I haven't had (or taken) the time to get it to the dealer, but I have discovered the following.

If you apply gentle upward or downward presure on the bulge above the speedo it goes away.

It is the worst in the mornings when it is cold (60's) outside.
In the afternoon when the car is hot inside it goes away.

If I turn on the defroster with some heat in the morning it goes away.
If I run the AC on max when it is hot it will return.

There must be a heat shield or something in there that is loose.

At least I have enough info to help the service techs.


Andy

 

Andy, there was a thread somewhere way back when where someone took the panels off and put some kind of shim in.


Guess you should wait until the techs have at it. Good luck.

When I used to complain about rattles in my early cars, my dad would say "that's why they put radios in them!"

regards,
Red

 

LOL, my passenger door speaker STILL rattles, even with the stereo off!

--->Andy, glad you're finding the "time for real brakes" thread useful (kinda). Rachel is right, good pads (like Ferodo 2500) and top-shelf brake fluid are about the only cost effective products to improve the stock brakes.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

You obviously need to put your stereo back on. LOUD. Rattle troubles go away.

regards,
Red

 

Oh man, even when I crank it up ALL THE WAY, that damn door rattle will just get louder. It's my nemesis, indeed

 

Brakes are going to be a problem because I am going to 15's for my track tires. Speaking of track, Rachel how come you get to go to the track so much? I'm jealous. You just have to much time and money on your hands.

I just spent a set of ferodos on a tux rental for my son's wedding, One Toyo RA-1 on punch for the reception, An H-sport sway bar on flowers and on and on and on.

 

woah, your Son just got married?

Well, CONGRATS to him! try not to look at the bills for the next 100 years, though, lol

 

Congrats on the marriage!

I get to spend so much time on the track because I have a SO addicted to the game. He also really likes driving my car!

(and I haven't been putting a whole lot into savings lately... ).

I think of the track sessions as a way for me to improve my driving and mechanic skills - I'm much more aware of traffic movement around me, know the dynamics of turns and my car's handling. I know where the threshold is in braking and how to maintain my own car. I can change wheels, tighten lugs, tweak tire pressure according to conditions, change brake pads a rotors, and monkey around in the engine bay by myself now. SO knows how to take the doors apart to fix the rattles (I wasn't there for that lesson) - he can also adjust the windows as well). Good skills to have, at the low low cost of $350 a month! *gulp*

Ah, well... it's cheaper than a speeding ticket or 5.

As for brakes, I've really found the stockers to be acceptable for light track use like I do with upgraded pads and fluid. Having had a few instructors take the car for a toss around the track, they've also agreed, but then the dynamics of the tracks that I've been on are pretty well-studied - slow in and fast out is *very* advantageous for most of the turns, so it changes braking points slightly. The 15" wheels and tires work GREAT for the track (and you can easily fit a set into the car with the rest of your gear...)

Next adventure: August 30-31, and the last one of the season September 30-October 1. Then I get to play in the snow! Muhahaha

Just broke 21,000 on my car.

 

Thanks Ryan and Rachel, but he's not married yet. It's in two weeks, when Rachel is on the track. The drain on the bank account is just beginning.


I guess I shouldn't be to jelous of your track time Rachel, because in California we really don't have track seasons. Pretty much all year round.

I am going to try a September date at Thunderhill, then a November day at Infineon then December at Laguna Seca.

 

See, now... I'm jealous of those awesome tracks available to you. The ones out here are pretty quirky: New Hampshire International is technical up the wazoo (and a two hour drive), Lime Rock Park is small with some spots that're downright dangerous if you drop a wheel (and three hours away), Watkins Glen I LOVE, but it's 6 hours away or so. Mount Tremblant I haven't been to, but that's another looooooong drive (It's in Canada, eh).

 

Congrats on the upcoming wedding Andy. Best of luck and good health to the new couple!


regards,
Red

 

Thanks, Red.

OK, I need some advice, altough I think it's pretty ovious. My daughter just got her license and now she wants me to teach her how do drive a manual transmission (translated; I want to drive your MINI). It would be fun to teach her, but once she gets in down, no way is she driving it. I am afraid if I open up that can of worms that I'll be sorry,

 

Oh dear... I'm useless with this sort of advice. My housemate wants to learn as well, so I took her out in the snow so she was less harsh on the transmission than she would otherwise have been - more 'give' to the car in case of dropping the clutch and other such fun accidental activities. I'm not inclined to do it more than a few times so she gets the idea and the mechanics of it. More than that and I'd worry about the longevity of the clutch in the car. There's probably no reason for it, but, well.. clutch replacements on the MINI are *expensive* and I'm *possessive*

Why not take her out a time or two so she gets the idea, but then cut her off? When she eventually gets a car of her own she can choose to get a manual if she wants it...

 

tell her you need a $1000 toasted clutch deposit

 

Ryan your wisdom exceeds your years

Dash rattle update. I decided to take a closer look at my dash to see it I could shim it or pull off the face and find the rattle.
What I found were 2 torx t-20 screws that each took about 1/4 turn. The rattle is gone

That was way to easy. Now I can update my rear swaybar.
I was waiting until the dealer looked at the rattle so the swaybar wouldn't get blamed.

 

Andy proving once again that customer intuition is far more wise than dealership training

MM2 Update: Just turned over 16,000 last night, YAY! I've been averaging 26 MPG since new, but check this out: 27 MPG since my UNIchip installation You can rest assured I'm not driving any more "grandma" than usual

Also, thanks for the dash rattle tip Andy - occasionally MM2 hints he's about to do that, perhaps an 1/8th turn will do the trick

I leave for the Dragon Thursday morning! (yes, I'm excited!)

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Andy - great that you got the rattle fixed!

 

Andy, it's your duty to teach the next generation how to use 3 pedals correctly. It may not cost you a clutch if you are there instructing.

The downside is she will want to borrow it. I have the same issue with my son. Never asked me, but at my brother's house, he asked and was taught in 5 minutes in a Miata.

He knows how careful we are with the Mini, so he has not asked yet......

Good luck with your kids; your son's wedding must be any day.

regards,
Red

 

random problem with my MINI: the driver side interior door handle doesn't actually open the door. I have to roll down the window to use the exterior handle so I can get out.

Ryan - how's the latest version of the software working on your car? I'm feeling v36 pain horribly right now

 

Rachel - get that door handle fixed before wintertime!

LOVE V38, but especially with the UNIchip. MM2 the gas PIG reached an astounding fuel economy level on my way to The Dragon last weekend - 34.6MPG - a HUGE jump from his previous best with V36 of 30.1MPG!!!

 

You could crawl out the other door

 

Ah, yes.. it might get a bit drafty.. I was going to go for the Dukes of Hazzard color scheme, but I'm still attached to my poor little stripes. Eventually I'll get them painted on, I think...

Great about v38. UNIchip is on the list, but probably not for a while. I'll have to swing by the dealership and have them upgrade my poor car. It's been bog-fest and yo-yo heck lately.

Recent gas mileage on my car is 33.1mpg on the highway... Not too bad. I'm not sharing what the city mileage is

 

I got a personal best for MM2 of 19.1 MPG on The Dragon this past weekend! With V36 I was getting high 16's! ....all still better than 6 MPG on the track!

 

Wow! We know all the mods you made were for increased fuel economy. More money for beer and pizza!

regards,
Red

 

uhhh, yea...that's it