[AprilWhine]

This thread will probably still be running years from now. I lurk in the March 2006 thread, watching for problems.

[crosebud]

Hey guys, I'm still around, too! Only 6600 on my MINI. It's hard to put the miles on tooling around the little-big town of San Francisco. I've had a few minor problems, one of which I'm just living with at this point.

Took the car in to have them look at a popping noise that came from the driver's seat when you moved around in it. They fixed the pop, but then the car seemed to be "creaking." They determined the creaking was unrelated to the seat (which it probably was but why I suddenly noticed it I'm not sure). They determined the creaking was in the dash, took it apart, put "anti-creak" tape in it, then gave the car back to me. Only trouble was, not only was the creaking still there, if not a bit worse, but they'd failed to put the dash all the way back on--it was visibly out of alignment. So anyway, back the MINI went for another day in the shop. They put the dash on right, claimed they could hear not creak, and well, it's still there. It's not bad, and I don't have time to leave the car for another day. Pluse I've got this uneasy feeling about leaving it. LIke will it always come back worse than before?

Funny thing at the service center, though. For some reason that day (they say this happens regularly) all the cars out front needing service were PW/B. There were five of us in a row and it got a little confusing whose was whose. Of course, I was the only one with the stunning red seats

Oh, one other thing. So I've scraped one of my side mirrors a bit, and wanted to see about replacing the mirror cap. It's the standard black so I figured it'd be easy to order. Turns out, though, you can't order the black caps. The told me at the service center I'd have order one unpainted and have their body shop paint it. It's cost most about 150.00 dollars or more just for the cap. Seems nuts. I've decided to live with the scrape for now.

Yeah, let's keep the thread alive.

[Tazminia]

Howdy fellow '05 people!

Crosebud...have you checked ebay lately? I have seen black caps on there in the past (haven't looked in a little while though) and I bet you could get them considerably cheaper than that dealer quote too. I agree that 150.00 is a tad bit excessive.

As for our lil red coop, we have around 7200 miles on it. We hope to add a few "sightseeing" miles to it this year but we're not sure exactly when. Our 30th wedding anniversery is in July..maybe a lil 3 or 4 day vacation to some hilly country??

I'm jealous of you guys that are gonna be on that Cal. dreamin trip. Sounds excellent!

Take '05ers.

Taz and Co.

[AprilWhine]

Taz, I'll take and post lots of pics.

[Tazminia]

Thanks April, I'll gladly peruse them when you get them posted!

As an addendum to my last post; I got curious and checked ebay for those black mirror covers. Ain't none. At least not as of tonight. I hope you find some though crosebud.

Wow, has it been almost a year since we first started this post? Anyone besides me feelin' old now?

Geriatric Taz

[Johnny L]

Dave: DON'T think too hard: Do the Pulley! It's probably the single best thing you can do for performance. I've got over 5k miles on mine, and it's been utterly problem-free.

Quote: Originally Posted by am0eba

I've been enjoying the White Roof Radio podcasts lately - check 'em out at whiteroofradio.com ... After hearing Randy Webb talk about what he's do to a Cooper S and why, I'm thinking real hard about a 15% reduction supercharger pulley....

_Dave_

[Pamlico]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tazminia

... Our 30th wedding anniversery is in July..maybe a lil 3 or 4 day vacation to some hilly country??......

Hi - Why not celebrate a little early and travel to New Hampshire to attend Minis On Top (MOT)? There are a few MINIs from your neck of the woods coming out as a group who will then meet up with some of us from western NY. We'll then continue on as a larger group to western Massachusetts where there will be a convoy (Yankee Candle convoy) of MINIs heading up to NH. Last year this convoy had ~ 35 cars and there should be at least as many this year.

The main thread concerning MOT is here and the MOT website is here.

The thread discussing the Yankee Candle thread is here.

Hope to see you.

Congratulations on the anniversary (we hit 30 yrs last November).

- dl

[crosebud]

Taz, regarding those black mirror caps--one stumbling block I'm having to buying one on my own is that I'm not sure I can snap it on myself. At the MINI Service place the service advisor offered , if I bought it from them for the $150.00, to snap it on for me. He said it would be tricky for me to do it myself, that it's easy to break it. If I buy the cap myself, they'd probably charge me their regular repair rate to do that little snap. I am very "unhandy," can barely screw in a lightbulb, so I'm feeling a bit stuck (though it's not the biggest problem I have in life, of course).

And yes, I do feel older. But we are all very cool in our MINIs

[Tazminia]

Dang..this it gonna be a long one. First things first:

dl, thanks for the offer! I'll run it by the boss tonight (just read it this morning, 3/17) and see what she says. I'm not sure how far she wants to travel-or to where at this point-so at least a destination with other MINIs would be a great starting point.

Crosebud, I see your point about your caps. I believe (don't quote me on this as I haven't checked) that there are posts in here about how to remove those caps but I understand completely about not wanting to do them yourself for fear of making a mistake in the process. (you change light bulbs? heck, I need a manual for THAT!) Sometimes the few extra bucks you pay to have a pro do it, is worth the peace of mind. Good luck either way!

Ok, now for the latest:
We went (3 hour drive) to get our first service work done yesterday. Bill Jacobs Mini of Naperville was our place to go. They were 1st rate. Work was done very fast, done well and they washed our car after a long drive in rain and snow. The *BEST* part of the ordeal was when they gave us a loaner to go shopping around town in. Keep in mind we have a MINI, 5 spd. They gave us an S with the automatic, an '06 model. WOWWW!
This thing hauls *ss people! (or, if you are a Bill Jacobs employee reading this-I assume it hauls *ss as we would never check for ourselves on your main roads.. .)
Wow, what a treat to drive. I mentioned about 72 times to the wife-lets consider trading in for an S..and even the auto! Yes..I admit it. I loved it. The wife wouldn't test drive it because the Chicago area was just too fast paced for her so she never got the chance to experience how it felt driving, but I know she would love it every bit as much as our present toy. We are gonna look REAL hard at what they offer in '07 now!! First upgrade??

Anyhow, sorry that was so long. That's what I get for not sneaking in more often.
Weather is slowing getting better here...more sightseeing-road-trips time! Clean the MINIs, grab your cameras (for posterity of course) and hit the road!
Mr & Mrs Taz

[AprilWhine]

Have to agree about the MCSa, I love mine.

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Have to agree about the MCSa, I love mine.

I remember you talking about it a long time ago and recall thinking "an automatic as much fun as a 5 spd? naaaaaa..couldn't be.."
Color me wrong
If we truly consider an '07, my vote (less than 50% of the vote since it's her car) would be for the automatic. I saw no less fun in it than a clutch. At ALL. You know what may be the determining factor in a newer MINI? The color choices for '07. Sadly..the color we would kill for is only available on the converts. (the orange!) If they made that for an S..it would be a done deal tomorrow. No, I really love the look of the hardtop so (as does the wife) so we won't go the ragtop route.
BTW..even though this car is the wifes..*I* am the one who put the first noogie on it. I was trying to go around a (slow) person and got too close to the curb. I took off about 3 or 4 inches of white off of the right front wheel *sigh*
Anyhow..heres to hoping for an 07 MCSa, AW! Cheers

[Pamlico]

Taz - you probably can get the noogied wheel repaired. I had a nasty curb rash on our 1st MCS and a guy came, sat in our driveway, and got the wheels back to 99% of original for a very reasonable price. Check this site for information. No comment on the MCSa as I'm a stick driver from way back.

Hope you can make MOT.

[AprilWhine]

Yes, hope you can make MoT

Taz, have you considered getting your own MINI? Nothing wrong with a 2 MINI family, I have a MCSCa and the hubby has a MCSa.

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Yes, hope you can make MoT

Taz, have you considered getting your own MINI? Nothing wrong with a 2 MINI family, I have a MCSCa and the hubby has a MCSa.

Two things stop me from having 2 MINIs...
1) I need a truck to haul stuff since we constantly do work on the house, etc. (two kids in college also require that. LOL)
2) my wallet wouldn't like it either.
If I have more money than sense, I'd get one darned-near duplicate to the one we drove. Dark silver (dont remember the official color name) with light silver top, had leather seats but we still love our Leatherette.; chrono-pack was on it but we still love the speedo in the middle. (TOO unique to change!). Ahh..I can dream, can't I?
2.1) I'm too stingy to insure 3 vehicles for 2 drivers.
...But let me hit the Lottery and all those arguements go right out the window.
Taz

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamlico

Taz - you probably can get the noogied wheel repaired. I had a nasty curb rash on our 1st MCS and a guy came, sat in our driveway, and got the wheels back to 99% of original for a very reasonable price. Check this site for information. No comment on the MCSa as I'm a stick driver from way back.

Hope you can make MOT.

That website is a gem of a find...thanks! As it turns out, they are in the Chicago area where my dealer is. I will be calling them here in the near future to see about fixing my noogie and then go catch a Cubs game.

You guys...what would I do with out all of ya, huh?
Taz O'minia (hey, it's St Pattys Day afterall)

[AprilWhine]

Well, just to play temptress, did you know you can put a trailer hitch on a MINI? Fuzzy got one for his birthday and is installing it on his MCSa.

But we didn't get rid of the third vehicle that we use for heavy hauling.

[Tazminia]

I've seen ads for that trailer hitch but I can't see myself doing that to CJ's car, and I like having my truck for haulin bigger things, so we'll have to tough it out and be a 1 MINI family. (wheres the lottery when I need it?)

Hey, on a totally unrelated note: anyone of our lil tribe here have a Sirius stereo in their MINIs? I have considered one but didn't like sticking anything on our roof but in another forum someone had their receiver up on the dash by the A post with no reception problems. Anyone else try that method? If that works, I may get one for the wife. (and get a second unit for my truck since the monthly fee is almost half for the second receiver)



...gettin' antsy to drive with the sunroof open...

[Pamlico]

I have a Sirius Starmate. I found some circular pieces of velcro and put a piece on the back of the antenna and the opposite side on the little rubber thingy where the sunlight sensor sits on cars with the auto A/C. There's space to run the wire between the dash and windshield, then down and over to wherever the radio is located (why does that wire have to be so non-flexible?). I have an aux input on the radio and an extra power point on the euro parcel shelf, so wiring things up is pretty easy.

Overall reception is fine, the signal is sometime lost for a couple of seconds after going under a bridge, etc, but small price to pay for not having the antenna on the roof.

[Tazminia]

That's niceee. That's what I was hoping for..subtle yet functional. You did your own wiring on that?
I didn't do the parcel shelf thing but I'm betting I can work around that. Like maybe getting the shelf now that we would have something to put on it? LOL
Anyhow, now that I know it can be done, it's time to run over to Best Buy and see what's cookin'!

[Pamlico]

Subtle, but functional, that's me.

I'm not sure what wiring you're referring to, but if you mean the extra power point, yes. It's a snap to install. If interested I'll post how to do it. Also, the parcel shelf is a very useful addition.

- dl