I didn't like the way it didn't run without gasoline , so my fix was to put more gasoline into the tank . I don't like that I need more gasoline, but I haven't found a fix that lets me motor with Molly. Sorry for the confusion. Everything else about Molly is great.

 

How did you spend over $50 @ $3.53/gallon? The MCS tank is only 13.2 gallons. Even if you were dead empty, a full tank would only be $46.60. I thought I was getting away from $50+ fill-ups with the MINI!!

 

1) I don't like that when I pull up at a light, I always seem s=to pull up too close to see the light. This wasn't a problem in other cars. Only solution is to learn to not pull up so far.

2) When I place a heavy item in the passenger seat the seatbelt gong goes off. This is extremely frustrating having to reach over and fasten the strap

3) The stupid gong sound totally reminds me of that awful Britney Spears song "Gimme Gimme." Every time I hear it, it makes me think of her MTV disaster "singing" that song. Sorry, folks. Now you will be plagued by this, too.

 

This has been debated a lot - the consensus seems to be that with reserve the tank is actually 15 gallons. Normally I wouldn't run so close to empty, but I was far from home and didn't have my wallet on me. Before filling up I had like 20 miles to empty according to the OBC. Also the price was actually $3.59 per; typo.

 

A lot of people use these in their MINIs: http://www.lightinsight.com/our_product.htm. I personally think I wouldn't like having something stuck to my windshield, but maybe I'd get used to it. The people who have them swear by them.

 

Hmm... I didn't realize that the reserve was in addition to the 13.2. I thought the 13.2 was inclusive of the reserve. Good to know.

 

im not sure if this has been mentioned... but i hate the oil dipstick. Its nearly impossible to read. I know there are ways to aid in deciphering your oil level using things like paper towels and what not, as well as techniques used to read it straight off of the stick but COME ON!! there practically needs to be a FAQ on reading your dipstick... which really shouldnt be the case with something so simple.

my next problem is finding somewhere to park without having anxiety attacks while you are out and about.

 

I find that really annoying as well, I take my backpack to work with me everyday and with my laptop in it I have to put it on the passenger side floor.
Thank God I don't know whatever Britney song your referring to

 

I also take my laptop bag with me to work every day and I think I will find that annoying too. My MINI is still on order, but I'm already curious if there's a fuse that you can pull or something that can be done about the gong. It's fine for the driver because I always wear my seat belt, but I don't want to be unable to put stuff on the passenger's seat for fear of that annoying sound.

 

Here is an idea. Buy a seatbelt "male part" (lack of a better word) to stick into the latch and leave it in there. If you have a passenger, throw it in the glovebox. If you cannot find one, maybe have a blade made out of steel or hard plastic to use as a dummy.

 

I hate that sometimes when I am reversing with wet shoes..my foot can slip off the clutch...removing the cover works, but I have yet to find a suitable, good looking replacement. Maybe I just need new shoes. But I realy like the rear trailing arm that suposedly comes of a bmw Z1.

 

Hayame carbon fiber for the wheel arch reflectors. Perfect match for JCW CF.

 

I hate it when it rains the water drips onto the drivers seat when I open the door. There is no fix for it.

 

Just returned from a trip and noticed questions along with a pic request from Augie05 and TK76911 regarding my 16" OZ Ultraleggeras.

Pics attached. In response to questions, the OZ wheel/tire setup drops about 14 lbs. per corner from the OEM wheel/tire combination. I find that on a car as lightweight as the MINI, reducing unsprung weight confers large benefits in terms of ride, suspension control, adherance, braking and overall handling. Everything the suspension does, it does better with a lightweight wheel/tire combination. Very perceptible, a major improvement. I am now back running the - much too heavy -OEM Bridgespokes and Conti SSR runflats during snowtime here in Pennsylvania, and the drop-off in ride/handling from the Ultraleggeras is painfully evident. The Ultraleggeras have a wicked spidery look to them which, to my eye, flatters the MINI's styling. They collect brake dust just as much as the Bridgespokes, but it seems to show less. All in all, I am very happy with the OZ wheels and General UHP Exclaim non-runflats: this setup markedly enhances the car's perfomance potential. I can't wait for the warm weather so I can re-install them.

 

Thank you for the reply and photos, Diploman. I'm guessing you saw no advantage in 17s or 18s (looks aside).

My next question, if you'd be so kind, where did you get them?

Thanks in advance.

 

Tire Rack has a full selection of OZ wheels. Excellent service. I am running 205/50/16 tires, a very popular size for MINI's and one which offers a plethora of tire choices.

TK76911S, there are a number of references on NAM, MotoringFile and Mini2 to the reported optimization of the MINI suspension by BMW designers for 16" wheels. Do a search if interested. As you are undoubtedly aware, all the various possible MINI wheel/tire combinations from 15"-19" have very close to the same outside diameter and circumference, the difference being that as wheel size increases, tire sidewall height decreases. Almost invariably, the larger the wheel, the heavier. (This is why those who auto-x or track their MINI often mount 15" wheels.) Compared to 17" or 18" wheels, the 16" are lighter and offer a slightly taller sidewall to increase rim protection from pothole impacts. Ride quality also improves with taller sidewalls. I would have seriously considered 15" wheels except that the MCS' new larger brakes can accept only a very limited subset of 15" wheels and I did not want to be limited in my choice. Also, OZ does not make the Ultraleggera in a 15" size, and those were the wheels I wanted. Although many prefer larger (17-18") wheels for aesthetic reasons (in addition to a harsher ride they convey marginal, if any, performance benefits), I feel that the 16" size is the best compromise for ride, handling, rim protection and aesthetics.

 

^^^Diploman, Don't want to appear lazy. I did run numerous searches in the tire section and have read MF (not so much Mini2). Frankly, your posts appeared very well-thought out and logical, without the cloud of "latest and greatest looks." So, I seized an opportunity to ask you the question here. You've answered with quite a bit of info, which confirms what I have read elsewhere, including MF's Gabe's advice that the first place to start to improve the ride is the wheels and tires (before any susp/engine changes). Of course, Gabe also runs the OZ's, albeit 18s.

Many thanks again for your posts.

Your MINI looks great w/ the OZs.

 

Thanks, TK, hope my notes were helpful. Good luck in your wheel upgrade. Post a pic or two when you've mounted new shoes.

 

I was thinking about the same thing the other day... maybe going to a junkyard and cutting one out of another car. BMWs are probably the same "male part" and would be much easier to find than a wrecked MINI. (I don't know where mine ended up).

 

Every time I order take out, my dinner spills across the floor and is ruined. This is due to the fact that the MINI is too ferocious of a beast and demands to be driven hard.

There is no known solution.

 

So I guess that's the reason for the gong huh? So your passengers don't end up the same way as your take out!

 

Its Turbo. I would have kept it supercharged. Just improve on the cooling system. Liquid cooling maybe. Plus it looks 4x4. Do something about the stance and suspension.

 

Just tires and wheels from DTDirect.
The car is quirky but I like it.

 

Actually this is something that isn't brought up too much. Really the wheel gap doesn't change much at all with larger rims. This was a great site to see for sure. It's about how much metal to rim you want to see. I went with 15's and then got slightly larger tires as I like seeing more black sidewall with the black roof and enjoy a bit smoother ride. Very subjective.
I recently saw an older Corvette and noticed its wheels and the ratio of rubber to metal. Obviously larger rims are a "recent" style because they had manly sidewalls in the 60's!

 

This happened to me with a big 'ol ice cream from Coldstone. I set it on the floor (better than chancing the leather seats!) and started driving and *thwoop*, there goes the gooey, chocolatey, carameley (I'm totally making up words) mess all over my floor mats.
I laughed and cleaned it up. Really, it was the car's fault, not mine. I swear!