My '05 MC has a whine at start-up and when cold that sounds like it's coming from the power steering system. Just found out that the fluid isn't owner maintainable. Does your car make a similar sound?

Just washed the car for the first time yesterday, went on a 40 mile ride and already there's a good amount of brake dust. The wheels are five spoke factory and light in color so dust would show up more. However, is the barke dust build up normal? Are the stock pads are race pads?

Where's a good place to buy a Colgan bra?

Looking for a better cupholder than the MINI cage. Got suggestions?

Just bought the car on Friday. It is used but with only 7000 miles. Having fun already!

Thanks.

 

The wining from the power steering is normal. The power steering on the mini is hydraulic and you hear the pump running.

 

My MINI whines too. It's the power steering, (which I thought was electric), but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, perfectly normal as is the copious amount of brake dust.

My MINI came with a Minifini cup holder which I like a lot. They have gone out of business but a lot of people didn't like theirs and removed it. You can probably find one pretty cheap.

Can't help with the bra, I prefer braless.

Congradulations on your new MC!!!

 

Ahhh the two things that really BUG me abotu minis. I love the whine, but sometimes it's louder than others Asked service about it, because i hang around ALOT of MINI's... they said if something does go wrong, they'll fix it as if it was under warranty if i should run out of it since it's documented that i'm worried about it. Just to be safe...

And that DARN brake dust. My dad has a cow when i park beside my stepmoms sparkling 1970's Benz and my front wheels are black after less than a week of driving. I'd change the pads, but i really like them. Although, i do love the dark gray color they leave on the wheels. I can't tell if i like it with LY, but i'm really debating getting a gunmetal colored set of rims

It's not that i'm too LAZY to clean them or anything...

 

The brake dust situation is one reason I am considering eventually getting the Motegi LC5 wheels, which are Teflon-coated. I think that would allow the break dust to be washed off easily and limit how much actually sticks to the wheels.

I was also worried about the whine, so I found this thread in the search. Good to know its normal. Thanks guys.

 

Changing the brake pads will do much to lessen the amount of brake dust. I personally changed to EBC Green pads and the amount of dust is much less now. Plus the EBC pads seem to me to give better braking.

 

That brake dust is a feature! Many people like having anthracite wheels and the brake dust is just an economical way to get them!

 

|MiniMania.com for the Colgan bra.

 

http://www.colgancustom.com/ For the Bra, very nice fitment in my experience.
I have also used EBC pads on past vehicles with excellent results. Dropped my old Ford's dust by 200%. Not sure on the Mini how much the dust will drop but it has to be better than the BMW pads.

 

Bump for the EBC Green brake pads....

Have you considered a clear bra?