Shiseiji

Thank you both. On the good side, I was doing < 1 mph in reverse, so the damage is sheet metal/plastic. I shouldn't have to worry about the agony Edge went through.

After clearing snow, I backed my Explorer into the L front of The MINI. :banghead: :stupid: :cry: Bonnet, headlight assembly, front bumper, fender extension . . . Anyone know how to tell if the headlights are xenon or halogen? Body shop recommendations? Waaaaa looks like the headlight assembly will cost more than the bonnet!

Seems the mechanic pinched the gasket. Been there, done that, so was just glad that for me it was a simple fix. Hope the mechanic didn't get too much crap over the shop having to eat the time. LOL, cleared 3,840 cubic feet of snow. Twice. Hope everyone is doing OK. R

Fifth, thanks. Not to sound disloyal, but the Mini was a concession to comfort vs, either a 914 or Karmann Gia. Mostly because I grew up in So. Cal with VWs. Now I'm wondering. Given the age, O2 sensor could be spot on. @ $34.80 ea. after market it might be worth just throwing the parts at the problem. If I can get the !@#$ things loose. I do have a hot wrench . . . I have some vague recollection about emissions control components supposed to last to 100k. Maybe that was only in CA. Off to enjoy what's left of the day!

Edge, I "know" I answered this . . . electrons. Thanks. 29 miles from home to Manassas, 33 to chantilly. Have to go to NC tomorrow, will deal with it when I return. Merry Christmas all!

Thanks Edge. 29 miles to Mananas, 33 to Chantilly . . .

Thanks all. Yea, especially with the way she is running, Manassas is a push. $350 is what I stumbled across looking up possibilities for the codes. And the possibility it was a rather common issue is why I didn't really scream, need an emoji for clenched teeth. Any idea on the codes? Yes, up on the mirror will go the club ID (unless I can't see around it . . .).

"The MINI" (imaginative, right?) went in to Passport for her annual service, typically <11k miles per year, inspection, etc. ~ 77k current miles Tires, yea, OK . . . really, 30k mile life? Oil leak = replace the cover @ $385 (gasket lists @ <$30)?? OK . . . PCV tube - yea, my bad tore during SeaFoam application. Ops . . :banghead: Heat shrink lasted 2+ years Rear brakes - 77k, sure Detail . . . still leaves in the body between the inner fender and the cab Forgot to ask about any Club discount. Mind like a sieve these days, can't blame them. :withstupid: Damage = $2260 :frown: But I don't begrug the mechanices having food on the table and a roof over their heads. . . To think I used to do all this myself as few as 8 years ago :hmmmm:. . . well time has taken a toll . . .:goodnight: OK, live with it. Then three days later . . . P12277, P115C,P2187 and ??B2AAA? All related to "too lean." Used starter fluid as a quick vacuum check, none found. So it may all be un- related . . . maybe not. Am considering Liberty this go around. They are close to work, and from comments, club members sound happy. Thoughts? TIA Ron

My thermostat has given up. 2008 R56 N14. Any feed back on this from MINI of Alexandria? I need to get the intake cam valve replaced too, been debating over doing it myself or paying for it. Comments? TIA

Field mice at their best! :ahhhhh: FYI, the fan is right up against the filter box, I think I reached up into the external air duct and thought the fan was out of reach. Suck broom took care of it. The filter bend wasn't permanent so I probably did it pulling the thing out. So all's well that end's well. Pictures were taken through the bore scope. Thanks everyone for offering their input and support!

I'm not sure what the air route is, if cabin air is pulled through the filter into the squirrel cage, vice versa, or both depending on recirculation vs. fresh air setting. I "may" have an issue with Mini of Alexandra who installed a new filter last year during my, ah, annual service (less than 6k miles last year): One end of the filter is crushed in and that could have been the path for the debris to get past the filter into the fan. UPS will be delivering the bore scope, an inexpensive cam on a cable that will connect to my netbook, later today. Other obligations, light, etc. it will probably be tomorrow before I can see if it will work to get a look up in there. Darn MINI, the dash has to come out to get to the fan. RDG, thanks for the comment. Nice to not be the Lone Ranger despite the PIA. More to follow. As always, thanks everyone for their assistance.

Hope you never do! I've read over how to pull the fan, the dash has to come out. So I'm really hoping I haven't broken a blade!

Hi all. Anyone else had any debris end up in the cabin fan? Started MINI after riding my bike a couple of days and immediately had a severe vibration. Turning off the fan killed it, so I knew where to look. I pulled the cabin filter and dumped out a couple of cups worth of leaves, but can't get my hand up to the fan. I'm going to try a bore scope and mechanical fingers (because I own a pair) and a small vacuum wand if that won't work, but thought I'd ask if anyone else has been down this path. Bad enough having to police leaves out of the fenders, but the heater??? TIA Ron

Maybe it was an '08 issue. At least it wasn't totally unique. Thanks for passing it along.

Thanks! Been a busy week, sorry for the delay in responding. The tear isn't getting worse so I think I'll be OK till I get it to Seatco.

:argh: So much fun . . . saw a friend walking down the street and when I pulled over managed to rip out a sidewall. OK, figured out the visuals and got the spare mounted. $172.37 later I'm ready for a weekend trip. While getting the new GPS in the morning we are to leave, I found a 3 in. slice in the seat, looking just like what a tool left in a pocket would do . . . . very fine slice so it only opened when the seat was kneeled on. I guess I'll try the upholstery shop till I can see what other options there are. Second day into the trip GF called me over to the passenger side where the shiny door trim edge had lifted and been crumpled by the door. Not having any 100 mph/Gorilla tape with me and my GF not inclined to crawl in and out via the driver's side, I gritted my teeth and pulled it out. Sadly it wasn't hard. Anyone else experienced this particular joy? Car handled great, 33+ mpg.

Did you find what you need? I have a set of security fastener bits if you can describe the head or you can look here for an example: http://www.securityfasteners.net/ Ron

Remember, the manufacturer has sales incentive to promote minimal maintenance costs. The oil manufacturer has sales incentive to promote knowing their product and how long under average use the high-tech additives will last. Is why in general I split the difference. The MINI was the first car I paid to have the oil changed in. Ever and I had my 1st car at 16 and will be 54 this month. I only did it because I wanted a personal base-line of where the computer said the car was at. That said, I can see the value of having the factory machine read the computer memory vs. the almost the same cost of doing it myself along with the oil change. The older I get, the picker I get about what I put my time into. Figure I am on the down-slope . . .

Yep. My '98 Explorer went well over 100k before I had to change the cats. Unless this soot deal turns out to be something bad for the cat, I expect the MINI will do at least that as I believe they are required to for all the emissions devices except, IIFC, the EGR valve. R

Thanks so much everyone. Insane week, hope no one felt their reply was in vain. So far "she" has a title, not a name (heresy I know): "The MINI." Soot "generally" implies an incomplete burn/wasted gas. But that is also "usually" seen with black smoke, white being oil burning. Back in my old air cooled VW days one wanted soot as the fuel was a critical part of the cooling. Nice white exhaust tips soon equaled burned exhaust valves. LOL, that was also when one could lean out the idle, change jets, or check for carb body wear. Showing my age . . . Those of you who got new exhaust systems, did that include the catalytic? I know from experience performance will really drop off when they get clogged, another reason for watching the buildup in the exhaust. And obviously many will notice the difference when they are replaced.

After reading through some posts I guess my 23.1 mpg in the city is average. Poor baby hardly warms up on the daily drive to work, so I am not too surprised at the soot but wanted to ask about other's observations. Nothing visible in the exhaust gas so it probably isn't a major fuel system malfunction. Planning on the Seafoam treatment through the PCV hose soon. I read where a member did a coil and plug change @ 75k. I have 56k but am wondering if maybe I should go ahead to see if that helps. Realized I am going to have to plan a weekly high speed run just to keep the catalytic from premature failure

yes, stumbled across the factory set on Amazon. Hard to justify. LOL, so leaving it on on "A" is a good thing :stupid: I am going to do the intake valve flush, see what that does. I was thinking about the same, but figured I would ask. Thanks much.

1. Lack of a water temp gage is a burr under my saddle, mostly so I can know when I can crank up the heater. Anyone done an install of S gages on a MC? I am "assuming" the wiring connection is there on all models . . or other options? 2. Is a tiny hesitation off idle normal for an MCa? Bothersome because I feel like my only other option is a jackrabbit start and the sucking sound between the engine and fuel tank. 3. I have two somewhat steep hills on my short commute (hence the not ridding the bike to work), I find the rpms will drop pretty low IMHO (1,500) without having to stick my foot in the engine or downshifting (yea paddles). Life with an auto and small engine? Just a bit surprised she doesn't down shift herself. TIA