Just got my MINI back from getting the windows tinted and the clear-bra installed. I feel much safer now, and the car looks slightly "badder," really slick. The installers ended up scratching my bonnet in two places - very small, just clear coat scratches that can be easily buffed out, which they offered to take care of. I'm at 2200 miles now and I am having a great time.

Had to drive our minivan today while my car was getting the work done, and I have forgotten how non-responsive other cars are. Instead of just telling the car what to do, you have to anticipate and plan ahead. I missed the instant response I get with the MINI - not that I expected the two cars to compare in performance at all.

 

Right, the Cooper is supposed to get better mileage. I also do watch the speed. To get the 34 mpg I set the cruise at 67, and being October have no need for the air. If I drive 70 - 75 the mileage drops down to 31 or so.

 

Just passed 1800 miles yesterday on a Fall Colors MINI Run. I'm currently on my worst tank of gas so far, but I've also done no highway miles on this tank. Right now, the computer says 26 MPG. I think my average speed is 30, if that gives you any idea...

Even with the spirited driving yesterday, it actually improved 1 MPG. In a Cooper, not an S.

 

Just ended my break-in-period and took a highway trip from Orlando to Tampa and back. Averaged 29mpg on my 2005 MCS on the highway, some in traffic. Every tank the milage gets better dispite my being able to redline it now.

Jerry

 

It rained today. I don't like how water drips on the seats when you open the door when the car is wet. The little automatic drop the window does when you open the door jars all the droplets at the top of the door opening and they fall onto my precious leather seats and get my bottom all wet when I sit down. Annoying.

 

So...Just for old time's sake, and prior to having an actual funeral for this thread, which kept me breathing so many days while waiting for my baby...

 

Having other folks to chat with made the wait much easier. I just turned 800 miles on my Cooper S today. While I was out and about today, I saw two other Minis - another Cooper S and a Cooper. I don't know if there are actually more of them around, or I am more alert for them now.

John

 

I, too, truly appreciated the company and companionship of this thread during the waiting period. I have found that I am less enclined to jump on the computer when I get home since I jumped out of the MINI - unless something goes wrong, or I get curious about something.

I have also discovered my local club... and highly encourage others to go on rally's and find local threads to peruse... We have one called "I spotted a MINI today" and I've been having a great time watching to see if someone spotted me!!

Here's a funny story: we had an extra sail boat (don't ask), and were trying to sell it through the paper. Last night I got a call from a German gentleman who wanted to come by to take a look. I was pulling out of the garage as he pulled in, and as soon as he got out of his car, he said in his broad German accent "that's the best car in the world!!".
We got to chatting and he told me that he had bought a MC, traded it in for MCS, traded it in for MCSC - now with 2000 miles. He lives outside of Munich and does the drive on the autobahn. He said that his only concern was that at high speeds, the MINI goes through a lot of gas!!! I guess you have to live in Germany to truly appreciate that one! and I was VERY jealous... 'cause I'd love to open mine up like that on the highway... I completely forgot to ask him what his top speed is!! and now I wish I had.
Anyway, that was just an interesting MINI experience.

 

Well, folks, its been a year since our MINIs rolled off the production line, and I thought I'd put a post in here to say "hi" and see if anyone has had any exciting adventures, interesting thoughts, or just a hello.

I still love my car! I still feel like I got it last week. I have to say that I don't think I will ever own any other make of car after owning a MINI. My only complaint is that I have become too visible to the speed police. I received a warning and a ticket on my first long motoring experience, and another ticket a couple months later. After that, I invested in a radar detector, and so far, so good.

My mod's to date are the glove box organizer, and wiring the radar detector into the car so that it no longer uses the cig lighter. I just bought the auto-up circuit and am waiting for delivery of a Bluetooth handsfree and then I'll have those installed.

I have been through the 10,000 mile service and taken the car in one other time. These are the things that have been fixed:
the right front speaker was rattling
the left front speaker was replaced
the front windshield was replaced due to a large crack

For the MINI's one-year birthday, I am going to get a professional detail - wash, wax, the works!!

I've been on a couple fun runs with the local club, taken it on one long adventure on my own.

I still won't let anyone else drive it.

So - what have you been up to?

 

I've had my LY/B Mini CVT Mini Cooper, with exterior chrome package, a little over a year now, and she's got nearly 30,000 hard and soft miles on her.

I've gone through one windshield, that I had to pay for, some speaker (HK) and glove box rattle trouble, as well as some unresolved (probably never to be resolved) other minor rattles. My sunroof has some noise issues, that just seem to be natural to the design, and I now have a minor boot rattle as well, that I may try to get fixed, or not. Heck, I'm not sure it's worth bothering about. They got my upholstery wrong as well, but there's not much to be done about that. I hate Space Gray cloth upholstery. Damn. (It doesn't hold up well, and requires constant cleaning, or it looks like...you can't control your bladder while driving. )

An idiot I let drive the car, for five minutes, broke off one of my undercarriage jack points, and that cost me $25 to replace. Which wasn't too bad, come to think of it. I've also got some minor scratches and dings that I need to take care of soon. I also scratched a wheel pretty badly, and I'm still waiting (several weeks now) for a replacement. Winter driving is hard on the Mini, but she does well in such conditions...assuming there is enough ground clearance.

Oh, I also have a problem with noisy windows, when they go up or down. Cleaning, regularly, helps...but I've tried some other recommended methods as well, and nothing has truly worked yet to resolve that. I'm not sure the dealership shop can help, but I'll give 'em a try. I'd like to get the after-market auto-up modification for the power windows, but...I'm saving that for the next Mini.

I'm planning on selling this Mini in a few months, after ordering up another, much less optioned out version (with the right upholstery this time...I hope), that should save me about $130 a month in payments. I'll drop the sunroof, the winter package (except for heated seats, got to have those!), the Xenons, the HK stereo upgrade, and most of all...the extended service/warranty coverage!

Instead, I'll go full hardtop, keep the same color (maybe, that's a tough decision there), go with a factory high performance muffler, and get a nicer set of 16" wheels and tires, then maybe add a cold air intake, and God knows what else...later.

My financial situation in life has changed, and I just can't afford my current Mini anymore, not without sacrificing other things in life. I get about 20-24 MPG in the city, and with higher gas prices...that's an issue as well, which is one reason I'm going lighter weight, and improved performance mods.

I drove a Scion xA the other day (looking for other car options), and it gets about 30+ MPG, and has more usable passenger room, but...it was not nearly as fun to drive. It couldn't be pushed as hard, most especially in the curves. Plus...it doesn't look nearly as cool, inside or out. I'd miss not having my toggle switches, or my chrome line interior, or even my digital tachometer...which I really think helps keep me from over-speeding. The Scion was certainly a more practical vehicle though, and with a few nice options would run me about maybe...$280 a month, or so. A less optioned (and no extended warranty protected) Mini would run me about $320. For $50 more a month (not counting gas milage difference), which is a lot to me these days, I'd still prefer the basic Mini. Am I being irresponsible to think so? At least the Mini can sometimes get me laid, and I find that to be a decent plus. I'm not so sure about the Scion. Maybe there are other cars (used?) I should consider instead, but that's where things stand for now.

I love my Mini, but also kind of hate it as well, and that's not what I wanted. You know what I mean? But I still love it. Damn.

For new owners, I highly recommend good tires, mudguards, and a clear bra, and keeping her simple, but highly cherished. :smile:

 

Sounds like you should go with the Scion to me.



As for me, the one year mark officially I suppose comes for my car later this month. It's been a great year, I couldn't have ever imagined liking a car so much. It's such fun and so much of an experience.

I don't have any official ceremonies scheduled, and probably won't do anything other than mark the day driving.

 

Hmmm...if you'd test driven a Scion xA (maybe you have?), I don't think you could agree with the idea of getting one...at least as an affordable fun car to drive. (I think for many folks they are actually a pretty decent little car.) Despite some vague similarities between the two vehicles (the Mini Cooper and the Scion xA), as regards size, and such, there is no stylistic or performance comparison between the two.

The Mini Cooper (in any North American configuration) wins, hands down, except...in the area of overall quality. The Scion cars, much like the entire Toyota line, have clearly better fit and finish, and likely better overall mechanical reliability. Which is more practical, certainly, but not nearly as much fun. I bought my first Mini so I could have a fun car, for a change.

I'll likely end up just ordering a less optioned out Mini, and selling the current one when the time comes. (If that's not a Mini endorsment on my part, I don't know what is, considering my Mini's definite obvious lack of perfection.) In the meantime however, I'm certainly into checking out other possibilities that I might go for instead. My problem with that, as exampled by the Scion xA test drive experience, is that I'm now rather spoiled by my Mini driving experience, and so anything less fun, despite however more "practical", just doesn't compare very well. You know what I mean?

Anyway, I can't say I'm the sort of person that remembers my Mini's exact delivery (or pick up) date...so I can't really celebrate my first anniversary of ownership. It wouldn't seem right, even if I was that sort of person, being as she'll have to go (one way or another) in just a very few months. I just just try to take good care of her while I've got her, for both my sake, and her future owner.

She will be getting a detail makeover before she gets sold, and while that'll be a little late for an anniversary celebration (hey, I'm a guy, we're always late, what do you expect?), I still think it sort of counts as one.

 

ah, yes...driving a Cooper S definitely spoils you from driving other cars

I'm still enjoying my optioned-out MCS, but can you believe I have only 6800 miles on it after a full year?? And that includes a 1200 mile trip to the Dragon last May!

In the mod catagory I've added:

Sirius
German armrest (starting to squeak BTW, but I still like it)
Rear fog (they had to wire it from scratch!)
Silver GT2 stripes on bonnet, boot (debadged), and dash
15% reduction pully (Helix)
CAI (Helix)

On the problems side I've had:

Crack in supercharger intake duct throwing code (early event, last Sept)
Clutch slave cylinder failure (not use related)

The 15% pully has been phenominal! It has lowered the power range so it's less high strung in normal traffic, and gives needed extra power with the a/c on or when accelerating on the highway in lower rpms.

The CAI adds fun factor because you really hear the s/c whine, it's cool!!

I was concerned at first about doing the 15%, but was swayed by the sheer number of people (even locally here) who have done it with no problems.

My suggestion to the guy who posted above- in times past I have refinanced cars to lower the payment. Don't get a scion, the value will drop like a rock when you drive off the lot

 

What I meant was, if you can't afford the MINI in the first place, and you seem to use the car pretty hard, maybe a good used car - even a used MINI - would be better for you than a new one. 30K in one year and the damage that you noted is pretty extreme - sounds like you really like to have fun in the car. I would just go with a used car if I were in your financial situation, it seems like that's been a concern for you even from the point before you actually received your car.

On another note, anyone tried to install the Ian Cull auto up circuit on their 05? I was inspired by this thread to go out and install the one I purchased before my car even arrived, but wow was it a difficult proposition. After about an hour I gave up.

My hands are too large to work blindly behind the trim piece, which is different for 05's, I couldn't get the mirror/heated seat control out in order to remove the downtubes, and when my car was worked on at the dealership last month, it took them two days to figure out how to get the dash face back on right, so I wasn't going to try that.

Just wondered if anyone with an 05 can give some tips. I know they've been installed, it just seems to me like a little too much work. I may just sell my circuit.

 

Boy, it sounds as though Katie is one of the few that hasn't had any issues over the last year. No obnoxious rattles, noises, etc. Nothing has broken, cracked, or dented.

I haven't done any performance improvements, everything I've added has been for comfort or style. Although I would love to get some new black wheels! That would be my biggest purchase, if it ever happens.

Besides my first trip with the MN MINI group, which Katie hit triple digits last fall, we haven't done too much. One major trip to the East Coast & Savannah that was 4000 miles. On the tail end of that trip, we hit the 3rd annual MINIs on the Dragon. That was a blast, but I think we would have enjoyed it more if we had an S and were planning on getting some mods done.

I do dream of upgrading to an S at some point in the future, but it'll be a few years.

 

I just got one in the mail last week. I'm also waiting for a handsfree bluetooth kit and was going to do the install at the same time; I might also wait until we get out of the triple digits here in the sweltering SW.
I'll let you know if its easier for me - but then, I do have small fingers.

Lisa

 

Hi all!

I was hoping to wait to post until I had some new pictures of the car, as it's been a little while since I've updated my blog. But I thought I should just go ahead and say howdy anyway.

It's not quite a year since I got my HB/B MCS; although it reached Classic MINI much earlier, I got it on September 23rd, 2004. I am still IN LOVE with the car, and have the same sentiment as most of you that it's as fun or more fun to drive now than when I first got it! The novelty just doesn't seem to wear off.

A few months ago I started autocrossing for the first time, and it is great. The MINI makes it an absolute blast, and I plan on doing a lot of driving events. However I've just started running into a power-steering problem which may be related to the fan. If the car is cold, power steering works great. If I drive for an extended period of time in the heat, then turn it off and wait about 10 minutes, power steering is dead when I turn the car back on. Then if I wait another 10 minutes or so and turn the car on again, it's fine. Very odd and very annoying. I had the car into the dealer and they were "unable to duplicate", so I'll have to be taking it back there, unfortunately. So hard to be without the MINI for a few days!

The only other thing I've had is that I just got a replacement windshield, since the first one got a very large crack from a rock chip. Since it was a rock chip, however, it was not under warranty, and I have a crappy deductible for windshield replacements. I should probably look into getting the auto glass rider since the MINI is, let's face it, a little prone to windshield problems.

Anyway, absolutely in love with my MINI since day one, and no regrets so far. For my 3-year anniversary with my girlfriend, she bought me the checkered mirror caps I've been thinking about! I just put them on two days ago and they look absolutely awesome - just the addition I was looking for, to give the car a bit more attitude. I'll attach a camera-phone picture of the MINI with its new mirrors in one of those wonderful "MINI-only" spots in San Francisco. The quality is really crappy, so I promise to post better pictures on blog soon and drop a line on this thread about it. Also, just as a side-note, the license plate in the window is only for purposes of parking in places where they ticket parked cars for no front plate as they do in SF and Palo Alto. That's not permanent -- blech!

Glad to hear everyone else is enjoying their car. Cadbury and 05DSMCS, I installed Ian's auto-up circuit a few weeks after getting my car and couldn't live without it. It was quite easy for me but I have fairly skinny hands, and even with that I had a lot of scratches on my hands. Once you realize what you're feeling for it's not that bad, but I don't know if I can be of any more help than that!

Good to be back in touch with all the fellow August 04 folks.

-mike

 

Thank you for the Birthday greeting.

The year has been very good for us as well. Like Katie, The Car has had no problems. It has been in the Motorwerks BMW shop only twice to get the oil changed, and I am now at 37,000+ miles with 10,000 to go before the next one.

Like some of the postings above, the expense has been a bit more that I had expected, mainly due to the increased price of premium gas. I try to keep the speed down on my daily communte, 160 miles round trip, and can usually get around 34 - 36 mpg. My only excitement while driving comes when I take the cloverleafs at 50 - 55 mph. (I found out that's what the handrail above the passenger door is for. Grabbing hold of it helps to keep your face from being pressed into the driver's side window.)

Last week my sister and her husband visited, and we used the MINI to drive around the Cities and also to my grandson's baptism which was another 160 mile jaunt. We found the Mini to be quite comfortable for the 4 of us, although getting in and out of the back seat repalced a workout at the gym. But, once in, my wife who is 5'9", thought it was just fine. So, my report to the geriatric crowd is: the MINI is a confortable car for 4 and the exercise getting in and out of the back seat is good for your health.

Come on Grandma, Let's Motor.

 

Thanks for the birthday greeting! Happy Birthday to you all too!
The past year has had its ups and downs... I love driving the car but I have some issues with the overall quality of the build and it has driven me insane. Starting in September I realized there was no heat in my car, turned out they did not install the system at the factory..... Then the radio went..... then the radio worked but not with FM stations...... had the rear window replaced. The driver side seat back falls off constantly. The service indicator was never reset during a service and so now it says that I am over miles and I have no idea when the next service is, and the dealer said it would be fine and they would fix it well they didn't. Since the dash was taken apart for the heat it rattles like crazy,as does the door panels and the interior boot panel (had to be removed for the rear window replacement. My driving lights (MINI) are rusted. And of late there is a metal on metal noise from the rear of the car when I initially start off driving. Did I mention I love to drive the car??? I love the MINI for its cornering, style and fun factor but that is not enough for me anymore , due to the quality build issues and the fact that I am tired of borrowing someone elses car when I have to drive people places (ie. airport when I was driving my gf's car and got rear ended on the Whitestone and had to deal with it not being my car.) If I could afford to keep her and another car I would and drive her hard on the weekend but I can't. So after 26k+ miles and one year it is time for me to say good bye. I will never forget all the fun I had with the MINI and some day I hope to buy another and keep it as my "fun" car. I hope that the build quality on the next gen is better because my experience has left much to be had. I am glad to hear that others have enjoyed their cars and have had better luck than I did. Best of Wishes and happy MOTORING!!!

 

I can't believe its been a year!

I am still in love with Sportty! She's a few days past a year old and I still smile when I drive her. My only complaint is I don't get to drive the car enough! My round trip commute to work is only 3 miles (and I travel out of state for work several times a month). So far, I've only managed to rack up 3500 miles in the last year (and almost all of them have been with the top down!).

For being one of the first convertibles to make it to the states, I'm proud to say that I've only had one minor issue with the car. When I first got her, she had a small airleak in the fuel line which caused the engine light to come on after driving more than 10 minutes. It took two trips to the dealer to get it fixed, but after that all was well. (The second trip was worth it because my dealer gave me an iPod adapter for free!!!)

I guess I was also a little disappointed on the initial gas mileage. It took probably 8 months for me to consistently get over 20 mpg. I assume this has more to do with most of my driving being stop-and-go city miles (and the fact that I have a lead foot!).

I'm happy to say that Sportty was a great purchase and I've had no regrets. (I could not say that about my Audi TT that I had before ... in the first year alone, that car was in the shop more than 8 times -- and it had rattles that they could never get rid of!) I think I'm pretty picky over all and my Mini has met my needs!

 

Thanks also for the birthday greeting, although my Morrigan doesn't officially turn one year old until the beginning of September.

I've only had a few minor issues with her so far. When I recieved her, she had the wrong wiper stock installed, so I couldn't use the rear wiper. The only other issue was a nail in one of my rear tires.

My thoughts on her so far...
The Good:
- She's still damn sexy.
- The handling
- The reaction from people when four 6ft, 200lbs guys get out of her
- The bi-weekly cleaning schedule

The Bad:
- My drive to work is too short, only 6 miles, the long way.
- The people who speed up because they can't get passed by such a small car.
- My obsession is growing (3 die-cast models, 2 T-shirts, etc)
- The bi-weekly cleaning schedule

 

Okay, now you make me feel like a dork!
I have 2 palm sized models, one remote control, one not.
Tons of the tiny Matchbox sized models (everyone keeps giving them to me).
1 of the monster 2-3' remote control models (that the neighbor kid loves)
1 NAM shirt
1 Dragon shirt
1 MINI sweatshirt
3-4 t-shirts and long sleeves

I'd be down a significant portion of my wardrobe if I ever gave up on MINI.

 

Was just checking this thread for old time's sake. Hope all you are still enjoying your MINIs after close to 2 years with them, I know I am!!!

 

Who's still out there from this group? I just hit 30K this week and every time I hit a milestone I think back about the waiting period and how agonizing, yet how fun it was. Still loving my car!

 

haha.. I saw this thread pop up in my user cp... I actually traded this Hyper Blue/Black 05MCS in for the PW MCSC in my sig last March (almost 1 year ago!) so I had the 05 for... 19-20 months and it had 11,000 miles on it when I traded

I'm 1 week away from ending a 3 month wait for a 2007 335i twin turbo coupe... (yes, keeping the MCSC!!)