Hey Guys,

My car is at 60K. What needs servicing or replacing? I was thinking that the drive belt needs to be replaced. Whataya think? Thanks in advance.

Joe

 

I'd look at the service index in your owner's manual (if you still have it). That would be a good place to start. Check out what the factory suggests.

If you haven't already done it, consider the following:

Flush cooling system and put in fresh coolant.
Flush the brakes and put in fresh brake fluid.
Do a thorough inspection in the engine compartment and underneath looking for anything worn or deteriorating, such as rubber or plastic parts.
Check the radiator and heater hoses to see if they have deteriorated. Check for not only cracks or splits, but also if they are feeling mushy, which is an indication that the polymer is breaking down.

I am not sure when things like cam belt (do we have a rubber or metal cam drive belt?) needs servicing, but that is a consideration also. If the motor is an interference fit (meaning if the cam belt breaks and the valves stick open and hit the pistons), the belt would be cheaper than new pistons.

Hope this helps.

 

According to my Bentley book, the Mini has a chain driven cam, not a belt. The chain has no required or scheduled maintenance.

 

I'd look at the front control arm bearings. I just had mine replaced at 63k.

They claim the transmission fluid is a lifetime fluid, but it's still a good idea to change it out.

I'd also replace the cabin filter. I've seen some seriously nasty looking filters come out of cars after only 20k miles.

 

If you're going to do the flush the brake fluid you might as well do the clutch side of things as well since they share the same reservoir....assuming you have a stick.

 

This may be a little overboard, but any car I have at 60K gets.
All new belts
All new hoses-you can't tell when they will go
If the battery has more than 4 yrs on it, I buy a new battery regardless of perceived life.

I'll never know, but I bet my $300 investment (typically) has saved me more aggrevation than the cost. This also comes from servicing my daughter's cars and hating to get that call..."daddy, my car died"

 

60k man that whas a while ago...... I just do the belt on mine every 60k or so, always cheking everything else out though (brake pads etc.)

Haven't replaced my hoses, battery or anything else yet though...

Nik

 

How many miles do you have on your car? Original engine and transmission, or have you had to work on them?

 

Milage in my sig. Turned 138k on the way home today. Original engine, trans, clutch etc. Put new rear brakes on at about 75k, and just did the front for the first time at about 134k. I just purchased a replacement supercharger off of ebay, so when my goes I'll be prepared. (no signs of it going yet.)

Mods on my car include:
CAI - on for about 120k miles
15%- pulley on for ~ 110k miles
WMS extreem rear sway ~ 40k
Rear control arms ~ 40k
Denso plugs ~ 60k
M7 DFIC ~ 2k (Put on at amviv)

and many other misc little things. I do the oil changes at the OBC recommended interval, tires about every 30k, and thats about it.

Nik

 

Oh yeah, I forgot one.
Replace the clutch slave cylinder. They go from good to bad pretty quickly. It's only ~$25 for the part.

 

If I were doing it myself, I'd probably also do O2 sensor and plugs (in addition to checking belts, hoses, brakes, etc)