I graduated high school about 45 minutes north of Orlando, it's like going home every time we go back. I tried to talk my wife into moving there after I retired from the Army but she wasn't having it. There is nothing better than going to a theme park on January 2nd when it's cold and rainy at home and wearing shorts!! We are in the center row. He was not real happy about the drop and splash at the end of the ride.

I will keep everyone updated on my progress. In a parts hold right now.

 

Hey cool pic!
I worked on that ride/attraction too. Universal Studios (Creative) Orlando (or what ever they call it these days) is a blast to play and work for.
I agree some of the cooler months seem less crowded.
Just be sure to be extra careful driving your Mini in and around that area. I4 especially! Drivers out there are just as bad/dangerous as LA and Atlanta......combined.

 

I was looking at the first pictures of your car and noticed something..... there are normally clear plastic "covers" for the tail lights.
Do they leak without the covers?

 

They do not seem to leak but they are faded and going to get replaced anyway. I have to wait a little while before I do that because the wife is starting to Christmas shop.

Thank you for the early Birthday present wifey poo. It's exactly what I wanted!! Cant wait to put it in.

 

I did a thread search and if I read it correctly our cars have 5-1/4 inch speakers and they do, well sort of. The new speakers I bought were 5-1/4 and way too small to be bolted directly to the door. I measured and then I cut the old speaker out of the plastic adapter thingy.


I screwed the new speaker into the old housing. Made a small wiring harness from the stock plug to the new speakers. Installed it on the door and then blasted some AC/DC Thunder Struck to test it out. The door panel fits perfectly with no rubbing or interference. I was able to finish the passenger door before the rain stopped all work. It's going to sound even better when I get the drivers side done. It's going to be nice to have it balanced out instead of just the back speakers.




Next is the drivers door speaker and lube the window track. Then install the new drivers seat back fabric.

 

Congrats on the sound system work. Personally, I would have gone for Beach Boys, Beatles, or Dylan but at least Brian Johnson is a gear head.

 

I am more of a journey fan myself but I wanted to see how it sounded.

 

Ordered a rear package shelf today, I don’t know why I really wanted one but I have one coming. Hope to try and do the passenger window regulator this afternoon. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and let me get a little wrenching time in.

 

I replaced mine on my R50 about a year before I sold it. Got them off amazon. The pair was less than $80. It was skeptical at first as they were "knock off" no name brand. When they arrived they were identical to the ones that were original to the car down to all the numbers and markings on the back side.
The prices have changed and the drivers side is oddly not available.... but these were the ones that I bought.

Here is a pair for $82.11.

 

Thanks for the heads up, I have them in my cart on Amazon!!

Lots of good wrench time this afternoon.
I finished installing the new front speakers! The drivers speaker was in the same condition as the passenger speaker. I played some beach boys just for you dmath!!
While I had the drivers door panel off I lubed the regulator and wires real good. I am sure it's days are numbered too.

Found the crunchy noise coming from the passenger side regulator.





Old seat cover



New seat cover fresh from jolly old England and looking mighty fine in my R50!!

I finished up just in time as the rain started coming down less than 5 minutes after I came in the house for dinner.
New water pump arrived today, new radiator won't be in till sometime next week. Also waiting on the alarm bracket for the roof. I ordered a fake black leather sew on steering wheel cover with red thread from Ali Express. Made especially for a 2 spoke R50 but it will take a while for that to come in. Tail lights, A pillar covers and passenger side door lock mech are next on short list.

 

I ordered a new to me airbag ECU that specifically came out of a 2003 Mini R50. All the airbag places I contacted will reset crash data but won’t flash specific software. If this doesn’t work I guess I will have to rethink the game plan on that dang airbag light.

My roof alarm bracket thingy was supposed to be delivered on the 6th. USPS is showing it arrived in Atlanta on the 3rd of October but then nothing else. The bolt I ordered for the harmonic balancer arrived yesterday. It turns out to be the bolt I originally ordered and then was lost in shipping. It took almost a month to finally arrive. FedEx shows the replacement bolt in a shipping delayed status. If shipping is that messed up now I can’t even imagine how it’s going to be for Christmas.

On a brighter note I am super ecstatic on how the cooper is coming along. There are some things left to do but overall I feel it is progressing nicely. A lot different car now than what I drove home not that long ago. Thank you everyone for the support! NAM is the best!

 

Speaking of FedEx, over the last several months I've gotten some bizarre tracking results on their website. For example, a package scheduled for delivery on the 10th but doesn't arrive and the tracking is updated to show delivery on the 9th. This has happened multiple times.

 

Detailed the Mini on Saturday morning. Took her to town and a dang check engine light, pulled codes and says running lean. It usually comes on after I come to a stop and it runs rough for a 15 to 20 seconds and then it like finds itself and idles fine. This last time it came on while going 60 on a flat road. Stopped at the auto parts store and bought some throttle body cleaner and cleaned the heck out of it. Stop at the corner store this morning and go to restart it and idles bad but I don’t think quite as bad as before. Scratching my head as it seems to be intermittent. I think the fuel pump will be the next thing I replace.

My new package shelf is out for delivery! New radiator and hoses come in on Wednesday. Ordered 2 of the jack point plastic pieces because they were missing. Still want to get the receiver for the keyless entry and the lock thing for the passenger door. Always something.

 

The package shelf came in today and I love it. I think it gives it a finished look and I am sure it will cut down on any extra noise from the rear of the car.

 

pics!

 

could be map or cam sensor.

sons r50 did this, cam sensor fixed it. But he had a sensor code.

also does it happen when the AC compressor comes on?

 

Downloading the pics now. Have to excuse the cardboard in the hatch, I throw my tools in the back from work to wrench on the Mini during the weekend.

The only code I get is running lean. This afternoon coming home it seemed to idle better with the AC since I cleaned the throttle body. BUT it did idle funny after starting it back up after stopping at Walmart for the wife. I cut the AC off and tap the throttle a few times and after about 15 to 20 seconds it clears up.

 

My son and I are Disney fans so don't heckle me on my Mickey sticker. I added the Not Normal sticker this weekend since my wife says I am strange. She says it fits me and the car.


It opens up more but I didn't have the hatch all the way open.

You can just barely see it while in the car.

 

Thanks Ray for the E brake handle !!
It looks awesome! I like it so much better than the silver.





Drove the car to work this morning, It idled funny one time at the corner store but the rest of the way to work and on the drive home it drove excellent and no check engine light!! This car seems to be temperamental.

The new radiator and hoses arrived today. Now I have everything but the coolant so I can get those installed this weekend.

 

No problem. Glad you like it.

 

like the red and black and the stickers

Re the engine, I’d check fuel trims, maybe a vacuum leak or O2 sensor failing?

on my sons r50, the O2 sensor fixed trims and the cam sensor fixed the stalling / rough idle.

 

Thanks!!
I really like the red and black cloth too. It took me forever to find a drivers seat back and foam. I finally found one on eBay and had it shipped in from England. I don't hardly see any with the red interior. The Mickey sticker is mess with my wife. She says I am Disney obsessed.

I will look for a vacuum leak but I am thinking a bad 02 sensor for the lean condition. Going to replace the fuel pump soon just as preventative maintenance. I will possibly replace the cam sensor if that doesn't fix it.

 

I like the e-brake handle. Nice touch.

 

Thanks!\
CRC sent it to me and I really like it. I wonder what the shift surround and cup holders would look like in black now.

 

I get to work this morning and I am greeted with a huge smoke cloud rolling out from under the hood. Wasn’t running hot and after further review it looks like the water pump let go. I hope I can nurse it back to the house. Good thing I have a new water pump, hoses and radiator ready to be installed. It couldn’t hold off for one more day.