MINI2

The General · Apr 1st, 2002, 04:27 PM

I posted this on the Cooper forum so apologies if you have read it already.

My fuel cap flap does not lock and it needs repairing. However, as there seems to be no mention at all in the owners' handbook regarding the lockable fuel flap - how does one open this if the locking mechanism fails? In other cars there is a emergency device you can use but none appear to be available on the new MINI.

Any suggestions to this particular awkward problem?

T G.

Paul · Apr 1st, 2002, 04:36 PM

You're right, there seems to be no back up system, so if it fails when it's locked, you could be in a real jam.

mr.bill · Apr 2nd, 2002, 10:13 AM

Welcome to the world of computer control of everything. The "state of the art" features look nice in the ads, but are not always 100% reliable. When it works, it's fine, but a car is a "hostile environment" with extremes of temperature and humidity, so the potential for problems is high. It may work fine on a pampered "luxury model" but the MINIs will tend to be driven hard and abused, so it doesn't bode well for long-term reliablilty. I don't know about the later models, but the first MINIs only had a key lock on the driver's side because the locks are electric. There have been reports of people being locked in their cars when the doors refused to open. It's humorous, but it could be dangerous.

It would have been far better had they used a more conventional system of standard wiring and mechanical locks and windows. I saw a survey of "problem areas" on new cars. Know what #1 was? Faulty electric windows. Say what you will, but my car's old crank windows and standard locks are still working after 31 years. Maybe BMW will rethink this and offer a more "basic" version of the MINI that would undoubtedly be a lot more reliable.

lightbody · Apr 2nd, 2002, 10:57 AM

Oh for goodness sake, mr bill, GIVE IT A REST!

ONE fuel cap failure out of the 1000s of MINIS produced does not make it a problem!

When are you going to come to realise that (a) everyone laughs when they read your posts and (b) the MINI is just superb and everyone else is enjoying them while you complain, despite not owning one.

Hoganscrogan · Apr 2nd, 2002, 01:41 PM

He he!!

Well - funny that, had LOTS of probs with manual winders (and locks) over the years!! Yet my 1971 Lotus elan's electric windows (26yrs old when I had it) never gave me a prob (yes lotus!!)

Also ask any elise mk1 owners about their manual winders. Can't really generalize about such things I'd say.

Silver Surfer · Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:14 PM

can a mod rename mr bill to victor meldrew

Silver Surfer · Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:16 PM

and here he is driving his car

LMB · Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:29 PM

Poor Mr Bill

He doesn't half get some stick from this site. I will say one thing though he never takes it personally

Good on you Mr Bill

LMB

Apial · Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hoganscrogan
He he!!

Well - funny that, had LOTS of probs with manual winders (and locks) over the years!! Yet my 1971 Lotus elan's electric windows (26yrs old when I had it) never gave me a prob (yes lotus!!)

Also ask any elise mk1 owners about their manual winders. Can't really generalize about such things I'd say.

L.O.T.U.S=lots of trouble,usually serious!

Sejanus · Apr 2nd, 2002, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr.bill
Say what you will, but my car's old crank windows and standard locks are still working after 31 years. Maybe BMW will rethink this and offer a more "basic" version of the MINI that would undoubtedly be a lot more reliable.

My 36 year old car is pretty reliable, but the parts that have given me the most constant trouble are my very basic crank windows and standard locks. They have all been repaired or replaced two or three times. I've always been wary of power windows and locks as well, but when I think about it, they really can't be all that much worse than what I've already put up with.

Basil · Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Surfer
can a mod rename mr bill to victor meldrew

Might do.......amazing what being called a L***Mouthed B****y W****r can do to a normally rational and kind minded Basil.

Basil · Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Surfer
and here he is driving his car

here's a better one. No electrical system, no windows, and no apology...

mr.bill · Apr 3rd, 2002, 10:08 AM

Look, I have wanted a MINI for over five years and putting off buying one is not easy. You can ridicule me for pointing out a problem that "only happens once" but you have to realize that I have rotten luck in buying things. I could write a book on it. If there was one item in a million that was defective, I always get it. Usually it is minor, but sometimes it is not. (My '67 VW was my first new car and there were two defects. One was the radio, which had a noisy one cent resistor in it that I replaced myself. The other was the left front brakes had the wrong shoes installed at the factory. It seemed to stop okay until they destroyed the brake drum. How many VWs do you suppose came with the wrong brake shoes installed? Well, mine did. Maybe it only happened once, but once is enough if it is yours.) If I buy a new car, I expect it to last. Most of you blokes are part of the "throw away society" and if the car starts to fall apart in a couple years, you trade it in. I don't. Some design elements of the MINI do not bode well for long term ownership. As to the crank windows, mine have never given me any trouble, but even if they do, you have to admit that replacing a snap-on plastic handle is a lot cheaper than tearing the door apart to replace a motor and gear assembly.

lightbody · Apr 3rd, 2002, 11:32 AM

OK, fair point mr. bill, and I have to agree with you!

You made me think "Is my MINI going to still be in great nick in 5 years time?" - Answer "Not sure..."

But then you made me think "What other cars at the MINI's price are any better"... I'm still trying to think of one...

I regularly hire brand new cars of a similar price, or higher than my £14000 Cooper and none of them come close to the quality of the MINI. They all feel cheap and nasty.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or shoot you down (this time!) but trying to tell the truth as a MINI owner of a relatively early MINI!

Sejanus · Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil

here's a better one. No electrical system, no windows, and no apology...

Hey, change the color and you've got my car!

Sejanus · Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr.bill
Look, I have wanted a MINI for over five years and putting off buying one is not easy. You can ridicule me for pointing out a problem that "only happens once" but you have to realize that I have rotten luck in buying things.

I don't happen to agree with you on this issue, but generally I appreciate your, shall we say, highly developed sense of skepticism.

Quote:

Originally posted by mr.bill

As to the crank windows, mine have never given me any trouble, but even if they do, you have to admit that replacing a snap-on plastic handle is a lot cheaper than tearing the door apart to replace a motor and gear assembly.

Actually, I don't. The handles don't break (well that's not true, they do that as well), it is usually the mechanism inside the door (window regulators, etc) that go and those can run well over $150 to replace not too mention labor because my own mechanical skills are sorely lacking. Likewise the expense and incovenience of dealing with an old fasioned standard lock which won't actually let you into the car.

BruceK · Apr 3rd, 2002, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr.bill
....If I buy a new car, I expect it to last. Most of you blokes are part of the "throw away society" and if the car starts to fall apart in a couple years, you trade it in. I don't. ...

mr. bill, you've made some good points about considering longterm durability (and ease of future repairs). Just curious, how many miles on your Z-car and your Datsun pickup?

And hey, MINIAC, how many miles on your BMW 2002?

Andypayne · Apr 3rd, 2002, 03:20 PM

Didn't think about the petrol cap emergency opener.Mine didn't open once on a Mazda.Had to take the whole boot to pieces just to pull the little string to open it.So I wouldn't have done it at the local fill-up station.I would have called for help.

Another point- Is their one for the sunroof, just in case the power fails etc?

Silver Surfer · Apr 3rd, 2002, 03:49 PM

there is a manual system for opening/closing the sunroof its near the clock on the roof you have to unclip some plastic trim and then there is a hole for a handle to open/close the sunroof

its all in the handbook

ADO15 · Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:56 PM

I cannot help mentioning this, but it seems to me that there is something wrong with Mr. Bill's luck rather than the cars..

Apr 2nd, 2002, 10:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
lightbody MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 897 Offline	Oh for goodness sake, mr bill, GIVE IT A REST! ONE fuel cap failure out of the 1000s of MINIS produced does not make it a problem! When are you going to come to realise that (a) everyone laughs when they read your posts and (b) the MINI is just superb and everyone else is enjoying them while you complain, despite not owning one. Rob Lightbody - http://www.roblightbody.com 2004 Red/Black Cooper replaced a 2001 BRG/White Cooper

Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Silver Surfer MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: rustington west sussex Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 198 Offline	can a mod rename mr bill to victor meldrew Attached Thumbnails

Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Silver Surfer MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: rustington west sussex Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 198 Offline	and here he is driving his car Attached Thumbnails

Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
LMB Toon Toon.. <div><a href= Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Up North Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 24,895 Offline	Poor Mr Bill He doesn't half get some stick from this site. I will say one thing though he never takes it personally Good on you Mr Bill LMB Global Moderator

Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
Apial MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lincolnshire Wolds Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 826 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Hoganscrogan He he!! Well - funny that, had LOTS of probs with manual winders (and locks) over the years!! Yet my 1971 Lotus elan's electric windows (26yrs old when I had it) never gave me a prob (yes lotus!!) Also ask any elise mk1 owners about their manual winders. Can't really generalize about such things I'd say. L.O.T.U.S=lots of trouble,usually serious! Balloons? http://www.loony-balloony.co.uk

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Apr 1st, 2002, 04:27 PM	#1
The General MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2002 Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 47 Offline	Fuel Cap I posted this on the Cooper forum so apologies if you have read it already. My fuel cap flap does not lock and it needs repairing. However, as there seems to be no mention at all in the owners' handbook regarding the lockable fuel flap - how does one open this if the locking mechanism fails? In other cars there is a emergency device you can use but none appear to be available on the new MINI. Any suggestions to this particular awkward problem? T G.

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Apr 1st, 2002, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 40,778 Offline	You're right, there seems to be no back up system, so if it fails when it's locked, you could be in a real jam.

Apr 2nd, 2002, 10:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
mr.bill MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: USA Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 577 Offline	Welcome to the world of computer control of everything. The "state of the art" features look nice in the ads, but are not always 100% reliable. When it works, it's fine, but a car is a "hostile environment" with extremes of temperature and humidity, so the potential for problems is high. It may work fine on a pampered "luxury model" but the MINIs will tend to be driven hard and abused, so it doesn't bode well for long-term reliablilty. I don't know about the later models, but the first MINIs only had a key lock on the driver's side because the locks are electric. There have been reports of people being locked in their cars when the doors refused to open. It's humorous, but it could be dangerous. It would have been far better had they used a more conventional system of standard wiring and mechanical locks and windows. I saw a survey of "problem areas" on new cars. Know what #1 was? Faulty electric windows. Say what you will, but my car's old crank windows and standard locks are still working after 31 years. Maybe BMW will rethink this and offer a more "basic" version of the MINI that would undoubtedly be a lot more reliable.

Apr 2nd, 2002, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hoganscrogan MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Leeds Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 23 Offline	He he!! Well - funny that, had LOTS of probs with manual winders (and locks) over the years!! Yet my 1971 Lotus elan's electric windows (26yrs old when I had it) never gave me a prob (yes lotus!!) Also ask any elise mk1 owners about their manual winders. Can't really generalize about such things I'd say.

Apr 2nd, 2002, 09:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sejanus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: West Sacramento Local Time: 06:28 PM Posts: 4,233 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by mr.bill Say what you will, but my car's old crank windows and standard locks are still working after 31 years. Maybe BMW will rethink this and offer a more "basic" version of the MINI that would undoubtedly be a lot more reliable. My 36 year old car is pretty reliable, but the parts that have given me the most constant trouble are my very basic crank windows and standard locks. They have all been repaired or replaced two or three times. I've always been wary of power windows and locks as well, but when I think about it, they really can't be all that much worse than what I've already put up with.

Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
Basil MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2001 Local Time: 11:28 AM Posts: 5,956 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Silver Surfer can a mod rename mr bill to victor meldrew Might do.......amazing what being called a L*Mouthed By W**r can do to a normally rational and kind minded Basil.

Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
Basil MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2001 Local Time: 11:28 AM Posts: 5,956 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Silver Surfer and here he is driving his car here's a better one. No electrical system, no windows, and no apology... Attached Thumbnails

Apr 3rd, 2002, 10:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
mr.bill MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: USA Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 577 Offline	Look, I have wanted a MINI for over five years and putting off buying one is not easy. You can ridicule me for pointing out a problem that "only happens once" but you have to realize that I have rotten luck in buying things. I could write a book on it. If there was one item in a million that was defective, I always get it. Usually it is minor, but sometimes it is not. (My '67 VW was my first new car and there were two defects. One was the radio, which had a noisy one cent resistor in it that I replaced myself. The other was the left front brakes had the wrong shoes installed at the factory. It seemed to stop okay until they destroyed the brake drum. How many VWs do you suppose came with the wrong brake shoes installed? Well, mine did. Maybe it only happened once, but once is enough if it is yours.) If I buy a new car, I expect it to last. Most of you blokes are part of the "throw away society" and if the car starts to fall apart in a couple years, you trade it in. I don't. Some design elements of the MINI do not bode well for long term ownership. As to the crank windows, mine have never given me any trouble, but even if they do, you have to admit that replacing a snap-on plastic handle is a lot cheaper than tearing the door apart to replace a motor and gear assembly.

Apr 3rd, 2002, 11:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
lightbody MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 897 Offline	OK, fair point mr. bill, and I have to agree with you! You made me think "Is my MINI going to still be in great nick in 5 years time?" - Answer "Not sure..." But then you made me think "What other cars at the MINI's price are any better"... I'm still trying to think of one... I regularly hire brand new cars of a similar price, or higher than my £14000 Cooper and none of them come close to the quality of the MINI. They all feel cheap and nasty. I'm not trying to be argumentative or shoot you down (this time!) but trying to tell the truth as a MINI owner of a relatively early MINI! Rob Lightbody - http://www.roblightbody.com 2004 Red/Black Cooper replaced a 2001 BRG/White Cooper

Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
Sejanus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: West Sacramento Local Time: 06:28 PM Posts: 4,233 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Basil here's a better one. No electrical system, no windows, and no apology... Hey, change the color and you've got my car!

Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sejanus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: West Sacramento Local Time: 06:28 PM Posts: 4,233 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by mr.bill Look, I have wanted a MINI for over five years and putting off buying one is not easy. You can ridicule me for pointing out a problem that "only happens once" but you have to realize that I have rotten luck in buying things. I don't happen to agree with you on this issue, but generally I appreciate your, shall we say, highly developed sense of skepticism. Quote: Originally posted by mr.bill As to the crank windows, mine have never given me any trouble, but even if they do, you have to admit that replacing a snap-on plastic handle is a lot cheaper than tearing the door apart to replace a motor and gear assembly. Actually, I don't. The handles don't break (well that's not true, they do that as well), it is usually the mechanism inside the door (window regulators, etc) that go and those can run well over $150 to replace not too mention labor because my own mechanical skills are sorely lacking. Likewise the expense and incovenience of dealing with an old fasioned standard lock which won't actually let you into the car.

Apr 3rd, 2002, 01:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
BruceK Moderator & Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas Local Time: 07:28 PM Posts: 3,759 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by mr.bill ....If I buy a new car, I expect it to last. Most of you blokes are part of the "throw away society" and if the car starts to fall apart in a couple years, you trade it in. I don't. ... mr. bill, you've made some good points about considering longterm durability (and ease of future repairs). Just curious, how many miles on your Z-car and your Datsun pickup? And hey, MINIAC, how many miles on your BMW 2002? + 2002 MINI Cooper S - Dark Silver / White roof, Sport, Premium, Lapis blue leather + 1965 Mini Traveller - Tartan Red / White roof, 1275, Cooper S discs, fully restored/renewed

Apr 3rd, 2002, 03:20 PM	#18 (permalink)
Andypayne MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hampshire Local Time: 02:28 AM Posts: 103 Offline	Didn't think about the petrol cap emergency opener.Mine didn't open once on a Mazda.Had to take the whole boot to pieces just to pull the little string to open it.So I wouldn't have done it at the local fill-up station.I would have called for help. Another point- Is their one for the sunroof, just in case the power fails etc? Nothing beats a Mini

Apr 3rd, 2002, 03:49 PM	#19 (permalink)
Silver Surfer MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: rustington west sussex Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 198 Offline	there is a manual system for opening/closing the sunroof its near the clock on the roof you have to unclip some plastic trim and then there is a hole for a handle to open/close the sunroof its all in the handbook

Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:56 PM	#20 (permalink)
ADO15 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Local Time: 01:28 AM Posts: 232 Offline	I cannot help mentioning this, but it seems to me that there is something wrong with Mr. Bill's luck rather than the cars.. "Life begins @ 7,000 rpm's"

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