Hey Everyone,

Just got a mini cooper S 2002 and I love it. I've been driving it only 2 weeks now and she's smooth as silk. Unfortunately, I was at red light at around dusk. The light turned grean and i proceeded to make a right turn, when all of sudden I heard a loud THUD and my car went up on it's side a bit. I made the turn too sharp and just didn't see a bit of raised cross walk that was jetting out there. My back wheel went up over the curb and I guess the loud thud was the bottom of tha car smacking the curb. I looked underneath there and it looks fine. It seems to drive fine as well.

Should I get it checked out anyway, just to see if I screwed up the alignment?

Thanks for any advice you can give. This is sort of my first car. I've been living in cities the past 15 years where you just don't need a car. I feel like such a newbie.

Thanks again,

tony F

 

If your MINI has never had an alignment in 4 years, you should do it anyway. I had it done on my 2003 MCS even though there were no obvious problems. After it was done, my MINI handled so much better.

I went to a shop that had the newest Hunter brand machine and very experienced operators who work on the local club racecars. They aligned it using the fancy computers and lasers and then the shop owner took me for a test drive and then had his guy adjust a couple things by hand. A combination of art and science for sure.

 

I saw a post on here somewhere that talked about a Firestone lifetime alignment for $149. Now on the surface it seemed a little high, but since I generally keep cars for 8-10 years, or more, it was an easy choice for me.

Anytime you hit a pothole, bump a curb, etc... just take it it, they fix it, no questions asked.

Since you are a new driver, this might be the way to go.

Motor on.

 

Is this Stephens garage or someone else? I'm considering getting mine checked as it pulls a little to the left. I'd rather not carry it to an impersonal nationwide chain.

 

Good choice. It makes all the difference in the world. Take it to a specialist