We too have a 14 year old who is in those declining years, with the arthritis, lumps and bumps showing up. For the arthritis, we have just started him on Librela, which is specifically for arthritis pain management. This is a brand new drug and I have heard great things about iit from others. As a palliative thing, I am excited to see how much it helps him. That could be something for you to look into doing for your girl. Best wishes for her.

 

@Eddie07S is right, as usual. There are many drugs specifically designed for older dogs with arthritis that can be life changing. Talk to your vet about it.

 

My girl was prescribed Gabapentin 6 months ago when she had surgery to remove a tumorous growth on her right front leg. Librela was not suggested as a much more costly alternative. She now has another growth (likely inter-digital cyst) on her left paw, so another vet visit and procedure needed soon at which time I'll ask about Librela. Scheduling monthly vet visits for injections at $125-250 each (by body weight) doesn't appeal but so it goes with aging (humans and our pet companions too). Thanks for the suggestion and good thoughts. Appreciated!

 

I should have replied, as I did think you did pretty well with all of that! Tires, brake job, and motor mount, not bad!

My condolences, it sounds like you gave her a great life.

 

For some time now I've been cringing at the sound of my front struts creaking and groaning every time I turned the wheel at a slow crawl. This annoying symptom had developed a few months ago.
After engaging in another discussion with other forum members here on NAM - we finally narrowed it down to (perhaps) the front top strut mounts/bearing.
Having been fed up with hearing this unsettling creaking noise - I ordered a pair of new Lemforder strut bearings and upper spring seats in hopes it would be the fix.

After receiving the parts last week - Yesterday I finally addressed the issue and replaced the suspected culprits.


Left = New Lemforder front strut bearings & upper spring seats / Right = old collapsed Saachs strut bearings (25k+ mi).


Cleaned up Bilstein B14s w/ fresh new top bearings and spring seats ready for reinstall.


After reassembling and reinstalling both front struts, I also seized the opportunity to change out the Left front wheel bearing with new.
I had previously replaced the failing Right wheel bearing several days before.

Today I moved on to the rears...
I had recently began hearing a clunk coming from the rear while driving over uneven roads and bumps.
The first occurrence; I had discovered the noise was due to a pair of jackstands I had left in the rear compartment.
After continuing to hear a clunk again, I pulled the rear wheels and re-torqued the rear drop links. The clunk was resolved.

Both rear wheels removed, cleaned up (de-ironed) rear subframe, strut adjustment re-checked and re-torqued all suspension bolts.



My Mini put back together and road tested. Not a creak, groan or clunk to be heard. The car rides super firm and smooth for a lowered suspension.
The new front strut mount bearings has raised the ride height in the front about and inch or so...but that's about the height I had adjusted it to several thousand miles ago when I upgraded to the B14 coilovers.
I'll readjust the coilovers if needed after it has had a chance to settle.

 

Haven't been posting much and still need to address the leak on Ziggy. Got the S Lites finished up and installed on Grumpy, for now. The RS844s have shod their tires and were dropped off to be stripped and powder coated in the wife's desired colors yesterday.

 

Grumpy got his new front brakes and new front marker lights yesterday. Ready for inspection now, and almost ready to pass on to a new owner. I need to get some valve stems to swap TPM sensors over to the S Lites to put them on Ziggy. Here's a few pics of the process.


Not totally spent, but close. Around 50k miles on these, so no complaints.

These, OTH, are spent and measure below minimum thickness.

Fresh pads and rotors with cleaned and lubed hardware.

The old light suffered from a loose bulb melting it. I had stuck it back together with butyl tape, apparently, but it was beyond time for replacement.

Went with a pair because the cost difference was negligable, really. Depo brand to match the headlights. Their stuff has really come a long way from back in the day.

And a final pic of Grumpy on the freshened up S Lites. They're far from perfect, but are some solid 10-footer wheels, now.

 

Some of those who had refreshed their suspensions have often used the the word "transformative" to describe the difference afterwards.
Having completely refreshed my suspension over the last 18months - I couldn't think of a better word. I'm absolutely loving the precise and quiet handling. It's like driving a brand new 2004 R53.

While enjoying the new feel of the car, I did however, start noticing some vibration while accelerating hard between 3 - 4,200 rpms. And more noticeably between 70-90mph....
It couldn't be the tie rod ends? They were replaced 18 months ago with OE. The tires were checked for balance at the same time of the alignment?
The lower mount was changed out/upgraded w/powerflex bushings as well as the factory gearbox bushings replaced w/powerflex yellow 2 and 12 months ago (respectively).

Today I changed out the upper motor mount. It's been 32k mi (8years?) since it was last replaced.


The current upper engine mount really didn't seem or look (to me) that worn while still installed on the car...


Comparing the old 32k mi mount to the new. I was a bit surprised to see the difference.


Of course everything gets a bath in a proprietary solution of Adams iron remover and de-greaser before going back on the car.


A quick spray of Hammerite doesn't hurt to help freshen up the look of a 20+y/o part.


Having to jack the Mini up this high was convincing enough to show that the previous upper engine mount was indeed in need of replacing.


All done!

Took the Mini out for a quick romp down the switchback roads and out "into the wild" = interstate.
Transformative doesn't even begin to describe the feeling.
I would have to say - THRILLING! - is more like it

 

H2, your mini looks so good under the bonnet. Could your vibration be a front axle or DM flywheel? I have a similar vibration and even though the cv joints feel tight and I’ve not used the new in box axle i have, I’m thinking it may indeed part of the problem.

 

Changing out that motor mount on my daughter s R53S is on the short list of next items to tackle for us. We don't have any noticeable harshness, but maybe we're just living with it because this is how it's been since we bought it. We've put about 6k miles on it since we got it in 2021.

 

With regards to any vibration issues - I had grappled with trying to pinpoint a similar cause/source in the not so distant past: Several months/a year ago, I had felt a similar vibration during acceleration. I had feared the axles were going bad. While underneath the car installing/upgrading the lower mount to powerflex inserts, I just happened to notice that the center carrier bearing bolts on the passenger side axle had mysteriously backed out to where a thread and a half or so were showing. I re-tightened the three bolts and that solved the vibration.
Although I have recently serviced (not replaced), flushed, cleaned, re-greased and re booted the CV joints - All looked and felt good. No slop. No grumble. No click/clacks. No discernible wear. But I often wonder what negative (impact) those loose carrier bolts may have caused beyond my novice/naive observation?

I don't know much about the dual mass vs single clutch/flywheel. I've only had the dual mass since I bought the car new (2003). This is the second clutch assembly that has been replaced since then, including, a new OEM Mini factory dual mass installed when my transmission was replaced last September = 4,000 mi ago.

I will add; that many of the roads out here in the "sticks", although paved, are washboarded and very rough. After having replaced the upper mount yesterday, I had to drive about 15mi from the area to get to the nearest/smoothest interstate in order to really feel the difference.
So far as I can tell (without a doubt), the upper motor mount was (if not) the obvious cause for the vibration under load in my situation.

Axle replacement is in the foreseeable future.

*Edited for clarification - underlined and italicized above.

 

I can relate. My car was the most beat on, non- maintained jcw you can imagine with everything worn out and abused, but completely rust free. Every mount and bit I've replaced so far has made a fantastic difference and the little guy now drives pretty damn well and much like a bmw should. The upper motor mount was a dramatic difference, still have a small vibration that I still suspect is gonna be a drive axle, have one ready to go when I get my Jag off the lift.

 

Sunoco Super Juice

So far Albert likes it…

 

For $5.29?! No thanks. I'll take the Top Tier 93 from Costco for $3.89, thank you very much.

That being said, my Mini likes Sunoco when she gets it, too. Pre-pandemic, when we lived in Connecticut, I would fill up on Sunoco and get better mileage and power than any of the other local gas.

 

Yeh, I thought the price would be noticed… But it is all about the fun in trying it at this point.

I’ll have to try it on a track day where I should be able to tell if there is any real difference in performance over 93.

 

I run 100 octane Av gas in my pre O2 sensor cars (theres a little lead in it), mostly vintage bikes and my golf cart and small engines. Noticeable difference in the bikes, they’re happier and the fuel stores much longer without issues. Cars with electronic fi will be less of a difference im sure. But 94 at the pump, i’d have to try it in something!

 

Not to belabor a whole discussion on petrol - but I'll chime in by saying that; in my Mini I've been filling up with Chevron 93 since we bought the car new in 2003.
But quite honestly, I have to admit, that I've always been skeptical about what grade was actually filled in that 93 underground tank at some of these privately owned (yet brand "badge") gas 'n' gulp stations.
Especially during the Colonial pipeline hack.
Although I'm quite sure there is some adequate regulations and testing in place.
Of course that's just the cynic in me...

 

This morning, before leaving for work, I replaced the rear hatch handle with a black one from Amazon. The original one color matched the car, but the button had stopped working, I always had to use the remote fob to open the hatch. No longer! I have a handle with a working button! Last weekend I fixed a coolant leak, but this mornings repair is making me happier. 😂

 

This morning was a wash and wax with coat of Collinite 476S applied, and then an interior detailing.

 

Finally got to replacing my rear calipers. No more sticking parking brake mechanism. While the car was in the air, I swapped out the exhaust hangers for some poly hangers. And swapped out the passenger side motor mount with a poly insert. I was able to get the mount removed and replaced through the headlight bucket location without too much drama.

 

Final prep before MOTD. Oil change and fluid check, wiped down, wax, and healthy coat of Rain X. Basically just need to load up and head down. I need some therapy.

Top side oil change

After first wipe down to get rid of pollen and dust.

What I used to wipe her down.

 

Poor little rescue mini fended off a huge adversary a few min ago. Otw home, not feeling so hot all day and this huge chevy diesel pickup with all the goodies and race decals all over it is beside me at the stoplight. He took off fast and i didnt give him any slack, we both nailed it at the same time and i shifted out of 2nd at 75 and he was at my rear quarter when we let off. Like david and goliath! 😂 When i turned off later he gave me a thumbs up wave.

 

^^^ "The little Mini that could" ^^^
Hey we finally get to see what @slofut 's been working on!

I had a very same encounter yesterday afternoon.
I was behind this big a** white Tundra while traveling down a 55mph one lane road with a dump truck leading the way @ 45mph.
When the road finally divided into 2wo lanes (for only a short distance) , I dropped the Mini into 2nd and boosted past the trucks in front of me.
By the time I hit 4th, I was already doing 95mph and looked in my side view to find the Tundra in my blind spot trying to beat me to where the road merged into one again.
I pulled away in 5th just in time to stay out in front @ 110mph.
The guy in the Tundra rode my bumper while I let off at a respectable 55mph. When we reached an intersection, he turning left, me proceeding straight; instead of a thumbs up - he gave me the finger and sped off.
Yep - they still do that out here. There's definitely no shortage of haters left in this world.
I doubt that guy gets out to the city much...and probably doesn't watch the news.

BTW: I rarely or never drive my Mini in this manner or have any remote interest in racing... but there comes a time when you have to use what you have when you need it the most.

 

H2 I must confess, I drive mine like that all the time. And while I wasn't looking for that last race I do troll sports cars and truck sometimes when I feel a little overconfident Guys around here usually take it as a compliment and a mutual admiration kind of thing. About 3 weeks ago it was a brother in a nicely done cammed up caprice, it's fun when they don't expect to see you still there. It's the kid that's still in me, I'm 66 now, lost my license at 45 when I bought my first 635csi ...it just begged to go fast, I still have it.
Your Tundra guy was an ****** and thankfully an exception to the attitude of most car guys.

 

Likewise. When I was a "kid" (mid 2wenties) I built a little 110hp VW Beetle. I was pulled over a lot (for mostly the looks of the car). I did however wound up getting 3 speeding tickets and lost my license for a year.
I was just getting ready to move from the SE to the SW so they allowed me to drive the trip and the SW state would take over during the term of the suspension. After 3months the state dropped the suspension. I got my driving privileges back and drove/moved to Cal a few months later.
WRT the guy in the Tundra, There are a lot of "home growners" up here that drive (albeit pretty awesome looking) trucks and jeeps that just don't care for [quote] "city folks that move here driving them Euro trash tin cans" [end quote]. Yes that was the welcoming remark that I received when I pulled into the parking lot the second week I had started my new job. -
It's fine.
It's better than being shot at....I suppose.

EDIT! 635CSI ? - Wholy smokes - That's the Beemer model I've always wanted!!!
I don't often see too many of them around these days.
* envious *