I assumed that was an issue, well that really sucks.

 

Well jacked up the car today to check the shocks after hitting a huge rut and mushrooming my shock towers. The shocks look good and are rebounding like they should. Inspected my brakes and swapped my 17" rims with run flats over to 16" rims with non run flats.

 

Sorry to hear that buddy. I got 136k on mine and I have NO IDEA how but they still havent shown any sign of mushrooming

 

Headlights polished up a bit more.


The surprise you get when you don't take the previous owner's word on the air filter being changed out a 'few months ago'.

 

I wish that I'd would have taken a picture of the cabin filter on my r53 when I first got it. It was pretty nasty, which was weird considering they always had the car serviced every 3k

 

Wow, that is bad! Every May (pre-summer), I swap out the cabin filter, re-charge the engine air filter and get new wiper blades from RockAuto.

 

I dont want to even imagine the cabin filter. That's on the 'to-do' list for next weekend. First things first, strut/springs replacement...my back is killing me.

 

Took off front wheels and to the bolt out that holds the rotor on the hub used a 50 bit and put easy out and replaced. Took Longer to get wheel off than taking bolt out.

 

Installed drivers side door panel with new kenwood speaker after having replaced the window junk last week. Replaced window motor in pass side with new speaker. Put it all back together. Boom. AIRBAG light comes on... :( go to check the plugs under the seats to find thst my clutch master cyl is leaking AGAIN after 2 weeks since last replacemebt at dealer, which was 2 weeks after i replaced it myself at my shop.

I genuinely hate bmw with so much of a passion. I love this car but. I just can't past all of the BMW-isms about it. Thinking about selling it. Sonking way too much time and money into making basic crap work for more than 2 weeks.

 

I feel your pain.

I'm pretty much selling mine in the next few months. I hope I'm not making a mistake keeping it around a bit longer. I think the only solution is Toyota Tacoma so I can win back part of my life.

IMO A used MINI is a hobby car and nothing more.

I did order new Conti DWS tires.

 

If you guys get discouraged easily, probably shouldn't drive a MINI. Once you get all the quirks taken care of you can enjoy the car.

 

Thanks Stephen Johnson. Glad to hear you don't have the mushroomed shock towers. But on the positive side the 16" rims and tires I changed over to ride tons smoother. I have had them out in my garage for months. Just waiting until I wore out the run flats. Changed them out early after shroomage. Wonder why I waited so long...

 

There’s the problem, getting all the quirks sorted. It’s like trying to get a geriatric patient sorted.

 

I can't argue with you there, it's a pita. I've still got a few to take care of. About 1k dollars worth...

 

I am pretty close to the edge myself I love my MINI so I keep talking myself out of it but I AM CLOSE!!

 

Used my newly acquired diagnostic scanner to turn off the airbag light in my R53 that's been on since 2009. What can I say, it took me a while to get to it...
Also determined I need 2 wheel sensors on the R53 and an oxygen sensor on the R55.

Sorry to hear you guys are having so much trouble with your cars. My R53 is the first car I bought slightly used and have done my best to stay on top of its "quirks". I've been relatively lucky with it, less so with the R55. I guess it's luck of the draw, but I'm not inclined to replace the R53 or purchase another BMW product any time soon. Not sure what I would replace it with anyway. Not much else out there that is reasonably priced and reliable. Maybe they will get the kinks worked out of the FR-S/BRZ

 

Heck if anyone should be close it's me. After 1 year and 1 transmission ect, ect, ect... Almost $7k after! purchase price. I find myself ordering a strut tower brace and fixing my mushroomed shock towers. Still love driving it. Just put on 300 miles today :-) with no problems

 

Painted mirror caps

 

looks good!

 

Found my new tires on my doorstep when I got home yesterday. Primacy MXM4, anyone here have any experience with them?

 

Deleted rear wiper. Got sick of spending too much free time trying to trouble shoot its erratic behavior.

Also changed trans fluid and coolant.

 

+1

 

I like that subtle accent against the black.

 

Looks awesome!

 

Looks great! Regular paint or plasti-dip?