I just got a call from Marina... she, James and Melanie (Irishcow) were caravaning down today... and 250 miles into the trip, her (Marina's) MINI has broken down! She managed to make it to a gas station, and she and James are now waiting for a tow to the nearest MINI dealer, which happens to be Flow MINI in Winston Salem, NC- which is apparently 90 miles away (Crown MINI in Richmond was something like 150 miles away). Funny, I would have thought the Nashville one would be closest, but oh well.

She hopes to be able to secure a loaner to bring to MOTD... worst case, she'll probably have to ride with James, who I believe is going to tag along (of course). Melanie has continuted on though, since there was nothing more she could do to help.

The irony - she said she picked up her MINI from Tate last Friday after a pre-Dragon tuneup.

Stay tuned for more updates...

UPDATE: Marina just called again - they are at Flow MINI now, and the people there are looking at the car... she said how quiet and empty the dealership was compared to what we're used to up in DC... only 6 MINIs in the parking lot, or something like that.

 

WHAT
Does she know what happened? That is horrible. And to think she said that she had a good TATE experience....

 

No!!! Gosh I hope it's something quick and simple!

 

By the sounds of it, it was a joint on the axle or something like that... they're just hoping that Flow MINI have the part in stock! I am not 100% sure on whether that description is accurate, in all her energy, Marina was a little hard to understand (she was laughing about it - probably because it's ironic).

 

If she needs a part they don't have, that Sterling, Tate, or Towson have... I for one volunteer to find them on the way down...

Heck, I should probably go to the body shop and rip it outta my car :-(

 

Oooooo, that sux0rz.

 

I just rang Marina. They're still on the way to the dealer. I mentioned the parts from NOVA idea as a option...

Wow, just ran the trop via Winston Salem in CoPilot and it only adds about 13 miles...

95 to 1 to 40 west etc...

 

crap....

 

Huh... right before I left when we were hanging out, she did say that her MINI was making a strange noise.

Hope it gets sorted soon! (And I hope she got a loaner!!)

-Paul!

 

Streghina arrived by "ambulance" at Flow MINI in Winston-Salem, NC. Where I am reporting from...(wireless connection )

The noise was detected by the mechanic who cannot understand where it comes from , no good !! but the SA here, Steve, is a really cool guy and he is looking into giving me a loaner... After he saw Streghina 's rap sheet felt bad for me

Edge was right I am laughing hysterically because I cannot believe this car is down again !!! on way to the Dragon !!!!

In any case gotta go my loaner MCS is being washed and will be ready for me in a few

Thank you all for the support !!!

MD STREGA (in NC Hospital)

Haven't named the loaner , yet... let's hope it's not a Automatic...

 

Just talked to her, it's a Auto! But at least its a MINI! Pretty cool and Kudos to Flow for the loaner since she hadn't bought there... Sounds like a " "thumbs up for this dealer!

 

Well, since it seems Marina WON'T need help installing her Schroth harness at MOTD any more, I'm not going to pack my toolbox.

 

Thank you all for your suggestions. Well I got to my car @ 3:30pm and it wouldn't start @ first. It was just turn and turn. I then put the key to position 2 and turned it. It started! But would then bog down, SES, EML and ABS lights on. Rough as hell...in limp home mode but worse. Wouldn't go above 1000 rpm or 10mph. I pop the bonnet and pull the Unichip, reset the ecu. Same thing...pull the battery for the heck of it. SAme thing...

MINI Roadside/AAA are pathedic....9:30pm rolls around and this finally
happens.

Don't mind my spare...I am having a wheel refinished due to a tire shop screw up.

 

Tire show?

I offered to help this passed weekend, but she didn't have her harnesses with her, and didn't want to go and get them. We could install the harnesses in her loaner.

 

Tire shop...I made the correction. I slept very little since last night.

Thanks for the correction.

 

So where is your car at now.. I hope NOT Tate.

 

Where else would he take it? Tate is closest to him as well, and MOTD is this weekend.

 

Sadly Krut it is...They just put a motor in it so I hold them responsible for anything it does.

Wagnbat I am not going to MOTD sadly.

 

Yeah, but the time it takes (with bolt removal in the back, etc... only to have to remove it again at the end...

Hmm... we'll see. I'm still not going to bring my toolbox, but with vendors there, that probably won't hinder us anyway if we decide to do it in the loaner.

 

Not going to MOTD? Are you sure you own a Mini?

If you've done it before, you'll know it only takes about 5 mins per seat for the full install/removal.

Small price to pay for strapped in fun on the Dragon.

 

Well, can anyone tell me what is going on at Tate? It seems like screw-up after screw-up over there. They are making MoS look better and better. Not that I have had anything bad happen at MoS. You now how you just hear stories?

I was planning on taking my MCS to one of them for the 60K tuneup/inspection2 but chose Lucky Dog instead. I just wish John wasn't so far away.

Good luck and have Fun to all that are going to the Dragon. Maybe I'll make it in the Fall or next spring.

MDS- good Luck w/ you MCSa I hope it doesn't have to stay at Tate for another month, and I hate hearing about all your bad luck. I hope things get better soon.

Laters

 

OK got info on Streghina apparently nothing was wrong with the axle but the wheels were not properly torqued down and that the wheel was bouncing off the hub when the wheels was turned at a certain direction due to loose lugs...

I am still shocked about this as I had a friend rotating my tires on Monday before I took off ... I still can't believe I was going fast just before I heard the funny sound !!

Anyway we are working out the details for picking up Streghina.

Thank you all for the support showed .



MD STREGA2

PS: I will need my harness installed now... so bring necessary tools !!!

 

Note to self... Don't let Marina's friends touch wheels.

 

Phew! A sigh of relief!

Well, glad to hear that all worked out; the loose wheel could have been a very serious problem ! Fortunately nothing bad resulted from the situation. And kudos to Flow Mini for getting the problem resolved so quickly-I'm sure you were pretty bummed at the possibility of missing MOTD.

At least it wasn't a problem that Tate caused. They need bad publicity like a hole in the head.

 

Well I made to within about 60 miles of Fontana. I had the van and belts looked at three days ago. Didnt sound right. Blew the belt tensioner ouy on I 40 near Sieverville.

AAA showed up in 13 minutes! They also called the shop for me to let e know I was coming in and to get assurance theyd try to take care of me ASAP.

Told em I was far from home and on way to vacation. Hope to be back on the road shortly...

Mark