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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
ECSTuning thank you for all of your help. I will make sure they take a look at all of these spots. I have an appointment set for Monday for this, and the passenger seat airbag. Will keep you posted.
ECSTuning thank you for all of your help. I will make sure they take a look at all of these spots. I have an appointment set for Monday for this, and the passenger seat airbag. Will keep you posted.
You are welcome, BTW like the checkmate edition, remember when I saw that when it was , launched in the showroom.
Finally done with my project, replaced thermostat housing with hard aluminum from ECS, thermostat with 180F, silicone hoses from ECS, flushed cooling system and evacuate to get rid of air bubbles (held 25" Hg no leak) Engine temp low now and A/C behaving normally, Crank shaft Pulley with ATI and timing chain tensioner also done...
Next project.... 69UL 15" rims!!!
I've owned my MINI for 2 weeks so I decided to take him in to the MINI Dealer in Jersey for a safety inspection. Scheduled maint. it needed oil changed, break fluid changed, and a few minor things. Guy told me the original owner got an extended 7yr/100k extended maint. but he had to find out if that carried over to me. And it did!! I was so happy to hear that. So maint is covered until 2019 or 100K. Saved me almost $400 today. Multi-point inspection told me I need 2 new rear tires and an alignment. I'll shop around for tires this weekend.
Overall mega happy with their service and surprisingly good instant coffee machine. So happy for the extended maintenance too LOL
Today was spent installing my replacement ignition coil and wires after discovering a slight misfire under WOT at 5k rpms. The plugs are new with my pulley install, and I suspected the coil may be an issue as it was the original with 10 years and almost 100k miles under its belt. Growing up in an aviation-based family, I am a staunch supporter of preventative maintenance.
Also installed was my newly acquired US Mill Works tag bracket (I used leftover parts from an insurance job, so no cost to me - a few scratches don't bother me).
And finally a nice cleaning:
I'm enjoying this car as much as or possibly more than my E30 M3s, which is saying a lot.
I've owned my MINI for 2 weeks so I decided to take him in to the MINI Dealer in Jersey for a safety inspection. Scheduled maint. it needed oil changed, break fluid changed, and a few minor things. Guy told me the original owner got an extended 7yr/100k extended maint. but he had to find out if that carried over to me. And it did!! I was so happy to hear that. So maint is covered until 2019 or 100K. Saved me almost $400 today. Multi-point inspection told me I need 2 new rear tires and an alignment. I'll shop around for tires this weekend.
Overall mega happy with their service and surprisingly good instant coffee machine. So happy for the extended maintenance too LOL
Good news all around, especially that extended warranty and nice dealership that took the trouble to look up the info on it. Which Mini did you buy?
Today was spent installing my replacement ignition coil and wires after discovering a slight misfire under WOT at 5k rpms. The plugs are new with my pulley install, and I suspected the coil may be an issue as it was the original with 10 years and almost 100k miles under its belt. Growing up in an aviation-based family, I am a staunch supporter of preventative maintenance.
Also installed was my newly acquired US Mill Works tag bracket (I used leftover parts from an insurance job, so no cost to me - a few scratches don't bother me).
And finally a nice cleaning:
I'm enjoying this car as much as or possibly more than my E30 M3s, which is saying a lot.
Doesn't look scratched! Preventative maintenance, Good! Neglected maintenance, really bad! Good maintenance will keep your Mini much happier.
Doesn't look scratched! Preventative maintenance, Good! Neglected maintenance, really bad! Good maintenance will keep your Mini much happier.
Thanks! Believe me, she has some wear and tear on the outside, but luckily I run a body shop and can fix things on my off time. Once springtime arrives, the front bumper and hood come off for stripping and refinishing. I'll also fill in the old tag bracket holes and fix the miscellaneous dings in the hood. Once that's all done I'll paint my stripes on and clear coat everything over.
As for preventive maintenance, I'm a little bit over the top: I have a new chain tensioner kit, water pump, and all hoses ready to go for when the chain starts making noise - which it isn't presently but I'm betting is inevitable.
Last edited by ApexinM3; Jan 16, 2016 at 02:13 PM.
Reason: Typo
Replaced my rear stabilizer bushings and no more noise from the back! I have the sport package and with it comes an 18 mm rear sway bar. I got the bushings for $1.50 each from ECS Tuning on sale! Couldn't be happier!!!
I already replaced the thermostat with a normal OEM part, with an autozone proper part and with a chepo china part. Non worked for more than a few weeks. I keep getting an error 128 temp below thermostat control temperature. So I decided enough is enough there has got to be a better thermostat that controls at 195F. For a non charged mini 2002 that is... So I found this one thermostat in autozone. http://www.autozone.com/1/products/2...ast-15119.html not for 50 dollars or 35 dollars but 10 bucks. I brought it home, put it on the lathe to turn it down to the correct diameter, then put three notches for the clocking tabs on the silicone gasket. I would not fit on the plastic cap side because they have some protrusions so I dremelled those down. Finally it was in. I took for a ride. I noticed that the temp was not moving up for a while, but then when it hit "hot" middle point, it stayed there for a while. Then it opened, the temp dropped and slowly went up again never to come down. "hopefully!!!" I swear if it does, I either sell the car or I am going to take my sledge hammer and even out the fenders for a few hours.
If you are reading this forum, know that I really love the mini, but you must know that if you do not work on it, it is very expensive to fix things on it. Also it is a piece of crap in terms of all the hardware used and how thin the sheet metal is. Even the plastic pieces are cheap. Eventually the 4 piston engine makes the interior vibrate.... blah blah, not in a few years, probably in a few months. Again, it is a piece of crapola that I do not consider safe, but I love to drive. The problem is that I cannot possibly pass the smog test if the stupid check engine light keeps coming up because the engine is not hot enough. Done, I'm getting off my soap box for today. thanks for reading and enjoy your crapini's thermostat dilema. I might even get pissed off enough to make an electronic thermostat using an arduino and some irrigation/gas valve.
It's a fun car to drive for sure, but sometimes it's just time to let go and sell it or trade it in for a newer (or new) Mini. They have gotten a little more reliable, but unfortunately still and expensive little beastie when they do break something. Always a price to pay for fun. There's nothing on 4 wheels these days as all round smile inducing on the road as a Mini and it's definitely more than the sum of its parts.
Don't beat up your Mini... instead watch the Fawlty Towers YouTube, Gourmet night, where Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) has one of his more famous "moments" and goes off on his Austin 1100 (original Mini based) when he stalls the car and it wont restart. It's worth the laugh.
I've owned my MINI for 2 weeks so I decided to take him in to the MINI Dealer in Jersey for a safety inspection. Scheduled maint. it needed oil changed, break fluid changed, and a few minor things. Guy told me the original owner got an extended 7yr/100k extended maint. but he had to find out if that carried over to me. And it did!! I was so happy to hear that. So maint is covered until 2019 or 100K. Saved me almost $400 today. Multi-point inspection told me I need 2 new rear tires and an alignment. I'll shop around for tires this weekend.
Overall mega happy with their service and surprisingly good instant coffee machine. So happy for the extended maintenance too LOL
Replaced my rear stabilizer bushings and no more noise from the back! I have the sport package and with it comes an 18 mm rear sway bar. I got the bushings for $1.50 each from ECS Tuning on sale! Couldn't be happier!!!
Finally done with my project, replaced thermostat housing with hard aluminum from ECS, thermostat with 180F, silicone hoses from ECS, flushed cooling system and evacuate to get rid of air bubbles (held 25" Hg no leak) Engine temp low now and A/C behaving normally, Crank shaft Pulley with ATI and timing chain tensioner also done...
Next project.... 69UL 15" rims!!!
Now that is awesome. Happy to see you'll be giving it a new life. 
