Although I shouldn't be surprised - I do find it amazing that I am the only Mini owner within a 3.5 mi radius within the metro area where I live. Lots of Nissans, Hondas, Chargers and Challengers.-Eh. Sure I see a few R56 and newer model Mini's during my 25mi travel to and from work... Admittedly, I guess I am a bit of a 1st Generation Mini snob. So the aforementioned don't count as far as I'm concerned (no offense!). I'm thinking - Some of winch, (perhaps in their mindset?) "just drive a Mini".(?)

Surprisingly enough though; within the past 2months, I've had the unique experience to encounter more and more other 1st Gen owners during my travels. Guess what? - Every single one of them grinning from ear to ear, enthusiastically wave, nod, thumbs up, flash or toot with acknowledgement.
There's just something about the 1st Gen Mini's and their owners that sets us apart. I don't know - It is an extremely special feeling - To own and to drive.

This afternoon on the way home from work; I nearly passed an R53 pulled over on the side of the interstate, with their hazards on. I immediately pulled over to see if I could be of assistance to a fellow 1st Gen in distress. Before I could walk back to where he was pulled over - He merged back into traffic, slowed, gave me a friendly honk with a big smile, a thumbs up of camaraderie and gratitude.

I guess everything was ok (with them) today.

 

My commute is 25 miles too. I see a Mini every now and then and they are mostly the newer models. I have probably seen 2 other first gen Mini's around town since I got my 2. One couple in a newer Mini from out of state pulled next to me one day on the highway and gave me a beep and thumbs up. I was driving the Cabrio home from work with the top down at the time.

It's nice to be driving something different than the mainstream automobile.

 

Finally!- After repairing several door dings on my 04 R53 - Some decent and courteous drivers parked next to me in a reasonable manner

 

Damn Hyundai - Just blew our whole motif!
To that, I say: Follow the rules next time you decide where to park!

Well at least my door wasn't dinged today

 

October 16th, 2003 -
A new 2004 Dark Silver Metallic R53 was born, rolled off the assembly line and made it's way across the pond to it's new home with only 3mi on it's little beating heart.


With 92,000k on the clock - My Mini; celebrating it's 19th Birthday today.

EDIT:
While I'm not sure why I felt the need to revisit this post with an edit:
I found it interesting. Soon after posting, we set out for our weekend carwash. Within just a few feet, pulling out of the parking space; I just happened to notice the clock turn over to 92,000k. Not a milestone to say the least. Rather ironic, to me.
Instead of hitting the carwash, I decided to seize the opportunity to take the Mini out for a short spin while the crazies were still fast asleep in their beds. Popped in a little smooth jazz comp and headed down the expressway relaxing to a little Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, Norman Salant and various other nylons and sax artist. Gave the boost gauge a little exercise and let the SC do a little back up singing from time to time.
Hit the carwash after a 50 mi loop around the metro for another total spa treatment.
Mini now nice and shiny - Arrived "home" breathing a sigh of relief that we survived another day and another mile without incident.

Feels so good.

 

Just viewing this thread and it’s great to see everyone’s experiences over the years. I am the original owner of a 2005 R50 that has been well maintained, and that I basically stripped down to the bare body and restored during Covid. The car is heavily modified, but runs and drives better than new. The car has ~140K miles on it and has never left me stranded throughout all our adventures over the last almost 18 years!

 

Thats VW with our banner looks like trouble, you know those VW guys...lol

 

Well, I can't say that I've met the driver of that Jetta. 'Though having been a life long VW (aircooled) owner/driver (before my Mini), myself - I'll take your word for it!

Luckily, this is what I am now greeted with seeing in the parking lot each and every morning for the past 3-4months.....

Now if we can only get the blue Mini to back into her spot like the rest of us proper Miniacs...

Gotta say though - It's a stellar feeling to have the coolest car in the parking lot....😎

The little one on the far left in the image. Of course!

 

19 years of ownership; my Mini has only left me stranded 1ne time (a failed/exploding idler pulley).
This wasn't one of those times...

Although I'm not sure where I was when I snapped this photo about a year ago. I do know I was far, far from "home" (across state lines), stopping off the interstate to grab a cup of joe at a truck joint around 3am.

My Mini may not look like anything special to most. I've just always liked this photo and the memory of peace and solitude while driving down those long and seemingly deserted highways for what seemed like hours on end.

All was right with the world.

 

Sweet. I used to be in the military (Canadian Forces) and drove across Canada (and the northern states, because there are more places to stop in the States for gas, food and coffee) many, many times. Often I'd drive straight through with just a few catnaps to keep me alert, and I'd find myself at truck stops and cafes in the middle of the night in the middle of northern Quebec, northern Ontario, northern Michigan or North Dakota, sometimes in the middle of winter when the only other vehicles on the road were snowplows. There were times when I was like "I'm pretty sure no one else on earth is using their MINI the way I'm using mine right now," and I was probably right! NPR on the radio. Hot coffee. A thousand miles still to go. No worries. Those were some of the best times.

 

Man you said it right
From the day I was born; I've lived in 8-10 different states and visited or traveled to at least 6more. But the day I got my drivers license and built my first car - was truly the moment of my conception.

Keep motoring on in that beautiful green Mini of yours!

 

I would like to say everything was ok today. For the most part - It was. For me...and my Mini.

When I walked out to the parking lot this morning ready to go to work - to my surprise, parked next to me, was a shiny Red 20-something Countryman.



I had remarked earlier in a previous post; that it seems that I am the only Mini owner within at least a 3.5mi radius in my metro area. So you might imagine to my (pleasant) surprise for me to see another Mini in my apt complex... In addition to the fact it was parked next to me.
Well the pleasant surprise was short lived when I arrive home from work this evening. Unfortunately, it turns out the 2wo young ladies that always parked next to me had their 2019 Hyundai Elantra broken into and stolen a couple of nights before.
My Mini was not broken into and left undamaged. The red Countryman was a loaner.
Their car was eventually recovered/found 4miles away, severely damaged and all the glass broken out. The only thing that was taken was the rear view mirror. Apparently as it turns out, Hyundai's are targeted as a cult dare to see how many of these cars thieves could steal.
The rear view mirror, as it seems, is a token of proof.
I find it rather sad for these 2wo girls and sad that a rather mundane (somewhat run-of-the-mill), car would be the target for senseless vandalism and theft. Just for the mere glory of a stupid contest.

After all that my Mini and I have been through - In regards to the aforementioned: It really seems odd to me that no one is as enamored with our cars as we are. To seek out and steal them opposed to other brands (Hyundai, Lincolns, Mustangs, Dodge's...).
In regards to that - I can't help but think that I'm better off owning a Mini. That is - until (sooner or later), the thieves learn to operate a manual.
[No sarcasm intended].

 

They can thank Hyundai for enabling the whole cult theft thing by not putting immobilizers in all their cars...

 

Really???
I had no idea
That's insane to even think that car manufacturers would even neglect to do so as standard equipment in this day and age.
That sucks!

 

Yeah. The whole fiasco is pretty ridiculous, and it’s sad for all the owners because what reasonable consumer in a first-world country would think that there would be a need to check whether a new car made in the last half-decade has an immobilizer?

 

So true!
On the other hand - My Mini's alarm goes off with every degree change in temperature and with every change in wind direction.
No joke. It is that sensitive. There is no question in my mind that when my neighbor's car windows were smashed and was broken into - My Mini was chirping loud and long enough to wake the neighbors.
You would have thought at least one of them would've looked out their window to see what was up....Sadly - not the residences in my complex.

 

I've been very fortunate for the last several years to where it's been an "everything was ok today", every day with my Mini.

However, during my almost 19years of ownership; my Mini only averaged 19-21mpg at best.
Having owned and driven manual 4speeds all my life; I've always had a habit of cruising at the cusp of the powerband (3,500 - 4,000rpms)...ever ready for that invigorating burst of power.
I drove my Mini in the same manner. Hardly ever shifting past 4th gear (@70mph).

Today (actually 3months ago), after all these years - I learned how to drive my Mini.
I started changing my driving habit and began to take advantage of the higher gears/cruising at 2,500 - 3,000rpms.
I am now seeing the benefits of 24-26mpg.
And it's still fun to drive!

Somethings take longer to finally get it through my head and even harder to break my bad habits....Or maybe I'm now at that age of "reason".

Everything was great today!

 

Use your gears, man! An old girlfriend of mine had a R56 (a purchase inspired by my R50) and I remember driving it and cruising along in 5th and she had to remind me that there was a 6th gear! I've been on road trips in my R50 where I've done over 700kms on a tank (I used to live in Canada), but since I've become more enthusiastic about my car (and joined this forum), I typically shift at 5500! Cool that you're an original Gen. 1 owner. Are we the only ones?

 

I'm super happy to say that for the first time since I've owned it, about 6 months ago (and probably at least a few years before that, poor car), everything was alright on my Mini's last drive.
The turning points were the suspension refresh a few weeks ago (probably a decade overdue) and the gearbox change last week-end (at least a year and a half overdue, probably more). Though that's far from the only things I've done to it, all the maintenance was overdue and a few other bits of pieces were needed as well.

I no longer fear cracks in the road, using wide-open throttle or cruising at highway speed.

Next steps are to finish the 2 minor problems spotted during the gearbox change (small oil leak, probably the crankshaft position sensor, and worn lower engine mount) and that R50 will officially be sorted and ... ready for our first track day!

A lot of thanks to those who have helped me here in the few threads I've asked for help!

 

Everything was ok I detuned the r53 from 338whp down to 306 whp. Tvs/E85 life.

 

I cannot imagine how fast your car feels to drive. Wow!

 

MPG was one of the reasons I got mine a couple years ago. I love that the power is there (with an MPG sacrifice) but outstanding MPG is available if driving conservatively on the highway. I calculated 33 MPG on some of the Ohio highways last year.

 

Since my last post: I'm happy to say I've been averaging 24mpg on my 12mi morning commute to work (cooler temps and less traffic).
22-23mpg during the afternoon rushhour commute after work.
I took a short 150mi roundtrip a couple of weeks ago, average speed between 75 - 85mph and also calculated my average mpg to be 33-34mpg.

I began to calculate the old fashioned way (ok, so I used a calculator), just to compare against what the digital onboard and trip meter display were reading.
I was surprised to discover that the Mini's computer (although a bit more positive mpg) seemed closely accurate.

 

Nope. It's not as the title would seem to imply as if my Mini overheated and blew the head.

Today the clock turned over to 97k on my pre-facelift '04 R53 (10.16.'03 build). 97k.= Exactly on the mark with no additional numerals.
How do I know this?
Well, I took advantage of the pre-4th holiday absence of traffic to have my emissions certified well in advance.
Pulled up to the emissions station where I've been going for the past 5years. I shut off the car, popped the OBD cover and got out.
The attendant got in and started pushing the OD trip button on the clock. Within seconds, he got out in frustration and barked at me "What is the mileage on the car?!!"...So I got in and recycled the key to the "on" position. To my surprise the OD mileage read/had turned exactly 97,000! I leaned out and calmly said "97,000 miles".
Refusing to believe me or admitting that he misread the OD; For whatever reason he began to boil over. Steam began to emanate from his ears and a look of utter hatred came over him as he once again, abruptly barked: " That's you're service mileage counter NOT the miles on the car!!!" . With that retort - I guess it was obvious that I had a look of furrowed question (of his sanity) on my face and once again calmly said: "I am not interested in arguing with you but I can assure you I'm reading the mileage correctly"
Seeing this guy was about to detonate, I made a concerted effort to stay calm and maintain my composure as I dialed back the key to show him the service interval vs the actual mileage reading on the car.
He demanded that I keep pushing the trip meter reset button insisting that the miles would show up. What an idiot. I tried to explain to him that the miles display constant after the key has been turned to the first position. He refused to believe me and demanded that I go somewhere else. What an arrogant idiot - I mean c'mon, really? 97,000 miles to my next service???
I had had enough - but I refused to go. In an aggravated state he proceeded to do his job and with that, angerly handed me the printed results (Passed), and dismissively turned away. Then, slowly he glances over his shoulder sensing that I was still there, giving me the "half-look" overcome by rage. There I stood behind him quietly and calmly with credit card in hand.
He was too consumed with being such an "a-whole" he forgot to charge me.

After calming myself down a few miles later, I had a blissful ride to the DMV with little traffic (and no crazy drivers), to contend with.
Emissions test and new tag registration taken care of.
Not a terrible day after all.
At least not for me.

 

Just got back from a late night refueling mission, all the gauges were reading normal as they should, take off and landing went smooth; practically had the roads to myself. good times