Bert

Will, I like this design with the pvc. This is one of the best DIY cup holders that I have seen. I'm going to take some measurements and stop at HD tomorrow to see if they have any stubby end-cuts. Have this guy posted any specs. anywhere, I don't see them on his gallery. Thanks for sharing. B&E

I know, you were voting pretty hard the other night. I've only put around 50 but the VW must have help now too. I'm still trying to get in about 5 to 10 a day.

We still need to keep voting for STKRS on the US129photos page, since that VW keeps getting close. If you haven't heard from MINIUSA or the Facebook postings (Laura put up a nice one) STKRS picture at the Dragon made the MINIUSA site. STKRS and Celia are famous. :congrats:

Great footage with all that information too! :congrats: I'm going to remember this to review before I make my first Dragon run. Thank you!

Sorry, STKRS.. not STRKRS. My apologies Celia. :embarassed:

+3 from home. We've now got STRKR out in front. Let's keep it there!

Celia, +2 from my two computers at work and I'll add at least 3 more from different machines at home. Go girl! :congrats: We'll beat that VW and the VW currently in 3rd place is not original at all.

After doing a little more searching I found a number of USB and stereo iPhone/iPod adapter cables out there; Crutchfields, Kensington, ebay (as you recommended Jim, thank you). ebay definitely offers the less expensive options (~$9.00) and one vendor is US-based but it is 6' long... this is a MINI. Do I need my daughter in the back seat DJing, as she loves to do? :thrasher: :rock: Kensington has a nice option (#K39204US at http://www.kensington.com), it comes with a USB charger, the cable is only 3.5' long, BUT it is $40. I don't mind the price IF it works well. Anything is better than the 18" long OEM adapter cable. I want to check out Best Buy and Micro Center before I order something because I know that it is important to have the correct mini stereo jack. One missing section on the stereo plug (2 sections instead of 3, etc.) and you can loose the entire left channel of sound). :musicus:

Thanks for the info and feedback. I'll check out NAM. Craig, you are right, if you use the iPhone or iTouch you have to stick it upside down in one of the cupholders directly below the input jacks, but you get to use the interface. I like to keep my phone in a cradle above the dash to the left of the wheel and use the bluetooth (I'm a lefty), but you can't use the interface from there. I also like to use a small nano for my driving playlists but the USB jack and mini stereo jack are too close to use together so I have to check out the links and find a better combined cable. I'll keep you updated.

Has anyone found a better "Y" adapter plug to connect an iPod/iPhone to the stereo? The "Y" adapter plug that MINI supplied for my MINI Connected stereo works (sort of) but it is too short and too rigid and it stresses out the mini stereo plug and channels drop out (left or right stereo channel). I have a better mini stereo to mini stereo, flexible and coiled wire that is much better but I would like to have the USB connection to so that I can scroll using the MINI Connected interface. AAHGA (any and all help is greatly appreciated) Bert

I have heard that MINIs are currently not stolen that much. I have police (NYPD) in the family and a number of friends that are or have been members of the Fairfax Co., PG Co., and Mont. Co. police and the FBI. Everyone of them says that the Lo-Jack is worth the price (it is negotiable) and they get the car back 90-95% of the time w/in 24 hrs. Also, how many times have you heard a car alarm going off at the mall and everyone paying no attention to it. Even the dealer supported it. I have had Ernie for just a month (Lo-Jack installed at the dealer two days after delivery) and just this morning Lo-Jack came out to verify the installation. Supposedly they do this check-up about 10% of the time to check on the installers. Bert.

I know what you mean. These things are so much fun! I not only smile, my wife has noticed that I thank her almost everyday for not insisting that I get a Honda Fit. (It was btwn the MINI and the Fit.) I am having a lot of fun and noticing a lot of smiles when I drive. :motor:

Welcome Eddie, Penny, and Nutty. Love the name, you will have to explain that one. :top: I hope intro. Ernie to Nutty someday. We just joined in March and I took delivery of Ernie just 4 weeks ago. Bert.

I was there from 8:15 until ~10 this morning. Boy was it quiet then, the music in the showroom wasn't even on until about 9. I've got to see STRKS sometime, I've only seen him without the stickers and he is still a cool MINI, my daughters love the green accents. :rock:

MoCo MINI replaced the tire pressure sensor on his left rear shoe. Hopefully he won't be acting up again anytime soon. As long as I don't have to reset him everytime I start him up. :motor: His MD plates (nothing special, yet) also came in so I tagged him when we got home. Lastly, I found out that I work with "MINIMAC", DC tags, silver hardtop. I don't think that she, or any of the 3 other MINI owners, will join the crew. I'll see.

Third trip to the dealer to have the Tire Pressure Sensor (TSP) replaced for Ernie's left rear shoe. The sensor was SUPPOSED to come in yesterday. I got there this morning for my appointment which they scheduled last Saturday, checked in, handed over Ernie, and settled in for a nice cup of tea and to read the newspaper. Five minutes later I was told that the sensor has to come from Germany and it might be a week or two before they have it. :banghead: A call last night would have been nice. They had an open ticket and knew I was coming. It is becoming a pain to reset the TSP warning EVERY time I get in the car. Let's see how long this runs.

Or you could move some of these bumper springs to the hub caps...

Good listing. I know that you are asking about the suspension but the only other things to consider, look at the last time they were replaced if ever, may seem obvious but they are: The other fluids, besides motor oil (brake fluid, transmission, antifreeze (flush it too)) Battery (every 3-4 years, maybe 5 if you are lucky and it has been garage kept) Exhaust pipe and muffler (have you gone through one yet? You or a mechanic can do a visual check.)

It was an accident, not abuse. There was no intent to harm. (That is the lawyer in me.) We will help you get the goo out. I'll bring a bio-hazard suit and respirator mask. One question... has it gotten fuzzy yet?

Jim, I understand that MINIs w/o the Connected system get a warning on the tachometer dial in the messages. Also, where the digital speed is shown in the tach. dial a small graphic of the car is displayed with an arrow to the wheel in question.

Very harsh but we might have to come up with a monitoring or probation plan. MINI abuse is serious. They do have feelings. I shouldn't talk... after leaving the dealership this past Saturday, I stopped at an Advance Auto to pick up wiper blades for the Jeep. I got back into Ernie and noticed that I had tracked yellow gum onto his nice, new, black floor mat. I did get it off with napkins, then iced it at home, and then some Goof-off spray gel. Still not as bad as a veggie drink across the back seats. :ahhhhh:

I don't know how the message is presented in other MINIs but I have the MINI Connected center console and up came a detailed notice/warning with the offending tire identified. When I went into the the vehicle status page on the menu, as directed in the notice, a sweet graphic of the car with the wheels and sensors was displayed.

Yep, Ernie is only 2 weeks old and they are replacing the tire pressure sensor for the left rear tire. They first explained about the temperature changes last week (acceptable explanation) but after 3 days and 5 or 6 sensor resets they pulled the wheel and checked everything. They couldn't find anything and the computer was reading normal. After putting Ernie's shoe back on the same sensor warning popped so they are replacing the sensor Wednesday morning. Hey, these things happen with how many sensors, computers, and electronics are on cars today. Everything is good.

True, but have you seen the Hello Kitty Chainsaw?

Yep, I've noticed that Sterling's prices are higher on a lot of things. I called around on the extended maintenance plans and they were hundreds more than Passport (Alexandria and MoCo). For the same plan. I have done my own oil changes for years on VWs, Jeeps, Toyotas, etc. and I'm not sure about the MINI vs. Lexus but I did see a trend that filters (oil and gas) for German autos are larger and more expense than the ones for Japanese cars. I just thought it was part of the German engineering and cleanliness thing. Is that the same for MINI and Lexus?