sure would be nice.
A few videos I found useful for my R60:
(There was a second place where I found a bit more info, but can't recall it right now.)
Mini Countryman Front Brakes DIY
MINI R60 R61 Remove Stereo Headunit Speedo
or this one:
though there were many more. Some/many weren't Countryman specific though.
I'm working my way through figuring out the map updates on my 2011. Looks like I need to get the FSC and that's sent me back to the vehicle programming path as I should be able to get the FSC that way if the little "easy" script way doesn't work. Sure wish I could see all that GDrive info that is no longer there. I'm not clueless when it comes to vehicle programming, so having that kind of howto info spelled out sure would be nice.
A few videos I found useful for my R60:
Mini Countryman Front Brakes DIY
MINI R60 R61 Remove Stereo Headunit Speedo
or this one:
though there were many more. Some/many weren't Countryman specific though.
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