When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
That is feaking awesome!!!
This was last year's setup, We are going to go down to Disney World next October in the motorhome and do the Mickeys not so Scary Halloween Party again. Everyone decorates the camping sites and it's unbelievable. We have a few more Disney inflatables we added this year along with a singing pumpkins display.
Nice to hear that the new shock/struts are working well for you...
Are you positive about the parts you think are causing the clunk?
When I replaced the shocks in one of my MINIs I had a clunk I could not find. It turned out that it was the sway bar end link nuts not being tight enough. In frustration I really cranked down on the nuts on each end of the links and that solved the issue. Another clunking issue I had was bad end links themselves. When I took them out, I could not tell they were bad, but the clunk went away when I replaced them. That, however, showed up when I replaced the rear swaybar. On an R50, I would think that would be a less likely issue...
At any rate... Glad to hear the R50 is otherwise back to its former glory or even better...
Thats why I bought the BA Icon Torque Wrench from Harbor Freight when they sent me a 20% off one item coupon. It’s a massive thing but it makes 100+ ft pounds easy to apply.
The sway bar bushings, end links and control bars are all out for delivery!! The only thing I am waiting on now is the Power Flex inserts. I might have to take some tools home tonight!
I installed the new valve cover gasket yesterday morning. The old one was super hard and it had mis-matched colored O-rings so someone had replaced it before. This was the first time I had looked into the engine and it looked fantastic. Everything looked uniform and nothing alarming.
I started on the rear suspension after I did the valve cover gasket. The old end links looked ok; the sway bar bushings were a little flat at the bottom but were not hitting on the frame. I also didn't really find anything wrong with the track bar bushings. I have the driver's side back together and I just need to install the bars on the passenger side. I have not found anything that I can say for sure that was making the clunking noise. I am thinking of dropping the struts and retorquing the upper mount bushings just to be sure. It's taking me a lot longer than I was planning on but I really have only one good arm right now.
I noticed the rear outside brake pads were getting a little thin so I pulled the trigger and ordered new rotors and pads all the way around. I was going to wait till spring but since this is my daily driver I went ahead and ordered them now. The rear control arm inserts should be delivered on Monday or Tuesday.
Once I get her back together, I'll take her for a spin and see if that made any difference.
I bought my R56 new and it was delivered in the fall. That winter when I would drive to work in the morning it would make a banging noise under the passenger floorboard. This went back to the dealer for fixing. In the shop they couldn’t find anything (everything was warm), but when they left it outside for the night and then looked at it they found the front sway bar bushing developed a gap in the cold and that was where the banging was coming from. Replaced the bushing and all was better. Not sure what was different in the bushings, but changing them made a difference. You say that the bushings on your MINI are flat spotted. From my experience it seems this can create issues on its own. The sway bar doesn’t need to be hitting anything for that assembly to make noise. Not sure if that is where your noise is coming from, but replacing the bushings can’t hurt.
It will be interesting to hear how your test drive goes.
BTW - the valve train looks to be really clean. I would guess the previous owner(s) did well with changing the oil on it.
When I bought it, the owner threw in a free gallon of oil because it had the self-changing oil and underbody anti-corrosion option. The front main was free bleeding oil so they had no other option than to keep fresh oil in it!! The buildup on that one control arm in the picture is what made it all the way to the rear. I am out there plugging away at it.
WINNER WINNER Chicken dinner!!!
Yay the suspension noise is gone! I'm not sure what I replaced but hey I'll take it. With everything on the front and rear suspension new it now rides so dang good and feels very solid. This car just keeps amazing me. New brake disc's and pads next weekend and that should wrap up everything mechanical on this car.
Looking at the wife's Mercedes now, the right front rim has a crack and is losing air, that's $300 bucks and the engine oil cooler gasket is leaking and that's another $160. At least both her parts will be in by Friday and I can get it knocked out. Dang it my work is never done.
I got her up to 70 MPH this morning on the way to work and she rides SO good now. It's going to make me put new struts and bushings on the Cabrio.
Yesterday I told the wife she should take a ride with me and see that it drives like a new car,
She said: It should you have been replacing stuff on it for over a year.
Well that didn't go as planned! She isn't a big Mini fan and loves to harrase me.
New discs and pads all the way around.
The brake slide pins were pretty dry so I cleaned them up and put new lube. I took the wire wheel on my drill and cleaned the calipers as good as I could. I would have to take them off and apart and get them sand blasted if there was any hope of caliper paint ever sticking to them. They are good for now. I love the look of zinc coated discs.
Congrats to your successful R53 resurrection...I've owned my R53 since new...enjoy!
Thanks, but she is an R50. Mechanically sound now, not so much when I bought it. I am starting on the body work in the spring to get her to her full glory.
Decided to replace the headlights. The driver's side was delivered on Monday, FedEx seems to be shipping the passenger side headlight to all their locations in Metro Atlanta instead of delivering it to me. I couldn't wait any longer so I installed the drivers one today.
This is with the original lights in.
Old vs New
Thats going to kick butt when I get both of them installed.
From Chief “She said: It should you have been replacing stuff on it for over a year. Well that didn't go as planned! She isn't a big Mini fan and loves to harrase me.”
my poor wife has had to put up w my obsessions over many years. From Fiat X1/9s to my 67 TR4a, 71 TR6, various Beetles, 77 Triumph Spitfire and now this. She asked me recently “don’t you like cars that run?” She’s not wrong! 🤣
Thats the wife's car.
Why do you think I drive a Mini?
I have owned a Ford Lightning, Z28 Camaros, Corvettes and I just love my Minis the most. I could buy almost anything to drive but there is nothing better than my first Gen Minis.
I have almost restored my 07 Escalade ESV and that is my baby too. I spent 2 years going over that truck and it rides like new. The motorhome is another one of my other babies.
From Chief “She said: It should you have been replacing stuff on it for over a year. Well that didn't go as planned! She isn't a big Mini fan and loves to harrase me.”
my poor wife has had to put up w my obsessions over many years. From Fiat X1/9s to my 67 TR4a, 71 TR6, various Beetles, 77 Triumph Spitfire and now this. She asked me recently “don’t you like cars that run?” She’s not wrong! 🤣
She knew what she was getting into almost 20 years ago, she is the greatest. She knows I love working on our cars and making them better. Just has to throw a jab at me every now and then.
The passenger's side headlight is out for delivery!! I'll pop that in after work this afternoon. Man, it's going to look so good.
I ordered a few other things for the Mini that will be delivered next week.
This weekend the focus is to install the LED headlight upgrade and new headlights on the wife's Benz. I removed the front fender so I can prep it for new paint. I already replaced the oil cooler seals and pressure washed the engine compartment.
