Hello everybody.
Still new here (check my posts), so I have a question:
Where do you guys hide the DIY section? Or is there a DIY section? How easy is it to work on a Cooper S?
I searched a bit, could not find much. I do not own a Mini (at least not yet).
I just want to know more about how to fix things without visiting the stealer.

 

Mods may or may not be what you're looking for:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...fications-189/

 

You'll also find DIY stuff in multiple areas, but I'd say looking in the "Modifications" sections is a good start. Sometimes it does require a bit of creative searching.

What kind of DIY articles are you looking for?

 

I checked the mods section, thank you.
DIY, as in when stuff goes wrong: how to fix it with pics and steps
Here is an example. The DIY links are in the middle of the page. Also, in the mentioned forum, there is a DIY subforum. This is a mighty tool.

Thanks

 

There are definitely DIY articles with steps & pics, but no one has anything even close to a comprehensive compilation of those. I have to say, too, that I haven't gone looking for DIY articles that cover repairs - more for modification/replacement.

There's a fair amount of overlap I think, though. Replacing a part with a 3rd party item will have basically the same steps, just using a factory piece on the install.

Of course, I'm sure that you'd be a community hero if you did a compilation like the one you did on the bimmer forum

 

The compilation is not the hard part. The hard part is to convince moderators to open a DIY section. You might end up as you mentioned with some overlapping "DIY's", but that's OK. As for gathering & sorting the info, that's not hard. The trick is to convince the mods to let you edit your threads whenever you want. That way you can add DIY's as time goes by. In no time you will have a very good and reliable "library" for everyone to share. Also, some people will develop a sharp sense of pointing out weaknesses of certain DIY's or parts, and will come up with fixes too.

There is a good start: "Stock Problems and Issues". It could contain a DIY subforum, or the Mini forum could have a DIY subforum for all Minis to share (I think there are quite a few similarities between models, and lots of times one would need only some sort of guidance on how to fix his/her problem)

 

I don't think there's anything stopping preventing continual editing of existing posts. I think it's just that no one has wanted to be the maintainer of (or maybe thought of) such a compilation.

You're right about the Stock Problems & Issues - that'd be a good place for a stickied DIY compilation of fixes/howtos that aren't specific to a mod.

As for overlap between the 1st and 2nd gens, hard to say - the whole engine was changed and I think the electronics are pretty different as well (not sure on that last). In any case, I do like the idea

 

Yup, there isn't a central repository. Just search the forums for what you're hoping to do and somebody's probably has done it. For some simple upgrade DIYs I might suggest:
http://www.motoringfile.com/diy/ or
http://www.motoringfile.com/section/diy/

However, what was most useful to me was buying a Bentley manual. You could practically take the car apart and put it all back together with it!
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...ce-manual.html

 

How's that 02-06 manual fare for the 2nd gen cars? I'd love to get one when I get my Mini, but it'd be a waste if large parts weren't relevant.

 

Hey, sorry about that. I was at an Apple Store when I made the post and must have missed the 2nd gen thread as I jumped from gomotoring.com Wish I could help. Unfortunately that's one of the reason's why I bought an 06 R53 rather than a R56: because there is so much more information available for the R53 and I enjoy tinkering. The biggest difference is going to be engine related, but others are remarkably similar (rear suspension for example). You could hope someone like Bentley Publishers comes up with a guide or you could possibly try to marry or bribe a MINI service advisor to get closer to a service manual...Just a few suggestions.

 

LOL, guess it's time to start hanging out in the Mini service area then

 

Well I just sent a brief email to Bentley Publishers (I would have just visited them if I still lived in Cambridge as we were essentially neighbors) regarding an R56 guide and we'll see if anything comes to fruition although I'm doubtful. It would make sense that after the R57 convertible is out for a bit, somebody would make a guide. The R55 Clubman, R56 Coupe and R57 Convertible are all on the same platform with the same engines and now that the factory JCW is available a complete guide covering them all could easily be furnished (the currently Bentley book covers: coupe, convertible and JCW). We can only hope and wait.

In regards to the other option, I'll leave you to your own devices and imagination.

 

i'll clean up my diy installs threads for the new "doru" diy section.

 

Don't tempt me. Don't dare me...

Yes, I have the e39 Bentley, and what I used so far wer some torque specs. The rest, the e39 forum members, as well as other forums (some 3 series have almost same engine with the 5 series) made our lives much easier with pics and DIY posted. More detailed than the Bentley. Here's an example that shows how to fix the Vanos seals, front and rear shocks.
I was a noob concerning cars. All I did was maybe washing the car, or checking the tire pressure. Now I can do quite a few things.
I looked at some engine pics you guys posted, and the Mini looks very "self - doable".

 

It sounds like although a R56 Bentley manual may eventually happen, it may be awhile coming. This is what I received from Bentley today:

 

I must agree, I had one of these DIY threads for my audi, and it came in useful more than enough times... I might be up for starting one up here... just as a thread somewhere and keeping it nice and clean, and I can update the main op to link out different fixes and such for the R56-- only issue is time, but I'll look into it..!

 

I'm on Doru's side here....100%.

 

There isn't a lot of that being done on the 2nd Gen MINIs because most of them are still under warranty. Fixing them yourself may void the warranty on that part if it doesn't work out.

 

You guys need to have better relationships with your Service Advisors. I have never felt trapped like a lot of people on here do with respect to warranty service. If they're reasonable and not trying to specifically screw you out of your money, you'll be fine. With that said, there aren't a lot of procedures that you'd need to do outside of what's covered under warranty at this point (with the exception of BMW/MINI's fluid renewal cycles which are aimed at nothing beyond getting your MINI past the 'free maintenance period' with the least amount of cost possible (on behalf of MINI and their dealers, not the owners). If you want to keep your car for awhile, service it yourself between dealer services.