MINI2

blak-hak · Apr 8th, 2002, 10:00 AM

Stopped for twenty minutes at my local Sainsbury's on Saturday night to get the shopping in, and whilst I was in there some thieving little ***** stole the nice metal dust caps off all four of my tyre valves.

Why...?

Buy your own!

Still, 4 black plastic ones just cost me 69p, and frankly make minimal change to the lines of the car.

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 8th, 2002, 11:46 AM

well how about having ALL the badges ripped off by a screw driver when you're on holiday in spain only 1 week after you've picked the the car up!!!!

oh and they took the valve caps!!

BASTARDS !!

blak-hak · Apr 9th, 2002, 03:56 AM

Martyn,

Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to miss out on the Peak Run on the 28th - that weekend is looking more than a little full at the moment, what with a late night out in Nottingham on the Friday night, a very late night out in Leeds on the Saturday night, and then a trip to see a recording of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" in Bradford on Sunday.

So unless plans change (or I *ahem* wake up sober on Sunday), it looks like I'm going to be unable to make the peaks run.

Rats - I'll have to buy my own metal dustcaps!

TTFN

blak-hak

HarryHBMCC · Jul 2nd, 2002, 12:36 PM

Someone stole two of the steel valve caps off my tires recently! I could see smudges in the brake dust (had just cleaned them so there wasn't much, but enough) so I don't think they fell off on their own. They only took two so the working theory is some kid has some snazzy valve caps on his bicycle now...

Oh well, they were only $0.52 each at my local MINI dealer's parts department and it gave me an excuse to drop by and get another free espresso and check out the latest deliveries... Oh and I heard there might be some MINI valve caps out soon (then I'll have REAL problems).

Harry

dietcokeplease · Jul 2nd, 2002, 12:56 PM

It's nearly always the neighbourhood brats who steal them. I was installing a blind upstairs when a little toerag came up to my MINI and nicked them. I ran down and threatened the little bugger and since then all my caps have been intact and they don't play footie near my cars!

Monsta has MINI valve caps with a locking grub screw to prevent theft.

euan · Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:16 PM

Mine got nicked the first week I had the car - gutted. However, I think they have mysteriously appeared on a tarted up Calibra at the end of my street.

Would be interested if Monsta does own such items....

smiffy · Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:36 PM

Took mine off before they got nicked

Moder times I guess

You can get valve caps that are lockable, but aint cheap

Put plan old black valve caps on my ONE

monsta · Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:57 PM

I do indeed have locking valve caps, and they have the Cooper logo on too

You can only get them from John Cooper Works, www.johncooper.co.uk

GoMiniGo · Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:09 PM

I have seen them at my dealer. $13.50 for the set of four, if I remember correctly. Quite nice. I would attach a pic if I could get to the MINIUSA site but I am experiencing technical difficulty! Site won't load. Grrrr. Check back later for an image.

Marts · Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:11 PM

some people will nick anything

MGB Boy · Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoMiniGo
I have seen them at my dealer. $13.50 for the set of four, if I remember correctly. Quite nice. I would attach a pic if I could get to the MINIUSA site but I am experiencing technical difficulty! Site won't load. Grrrr. Check back later for an image.

You mean this...

-Ricardo

InsiderMINI · Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:37 PM

It's just not MINIs that are affected. All BMWs have these and are stolen too. BMW Group are one of the few manufacturers that does not fit plastic caps and it must be jealous people who still them. It's sad really. What next though? anything else on the car that is not bolted down/fixed permanently could be knicked - windscreen wipers, side indicator bulbs?

Damo · Jul 2nd, 2002, 03:33 PM

Mentioned this somewhere else on the forum, anyway, I got 3 of mine nicked (the 3rd one was to near a wall to get to so they didn't get it.) Anyway I got a load from my dealer at 20p each (INC VAT about 17p ex VAT) expecting to need another bag full soon.

Anyway My dad showed me a trick. Get a spare pair of plyers (to keep in the car at all times!) and use these to tighten them up a little bit further. You can't take mine off now unless you have plyers

Now I'm not talking a lot, maybe quarter of a turn at most, but test with your fingers to see if you can get them off, if you can turn them a bit further, best way is to have a small dirt mark on em so you know how far you've turned em.

Thats stopped the buggers knicking mine

davep · Jul 5th, 2002, 09:43 AM

Good idea, I did that with my BMW, and they never 'disappeared' after that

batemano · Jul 5th, 2002, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by InsiderMINI
It's just not MINIs that are affected. All BMWs have these and are stolen too. BMW Group are one of the few manufacturers that does not fit plastic caps and it must be jealous people who still them. It's sad really. What next though? anything else on the car that is not bolted down/fixed permanently could be knicked - windscreen wipers, side indicator bulbs?

I have to agree with you there. Some little idiots would steal anything that is a bit shiny, I've had 5 nicked so far. I have now just got black plastic ones, which has stopped them for now.

LMB · Jul 5th, 2002, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by monsta
I do indeed have locking valve caps, and they have the Cooper logo on too

You can only get them from John Cooper Works, www.johncooper.co.uk

How do they work then?

Root Ginger · Jul 5th, 2002, 11:02 AM

You have to be careful when you get tyres changed too. They always put a new valve in with a plastic cap and forget to fit your metal one unless you remind them.

Cooper i Do · Jul 5th, 2002, 08:32 PM

GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

I am missing mine too...
Just checked after reading this thread.

Well i just have to visit my dealer again this week.

Catch Ya Later,
Cooper I Do

Skinnyrunt · Jul 5th, 2002, 08:40 PM

It's kinda funny, one of my caps went missing so I bought £5 worth of them from BMW/MINI thinking i'd need them. Since then non have gone missing so I've ended up giving half of the caps away to friends. I've kept a few just in case I need some though!!

dietcokeplease · Jul 6th, 2002, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LMB

How do they work then?

The sides of the valve cap have a little grub screw which you tighten up with a small allen key.

I think the trick is to create a small indent in the brass valve and this stops a thief from rotating the cap.

TechnoWizardDC

View Poll Results: Valve caps stolen
Europe - YES	158	58.30%
Europe - NO	48	17.71%
North America - YES	18	6.64%
North America - NO	45	16.61%
Australia - YES	2	0.74%
Australia - NO	0	0%
Rest of World - YES	0	0%
Rest of World - NO	0	0%
Voters: 271. You may not vote on this poll

Apr 8th, 2002, 10:00 AM	#1
blak-hak MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nottingham, UK Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 84 Offline	The Great Valve Caps or Dust Caps Being Stolen Thread... Stopped for twenty minutes at my local Sainsbury's on Saturday night to get the shopping in, and whilst I was in there some thieving little ***** stole the nice metal dust caps off all four of my tyre valves. Why...? Buy your own! Still, 4 black plastic ones just cost me 69p, and frankly make minimal change to the lines of the car.

Apr 9th, 2002, 03:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
blak-hak MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nottingham, UK Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 84 Offline	Dustcaps! Martyn, Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to miss out on the Peak Run on the 28th - that weekend is looking more than a little full at the moment, what with a late night out in Nottingham on the Friday night, a very late night out in Leeds on the Saturday night, and then a trip to see a recording of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" in Bradford on Sunday. So unless plans change (or I ahem wake up sober on Sunday), it looks like I'm going to be unable to make the peaks run. Rats - I'll have to buy my own metal dustcaps! TTFN blak-hak

Jul 2nd, 2002, 12:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
HarryHBMCC MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Can Local Time: 02:32 PM Posts: 2,686 Offline	steel valve caps stolen Someone stole two of the steel valve caps off my tires recently! I could see smudges in the brake dust (had just cleaned them so there wasn't much, but enough) so I don't think they fell off on their own. They only took two so the working theory is some kid has some snazzy valve caps on his bicycle now... Oh well, they were only $0.52 each at my local MINI dealer's parts department and it gave me an excuse to drop by and get another free espresso and check out the latest deliveries... Oh and I heard there might be some MINI valve caps out soon (then I'll have REAL problems). Harry MINI Cooper Cabrio: now the car with go cart handling really feels like an open go cart! "... the only man that can come home at 3 am in the morning without getting into trouble with his spouse is the owner of a British sports car!" -- Phil Bailey

Jul 2nd, 2002, 12:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
dietcokeplease Official MINI2 Fluffer Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Spearmint Rhino Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 5,315 Offline	It's nearly always the neighbourhood brats who steal them. I was installing a blind upstairs when a little toerag came up to my MINI and nicked them. I ran down and threatened the little bugger and since then all my caps have been intact and they don't play footie near my cars! Monsta has MINI valve caps with a locking grub screw to prevent theft. There is just one moon and one golden sun; And a smile mean friendship to ev'ryone; Through the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide; It's a small world after all.

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Apr 8th, 2002, 11:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 494 Offline	well how about having ALL the badges ripped off by a screw driver when you're on holiday in spain only 1 week after you've picked the the car up!!!! oh and they took the valve caps!! BASTARDS !!

Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
euan MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 195 Offline	Mine got nicked the first week I had the car - gutted. However, I think they have mysteriously appeared on a tarted up Calibra at the end of my street. Would be interested if Monsta does own such items....

Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
smiffy MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Here Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 5,778 Offline	Took mine off before they got nicked Moder times I guess You can get valve caps that are lockable, but aint cheap Put plan old black valve caps on my ONE S for Smiffy "Kids in the front seat cause accidents, accidents in the backseat cause kids!"

Jul 2nd, 2002, 01:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
monsta MINI2 Global Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Brighton Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 4,669 Offline	I do indeed have locking valve caps, and they have the Cooper logo on too You can only get them from John Cooper Works, www.johncooper.co.uk the MINI has gone...

Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
GoMiniGo MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rainy WA state Local Time: 12:32 PM Posts: 311 Offline	MINI valve caps are real I have seen them at my dealer. $13.50 for the set of four, if I remember correctly. Quite nice. I would attach a pic if I could get to the MINIUSA site but I am experiencing technical difficulty! Site won't load. Grrrr. Check back later for an image. 02 RED/WHITE MCS and motoring since Sept 7, 2002

Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Marts MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: just moving to Great Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 516 Offline	some people will nick anything

Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
MGB Boy heterochromic & loving it Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: at the rink Local Time: 03:32 PM Posts: 4,216 Offline	Re: MINI valve caps are real Quote: Originally posted by GoMiniGo I have seen them at my dealer. $13.50 for the set of four, if I remember correctly. Quite nice. I would attach a pic if I could get to the MINIUSA site but I am experiencing technical difficulty! Site won't load. Grrrr. Check back later for an image. You mean this... -Ricardo Attached Thumbnails 06 MCS-W/77 MGB/69 MGB-GT "2 minutes by yourself and...you feel shame, you know...and then you get free"

Jul 2nd, 2002, 02:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
InsiderMINI MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2001 Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 46 Offline	It's just not MINIs that are affected. All BMWs have these and are stolen too. BMW Group are one of the few manufacturers that does not fit plastic caps and it must be jealous people who still them. It's sad really. What next though? anything else on the car that is not bolted down/fixed permanently could be knicked - windscreen wipers, side indicator bulbs?

Jul 2nd, 2002, 03:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
Damo MINI2fosi My Classifieds Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: MINItorque.com Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 10,588 Offline	Mentioned this somewhere else on the forum, anyway, I got 3 of mine nicked (the 3rd one was to near a wall to get to so they didn't get it.) Anyway I got a load from my dealer at 20p each (INC VAT about 17p ex VAT) expecting to need another bag full soon. Anyway My dad showed me a trick. Get a spare pair of plyers (to keep in the car at all times!) and use these to tighten them up a little bit further. You can't take mine off now unless you have plyers Now I'm not talking a lot, maybe quarter of a turn at most, but test with your fingers to see if you can get them off, if you can turn them a bit further, best way is to have a small dirt mark on em so you know how far you've turned em. Thats stopped the buggers knicking mine North West Rolling Road Day 26th July LINK NOW FIXED! Last edited by Damo : Jul 2nd, 2002 at 03:39 PM.

Jul 5th, 2002, 09:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
davep MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Wokingham Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 140 Offline	Good idea, I did that with my BMW, and they never 'disappeared' after that

Jul 5th, 2002, 10:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
batemano MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 123 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by InsiderMINI It's just not MINIs that are affected. All BMWs have these and are stolen too. BMW Group are one of the few manufacturers that does not fit plastic caps and it must be jealous people who still them. It's sad really. What next though? anything else on the car that is not bolted down/fixed permanently could be knicked - windscreen wipers, side indicator bulbs? I have to agree with you there. Some little idiots would steal anything that is a bit shiny, I've had 5 nicked so far. I have now just got black plastic ones, which has stopped them for now.

Jul 5th, 2002, 10:50 AM	#16 (permalink)
LMB Toon Toon.. My Classifieds Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Up North Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 24,876 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by monsta I do indeed have locking valve caps, and they have the Cooper logo on too You can only get them from John Cooper Works, www.johncooper.co.uk How do they work then? Global Moderator

Jul 5th, 2002, 11:02 AM	#17 (permalink)
Root Ginger Amiga 500 to PS3 20 Years Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Slough, Berkshire Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 4,673 Offline	You have to be careful when you get tyres changed too. They always put a new valve in with a plastic cap and forget to fit your metal one unless you remind them. It was acceptable in the 80's

Jul 5th, 2002, 08:32 PM	#18 (permalink)
Cooper i Do MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a lighthouse Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 530 Offline	GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! I am missing mine too... Just checked after reading this thread. Well i just have to visit my dealer again this week. Catch Ya Later, Cooper I Do

Jul 5th, 2002, 08:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
Skinnyrunt M2 Bapmaster Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: cheshire/staffs bord Local Time: 08:32 PM Posts: 3,145 Offline	It's kinda funny, one of my caps went missing so I bought £5 worth of them from BMW/MINI thinking i'd need them. Since then non have gone missing so I've ended up giving half of the caps away to friends. I've kept a few just in case I need some though!!

Jul 6th, 2002, 08:31 AM	#20 (permalink)
dietcokeplease Official MINI2 Fluffer Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Spearmint Rhino Local Time: 07:32 PM Posts: 5,315 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by LMB How do they work then? The sides of the valve cap have a little grub screw which you tighten up with a small allen key. I think the trick is to create a small indent in the brass valve and this stops a thief from rotating the cap. TechnoWizardDC There is just one moon and one golden sun; And a smile mean friendship to ev'ryone; Through the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide; It's a small world after all.

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