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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.
Taking the wife's '08 Clubman into the shop to find out the reason for the "limp home" check engine icon (yellow). I almost had enough saved up for a new set of Blizzaks for this winter. Back to ground zero!
Taking the wife's '08 Clubman into the shop to find out the reason for the "limp home" check engine icon (yellow). I almost had enough saved up for a new set of Blizzaks for this winter. Back to ground zero!
Amen! I can't get it to a dealership (250+ miles away) so I'm taking (if it will make it) to the closes German motoring experts - a VW dealership 70 miles from home! It is dropping a little oil but I suspect it is something else. I scanned it and got no codes. We'll just have to hold our breath and see what happens!
Replaced the heater/AC blower motor and final stage resistor. Blower motor was squeaking a bit and finally quit. Took a little over 3 hours but not a bad as I feared. Thank goodness for Pelican Parts and their how to tutorials. I have repair manual for the car but their tutorials are great! Buying my parts from them from now on because their tutorials help me avoid the stealership.
Replaced the heater/AC blower motor and final stage resistor. Blower motor was squeaking a bit and finally quit. Took a little over 3 hours but not a bad as I feared. Thank goodness for Pelican Parts and their how to tutorials. I have repair manual for the car but their tutorials are great! Buying my parts from them from now on because their tutorials help me avoid the stealership.
Hopefully the ECS conglomerate doesn't kill them like they did Bavarian Autosport. BavAuto was great for DIYs for BMWs.
Well all my parts showed up for me to replace my inner an outer front tie rod ends. Old ones were seized up an could not be adjusted for front end alignment.
I also ordered a vent mount gauge pod. So I can install my oil pressure gauge.
My scangauge ii mount was shipped out last week. Will be here Monday. Cravenspeed was awesome working with me. I have there magnetic phone mount now. So they hooked me up a new mount to allow scangauge on one side an keep my phone mount on the other side.
Fearing this is where we will end up with Grumpy. I tired to do an alignment earlier this week and couldn't budge them. The location is not friendly to stuck components as there is no room to get tools in. It also didn't help that the torch was out of oxygen. The oxygen tank has been refilled and I'll give it another go this week.
Fearing this is where we will end up with Grumpy. I tired to do an alignment earlier this week and couldn't budge them. The location is not friendly to stuck components as there is no room to get tools in. It also didn't help that the torch was out of oxygen. The oxygen tank has been refilled and I'll give it another go this week.
I purchased a inner tie rod removal tool. I just get the tool I need for the job. That way I can help out anyone else in my area that cannot afford to pay a mechanic.
I purchased a inner tie rod removal tool. I just get the tool I need for the job. That way I can help out anyone else in my area that cannot afford to pay a mechanic.
The proper tools to change the tie rod isn't a problem, the access to try move a stuck tie rod during an alignment is. On most cars there is plenty of room to get something on the inner to grip it really well. With the tie rod being over top of the control arm and so tight to the unibody there is very little room on the R50/R53.
I sorted out repeated limp home events by replacing the accelerator pedal. Codes are were throttle pedal potentiometer. Interestingly, the new pedal caused even more limp home episodes until I figured out the throttle calibration routine: Turn on the ignition, hold the pedal to the floor for 30s. Turn off the ignition. Worked like a charm. Thanks to NAM for that info.
After owning "L'il Red," the 2002 R53 in my signature block, for many years, I traded her off this weekend for a BMW 328d X-drive station wagon. It was not an easy decision and I think I have probably said as much in the "Who is going to keep their MINI forever" forum! But, we're not out of the MINI family altogether. We still have a 2008 Clubman and I traded Lil Red for a BMW 328d Xdrive Wagon. I may be trading one set of issues for another, but they're both really fun cars to own! It's the paying part that gets rough... Time to let someone else enjoy a first gen MINI!
After owning "L'il Red," the 2002 R53 in my signature block, for many years, I traded her off this weekend for a BMW 328d X-drive station wagon. It was not an easy decision and I think I have probably said as much in the "Who is going to keep their MINI forever" forum! But, we're not out of the MINI family altogether. We still have a 2008 Clubman and I traded Lil Red for a BMW 328d Xdrive Wagon. I may be trading one set of issues for another, but they're both really fun cars to own! It's the paying part that gets rough... Time to let someone else enjoy a first gen MINI!
Enjoy the Bimmer Touring! I've loved all 3 of my e46 Tourings. 328d would be an e91 chassis, correct? We added my wife's 03 r53 earlier this year and have really been enjoying bringing it back to life.
Some very much needed maintenance...
Rag company dry me a river + edgeless microfibers, collinite no.845 polish, chemical guys applicator pads, trinova foam cannon, chemical guys snow foam, and mothers claybar kit. My baby going to get a much deserved wash and refresh. Total kit around $110 from Amazon. Should last a long time.
Took my time and spilled minimal fuel while changing out the fuel filter today. It was black and ugly. Can’t believe a shop wanted to charge me $200. Also changed the cabin air filter. Also found 73 cents under the seat.
