New owner here, Cooper S 2003 with 31K miles.

Where the heck is the tool kit? Also, my TPMS is one sometimes but not others, tires are at about 37PSI, well under the tire recommended max... is it too high for the monitor? resetting it turns it off then it comes back on later... Also what does the monitor look like, is it a special stem? cuz mine are normal ones...

 

Did you look in the garage? Under that stack of old newspapers?

I think the TPMS on '03s is based on wheel speed (ABS wheel speed monitor), not actual tire pressure. May be a bad wheel speed sensor.

 

The tool kit is under the carpet in the boot. There should be a little notch (I don't know if there is in 03s...my 06 does) in the carpet near the latch...pull it up and it will reveal the kit.

Does your MINI have stock wheels? The TPMS works with some wheels and not with others, so that may be the problem. Or it just may be malfunctioning, if your pressures are correct (check the pressures listed on the door jam sticker to make sure they're right).

 

In my '06 MCS, it's under the boot carpet as Melissa and Clara say. There is a styrofoam container that's wedged between the battery and the bodywork.

 

in my '04 mcs, the tool kit is held w/ a velcro strap in the SIDE compartment in the boot (or trunk), driver's side. sounds like it's different for '05+ cars

 

ok so i went out and found the tool kit and jack, one on each side in the storage compartments on the sides of the trunk, on the 03 MCS anyways.

Also played with the unlock button doing the windows... pretty cool.

I do not see a spare (or room for one ) anywhere on or under the car... i assumed it doesnt have one, am i correct?

The wheels are stock, ill check pressures later to see if maybe thats it.

And thank you to everyone here, this is a GREAT car specific forum, you guys are as good with the mini as some other forums are with my sportbike.
This mini has so much too it, just need to get the little kinks worked out so its quiet and i know im not stuck if a tire gets flattened on a long trip and im in love with this car. Its the only one i found that resembled fun after being a avid sportbike rider for 6 years now.

 

MCSes do not have spares.

 

cool, good to know.. sucks but good to know..lol

 

Who needs a spare? Just adds unnecessary weight... well until you really need it.

GotMINI

 

That's why you go to Target, and get a $20 compressor/Slime kit to toss in the boot.

 

your car might still have the stock runflats. i've seen people mounting a donut spare in the trunk on one of those cheap braces that latch the rear seat latches

the way your tpms is behaving, there's probably just a slight pressure difference b/w the tires. you can have different pressures on fronts and backs, but they must be the same on the same axle

 

wont do much if you cut the tire or damage the sidewall :(

 

That's when you call AAA!

 

it comes with the jack, so you can take it off and walk to Les Shwab..lol Hopefully it happens in town i guess. I am gonna do a can of fix a flat though just to play it safe.

The tires on it arel ike 20% left at 30K so id think they are stockers.. Good Year Eagles... but they dont say run flat anywhere on them..

Also looked up the car on tire rack it says they are 195/55/16's but whats on it is 205/55/16.. it shows a 205 but only with 17s.... So maybe they wore out two sets of tires in 30K miles????