Hi everybody,

This is my first post as I am would like to buy a Mini soon (very soon, I hope). As I am an avid –Do-It-Yourselfer, I have done all the maintenance and repair/mod work myself an all my vehicles, old and new. As a matter of fact, I would like to keep it this way when I get my Mini.

Are there any issues with this with the Mini? Do you need special tools to reset computers and such? How many Mini owners work on their cars themselves and what type of work they are comfortable doing? I usually buy the service manual/s and make/buy special tools I need to do the work.

Thanks for all you comments.

 

Welcome to NAM!!

This little device is very usefull :
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NM.../InvDetail.cfm

It read & clear check engine codes, reset oil service intervals, and is small enough to fit in the glovebox.

If you want to repair your car by yourself, you need to buy a Bentley manual:
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/BO.../InvDetail.cfm

 

Nice, Sweet! Thanks. Bookmarked,

 

a tool to clear codes is useful but note it is not required to reset the service counter
and the Bently manual was the first and is good.....but the Haynes, while poo-poo'd by many has been sufficient to keep my 79 Mini and 95 Miata running and so far is doing just fine on the 02.... it costs less .... altho look around, some vendors have been dumping Bently's at much lower costs too.

 

I am also a DIYer and have done most work (except the major repairs - and even a few of those) on my vehicles. Here are a few things to keep in mind that are easily overlooked:

• All of your maintenance is free/covered for the first 3 years.
• The 4 year warranty covers most of the necessary repairs.
• For the most part, these are low maintenance vehicles.

While it is indeed possible to do your own maintenance, there is little need for the first few years of ownership. After that, unless you are fanatical, you only change oil roughly once/year, rotate the tires (unless you don't subscribe to that theory), and top off or change some other fluids. Otherwise, visit the Detailing 101 thread!

Regarding mods, in many ways these are mod-friendly little cars - electronics excepted (at least for me). It seems that there are almost as many folks doing their own as people taking them to shops/garages. So far, I haven't done a lot of mods, just a pulley and brake pads/fluid. Both of these are reasonably straightforward - but a few special tools are handy. The aftermarket vendors and the online communities combine to make a fantastic resource for researching almost any project you'll undertake. You can find photo'd how-to's and tricks and tips for almost anything.

As for special tools, there are a slew. However, many of the regularly used ones are widely available and, for various reasons, let's just hope you don't need some of the oddballs - I don't think they're sold anywhere. As usual, though, there is always more than one way to skin a cat - some ways are just more difficult and time consuming than others.

It can get a bit complicated doing anything that requires access to the computer and electronics system - but what car doesn't have that complication anymore?

After dealing with older vehicles with rusted/frozen parts, one thing I can say is that it is quite nice being not having to remove stubborn parts with a torch or having to re-tap threads, etc., etc., etc.!!! Inevitably, you will run into something that those "crazy Germans" concocted seemingly for the sole purpose of driving you mad. And while things have improved substantially and there are always more aftermarket products available, it is not a Honda market.

Hopefully this helps. Good luck with your decision!

 

no problem! have fun with your mini

 

The only special tools I've need so far were a set or large torx sockets to remove the rotors and a brake piston compressing tool. Otherwise I've used the standard tools any DIYer would have on hand. I'll add that the advice on NAM has been INVALUABLE, and I've consulted this board before each and every mod.

Good luck with the new MINI!

 

Bentley Manual is the best, but only goes up to 2004. The Mini parts guy I talked to says there's slim differences from 2004 to 2006. Take that as you will.