MINI-less for two days now

[ches]

I know, it's nothing to whine about considering what some other folks on the board have gone through, but this is the longest I've been away from my MINI (not counting vacations). I took it to Brecht yesterday morning for its 10k service and also to have:

1) cold start fix (ECU reprogramming)
2) leaking coolant tank replaced
3) door locks reprogrammed
4) crackly radio (AM only) attended to.

They said they've done the first three already, and they're awaiting further instruction from the mother ship on what to do about the radio. So, I could have picked up the car today, but at this point I'm getting every indication the dealer wants to do the right thing, they just don't know what that is yet.

While I was there, I asked them how much it would cost to do an MFSW retrofit ($795 for parts plus unknown labor). I also asked whether they would be carrying the JCW conversion, and they said they hadn't heard anything on it in a long time. They did say that most likely the rest of the country would get it long before we do, since it would have to be approved by the CARB (California Air Resources Board) - something I hadn't considered. Might have to go to Vegas to get that done!

So, in the meantime I'm bombing around in my Ford Aerostar. This morning when I needed to roll down the window I found myself reaching for the dashboard....

[CrazyPhil]

Ches think ya self lucky mate.....I had a spin in my Cooper and damaged the suspension that was 2 weeks ago and the car is still at the dealers awaiting for the insurers to view it so it can be put back together. So thats 2 weeks without my cooper