I took the MINI convertible into a garage today to get it's first inspection. As I was sitting in the waiting room, a mechanic (the name Doug was on his shirt) came in and said that I had a brake light out! What! So I went into the garage and he proceeded to point to the rear fog light. "This one doesn't seem to wanna work", the man said. I laughed and turned it on for him. I told him it was a rear fog light, and that they were very common in Europe. I must have insulted his intelligence because he then decided to give me the run around about how it must be illegal because he had never seen one on an "american" car. I told him they were perfectly legal but he wasn't convinced. After about five minutes of discussion, he decided to call his boss on the phone. He said to his boss, "The guys got fog lights on the back of his car. Are these things legal?" Of course the boss was going to say "no", with a question phrased as such. I asked to talk to the owner, and the man shoved the phone in my face. I then proceeded to tell the owner on the phone about the rear fog light feature and what it looked like, and after a few tense moments he said no problem.
"Sorry about the confusion Doug," I said. He just gave me a smirk and went on with his work.

By this time, everyone in and around the garage was checking the car out from top to bottom. Everyone seemed to like the little car (except Doug) and were asking many questions about it. They all wanted to see how the top went down, so I first showed how the top went down using the key fob. "Ooooh... that's neat. How fast does it go? Who makes it? What is that a t.v. in the car? What are all those switches for?"... and so on and so forth. One older gentleman seemed particularly interested and talked to me for several minutes. I ended up shaking his hand and told him to visit miniusa.com and check out the website. I then went home and cleaned the car spotless.

Sorry for the story, but I just had to tell people how funny my day went. This car sure has magnetic attraction.

 

Awesome story I keep wondering which of my neighbors will be the first to ask for a ride once my MCS arrives

 

What kind of inspection does a brand new car have to get

 

Sounds like Doug would have enjoyed the whole experience, too, if he would just LIGHTEN UP!!!!! Some people just don't like being wrong. I am not one of those as it seems to happens to me all.....the.....time. I work with a lot of women and have teenagers...I don't stand a chance!

 

Goatherder,

I once had a car inspected in Swanton, VT (the gas station just off of 89)and the mechanic told me I needed new brakes before he would pass it. So he he did the job and the bill came to about $120. I picked up the car and I could tell right away that there was something wrong as the car was pulling back rather severely. But I was late for work so I didn't say anything to him. About halfway there the back left wheel and axle fell off the car while going down a long hill. It was rather spooky for awhile as all the brake fluid drained out of the system (this was before diagonal systems) and I was left with no brakes.

 

I thought the delivering dealer puts the first inspection sticker on.


Why were you at a non MINI shop to get it inspected?

regards,
Red

 

I think Doug would have a problem with most MINIs currently on the road, which (unless you've done the mod) are not wired to light up the top bulb in the taillights.

 

Yeah In California we don't need and inspection on a new car for six years or something like that.

 

New cars in CA require a smog inspection after four years.

 

RED: Yeah, good point. There are no MINI dealers in VT. I got it in NY. It did have a NY sticker.

JPIT: oh, I know what place you are talking about. Ummmm, don't go there.

JDS: I don't think Doug would ever ride in a MINI. But he probably likes to go fast. I think I saw his truck in the parking lot. It was the one with the HUGE #3 in the back window. (sorry, I like nascar, just not the car mockups on big ford pickups)

 

into CA you need a visual at the DMV.

Matt

 

I grew up in California and had never heard of inspection until I moved to PA as a teenager. I thought it was a pretty lame thing.

However, after having lived most of my life in Latin America, I'm a believer in inspections as long as the bureaucrats don't get carried away. Let's go for brakes, lights no major pollution, etc. To get worked up about a little rear fog light is just too unreal.

Anyway, thanks for the story!

Saludos

 

It takes like a whole 5 minutes for that to happen. Might as well get in and press the button.


Howard

 

It's six years now.