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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.
Over the last month, mine got new driver and passenger window regulators - both crapped out within 2 weeks of each other - first the left, then the right.
Last night, I taught my daughter and her boyfriend how to drive a manual transmission in my 17,000 mile 06 MINI Cooper S Convertible. Well actually, I taught my daughter. She is ready to drive on the real roads after her second lesson. The boyfriend (his first and final lesson), on the other hand stalled it so often the battery was struggling to get the car restarted. We gave up after he was able to move the car 10 feet.
Last night, I taught my daughter and her boyfriend how to drive a manual transmission in my 17,000 mile 06 MINI Cooper S Convertible. Well actually, I taught my daughter. She is ready to drive on the real roads after her second lesson. The boyfriend (his first and final lesson), on the other hand stalled it so often the battery was struggling to get the car restarted. We gave up after he was able to move the car 10 feet.
Go You!
I have 2 daughters that I taught to drive a stick. I also taught them how to change a tire, check the oil, change the oil (just so they would know so shops wouldn’t be able to take advantage of them), and how to jump start the car. Over the years they have come back to tell me that, for one reason or another, they were glad I did that.
Last edited by Eddie07S; Aug 30, 2018 at 06:22 AM.
Reason: typo
Last night, I taught my daughter and her boyfriend how to drive a manual transmission in my 17,000 mile 06 MINI Cooper S Convertible. Well actually, I taught my daughter. She is ready to drive on the real roads after her second lesson. The boyfriend (his first and final lesson), on the other hand stalled it so often the battery was struggling to get the car restarted. We gave up after he was able to move the car 10 feet.
Originally Posted by Eddie07S
Go You!
I have 2 daughters that I taught to drive a stick. I also taught them how to change a tire, check the oil, change the oil (just so they would know so shops wouldn’t be able to take advantage of them), and how to jump start the car. Over the years they have come back to tell me that, for one reason or another, they were glad I did that.
You guys are my inspiration!
While I will kick the boyfriend to the curb (not as nice as you), I have 2 daughters up and coming. They will know how to do everything you listed as well BEFORE they head out by themselves. No reason they should not have a basic understanding of a vehicle.
Anything larger/worse and they can call their repair service to come and get them. (dad) I’m even debating about having them change their own oil when they get their own car.
Just like our kids should know the real basics in car maintenance as driving age nears, they should also know about finance and credit card use and everything else that most schools don't seen to teach much about. So many young persons get into financial trouble because they don't know the basics about how these things work. Good to see there are parents out there that take the time to teach their kids real life skills. Manual transmission operation is one of those things anyone that drives should know.
The boyfriend (his first and final lesson), on the other hand stalled it so often the battery was struggling to get the car restarted. We gave up after he was able to move the car 10 feet.
Well, you know how it is. Some men just lack the delicate touch required to correctly mesh the moving parts.
Don’t worry, she’ll find a new one eventually. When she brings home one that can drive stick, you’ll know it’s the right one.
i’ve decided not to try doing the clear coat with a brush. It’s an absolute bear to get perfectly smooth and even, and doors and hood aren’t exactly inconspicuous areas. So I’ve ordered the aerosol clear coat and will do that probably next weekend.should be approximately 1000% easier to blend with factory clear.
I did what I was hoping to put off to this weekend - replaced the battery, in the parking lot at Pep Boys. (internet special, 20% off on Bosch batteries.)
Whether it was by accident or design, the only tool needed to remove the cowl fasteners, battery cables, and battery hold down is a 10mm socket wrench. 5 minutes later I was back in the door with the original battery to get the $15 core charge refunded. The original battery lasted 6 1/2 years so I can't complain.
i’ve decided not to try doing the clear coat with a brush. It’s an absolute bear to get perfectly smooth and even, and doors and hood aren’t exactly inconspicuous areas. So I’ve ordered the aerosol clear coat and will do that probably next weekend.should be approximately 1000% easier to blend with factory clear.
After many many sets of aftermarket driveshafts, two sets of coilovers, a lot of procrastinating and looking at new cars I finally got the suspension on my r50 complete. Getting her corner balanced next week.
Put it in adjustable endlinks this morning. A few weeks after installing a bigger rear bar I was hearing a weird sound from the rear left corner. Put her up on the lift and saw a broken end link - thank god the adjustable ones were already en route.
Thanks. Pretty happy.
I’d love too source some of that clear film. I’ve searched online but haven’t found anything. Suggestions welcome.
My only experience is with XPEL. Sort of like applying window tint.
As for my headlights - I wet sanded and polished and then sprayed a clear coat from a can on them - barely lasted a year. I plan on trying a film before the winter time. I’ll keep you posted. Typically it’s applied directly after a correction.
New plugs at 59K miles. That one lost some porcelain, but it was running pretty decent. A few weeks back we got a reduced power issue with no codes. Has been running ok with exception of a minimally rough idle. Hopefully this solves that! Plus these were all gapped up near 0.045 when it should have been 0.028 from what I gathered. 13 R60S
Installed a combination of parts to finish a "proper" working front shock tower brace. No bends, no kinks, no roundabouts...just a straight bar.
Installed a non-airbag, aftermarket steering wheel.
Installed a combination of parts to finish a "proper" working front shock tower brace. No bends, no kinks, no roundabouts...just a straight bar.
Installed a non-airbag, aftermarket steering wheel.Mike
My car came with (bought used) an M7 support kit. Well, being an Aerospace Engineer by profession, I could see the errors in their ways with the actual bar. While the mounting plates are nice, the bar is almost useless in my opinion. I've done a lot of strength testing in my years.
I found the Racing Dynamics kit online. I called to find out the actual dimensions of their bar. It's carbon fiber. I thought, if it's fairly thick, it might work as designed. After a coupla phone calls, they gave me the actual dimensions (id / od) of the carbon fiber bar. I was mostly happy with that info, plus, it's straight. Their mounting plate, while mostly ok, the M7 plates are better, tower support wise. While you still need support UNDER the cars sheet metal shock towers to keep them from pounding out of shape, the big M7 plates...may help a little.
So, I just redrilled/taped the M7 plates to accept the Racing Dynamics brackets. AND, the best thing about my new arrangement, I have NO...SLOTTED holes. Slotted mounting holes offer NO support. I somewhat understand the possible need for slotted holes, I also know that today's cars are assembled to much closer tolerances than 1980's/even 90's cars, so to me, either the slots should be MUCH shorter, or, the kits should be sold with a filler of some sort to take up the room in the attachment slot. Friction attachments offer very little actual support.
