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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.
Participated in the Mini Together rally with a couple friends. The local Mini club was combining the Together rally with a fun run, but since we had an STi and a Skyline in our group, we went off on our own.
Then, after returning home, I proceeded to dismantle the car and install a new clutch kit, LSD, front control arm bushings, and poly swaybar bushings. What a chore to get the gearbox out of the car!
Prepping for weekend with wife/ dragon time. Oil changed Saturday 2k early knowing that there is 1k trip ahead. Cleaned up last night and waxed, should lead to easy wipe downs while on the road.
I should have posted this yesterday but I installed the Belkin Phone Cup Holder.
A short review of the product:
It has a good weight to it and my iPhone 11 Pro sits snug and when driving it doesn't move.
There's a passthrough for a cable and the only downside is the rubber part with the Belkin logo collects dust quickly.
Today, I walked past my 2011 Countryman S All 4 in my garage and layed a loving hand it. It died on March 29 2020 when I parked it after a x-country trip back home after cities in TX were closing down. I've had no place to go and she and I are still at home. I hope things are better in the next few months so I can have it towed to service. My Mini Cooper dealership in Ann Arbor closed.
Under that is the water drain for this area... Drain hole
I can well imagine that if this get plugged the floor in the passenger area will get flooded.
Lastly and very importantly I found that the air intake opening for the cabin air, that is behind the battery, has a flap that closes when the heating and AC system is fully turn off. On my car, which is fully manual, it is turned off by fully turning off the fan. Why is this important? With that flap closed, critters can’t getting into the cabin air filter or beyond that and into the fan. If they get in there, the mess will be really hard to get out.
As it was, on my car the critters did get in beyond the cabin air filter and made a mess but they didn’t get to the fan. I was able to clean up the mess through the filter access door, in the passenger footwell.
While I was cleaning that mess up, I found that the dealer had not installed the cabin air filter correctly which I fixed...
Well, the engine starts nicely now...
But, somehow the windows lost their auto-up feature...
Under that is the water drain for this area... Drain hole
I can well imagine that if this get plugged the floor in the passenger area will get flooded.
Lastly and very importantly I found that the air intake opening for the cabin air, that is behind the battery, has a flap that closes when the heating and AC system is fully turn off. On my car, which is fully manual, it is turned off by fully turning off the fan. Why is this important? With that flap closed, critters can’t getting into the cabin air filter or beyond that and into the fan. If they get in there, the mess will be really hard to get out.
As it was, on my car the critters did get in beyond the cabin air filter and made a mess but they didn’t get to the fan. I was able to clean up the mess through the filter access door, in the passenger footwell.
While I was cleaning that mess up, I found that the dealer had not installed the cabin air filter correctly which I fixed...
Well, the engine starts nicely now...
But, somehow the windows lost their auto-up feature...
You should be able to relearn the anti-trap function by cycling the windows a few times. Start windows up:
1: Hold the switch down until the window is fully down and continue to hold for 1-2 seconds after the window is completely down.
2: Hold the switch up until the window is completely up and continue to hold for 1-2 seconds after.
3: Repeat this process a total of 3 times for each window. This teaches in the stop points for the anti-trap so the one-touch will work again.
We've owned the 2009 Clubman for 2 days now. It was purchased with a very stiff shifter. So much so that finding 3rd is a chore and it didn't return to neutral on it's own.
I pulled the linkage at the transmission apart today and found the cross pin pivot had a very small ring of rust on it inside the boss where it runs. Cleaned the pin up with a bit of crocus cloth and then ran a wire brush through the boss. Finished with some copper coat anti-seize.
Now, shifts like butta (well, as much a getrag 6 speed can be like butta).
Performed my first ever string alignment on the Clubman over the weekend. When I had the subframe out for the clutch job, I also replaced the tie rod ends. Followed the “How To” from FCP Euro, and it turned out pretty good! I didn’t have to adjust anything in the back, so that probably added to my sense of satisfaction. In the front, I only had to adjust toe on the drivers side. Now the car tracks straight, and the steering wheel is nice and centered. I’m expecting to do it again when I refresh the rear suspension, but at least I know setting up the string box is pretty simple, just a bit tedious getting it straight.
Family wedding in Asheville, NC on Sept 4th. My wife’s siblings have rented an awesome huge cabin down there to do a family reunion…..why is this post here?
Taking the RaceR56S! Oil changed and then quieted down for my wonderful wife: race exhaust off, stock exhaust back on. Also, we are heading down early and spending a couple days at Fontana Village Lodge…..my 16th year down at the Dragon…..MY WIFE’S FIRST TIME!
Family wedding in Asheville, NC on Sept 4th. My wife’s siblings have rented an awesome huge cabin down there to do a family reunion…..why is this post here?
Taking the RaceR56S! Oil changed and then quieted down for my wonderful wife: race exhaust off, stock exhaust back on. Also, we are heading down early and spending a couple days at Fontana Village Lodge…..my 16th year down at the Dragon…..MY WIFE’S FIRST TIME!
We leave for the Dragon in 23 days!
Have fun! Don't forget to take in the sights up the Blue Ridge Parkway and check out all the great artisans and beer in the area. The Southern Highlands Craft Guild is a great place to support local artisans.
Have fun! Don't forget to take in the sights up the Blue Ridge Parkway and check out all the great artisans and beer in the area. The Southern Highlands Craft Guild is a great place to support local artisans.
Thanks for the tips! I’m taking her to two of my favorite spots: Dragon Hill Climb Overlook with it’s 270 degree view of the Smokies and then to dinner at Tapoco Lodge! If we have time, we might try to make a waterfalls run and the Soda Pop’s in Bryson City. Neither of us drink beer much and we will have driven 8 hours down, not sure too much driving for my wife would be advised. Lol. I’ll be doing some hard Dragon Runs during early mornings, solo. Lol
Dragon Hill Climb Overlook. Perfect place for a snack lunch and hammock nap!
Been a bit lax with the updates because of summer stuff, vacation, getting back into work mode.
Did this one a few weeks back, but came out great... full restoration on an early Gen1 solid aluminum shift **** (I believe these only came on 2002-2004's). Had the ball rechromed, and I used 'sting ray' leather (embossed cowhide upholstery leather) to recover it with royal blue stitching. Details as always in my build thread in the R53 section.
And TODAY... finally got round to installing the chrome trim ring for my tach. Now the entire dash has been de-plastic'ed and changed out to chrome. IMO, looks 1000x better (especially in the daylight, but it was raining outside today).
Before...
After...
Now, I just need to figure out a good color match for the door panels for the door speaker surrounds and I will be happy with the interior. The silver door pull handles are fine, IMO, but the rings look out of place in that silver now.
Love the badlands! Nice photos! Really gives you a sense of scale of how big those animals are! I will be taking a group of students down to the badland for sedimentology this fall. Love that area so much - probably because it reminds me of the SW so much.
Love the badlands! Nice photos! Really gives you a sense of scale of how big those animals are! I will be taking a group of students down to the badland for sedimentology this fall. Love that area so much - probably because it reminds me of the SW so much.
Unfortunately, they are phone photos and I haven't done any post processing. But you do get a feel for the size.
As we went through SD, I thought about taking a detour north to see your car. My rescue/restoration of an Indi blue 2003 begins as soon as it arrives from CT.
My rescue/restoration of an Indi blue 2003 begins as soon as it arrives from CT.