Mine will come off the end of next week. Then my rain tires get installed.

EDIT... Couldn't wait, I just got done installing my summer tires & tightening the rear sway bar back to full tight. Wow my MINI handles like a go-kart now, not a snowmobile.

I hope it doesn't snow. If it does I'm so screwed on these tires.

 

Back to the all seasons sometime next week sounds good from here, too. I also need a tech check and brake fluid change for a school in early April.

 

So I swapped my wheels out yesterday - snows for s-heavies. The s-heavies still have the Goodyear all season runflats that came with the car. Those tires are awful. They're making all sorts of noise on the road and are tram-lining all over - tread is almost down to the wear bars. So I just bought a set of 215/40/17 Yokohama Parada Spec2 tires from TireRack ($94 each). They should be here by Wednesday. Unfortunately nobody sells AVS ES100s anymore. And I didn't like any of the tires shown for 215/45/17 for a decent price, so I went with the lower profile sidewall, and it turns out to be only 1/4" smaller in diameter than stock. My car is going to look like an R56 with these tires!

Yes, let's hope that it doesn't snow.

 

Great move if you're going to make it look more like an R56 (don't blame me, you opened yourself up for that one ) Will you have them on in time for breakfast next Saturday?

 

I hope to have them on by then.

 

Ben I have Yokoblama ES100's on my Miata, I hate them. While the grip is very good they tram line all over the road. They were the hot setup 10 years ago. Lots better choices now. Let us know how you like the Parada Spec 2's.

 

The tires came today so I ran down to ET Paul's to have them installed. They ride so much better than the runflats ever did, even at the 41 psi they filled them at. So far so good. I think I need to take some air out.

 

Umm 41 pounds is just a wee bit over inflated. I'd try them at 32 or 33 & see how you like them.

 

But highway mileage will be way better with more pressure! I have to travel to Beavercreek tomorrow so I'm going to leave the air in them (max pressure is 51 psi). I'll drop them down to 35 all around after my trip.

 

Yep max pressure it is. It's funny how many tire places read the sidewall & put that amount of air in the tires. Go figure.

Stay out of the pot holes. Over inflated tires are likely to break if you hit one of Ohio's highway land mines.

 

Hey Chuck, has Spring gotten you out in the garage for tinkering around yet? I need to change my oil soon...

 

Speaking of Oil Changes... what's the opinion of everyone here... Change oil after break-in period (now) or wait for when the MINIs "tell" us to?

 

I waited for the car to tell me until my warantee ran out, now I have started my every 5,000 mile regiment. My question is where do people go? I stopped at the Quick change, but those places make me nervous I know there is a gasket that has to be just right or you get major trouble. The place I went had a Mini specilist, the guy who removed the old one handed it directly to another guy and said you deal with this thing I am not touching it.

 

Yea, that was the next question. I've changed the oil in all my other cars, but with the whole computer thingy, I wasn't sure if it's possible to do without a trip to the dealer...

 

I'd change the oil after the break in is complete. IMHO it is just crazy to leave that oil in your MINI as long as BMW would like. Oil & filters are cheap, engines are not. For me it's every 5 to 6 thousand miles. I also add a bottle of Chevron Techron to the gas at each oil change.

DON'T go to iffy lube!!! They will screw up your MINI.

 

Allen if you don't want to do your own oil changes I'd recommend the North End Wrench.

 

You can reset the miles to service counter on your own. There is info on how to do this either on NAM or MINI2. Just do a search. The reset should be very easy to do. I've reset my ECU after every engine modification - very simple to do. Sometimes the ECU just needs a reset after a while too.

Chuck, the only thing I'm missing to do the oil change in my garage is the size socket to loosen up the oil filter. So, if you're tinkering I'd love to invite myself over.

 

Yea, once I saw how long the first interval was going to be... I pretty much made up my mind it needed to be done. Glad the counter can be reset. I'll have to search for that. Is there ever a "oil-change" day to teach n00bs (MINIs at least) how to change the oil?! I'd imagine it's like the other older cars I've done... just more difficult to reach everything?

 

omfg you don't know how much i love orange!!!

 

There are a couple of good helpful threads in the Gen 2 forum about changing oil. It's actually pretty easy on the R56.

 

The only car that is easier to change oil on than a R56 Cooper is a 2 stroke SAAB.

 

Spring gremlins? My SES light came on Monday afternoon. Over the weekend I did an oil change and cleaned and oiled my air intake filter. At first I thought I had over-oiled the air filter and gunked up the intake air sensors, but I had the code read. It threw code P1476 - leakage diagnostic pump clamped tube ( NAM post).

Anyone have this problem before? It seems like an easy fix but requires some disassembling of the rear-passenger side quarter.

 

I've never heard of that one before. What the heck is a diagnostic pump anyhow?

If you'd like to borrow my Bentley manual give me a call.

 

Apparently, the leak diagnostic pump (or fuel vapor detection pump) pressurizes the fuel system to confirm that it is not leaking.

 

Here's your fix....