Hey Guys! I hope everybody is doing well during the holidays! I just bought my car today (12/28/02) after 3 days of trying to figure out what color would suite me! This is my first car I can call mine;-) I am currently in my 3rd year at Vanderbilt University and majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Anyway, you guys have truly been helpful posting very relevant and informative topics. I have a couple questions:

1) I've always driven an automatic car and finally after 6 hours of practicing (1 hour with the sales rep) have a decent handle on driving a manual. Currently I am still having trouble trying to get comfortable with the clutch and gas going from a stationary position to 1st gear. My question is what do you guys suggest to gain this practice? The dealer told me with practice I will be able to feel the gear grab as I slowly release the clutch but as of right now don’t feel it or hear it.

2) As I have been practicing accidentally I went over 4000 rpms and want to know if this will hurt the break in period? What exactly is the break in period and what does it do?

3) I live in Florida and home for the break and want to get a 6 disc changer and possibly an XM satellite unit put into the car. I understand that BMW factory head units are made by Alpine and want to know if any of the Alpine aftermarket changers plug right into the factory deck along with a Alpine aftermarket XM unit? If not is there a kit available from MINI for satellite radio? I have not seen any in the accessory catalog. I really don’t want to add a changer or XM unit using a FM frequency.

I truly appreciate the help and look forward to some wonderful years with this car!
:smile:

 

Welcome to the club!!
Congrats on the purchase, nice combination of colors too
quick answers:
1. try to rev the car a bit more then release the cluch not letting the rpm go too low as the car accelerates
2. That will not affect the breakin of the car, but try not to do it again untill after 1,200miles.
3. personally i would stick to the factory changer buying it from the dealer to eliminate any arguments later on if something happens.

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Bullet: DS/DS MCS, all the goodies in the book (Ex: NAV.), All Packages, 17"R90's, Rally Lights, Clear Tail Lights, Painted Wheelarches & Front/Back Spoilers. SeX oN WhEeLs!!!

 

Hi AK,
Welcome to the Forum and Club. Did you buy from BMW of Nashville? I'm just curious, as I live in Clarksville, and decided to buy from them. The deal took forever.

1. Hearing the gear "grab" or engage seems pretty foreign to me. The best practice I ever had for manual trans. was during my youth, driving motorcycles. If you have a bike around in Florida, try practing that. You'd be surprised how quickly the two translate.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!
Jim

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Turning head syndrome began on 09-21-02. (Indi Blue)

 

1)The dearer is referring to the friction point or biting point.

Try this in an empty parking lot to find the friction / biting point.

Foot off the gas. Press the clutch and put her into 1st. Slowly release the clutch about a third of the way (until clutch engages) and you should see the RPM's drop and the car begins to roll, that's the biting point. Clutch In. Stop and try again.

Try over and over again then your left foot will learn where the clutch starts to engage and the car starts to move.

You will have to feather the clutch or gas pedal to get a smooth start and smooth shifts. Best hing about this method is that you don't over rev your car.

2.) 4000+ RPM's !!! Don't sweat it and don't make it a habit until the car is warm and broken in. I took my Cooper S over 4K about 10 times on accident (just too much fun). No adverse effects. The 1200 miles is to let all the moving parts in the car get used to each other and work in harmony.


One note of advice when going to learn on your car... Let it fully warm up first (idle for about 15-20 mins), this will reduce the stress (on the car) of learning to drive stick.

Hope this helps,

Kesh

13K miles on EB/W Cooper S

 

I would like to say hello to everyone and although I'm not an owner of a MC(I drive a 2002 Honda S2000)I think the MC is really a sweet looking little car.I like it so much I signed up in this forum and hope to jump in now and then with a comment or question.Who knows,I may even end up selling the Honda and buying a Mini one day....once again,greetings.

 

Wow! Thanks guys! A lot of this information is really really helpful! Quick question: have any of you guys tried any of the aftermarket adapters by http://www.soundgate.com? Any information would be very very helpful! Thank you again for all the help! :smile:

 

Hey Cooperman to be honest I was not too impressed with the way they handled business (BMW Nashville). I am right now at home Tampa, FL and went to Ferman MINI of Tampa Bay to check out the MINIs. I absolutely had the best time working with the sales rep along with the whole crew from the general manager to the car prep assistants. This dealership was truly very helpful and courteous. As I left Ferman I went ahead and called Nashville BMW to find out stock on what cars they had and plan to get in. They had two models in stock I was interested in and wanted the sales rep, Josh, to send me pictures via e-mail before I close the deal. He from that day, 12/23/02 never called me back. The funny thing I was truly going to purchase from them even with the $1000 mark up over sticker on the Cooper S model. Anyway, I bought my car from Ferman MINI at sticker $24125. If you do plan to purchase from Nashville make sure to watch who you get as a sales rep. I've heard some stories from friends that have purchased BMWs and the treatment they have received. Till then take care!