HI Gang:

First time poster to the forum - and first time MINI owner. I've been in love with these cars for years - and all my friends and relatives can attest that for the past several years I've been saying "I'm gonna get me a Mini...."

Well, last weekend in June, I did.

Picked me up a 2005 Mini Cooper S - only had 10K miles on it. Chili Red/White Roof/White Bonnet stripes. It was either this one or a 2006 MCS at the Carmax - but that one, even though it had 18K miles on it, it looked like it had been ridden a lot harder.

So, wife talked me into the '05. I sometimes wonder if I should have gotten the '06 (it had an MFSW, sunroof, and auto-air - my 05 has none of these).

But, other than the shoulda-coulda-wouldas, I'm pleased and proud of my '05.

No name yet - probably won't name it - I've never named my cars before.

Stereo has already been ripped out of it and replaced with a Kenwood unit.

After reading over 300 pages of this section of NAM, I'm contemplating the 15% pulley and a CAI sometime in the future. In November, the ham radio gear goes in. (I purposely looked at the 05 and 06 because the front console seemed more ham-friendly than the 07+ ... and it's tough to aftermarket stereo in the 07+).

And, to complete my addiction and fascination to the car, I'm thinking of going to the Dragon next year. (My neighbor has an '07 MCS - and we're tentatively talking of making it a convoy...

So ... again, first post.... first mini . and I'm darned glad to be here!

 

You made the right choice on that MINI.

Traveling to the dragon convoy style would be pretty cool. I'm more of the lone wolf type though. Still, I plan on attending the dragon next year, I've never been despite owning a MINI almost 7 years.

 

Good pick, if you felt the 06 had been used, the 05 is a better pick for you.

All those things you missed out on by not buying the 06 will be things that will not break on your 05.

Congratulations and motor well, you have a plan. I would love to go to the Dragon. Perhaps next year.

 

Nice pick! i got my 05 with 18k miles. been lovin it ever since.

i wanna go to the dragon. but its 3000 miles away, lmao

 

Welcome to the MINI Fraternity!

No need for sunroof, just boils the skull.
No need for auto air, its never just right, end up adjusting manually.
MFSW, arghh....I call it the "License Retention Optimizer" cruise control helps me keep my license. Good news it is retrofitable:https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ailable-3.html
Since you have 05 think all you need is 5 to 13..

Maybe, you can buy and install at the Dragon plenty of vendors there selling and installing go fast goodies. May want to do pulley sooner though.

 

yep...you did well...I have a '05 with most of the bells and whistles and found out that I really didn't need the sun roof...more stuff to break plus it adds more weight. I don't use the auto air (I live in Los Angeles) but I know some of the guys here love it. The MFSW is nice since you can also control your car stereo with it also but as howsoonisnow1985 stated, it can be retro fitted so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Welcome to NAM-land from MAD-town, WI. I can feel your excitement through your post. Well-done, this addiction is a healthy one, uh, for the most part!

 

congratz always nice to see some mini love!

 

Indeed! I love every day I drive it. I still have my previous car ('00 Rodeo 4x4) - and that's the one I drive 2 miles to the Park-n-Ride to bake in the sun all day. I let the MINI get the star treatment.

NAM has been a great resource, it's on here that I learned how to remove the Boost radio and put in the new Kenwood head unit. (My directions from the place I bought the stereo said a "Torx T-33" .. try buying of those... luckily, NAM had the right info (Use a T-40).

I would like to try the MFSW retrofit sometime. When I spoke with an SA at Global Imports, he told me that absolutely it could NOT be done. I'll have to find another shop. I could probably do the work myself, but I'll still need the programming completed.

I'll need to get hooked up with the Atlanta club, also.

So much to do, so much to do.... (and so little money ... I need to mod the car, plus buy ham gear for it, and I'm still needing to buy scuba diving gear, etc, etc... I need another expensive hobby... )

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

 

Welcome, Great to see another person from Atlanta. Feel free to stop by the shop sometime we'll feed your new addiction.