Hello all,

Recently got an '04 MCS, out of warranty.

Just wondering how hard it is to change the oil. I noticed the filter is not a can type (unless I saw the wrong thing). Any sites or posts that might give a walkthrough?

Second, wiper/washer questions....

I don't believe I have a headlight washer (no little Mercedes style wipers on them), but I do have a cleaning fluid reservoir (driver's side under hood). The rear wiper appears to have a wash sprayer, but nothing seems to come out. Might it be using the potentially empty headlight reservoir?

Hate to be a doofus, but dying to know more about the car

Thanks in advance.

--Steimle

 

Oil change isn't that hard. There are DIY threads. Search around an you'll find them. You need a short socket to fit the nut on the case. Size is listed in the threads.

The washers are on xenon headlights, and don't have wipers. If you have little elipitcal cut outs on the headlight surround, they are xenons.

Not getting water out of the rear is probably a plugged nozzle. It shares the other resevoir.

If you go to Motoringfile.com, you can download the users manual for your car.

Matt

 

Cool. I thought it might be the nozzle, but then wondered if there might be another reservoir in the back. When I just rode a motorcycle, there weren't all these gadgets to think about. Windows... Doors... It's so complicated!

--Steimle

 

Here's a newbie tech question for ya. I am getting an 04 MCS before the end of the week. I drove it a few times last saturday but can't remember where or if it had cruise control. Was that standard on 04's? Where are the controls located?

 

you need a multifuction steering wheel. That's the option the "gives" you cruise...

Matt

 

no cruise then, that's cool. I'd rather actually drive this car anyway.

 

Headlight washers are working. Looks like the previous owner didn't know about them, or maybe the reservoir, as it was bone-dry, and the dipstick had caked blue crud on it. Mayhaps that is what's clogging the rear washer. Hmm...

--Steimle

 

Got another newbie tech question. I like this thread. OK, here goes. In the user manual I read that the driver window is supposed to have an auto up feature as long as the engine is runing (I'm driving an '04 MCS). I do not seem to have this feature no matter how 'briefly' I tap the control upwards. Is this part of some convenience package that I do not have? Or is it just busted? Also, what's the correct etiquette towards BMW drivers? just kidding.

 

My '04 MCS is the same. Auto down, no auto up. I have heard that those type things are Mini's weak points. I'll be watching for an answer, as I have to go through a checkpoint everyday Between putting my ID away, turning headlights back on, shifting gears, AND putting up the window, it is a busy 1/8th mile

--Steimle

 

No auto up on the windows (at least that is how the '05 and '06 models are). A couple of different vendors make a circuit to provide the auto up feature - some also have the capability to turn DSC on and off (remembers setting between starts).
To change the oil you will need a 36 mm short socket - I got mine from PepBoys. The oil filter is a paper cartridge that goes in the metal cannister.

 

No auto up on the earlier builds either. I added the aftermarket circuit and love it. As stated before some have the DSC off. They can also have a garage door link. Mine is just auto-up windows so I don't know much about the other features.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll just suffer through manual window closing

Sounds like an oil change is not too big a deal. Being out of warranty, I'd hate to fork $100 over to my local BMW shop.

Regarding earlier post of mine, not sure I have a rear window cleaner. What I thought was a nozzle appears to be a screw. Maybe the nozzle is in the wiper housing, or would it more likely be on the door somewhere? Hmm...

--Steimle

 

I would very highly recommend this purchase:



http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Cooper-Se...7583634&sr=8-2

 

Is this true? We have (2004 MCS) the little elipitcal cut outs, but not xenons...? Am I wrong about something?

 

Get the auto up - it'll make that 1/8th mile much nicer.


If you have the washers (cutouts) then you have xenons. It should say 'xenon' on the small outter circle. Note that the xenons are low beam only, the highs are halogen. The light cast from a xenon has a sharp cutoff vs. the standard halogens.

 

Driver's side auto-up is standard on '08s in US, and was also standard in non-US markets before that -- which may explain why a manual may state otherwise.
I have Ian Cull's auto up, and for $45 for auto up (both windows) -- and the ability to operate my garage door opener with my unlock button, to have DSC auto on or off, and to have fog lights auto on or off -- it is one of the best mods for the money.

By the way, here's a link previously posted by ofioliti of the washers in action:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0

dandw2 -- you sure you don't have xenons? The laser canon looking xenons did not appear until the '05 facelift (so just 'cause yours don't look like the xenons in newer MINIs, it doesn't mean you don't have them)

 

OK, I have a new newbie tech question. Thanks to everyone for humoring me thus far. I read through the manual and found out that it is possible to make the windows open on the car with just the key. I was not able to make this happen. However, today while waxing my wheels, and sitting on my keys, the windows suddenly started to roll. I tried to replicate it but found that I could only get the windows to roll down with repeated quick presses of the unlock button but it wasn't very easy to do. Is my battery dying? am I doing something wrong? please help, thanks.

 

IIRC, press once, then press and hold will open the windows (and sunroof, if so equipped.) Also, you can close the windows/sunroof by twisting the key to the 'lock' position and holding it there. For safety reasons you can't close them remotely, though aftermarket solutions are available if that's something you want to do.

 

press once to unlock, press twice for passenger unlock, press and hold for all windows to come down sounds like you have the option since they rolled down when you sat on them

 

will go try this immediately, thanks for the info.

 

twas successful. put a good smile on my face. I love this freakin' car. and thanks again for helpin' a newbie out. You guys rock.

 

Rear window washer: It does look a little like a screw head, it's slotted so it can be adjusted.

 

I did notice the little port. Tried sticking a pin in there, as I hear the clog is a common problem and that is a common fix. No dice. Considering the aforementioned blue crud in the reservoir, no telling how much blue crud is in the line.

Hopefully, trying to use it with wiper fluid in the reservoir will help. Nothing is a better solvent than a like liquid. I have heard of guys running hot (very hot) water through. I think I'll let chemistry run its course for a while. The washer is not that important to me.

--Steimle

 

Pin is too big and too short. If you can find a piece of wire that is used on those 3 X 5 shipping tags, it's just right and long enough and flexible enough to reach down past the turn where the crud collects.
-skip-

 

Ah... My work is littered with those. Almost literally littered

As in most things, flexibility is important

--Steimle