Sure, but considering there are a bunch of really nice '05 MINI S's with 20k-30k miles on them, when I went to sell mine with 61k it looked like a higher-mileage vehicle.

And trying to get $17.5k for it with 61k miles when the MINI S sitting next to it on the lot is the same year/has similar equipment with only 30k miles and is at the same price or only a little higher...I dunno.

 

But consider this.... Sometimes a "higher mile" car is more desirable than the same car with half the miles (One probably has been driven in the highway while the other car was just used on weekends or short trips).

 

Well, one of my checks got delayed until tomorrow (I use an out of state bank). Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Today would have been... great. It's 55 out and sunny. Tomorrow it's gonna rain. Sigh.... this is torture!

 

Yeah, maybe. I think my cabrio was used for shorter trips...according to MINIUSA its first oil change was at a little over 9000 miles, and the first inspection will come due at about 25,000 miles. By contrast, my MCS had those done at 11,700 and 30,000 miles, respectively. My commute was 13 miles (one way) with that car and was a mix of highway (~9 miles) and the rest city (well, small town) .

It is torture! When my cabrio was being driven back from Colorado I was going crazy with Google maps & on the phone with my SO (who was driving it back) checking its progress and trying to figure out when it would make it home.

 

That sounds like a great investment. Like these?

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/nms7300/invDetail.cfm

Or do you have another recommendation. Can I install them myself?

 

I think you can do it yourself.

But from the photo, it looks like the nuts are only 1/2 screwed down.

Are the bolts too short?

 

Maybe they use the original bolts, so the nuts don't screw down as far as they should due to the height of the new piece.
The site says it's a 10 minute install. I need these, and a new PS fan so my MINI won't spontaneously combust. After that I'm good, right?

 

In order to replace those bolts, don't you need to remove them from underneath the wheel well?

How does one check the condition of the PS fan? Is there a better fan or has the factory made an improved version?

Thanks!

 

Yeah I'd like a little more info on the PS fan too. I'll do a search later, but I don't have time because I am leaving RIGHT NOW to go get my MINI!!!!!

I'll post pics as soon as it stops frickin raining!!!

db

 

!!!w00t!!!

We had snow this AM.

 

About the fans-LOTS of threads here about them. Gen 1 cars have PS fans with no guards that suck air from beneath the car. When they seize, the PS pumps can overheat, leading to PS failure. If the PS pump wiring becomes faulty, it can cause an electrical fire. The fans are about 100 buck for the part. You can also get aftermarket fan guards or a more elaborate cover with ducting from Minimania. You can find this info doing a search on this forum.
About the reenforcing brackets above, I don't know how they go on, but the site says it only takes 10 minutes, so how hard could it be?

 

Oh, to answer the question about checking them: you can reach under the car pretty much center rear of the engine, about where your pedals are. You'll eventually find a little 3" diameter fan housing. If the blades turn freely, it's not seized. This test won't let you know whether the thing kicks on when it should, however.

 

I just got my Mini!! It's crappy weather, and I just grabbed some pics with my phone, but I am PSYCHED!!

 

Very nice!

 

Black on black is sweet. Hmm. On the "justacooper", alloy wheels are options like tint and the rear spoiler. Maybe you have a couple little extras after all.

 

Yeah, those should be fine. I ordered mine from M7's website and it was my first mod on my car. Unfortunately, it was after my strut towers had rupture and had been replaced. Wish I would have done a little bit more research beforehand. Anyways, I installed them myself. Yes, you just unscrew the screws on your car and pop them down over the bolts and screw them back on.

I've also heard, that ultimately, the best way is to get plates which go under your mounts. Such as http://www.mini-madness.com/index.as...ROD&ProdID=334 . I don't think I'd be able to do these myself as it looks like it requries lowering the strut. However, if I had to do it over I would probably get these instead of the top down ones. Overall, I think both work well as you can read the many threads on here about strut reinforcement plates.

Congrats on your purchase and good luck!

 

Really? I thought all "S" models came with aluminium wheels. I haven't ever seen any with steel wheels, so I just made the assumption...

Live and learn.

 

Actually, I don't know anything about the S model . I am a modern jackass. All I know is the base model reg MINIs considered it an upgrade in aught 3.

 

Those are the stock 16s on the S.

Puppy, where the heck was those pics taken? I work in Brownsville. Are you near there?

 

Hi Erick!
I am in Williamsburg - those pics were taken right by my place, very near the Domino Sugar Factory. Brownsville huh? I found a garage on the interwebs called L&M - it is on Utica Ave. and seems to be highly recommended for BMWs and other imports. Know the place? Nice to meet a fellow New Yorker! What do you drive?

I am glad to have the 16s and the non-run flat tires for the roads around here. I had a buddy rent a Cooper from Zipcar last week - since I'm a drummer I had to make sure my kit would fit in the back - and that car had runflats and rode like a brick.

 

Thanks polepino! I'm going to order those plates right now.

 

Thanks for the info! Yikes. Have you upgraded with a fan guard or cover?

 

Congrats! It's a beautiful car.

 

I had the 15" snows on over the winter, and I just put my 17" S-Lites with runflats back on, I am so happy to be back on the larger rims and stiffer tires. I think it actually drives better, especially over the bumpy terrain, no more bouncing around, the suspension seems to handle everything nicely. I guess I am one of the few that likes the stock setup with runflats.

 

Interesting. It's possible that the Zipcar was beaten down and abused; I'm sure you take better care of your equipment so maybe the comparison is not totally accurate.