I'm here!!!

Ryephile mileage check--->7528 miles<---

Just put in my 6 toggle switchbank yesterday...it looks soooo much better. Will try to get rear fogs turned on at the dealer on Wednesday if they can squeeze me in.

While I was at it I put the diode "jumpers" in the taillight connectors so now I have *BRIGHT* brakelights (and the rear fogs stay independently switchable... )

Hoping to get the grill project done soon. I'm waiting to hear if my fellow Austinite wants to swap his black slats for the extra Dark Silver set I "inherited." Should be seeing him at our post-turkey Hill Country run next Sunday.

More pics coming when the grill is done, and I *might* let y'all see Burnie's new pirate flag...here's a teaser:

It looks great with the CR/B colors and at 4" X 6" it is perfect for the antenna. Now we'll just have to see about durability!!!

Hope all are well and have a great Thanksgiving!

cheffie

_________________
03 MCS-CR/B>>>>Now motoring through a twistie near you<<<<<< CWFAC 03 Rocks!

 

Chef, your flag is way cool! Want one!

Regards,
Red

 

>>Chef, your flag is way cool! Want one!

Look here.

The only problem is that while the flags are cheap ($1.95), the minimum shippng is $6 .

Hope to post pics soon of Burnie flying his colors, but my digicam is at school!

Avast and arrrrrgh!
chef

 

Cool flags chef. You should get an eye patch to wear when you drive.

Just hit 10,000 miles this weekend. I have my service scheduled for Tuesday in San Francisco. The International auto show is going on just a few blocks from the dealer. I wonder what I should do all day while the car is getting serviced???

My day at the track last weekend was a blast. I'm hooked. Pyro was awesome. Thunderhill park is a tight road course and I had not trouble keeping up with anyone in the twisty back part of the track. It was great to see so many other cars. 2 Feraris, lots of vettes, proches and BMW's. 4 MCS and a sweet NSX.

Here's a few pics.

Andy



_________________


03 MC CR/B. Rogue exhaust, Pipercross induction intake

 

Wow! Andy, Pyro looks awesome on the track! Too bad it looks like it was rainy (wet track). I love how when people wear their helmets inside the MINI, the helmets make the MINI look, well, mini. I think I've gotta paint my helmet black or something dark to make it look smaller inside the car, hee hee.

-->Chef - what if you did a roof-graphic Jolly Roger?!

Cheers, and Motor-On (especially you Red!)
Ryan

 

Nice to hear that MM2 is a nice solid platform for your goodies,Ryan.

And Chef, does that great little flag play havoc with the stock antenna? Thanks for the link! :smile:

Saddled with th company car means low miles on the MINI, but I always find excuses to go for a ride, but wife and kids mean I have to come home at the end of the day....well so far at least.

And the Caddy only got 600 miles this year, probably used more fuel than the MINI (when I hit double digit mpg I am amazed, and Standard Oil still has me on their Christmas Card list!).

Andy, Pyro looks very happy!

Regards,
Red

 

>>
>>And Chef, does that great little flag play havoc with the stock antenna? Thanks for the link! :smile:
>>
So far I haven't noticed any problems, the antenna seems to have enough flex to handle it...can't be any worse than an antenna ball and I've seen people with those on for 6mos. plus with no problems.

After two days, though, I noticed that the flag was starting to unravel a little. One of my students who likes to sew is going to add a hem around the edge over the long holiday break and then I will reinforce the hem with clear nail polish. Hopefully that will mae the flag more durable when whippin' in the wind.

I found out that my potential grill swap is not going to happen so I will have to get the DS slats that I inherited painted...project will be delayed until I can talk to my neighbor about that. Hopefully by New Year's!

Y'all enjoy you turkeys, now, hear!

chefster

 

Ryan,

I remember several months back there was quite a bit of chatter about softer shocks on the new models. Do you notice any difference?

Andy

 

Andy - it seems the front shocks seem to be just a touch softer, barely noticable except in at-the-limit tight corners ('04's tend to oversteer more than previous years as a result, since the rear shocks seem to be similarly valved to previous). My drive to work hasn't changed - stretches of highly broken and vertically staggered concrete that literally hurts to drive down; the magnatude of pain hasn't decreased with the '04 over the '03, that's how subtle the shock valving change is.

motor-on-smooth-roads,
Ryan

 

well, it's been a while since i've posted in this thread, and i've gota say i skipped about 5 pages of unread posts to get to the end...

my MINI and i have been doing well the last few months. November has been a special month for both of us: i turned 30 and the MINI reached 5000 miles (since 4/24/03).

i've got a little photo album of the night we reached 5000 together, if anyone would care to take a look.

MINI 5000

here's a little preview:




_________________

www.sockdaddy.com

 

Welcome back sockdaddy, you and Red need to go out motoring!

Went in today for my 10k service and mentioned the hard time I have shifting into reverse. They're going to put in a new tranny. I'm stuck with a ford Focus for a few days. I was really treated well. They were apologetic about having to take until nex week since they aren't working thursday or friday. They got me a warranty rental car right away. I think I will give SF MINI a nice word in the dealer rating forum.

Andy

 

>>well, it's been a while since i've posted in this thread, and i've gota say i skipped about 5 pages of unread posts to get to the end...
>>
>>my MINI and i have been doing well the last few months. November has been a special month for both of us: i turned 30 and the MINI reached 5000 miles (since 4/24/03).
>>
>>i've got a little photo album of the night we reached 5000 together, if anyone would care to take a look.
>>
>>MINI 5000
>>
>>here's a little preview:
>>
>>

Regards,
Red

 

========>ATTENTION VMA///ATTENTION VMA<==========

OK Ryan, now that I have your attention...

I peeked in on the November club and noticed a brief discussion of central locking options. Last week I went to have my rear fogs activated, whicj I assume means a "complete BCM software change. I noticed that I still have auto-locking at 10 mph but I no longer have auto-unlocking when I shut the motor off. Is this now standard? I like the auto-locking and wanted to keep it, but now I miss my auto-unlocking. Is that option gone bye-bye...

Cheers y'all,

cheffie

 

Chefie, I never had the 10 mph door locks programmed. But I do have the auto unlock when the engine is shut off. Sounds like someone went a little too far when they killed your drls.

I thought I had the windshield wipers set to slow at a standstill, but obviously it is not working. Anyone else set up like that?

Regards,
Red

 

Hopefully Ryephile can straighten us ALL out...from what I understood in his Nov. club post the auto-UNlock is no longer available. In order to get my rear fogs activated I think I moved up to the latest software and lost access to that feature...

Well? Ryan? We await "definitive" answers...

 

the auto-unlock should still be available, it's the DRL's that screw with your Fog-light usage. with the '04 BCM's, which I've found the hard way they are different, the selective locking isn't an option like it should be for you guys.

Cheffie - I'd say your dealership boffed up a bit by not consulting with you what you wanted changed and not changed. They did not need to upload any new BCM firmware, just reset some of the existing options. (screwy dealerships!) I was hoping to have all these BCM issues sorted out, but my dealership is being (as usual) uncooperative in trying to do, um, anything productive

 

So...there is hope...maybe I can get my auto-unlocks back when I get my 10 (or is it 10.5)K service. Thats coming up in about 1900 miles...I'll ask them about that (and v36ECU, and cruise-currently working- and passenger window motor-currently working, but quit for about 12 hours one day-I'll talk to the SA and see what he has to say.

The good news was that I got my rear fogs activated for free!!! Daniel, the SA, told me it would be ready in 30 mins, since it took more like 1 1/2 hours, he comped the whole job. I didn't mind too much since I spent the time reading and hanging out in the MINI showroom eating their goodies and drinking coffee. It was the day before T-giving and the store was quiet, so I chatted with the MAs and checked out the new MINIs waiting to be delivered or sold. (BTW & IMHO, the MINI-fini cupholder is ugly and I'd rather die of thirst than attach one in my car...strictly my $.02)

Gracias for the quickie response and enjoy the pulley party! I'm off to order an autosharp pen for the rock chip I picked up on my A-pillar today...ah well, I suppose them's the perils of motorin' down Tejas way...if you're wondering, cattle guards at 85 CAN set off your DSC

nighty-nighty all,

cheffie

 

whee! Yokohama performance tires are definitely unhappy when it's cold!

*squigglesquiggle*

And it likes to peel out through second gear. Suppose it's time to put on my wimpy winters and hide... no WAY am I taking pics of the humble beastie.

I'm ashamed to admit that I DID find something that won't fit into the Mini. I bought boyfriend an air compressor for Christmas. Not content with getting a *mini* one, I opted for the 6hp 33 gallon one so he can't ever complain that he wants something bigger.

Dudes - those things are HUGE! Had to steal his car for once to ferry that sucker home.

I think it'd definitely squish the Christmas tree...

I'm ready for spring, please?

 

Page 4? We're slipping people.

Just got Pyro back from 10k service. Don't take your cars to be serviced right before a holiday. They put in a new tranny because reverse was a major problem. Not just hard shifting, but no shifting. Tranny feels better that ever. Also got a new software upgrade and a recall fix on an airbag wire under the passenger seat.

Did you know that driving a Ford Focus in the rain is like driving an iceskate?

It's great to be back in style.

Andy

 

>>Page 4? We're slipping people.
>>
>>Just got Pyro back from 10k service. Don't take your cars to be serviced right before a holiday. They put in a new tranny because reverse was a major problem. Not just hard shifting, but no shifting. Tranny feels better that ever. Also got a new software upgrade and a recall fix on an airbag wire under the passenger seat.
>>
>>Did you know that driving a Ford Focus in the rain is like driving an iceskate?
>>
>>It's great to be back in style.
>>
>>Andy

How was the focus in the dry Andy? It got very good write ups for a non enthusiast type car.

Regards,
Red

 

It's actually not a bad car for an inexpensive non-enthusiast car. It has a big trunk, more storage than the mini and the Blaupunk(sp?) radio is not bad. Ride is nice on the freeway. The problem is when you accelerate in 1st, there is no traction. Even on dry surfaces the tires wanted to spin. Curious because it doesn't seem to be that powerful.

A great rental car.

Andy

 

Thanks Andy. Now back to Focusing on the MINI.

Regards,
Red :smile:

 

happy winter!

::shaking off that two feet of Boston snow::

the Mini is GREAT in the snow, though not nearly so much fun to get sideways (it won't unless you play with the handbrake)

Hope all are well!

 

>>happy winter!
>>
>>::shaking off that two feet of Boston snow::
>>
>>the Mini is GREAT in the snow, though not nearly so much fun to get sideways (it won't unless you play with the handbrake) :smile:

Regards,
Red

 

>>Can't believe they did not cancel. All the SAT's on Long Island were cancelled. But I guess with the LSAT's they felt you were more resourceful! Hope you did great! :smile:
>>
>>Regards,
>>Red

Well, apparently they did for some of the other locations in the Northeast...

Grand total at the testing location (10 minute drive from my apartment): 24 inches, 8 of that while I was in the test (eeeek!). I studied on the bus everyday for a while, so the distraction of having the plows *overhead* wasn't as bad as it could have been. I just got distracted by..other things... I didn't realize how readily people would cheat on that test. Oh, WAIT.. it's a test for future lawyers..my bad

I've got the option to cancel my score within 9 days. I think I'll do that and really hit the books hard(er) for the next one, in June. I was trying to avoid taking a class, but might have to suck it up and do it.

But it was sure nice to get back in the Mini after the test and just tromp through the snow that was sending everyone else spinning. I like my widdle car lots. I still stop and stare at it when I've parked it, and admire it when I'm walking back to it for another play session.