Run Flats can be repaired, but the dealers who sell new run flats don't recommend it. ;)

Had a slow leak in a tire on my 2002 and had it repaired. No problem.

I love the run flats and have a spare set I bought on Ebay sitting in my garage. But I may have to sell or trade those, they are the 16" tires and I now have 17". :rolleyes:

Wow. The wording from my dealer - "when you get a nail in your runflat - you must replace it - it can not be repaired" No room for interpretation in that :rolleyes:

Pamlico - thanks for the info - I'm still leaning towards dumping the runflats when they wear out :rolleyes:

Oh, I know what the book says, but I've found a couple of discepancies between what the book says and the way things really work. I'm was just trying to figure out whether this is another such case.

Turns out, a trip to Wal-Mart today made it kind of a moot question: on the way there, the light went out shortly after starting (with my wife in the passenger seat). But on the way back, both the light and the master airbag caution stayed on all the way home. Definitely a problem that needs to be fixed, so I'll have that done tomorrow.


The 05 changes make for odd discrepancies, but I'm curious about the airbag issue. I'm caught up on the thread and mine works fine when the toddler is in the seat (w/full safety seat) at around 40 pounds, and it goes off when my older child 65 pounds sits in the seat (then gets moved to the back seat). I thought 77lbs but no way. FWIW it has gone on and off as I would expect, but Debi said 44lbs, book says more, it's somewhere inbetween.

Let us know how it goes !

....

Pamlico - thanks for the info - I'm still leaning towards dumping the runflats when they wear out :rolleyes:

right ......... when the runflats wore out on my '02 I replaced them with slightly oversized (215/45 -17) Yokohama ES100 non-runflats. Bought an inexpensive compressor and can of tire goop as well as a jack (the early '02 MCS didn't have a jack) and was ready to go.

Hey JohhnyL Glad you are enjoying your Mini.

Did the tire shop plug the run flat? My dealer told me run flats can't be repaired - they have to be replaced. And yes they charge about $300 a pop here in Atlanta.

Really? I did not know that. Actually, that sounds like Bovine Scatology ("BS") to me! ;)

I reckon I'll hafta keep checkin' my repair. I was saving that $300 for window tinting. :cool:

I'm planning on getting rid of the run flats as soon as I get a nail in one of them or they wear out - which ever comes first :rolleyes:

Yeah, sometimes I think about this, too. However, I must say that the runflat with no air in it ran great. I must have driven about 60 or 70 miles on it, and it performed very, very well. I had NO idea that it was flat when I was driving it.

I got some tire goo from here (http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?dept=12&cat=10&prod=M20-890) and plan to buy a cheap compact spare for long trips :rolleyes:

Motor on everyone :D

The 05 changes make for odd discrepancies, but I'm curious about the airbag issue. I'm caught up on the thread and mine works fine when the toddler is in the seat (w/full safety seat) at around 40 pounds, and it goes off when my older child 65 pounds sits in the seat (then gets moved to the back seat). I thought 77lbs but no way. FWIW it has gone on and off as I would expect, but Debi said 44lbs, book says more, it's somewhere inbetween.

Let us know how it goes !

Sounds like yours is working as advertised. BTW, Debi told me 44 pounds, too.

My car is at the dealer now and they say the weight sensor in the seat is bad, and they say that means the entire seat bottom needs to be replaced. Sounds similar to the convertible rear window issue-- if the back window in the convertible gets broken, you have to replace the entire roof. What happened to efficient German engineering????

I have the blue leather interior (with orange stitching) and they say that those are on backorder with no projected date of availability. So, I'll pick up the car tomorrow and drive it as is, then take it back when the seat bottom comes in.

The '05 changes may have created an odd discrepancy with regard to the lowering of the convertible top, too-- check out this thread I started in the convertible section, looks like I may have found an error in the owner's manual:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90785


Of interest to you, Scott, may be the way I was treated at the MNS service department this morning. I was fully prepared to sit around for a few hours while they checked out the car, but they wouldn't hear of it-- insisted that I take their voucher for a rental car, even though they expected my car to be ready later in the day-- said there'll ALWAYS be a free rental car available. In seconds, a BMW arrived to take me around to the Hertz place in the back, where I was asked if I saw anything in their lot I'd like to pay a slight additional charge (over what was covered) to rent. I looked at the Hummer sitting there for a minute, then said no, just give me whatever's covered. They gave me a very nice (and new) Toyota Corolla.

Interesting options on the fuel when returning the rental car, too: you get your choice of either filling it up before returning it, or paying $6 per day and not worrying about filling it up-- regardless of how much you gas you use. If you ever have to leave your MINI there and take the rental car back to Yuma, you're going to make out like a bandit on the gas!

Denny

Hey JohhnyL Glad you are enjoying your Mini.

I'm planning on getting rid of the run flats as soon as I get a nail in one of them or they wear out - which ever comes first :rolleyes:

I got some tire goo from here (http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?dept=12&cat=10&prod=M20-890) and plan to buy a cheap compact spare for long trips :rolleyes:

Motor on everyone :D

And that prompts a question: my Cooper has the Sport Package with the sport, as opposed to the all-season, run-flats, _and_ I got a spare tire. I wasn't even aware Minis carried spares at all. Did this happen for anyone else?

Zip

And I have another question: is the driver's seat supposed to slide forward when you tilt the backrest forward? My car's passenger seat does this, but the driver's side doesn't. Makes getting in and out of the back on the driver's side harder than it needs to be.

Zip

Zip,

I think all models of MINI except the S (and cabrio S) have a compact spare tire under the fuel tank. I think the reason is that the S has a central exhaust that occupies the space that would otherwise be used for the spare...

ANd yeah, both front seats should slide forward when you push down on the release and tip the back. In fact, if you tip the back forward first, then slide the seat forward; then slide the seat back without raising the back until the seat stops sliding, it will "remember" the position it was in. Handy, but not so easy to do reliably.

_Dave_

geotrash - it looks good. I like the roof decal.
Thanks Kellzir and AprilWhine. We were surprised to find that the roof decal actually worked OK with the yellow paint!

Dave

ok boys and gals....I got the call!

Picking up on Friday, aero kit is being fitted and painted as we speak, it appears that everything else is in order!

now the excitement is really building.

ok boys and gals....I got the call!

Picking up on Friday, aero kit is being fitted and painted as we speak, it appears that everything else is in order!

now the excitement is really building.

Congrats mate. I got the call yesterday to pick mine up on Friday. Now I find out that a wheel has been damaged and it won't arrive for a couple more weeks... :mad:

This has been the worst car experience of my life. I will never go through this crap again!

Zip,

I think all models of MINI except the S (and cabrio S) have a compact spare tire under the fuel tank. I think the reason is that the S has a central exhaust that occupies the space that would otherwise be used for the spare...

_Dave_

It's the battery that takes up the spare tire space in the MCS. :)

Tux, sorry to hear the bad news, I assume they are fitting a new rim?

hang tough tux...if our north american brothers and sisters are to be believed....it's all worth it!

I ordered my MCS back in Feb for a March build - when I was at the dealer I said I wanted the Union Jack on the roof, but with the sunroof I knew it was aftermarket. He said, no problem - we use Cooper Flags and can do the sunroof. Great - it was included in the deal. So I waited - car came in and the dealer called to say the flags they got in were damaged and they had to order new from the factory.

I asked why the factory and not Cooper flags and he said they always go through Mini first. I told him I didn't want the mini one - not see through - I wanted cooper flags. So again, no problem they will order. I went to get the car without the flag and I'll wait for it to come in. That was 2 weeks ago.

When I went to get my Mini - there were also no bonnet stripes - like I ordered. Ooops, they forgot. He said they have them in stock and will only take 15 mins to install. Comes back from service - they are out of stock - have to order. I gave it a week - called to see if I could at least get the stripes on - he says sure come on by. Within an hour I get a call - he went to parts and they sold the stripes earlier - they have to order again and he'll let me know as soon as he has an update. That was a week ago - no update.

Am I being a weenie? I wanted the car the way I wanted it and I feel like they ruined the pick-up. When they rolled the car in with no stripes my heart sank. I know it's not a big deal, but if I wanted any old mini, I could have found one on the lot at some dealer - I wanted it the way I wanted it.

I've also called Cooper Flags and they say it only takes 7 business days to get a flag out - I'm starting to get that - you've already bought the car now go away feeling. I've paid for the flag - it's in the deal, and the stripes were part of the sport package I ordered. Is it time to talk to the Manager?

Thanks for letting me vent - I feel better!

Tux, sorry to hear the bad news, I assume they are fitting a new rim?

hang tough tux...if our north american brothers and sisters are to be believed....it's all worth it!


I have been waiting four and a half months and to be this close is annoying over some truckie scratching a rim.

..and no they reckon they are 'repairing' the rim.

Wow, so much going on for everyone. I'm expecting my MINI by the end of the week and everyone's stories are making me anxious. But I'm excited, as well.

Slide--great news on yours!

Magictux--that's really really lousy.

Jeffu--seems quite reasonable for you talk to the manager. Managers are supposed to be interested in situations that make their customers upset or uphappy. It's their job to listen and respond. Go for it.

I have been waiting four and a half months and to be this close is annoying over some truckie scratching a rim.

..and no they reckon they are 'repairing' the rim.
I know it's little consolation but rim repairs can be impossible to discern from undamaged. As long it rolls true and there are no cosmetic blemishes after the repair, it will last and maintain its beauty the same as the other 3. Still, you ordered a NEW car. If a new rim is what it takes to make you happy, you have every right to demand one, in my opinion.

BUT...the whole thing will be SOOOO worth it when you drive that thing off the lot.

Dave

II've paid for the flag - it's in the deal, and the stripes were part of the sport package I ordered. Is it time to talk to the Manager?
Definitely time to talk to the dealership manager. If that doen't help, I'll bet a call to the Mini mother ship will resolve this issue instantly.

Dave

ok boys and gals....I got the call!

Picking up on Friday, aero kit is being fitted and painted as we speak, it appears that everything else is in order!

now the excitement is really building.

Congrats on getting the call :D The anticiaption is probably getting to you as it did me but it will be all worth it when you drive your Mini off the dealer lot. I'm still tripping over myself when I see the Mini in my parking space :D :D

Sounds like yours is working as advertised. BTW, Debi told me 44 pounds, too.

Interesting options on the fuel when returning the rental car, too: you get your choice of either filling it up before returning it, or paying $6 per day and not worrying about filling it up-- regardless of how much you gas you use. If you ever have to leave your MINI there and take the rental car back to Yuma, you're going to make out like a bandit on the gas!

Denny

I appreciate the ability to compare notes between owners at one dealership on how problems are handled, what to expect in terms of rental, etc. - You bet, we'd go through the tank easily. We we go to the "big city" all the places that are not available in a small town are on the do list. Some say it is more expensive to live in a metropolitan area but I think if you factor in the "go to the big city" shopping trips, it'd be even pretty quickly.

I'll pay more attention to my seat & the sensor (though no problems to report) and hopefully black panther cloth wouldn't be too hard to find - though if it weren't for 120 Yuma summers the blue leather would be great!

I could just see us out on the town in a Hummer :)

It's the battery that takes up the spare tire space in the MCS. :)

Thanks April!

_Dave_

Hey - thought I would share this with the March '05 family...I made the Mini2 faq page :D Check it outhere (http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?...actory_wheel s) scroll to 17 in. wheels

:D :cool: :D

Hey - thought I would share this with the March '05 family...I made the Mini2 faq page :D Check it outhere (http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?...actory_wheel s) scroll to 17 in. wheels

:D :cool: :D


That's :cool:

Congrats!

I've paid for the flag - it's in the deal, and the stripes were part of the sport package I ordered. Is it time to talk to the Manager?

Thanks for letting me vent - I feel better!

That is a horrible situation. I hope you did not have to pay for a dealer mark up as well. Is there written proof that the flag was included? I think you need to vent to the manager! I know some dealerships check online, like on MINI2 and I doubt they would want to read anything negative. Hope everything gets situated quickly. After all, it seems you been put on hold long enough.

Speaking of stripes - we were, weren't we? - Murray just got striped today and he is lookin' mighty fine!

Here he is on the Palos Verdes peninsula, overlooking my home town of San Pedro, the Vincent Thomas bridge, and the Port of Los Angeles. You can maybe make out Long Beach, way in the distance...
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/15040DSC01848-med.JPG

The stripe was custom-made by Cooper Flags, and installed by Brian Fick of Back Street Graphics. Here's Brian applying what I believe to be the very first instance of a "roof" stripe on a convertible :eek: :

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/15040L1846-med.jpg

Yeah, it's just on the small roof section at the top of the windshield, but it's very unique (so far) and looks real good. :cool:

The stripe is dark silver metallic, and goes well with my Space Grey cloth interior. The whole striping deal, including logistics, etc. was handled by South Bay MINI as part of the purchase. They interfaced with Cooper Flags (Thanks Ed!) and Back Street Graphics (Thanks, Brian!) and provided a clean covered space for the installation.

Here's the greatest Motoring Advisor on the planet, Jamie DeFrance, modelling the front and rear MINI emblems, which were removed prior to striping:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/15040L1835-med.jpg

You should definitely talk to Jamie if you're in the LA area, looking to buy. She is a MINI enthusiast herself, and is very easy to get along with. (Try to not to make her come in on her days off like I seem to do! Sorry Jamie!)

I'll post more, better pictures of Murray's new look, as well as more pics of the stripe installation, as soon as possible, but my wife Judy and I are about to embark on a mini (MINI) driving vacation to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which has great personal significance for us.

_Dave_

Anyway, here are some pics...

Looks nice! I like the roof graphic too!


jeffu - Personally, I think it sounds like you have every right to be upset. Getting your MINI is supposed to be an exciting adventure, not something that upsets you at so many points along the way. I know exactly what you mean about the stripes though. When my MA first e-mailed a couple of pictures to me to show me my web spokes, my MINI didn't have the stripes. At first I didn't believe that it was my car. Then I became worried because I didn't understand where the stripes were. Then they explained that they would be installing them there if I still wanted them. That first look was in panic mode though. That said, I agree with you. You ordered your MINI because you wanted it a certain way. If you hadn't, you could have just picked a MINI off of the lot. If you are unhappy with what the MA is telling you, talk to the manager. Like some said, that's what they are there for. Good luck. I hope that you get it all straight soon. This is supposed to be a happy time!

Debbie

ok boys and gals....I got the call!

Picking up on Friday, aero kit is being fitted and painted as we speak, it appears that everything else is in order!

Hey! Congratulations! I was just thinking about you a couple of days ago and wondering how much time you had left. Was afraid to inquire though...in case it was a touchy subject. :p Anyway, that's great! Hope the week passes by quickly for you.

I have 550 miles on my MINI now! I think I may have to take a mini MINI road trip this weekend so that I can get a little closer to the end of my break-in period.

FINALLY GOT TO SEE THE LITTLE RED MINI! If anyone has been following my postings along the way, you may recall that there is a cute little red Cooper with a white top that lives near me. My husband and I have been hoping to see him on the highway for months now. Actually, we were almost to the point of stopping by with our MINIs to meet him! He's a college professor in town, so his hours are a little different than ours. Well, today was the day! I came home for lunch and when I left, I decided to drive the MINI and leave the For Sale car at home this afternoon. On the way back, I saw the little red MINI. I was so excited (yes, weird, I know)! I was waving like you would expect an excited little kid to wave. He waved back too...just not with quite as much enthusiasm. Then, on my long-way home trek, I was on the other side of town on a back road, and who do I see - AGAIN - the little red MINI! Not wanting to look too anxious this time, I casually waved. What does he do? He's waving like I did before...and blowing the horn! Yep - that was my excitement for today. :D

Hope everyone is having a good week. Congratulations to those who are picking up their cars. And, I'm a few pages behind in my reading, so there are probably a few more people that I need to congratulate on picking up their MINIs!

BTW, the number my MA told me for the passenger airbag was a lot higher than 44. Don't quote me on this, but I thought he said 75. I was so excited that day, it's mostly a blur.

Did I mention that I saw the little red MINI? :)

My Cooper went back to the dealership today to have the aux input jack installed. They were back-ordered and arrived at Hassel two days after I picked up my car.

When I called initially to make an appointment, the service advisor told me the earliest he had was May 20th. I couldn't make it until the 25th and then it had to be a morning (7-9am) drop-off. Very inconvenient.

I called my MA back again a litttle later to tell her what I arranged and she said something like 'that far away?!' She asked me when I could bring the car in, and I told her I could drop it off late this afternoon to be worked on tomoorow. She told me she'd call me back in a few minutes.

So she did call me back 10 minutes later and told me she set it up with service that I could drop it off today, and get it back tomorrow. They're also gonna look into the driver's seat that doesn't slide forward when the seatback is released. I'm also gonna get a free hat and shirt for my wait on delivery day (last Saturday).

So kudos and hat's off to Maureen at Hassel for what I certainly consider going the extra mile to make sure I was satisfied with my car (she brought in a car in a color combo I was considering so I could see it in person), as well everyone from the receptionist to the business manager to the general manager for just being helpful and pleasant.

Oh yeah, and because I bought a BMW (technically), I got shuttle service home after I dropped off my car. Chevy didn't do that. ;)

Zip

Hey - thought I would share this with the March '05 family...I made the Mini2 faq page :D Check it outhere (http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?...actory_wheel s) scroll to 17 in. wheels

:D :cool: :D

Splendid, dood! (Although, I shooda been the ONE! Black Jack is the Dawg, y'all! ((Yeah, I Know, that's SOOOO '03.5)) :mad: :rolleyes: :cool: :D )

[B]...AGAIN - the little red MINI! Not wanting to look too anxious this time, I casually waved. What does he do? He's waving like I did before...and blowing the horn! Yep - that was my excitement for today. :D

:)

That prof was obviously not caffeinated the first time you passed him!