CR my chilly was a little on the hot side... tomorrow will be interesting...but those damn Vikes...when will we ever get it all together..lol. Our QB looked horrible at best!!

 

Zippy, who ever you have starting is still better than Vick...Want to trade?

 

Ha Ha etidd01 that's to funny... Really Ponder isn't much better if even better... The Vikings seem like they have a curse on them... You wouldn't believe the pass that Ponder tried today..It was so horrible even a rookie wouldn't have tried a pass like that..

 

I certainly know what it's like to root for a frustrating team.... long time Eagles fan.

 

CR if you would have seen the pass Ponder tried today you wouldn't have words!! Really it looked like he was shooting baskets!!

 

Yeah.... he's terrible. I wouldn't give you a 7th round pick for him.

 

CR I know ... This is his third year as a starter.. there is no way he should be looking like he does now!! He just doesn't have it!! Our back up QBs are better..lol..

 

Geez...people are still talking break-in period? I just hit 4500 miles, and did my first oil change (myself)...a fresh oil filter, and 4+ quarts of AMSOIL European Formula 5W-40 (which meets all of BMW/MINIs requirements...API SM, ACEA A3/B3, BMW LL-01).

An oil change on the N18 engine is quite different from the previous Tritec engine in the R50/R53. The drain plug is right on the bottom of the oil pan (instead of the backside), so you're getting oil on yourself & your tools no matter what you do (which is annoying). Then to access the oil filter, you need unbolt and swing the coolant reservoir out of the way. I kept feeling like I was going to break something as I was doing that. Then I get the oil filter housing removed, and it's a plastic (okay, probably a composite plastic) material. I was scared to death putting that thing back on. I figured for sure I would either cross-thread it, or crack it while torquing it down...if not both. Although, I must say, rethreading the oil filter housing onto the engine block ending up being MUCH easier than it ever was on the R53. It sometimes took me 20-minutes, and A LOT of swearing, just to get the housing lined up properly on the R53.

A good Sunday afternoon/post Bears game (Bears win!) project though. Only took me an hour...which should take much less time in the future. I was actually surprised that the relative cleanliness of the drained oil. It was dark, but definitely not black...maybe coffee colored. Doing 5k oil change intervals is probably overkill, but I don't feel comfortable doing 9k intervals (although, it's FAR better than the 15k interval). It's small price to pay for piece of mind though...and what engine has ever complained about fresh oil?

 

Not sure I'd prefer going through all that over paying for the oil change.

I'm right at 1200 miles now... YAYYYYY !!... and my oil is still so clean, I can't really read it on the Craven Speed dipstick. I have to carefully put a lint-free paper towel (blue one so it actually shows) on the dipstick and see where it aborbs oil.

 

 

I have the same problem with mine - even tried going back to the OEM dipstick, but it's even worse. For me, the advantage of the Craven dipstick is that it doesn't feel like it's going to break off every time I push it in or pull it out, but it's really not much of an improvement in indicating oil level.

 

Has anyone reset their ECU after break-in? In the good old days (5 or so years ago), a reset was beneficial for better performance, but now is the N18 ECU too sophisticated to care?

 

Oh, it's not that bad. The plastic/composite oil filter housing was the only thing that had me nervous. At least it's only a $40 part, I might just buy one to have on hand. Just in case.

Good to know the CravenSpeed dipstick is still difficult to read. I was debating getting one, but $75 for a $!@%*&# dipstick is kinda ridiculous...especially if it's not much easier to read.

 

I just broke 4k and can still barely tell on my craven speed, but it has gotten easier.

 

I'm considering adding a little food coloring dye to my oil so I can actually see it.

 

Look who's back from California with this Beaut:D Look what I've installed also! I have boost and oil temp gauge waiting at home, i forgot to order some miscellaneous parts to make the install a breeze so I'm currently waiting on some more goodies! BSH OCC is also making it's way across America. Blah blah I could go on about how awesome this car has been! 900 miles already! WOOT WOOT- I get some loud pops once in awhile and averaging 33.8mpg

DON'T MIND THE LICENSE PLATE- IT'S FROM A YOUTUBE PRANK VIDEO THAT IS HILARIOUS!!!!
INSTALL WAS A BREEZE, I'D DO IT FOR FREE FOR ANYONE OF YOU MINIACS

 

Updated photo of my wife's 2013 Clubman S. Finished installing the custom sport stripes on the roof and boot. All done with cosmetic mods for now, have a few other plans in the works.

 

Congrats on the new JCW! How long did the installation take you for the rear diffuser? Did you do it in your own garage on jackstands or ramps?

Are you going to install the front GP tray too? Then your underside would be smooth from front to rear, and you'd gain the full aero benefit (and about 1 mpg more, according to some guys). Another bonus is it keeps all the road crud from splashing up into your engine compartment. Besides that, it's just cool.

 

Nice job on the CR accents - and the garage full of MINIs!

 

Back the car up onto some ramps and did the install on my back with a tarp laid down It took an all good hour from start to clean up. Spa! thanks for helping me spend more money, I was looking for a belly pan to keep the engine bay clean, now i've found where else i can spend 270 dollars! That'll be the next mod along with the DDM RIS:D

 

That looks way hawt!!! Beautiful!!

 

Shop around for the front tray - I only paid $110, but that included a coupon from the dealer. I just got another e-mail offering $50 off $100 in accessories or service from my dealer, but I know all dealers don't offer the same coupons.

BTW, the undertray will take you even less time to install - it comes with all the fasteners attached, so all you have to do is hold it in place and tighten the screws. One downside is that it needs to be removed to do an oil change, because there are no access holes for the drain plug or oil filter.

 

Lead some club members down Skyline Drive, I was the only one to go all the way down and back up on it, hence the solo shot haha.

 

Looking good, Wii ! Good to hear that the diffuser was easy to install, too.

JM... good looking Clubbie !

Just can't go wrong with black and red.

SB, not many more beautiful drives in our part of the country than the Skyline Drive. Bet that was an awesome day !

 

I put one coat of Blackfire Wet Diamond and the Pepper White popped:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...roduct-review/