Good news! I'm glad everything is good!!

 

+1

 

ya know...I was so happy to have my MINI back from the dealership eventhough it cost me $$$$ .
But as the next cpl days went on I started noticed that my exhaust was not its normal sound. I didn't notice immediately because I drove the car from the showroom and its echoee in there and the highway was at cruising speed.
And in town i thought that the loaner mini was so quiet that i had to re- adjust to my mini sound. Not so. After seriously listening to my MINI I noticed that its louder and sputtery to the point of irritating. And the noise comes from under the vehicle near the front tires and not out the tail pipes. It wasn't like that when I took it in. And I didn't "bottom out" or anything like that. C'mon bear with me folks WE know our MINI's right?
Even my kids, who are not as in tune with my MINI as I am, noticed.
As did my friend and girlfriend.
So, I called the dealership on this and I get "We didn't touch the exhaust" which I expected them to say. So, now its a case of He Said/She Said and I'm gonna get screwed for more $$$$ somehow.
$%#&(*^$!?<*&^

I'll have a friend rotate the tires and look at it this weekend. If all is hooked up right and is working like its supposed to then I guess my hearing is going in my old age.

It's embarrasing to drive.

 

It sounds like they didn't get something hooked back up correctly. If I was certain it wasn't right, I'd take it back in and insist that they inspect it. You shouldn't have to deal with someone else's lack of attention to detail.

They should make it right. You paid for it.

 

Cruise Control? Wassup, Dad? I wanna move!
Grampa

 

Chili Red, no less!

 

Hey, does anyone have extra EIM cards?
I'm out.

 

Thanks to Darryl for the wonderful Wild Ride in Cedar Rapids and vicinity! We enjoyed all of the trip and thanks for the special treats, too! Mini pop in the park, how perfect! Frozen custard will be a new addiction for me!

See you all in Dubuque!

 

Tag cards for handing out?? I think I may have a few more somewhere. I think..If not I can always get some printed out.

 

Willing to apply your creative juices to a new card design? I realized my remaining cards still have a PW/B on them...

Also, had another inquiry last Saturday about getting EIM vinyls.

 

I have some, too. Not sure when I can get them to you, though.

 

Full detailing, tire rotation, and oil and filter change...what a great way to spend the early morning hours on this beautiful holiday.

 

Pre-running roads tomorrow (7/9) for the Cassville Ferry Drive on the 23rd...I'll keep an eye out for ya.

 

If you haven't seen one of these events before, they can be fun to watch. Usually a couple MINI's participate, including an EIM'er.

http://sccagrr.com/calendar/

 

I can't even begin to tell you how badly my MINI withdrawals are! I am so looking forward to the Ferry trip!!

I took Gozer to Clinton last weekend (needed all 3 of our vehicles to haul food and stuff for our son's wedding). My husband overheard a new to us comment, "I didn't know real people drove those cars." Really?!

 

I wonder what sort of "non-real" people they expected...

Bet you're glad the wedding party didn't have to deal with the heat that's forecast for the next several days.

We honked at "Opening Specialists" as we drove by last Saturday!

 

That's not dirt on your MINI's back window, that's art.
http://lokwi.com/item/2389

 

I noticed that most of the boot shots were MINIs. Just the best naturally dusty palate, I guess...

 

Anybody ever change their own water pump? Mine went out and I tried to change it myself, but it turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought.

 

Not me. My old MINI was 1st Gen, and my current MINI still has most of its warranty period left.

There's not a whole lot out there in terms of DIY guidance for 2nd Gen MINIs. There is still no decent guidance manual available yet (soon to change, when Bentley finally releases their R55/56/57 Service Manual in September) which I think has made folks reluctant to tinker -- plus the fact that a lot of 2nd Gen MINIs are still under original factory warranty.

I searched the web-based DIY resources I know of and didn't come up with anything on water pumps.

 

There is a how-to here in NAM. I tried to follow it, but it was a lot harder than it seemed. I tried going from the top, then the bottom. Took a couple hours taking off parts and putting them back on when I couldnt get it done. There just isnt much room and without knowing how to get that friction wheel off the water pump pully, its a lost cause. I have changed all kinds of engine components over the years, but I didnt feel comfortable with the setup on the mini.

It would be nice nice to save a few hundred bucks, but I called Willis today and am having them do it. BTW, my car has 58K miles. Just seems way to soon to be replacing engine components. In reading these forums though, it seems to be a reoccuring problem on these Minis.

 

Is any one from Eastern Iowa going to the Ozarks in October? I don't know if we are going yet but are considering the trip.

 

Nothing formally organized or announced yet, but there is a small group of us having the off-line conversation and giving it some uber-serious consideration.

Stay tuned...we'll be sure to keep you folks in the loop.

 

I have yet to hear from Lyle about the Vinyls, so I'll have to bug him again, and Im up for making new cards. Shoot me an email with what you have in mind. Thanks.


also to let you all know, Lisa and I have gone back into business for photos and design stuff to help raise money for our puppy who has a liver shunt and needs surgery. We've already spent a lot of money on her to not really get anywhere and now she is going to need another surgery up at Mich State so we are trying to get some business to help pay her massively mounting medical bills. Oddly enough surgery isn't cheap..

In any case, if you have any friends families who need photos send them my way.

http://www.megapixelphotos.com

 

Hey Gary,
What's this "Snake Road" you mentioned in your e-mail?
More details please.