I have come across this forum via google, and decided to quit lurking and register - I love the amount of people as well as the amount of information is shared on this website!

So I guess you can say I'm still lurking - but at least I have an official, registered name

I know very little about automechanics in general, and still regret to this day not taking some extra college, entry-level auto classes. I'm still considering...

I'd rather not mention the following, but it'd come revealed later anyway, so....: I am 18. I drive an R50 recently loaned to me by my mother about 5 months ago with ~40k mileage, now @ 59k (I had to work and couldn't use my dad's only car). I do wish she bought the S when the opportunity arose (I still remember the first day the White Pepper hot hatch pulled in brand spankin new). I did mild googling and tried to mandate over it, but she went with the automatic saying "Even though my first car was a stick Mustang, it'd be nice if everyone in the house could drive it", her way of saying she was too lazy to teach stick

It's a sweet, fun ride, and I get similar comments while being passenger to new MINI drivers - even my (ex)boss!

My intentions:

I obviously want to learn more and more about my MINI, so I figured the manual would be a great place to start . Its power steering has been replaced about 10k ago, new front brake pads 5k ago, oil's fine w/ new filter 5k ago.

I do know a fairly reliable BMW certified mechanic who does good, but he's quite literally always busy. I live in CA, Bay Area, and I'm interested in a more specialized place that I could bring my R50 to for checkups and maintenance, and possibly just a few aftermarket upgrades (it's my everyday drive + it's not manual). SO if anyone could recommend or knows of such a place, I would benefit greatly

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks! I'm gonna go look for a new job - need some way to fund modding. If anyone, by chance (I'll be looking around myself), who lives in/near Vallejo or Cupertino or San Jose, knows of an open part-time position, let me know!