Who's driven the most miles? - HWS has over 317,000!

[ellcapitan]

This thread has some impressive mileage in it's own right! I don't normally frequent this forum too much, and I was referred to this thread from NAM, just by chance. However I have to say, I pored over all 23 pages of this thread in one (long) sitting, and with loving interest!

My '05 MCS is at (or near, I'm sure) the extreme polar opposite of the spectrum, with reguard to this thread. It is still shy of 7K original miles.

I'm guilty as charged, as well, of recycling my cars way before their time. I usually just get bored with them, or I fall in love with something else... It has bordered on rediculous, but my wife quickly learned to accept it when I pointed out that it would be worse if it were women I was constantly trading... I bought the MINI to try and end the cycle. I wanted something that could suit my needs and not ever be boring. So far, my MCS is doing the trick.

But, this thread, more than anything else I've read anywhere, is inspiring me to try and keep this car for the long haul. Like HWS, I too happen to be fascinated with machinery that is well concieved and well built enough to to outlast an expected service-life 3-fold or more.

My biggest question is, I wonder if the supercharged engine can hang in there nearly as long as HWS's base engine...and that IS considering changing out the supercharger eventually, as a "normal wear item".

I've always admired German cars that would seem to keep running forever...the idea that these premium cars, with their premium pricetags, can be cost-effective in the long term because they're not meant to be "disposable". With dilligent maintenance, they can end up being worth every penny spent on them in pure value, when compared to replacing "lesser, disposable" cars every 3 to 5 years.

Even though it's a BMW product, I doubted the MINI was in the same league with these premium German cars, and as such, wasn't earning that kind of repect from me. The fact that this thread may be proving me wrong about this (more than "maybe", if you ask HWS, I'm sure), is a bigger surprise; has more appeal; and is worth more to me than any advertisement MINI could ever hope to come up with in a lifetime! The fact that the top dog MINI, mileage-wise, is also owned by one of the nicest gentlemen you could ever hope to come across, only helps...

BTW, I log roughly as many miles daily as well, but I do it in the head-ends of trains, as a Locomotive Engineer.

[HWS]

Thank You, EllCapitan for the kind, encouraging words. I don't believe we've heard from a MINI Driving Locomotive Engineer before - here in the USA or elsewhere. Switching those Driver's Seats must feel like quite a contrast!

In a big hurry now, but I just had to report that My 2002 MINI turned "8" today - and the Odometer turned over to 387,000 miles.
MANY Happy Hours of Delightful, Worry-Free Motoring; - More to come!

[michelemdw]

I have an 03 with CVT at 109,050 miles with no problems. Who has the most miles on a CVT?

[morrisminiminor]

Fabulous HWS. Great to read that you are back on the road again. Keep clocking up those miles.

morrisminiminor

[adam_Randell]

i got 75,000 on my 07' plate cooper! all been done by me

[Herleman]

Hey HWS, how about sharing some of your "tips" for long-life, like what kind of oil, what frequency of oil changes, how do you drive it, how do you warm it up in the winter, etc.

Mine has 14K and I would like to think it could still be here at 300K. (I drove a Honda CRX-Si over 275K, so I can truthfully claim that I keep my cars for a good long while).

[HWS]

My 2002 MC just passed 400,000 miles today on its 8 Year 2 Month Birthday !

Have you guessed I've been Very Impressed by this particular car?
What a joy to fill the tank, kick the tires - and take off on a 500 mile ride
through this beautiful world any time I'm not needed or expected somewhere
else. (Drove 470 miles yesterday in heavy rain and high winds - Beautiful!)

Have I ever mentioned it still has its original muffler, and shocks, and struts?
Not sure if it uses ball joints, control arms, etc. - but, if so, they're original too.
Still rides, steers and handles as tautly and precisely as the day I got it. FUN!
Not a squeak, or a rattle - or a spot on the garage floor.
Never had a knob, or a handle, or a piece of trim come loose.
Never had a switch anywhere that had to be jiggled or shook or coaxed to work.
Even that little 'window dance' still works perfectly every time a door is opened!

Excuse the car's appearance; -
that's how it looked when it hit 400,000 about 75 miles from home - and I do kill a lot of bugs!

[iain cooper]

great to hear from you HWS and that you and the car are still knocking up the miles !!

Iain

[sunday-night-rider]

HWS that is excellent. And it just goes to show the the Daimler/Chrysler engine is bullet proof on the R53!

As BMW says; "JOY"

[yellowmininy]

HWS, I just passed 99,000 yesterday, but I still have some catching up to do! Congratulations on 400,000!

[designer_label]

Impressive but what parts have you had to replace and how many times?

[M.O.S]

Amazing news HWS Glad to hear from you

400k is an amazing feat, hopefully you'll get it to 1 million miles soon! Look forward to seeing 500,000 miles mind! If you're ever stopped for long enough you could treat it to a detail as a reward for being so good! Must be the highest mileage in the world now surely?!

[minicore]

Nice going HWS! Here's to many more miles of happy motoring.

[tcbw]

Nice one HWS - and it sounds even better in kilometres - something north of 640,000.

Which is more than most taxi drivers get out of their six cylinder E class Mercedes Benz diesels round here

[yellowmininy]

Happy Birthday, HWS! (over 400,000 miles and counting!)