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Just thought I'd say that our JCW is running perfectly. The whole forum is littered with doom and gloom. Cars bursting into flames and gearbox issues sitting alongside the obligatory noisy timing chain.
Come on guys and gals (hope that's not too Jimmy Savile-ish) be loud and proud if your Mini is running as sweet as a nut!
Folk dont come here normally unless their cars gone wrong thats why, or a general moan about being done on price, youre unique in wanting to say nothings wrong nothing to complain about.
My 2002 R50 MINI is one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned......its even on its original Midland gearbox and power steering pump.....(but we do have another MINI in the family, at same age and mileage which has had both these items replaced in its lifetime!)
This could be a new trend. People saying nice stuff about their cars is unusual, granted but I don't see it as unique. Perhaps we could have a most reliable car of the week or month award or what about an annual BAFTA type ceremony (but we would call it the BAFMA awards - British Annual Faultless Mini Awards). We could get certificates, trophys. This could be big......
No complaints from me, only happy smiles :-) I didn't know what all these coded names were so I looked them up and it seems I have an MR32 which is now 2 weeks old, has about 300 miles clocked up and is absolutely "tip-top" after a wash (inside and out) this weekend.
I've had some aggravation but I still wouldn't swap it for anything else at the moment. Even when I've parted with 200 quid for a repair at my mechanics the car always raises a smile on the way home so I kind of forgive it for being an arse and costing me money. So some doom and gloom but not really.
I decided to change the suspension on my R53 after discovering the passenger strut tower was slightly mushroomed (only had car 6 months and not hit any nasty potholes so mush has occurred in it's life with a previous owner).
Firstly, I've changed the suspension on a few cars - it's all be very very easy, up until the Mini...
1. Ordered front droplinks from Ebay, went through compatibility check on item's page. They arrived, I started suspension work - they're completely different. Turned out they're for cars up to March 2002!!!!!!
2. Found the Mini uses a LOT of bolt sizes that no Japanese car use ever!!
3. Front hub does not drop down far enough to get the damper out unless you detach the two ball joints from it.
4. Normally I torque up the top nut of the damper piston by putting car back on ground first. Didn't want to do this with Mini as there's virtually nothing to stop the springs from rotating. Strut removal sockets don't seem to be available outside the USA so had to get 21mm spark plug socket. Of course I needed 22mm for nut of new damper, and 22mm spark plug sockets don't exist, had to buy an oxygen sensor socket and modify it.
5. Passenger side pinch bolt sheared off. Even when printing off suspension diagrams from realoem.com to highlight parts to show Mini dealership that I wanted to buy, noticed that there was no nut on end of pinch bolt so thread must be inside hub - why did this even get past the design stage, it's obvious what's going to happen!!!
It's just been problem after problem, biggest problem of course the design of the pinch bolt.
I'm not impressed by the design of the rear suspension either, the way it's attached to the trailing arm
I am now awaiting my coolant expansion tank to start leaking. Another "how did that gets past the design stage?", 2 pieces of plastic glued together - what could possibly go wrong with that given the temperature of coolant?
Seems to me that Minis are designed to break
Rant over
I decided to change the suspension on my R53 after discovering the passenger strut tower was slightly mushroomed (only had car 6 months and not hit any nasty potholes so mush has occurred in it's life with a previous owner).
Firstly, I've changed the suspension on a few cars - it's all be very very easy, up until the Mini...
1. Ordered front droplinks from Ebay, went through compatibility check on item's page. They arrived, I started suspension work - they're completely different. Turned out they're for cars up to March 2002!!!!!!
2. Found the Mini uses a LOT of bolt sizes that no Japanese car use ever!!
3. Front hub does not drop down far enough to get the damper out unless you detach the two ball joints from it.
4. Normally I torque up the top nut of the damper piston by putting car back on ground first. Didn't want to do this with Mini as there's virtually nothing to stop the springs from rotating. Strut removal sockets don't seem to be available outside the USA so had to get 21mm spark plug socket. Of course I needed 22mm for nut of new damper, and 22mm spark plug sockets don't exist, had to buy an oxygen sensor socket and modify it.
5. Passenger side pinch bolt sheared off. Even when printing off suspension diagrams from realoem.com to highlight parts to show Mini dealership that I wanted to buy, noticed that there was no nut on end of pinch bolt so thread must be inside hub - why did this even get past the design stage, it's obvious what's going to happen!!!
It's just been problem after problem, biggest problem of course the design of the pinch bolt.
I'm not impressed by the design of the rear suspension either, the way it's attached to the trailing arm
I am now awaiting my coolant expansion tank to start leaking. Another "how did that gets past the design stage?", 2 pieces of plastic glued together - what could possibly go wrong with that given the temperature of coolant?
Seems to me that Minis are designed to break
Rant over [/QUOTE
Ok. One thing at a time. People place an extraordinary faith in eBay? Eh, why?
You shouldn't confuse the complexity of performing a repair with bad design. A 22 mm socket must be available - indeed, I've just found one on the Halfords web site - "Halfords professional deep socket 22 mm - Cat code : 364515-0".
As for the pinch bolt, there must be a way to hold it or clamp it, albeit with a dealer workshop only tool. As for the BAFMA awards, you don't even make the short list
My MINI First is 3 and half years old now and still runs like new, only 14,000 miles on the clock mind you.
Recently had to renew the front tyres, other than that it's only fortunes spent on the likes of spoiler scuttles armrest grille spots alloys and some led lights inside and out that's troubled my bank balance
Fair enough, the droplink problem was purely down to the fleabay seller.
The 22mm socket needed for the damper piston nut requires a hole in the top AND flat sides to grip, or a large opening in the side for the allen key.
Anyway, wouldn't have been needed if the spring seats on the dampers were better designed
Proper strut removal socket (seemingly unavailable in the UK)...
I must be a happy bunny - originally bought a new Dooper in 2009, now another new SD about a fortnight ago. Had and still have, loads of questions but buying two in a row must say something.
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You have an R57 Convertible. 
