Stumbled onto another interesting personal MINI site this evening after admiring this picture that they posted on MINI2:
Check out the animated toggle switch menu bar on their site … excellent 🙂
10,000 mile report
Today, GBMINI broke through 10,000 miles!
GBMINI#2 reaches 10,000 miles
No major issues with the car since buying it in February; my biggest headache was with Tweeter when I tried to upgrade the stereo system. The only serious problem I had with GBMINI was water getting into the car; the driver seat belt was wet early on; the carpet on the passenger side was also wet after heavy rain, which the techs at MINI Peabody solved by diverting the path of water running down inside the door seal.
GBMINI has had small vibrations & buzzes, like many MINIs – the felt I applied round both door trim panels helped a lot there; vibration of the rear panels is probably due to the many times the panels were removed & refitted during the “Tweeter Experience”.
I have had no problems with the engine, although the gearbox remains stiffer than I would like (a characteristic of the Getrag product I think). Another characteristic is the rattling thrust bearing, quite audible when the clutch is not pressed while in neutral – but not likely to be any cause for concern.
My fuel consumption is worse than the original MINI Cooper I had, but that is not surprising given the extra power available.
During the (short) summer the engine would occasionally stall when first started in the mornings (referred to as “cold start problem” on the forums) – this appears to be due to poor engne management software not correctly compensating for changing temperature/fuel conditions.
With the a/c on, I have noticed a slight lack of power from standstill, but it is easy to compensate by revving the engine before releasing the clutch (last week I caused audibly “dramatic” accidental wheel-spin doing this – even with DSC active!)
The famous “yo-yo” problem is also noticeable sometimes, when the car feels like it is surging on and off power during acceleration in second gear; there are rumours of a fix with a yet-to-be-released software update from MINI.
If I was buying again, what would I do different?
I think I would not buy the Harmon Kardon system; instead I spend the money (and a lot more) with a good stereo installer (not Tweeter, of course!) Or maybe I could persuade Jayson Walker to do an install on my car – his MINI is still the best sounding I have heard!
I might buy a red MINI instead of blue, since I still like the look of them. I would probably go with the stock leatherette instead of the leather upgrade, since the quality in my first MINI was excellent, and the difference in my current MINI is not worth $1250.
I would definitely still go with the MCS over the MC; in fact I would probably think about the John Cooper Works upgrade.
But I would not do much different – I am very happy with my MINI 🙂
LightInSight traffic light viewer widget
Finally did something about not being able to see US traffic lights … why don’t they all have one at sensible height on the opposite side of the road, like back in England; instead, they are hung too high in the middle of the junction, and I have to bend uncomfortably to see the colour.
So I ordered a LightInSight windshield lens, which is a fresnel lens that bends the light from above, so you can see more easily. It is only little, and does not distract:
But since I don’t meet any traffic lights on my way to/from work, I don’t know how useful it is yet … but I could see the street lamps on the way home tonight!
[update]
The LightInSight windshield lens has been installed all week. It definitely allows you to see the overhanging traffic lights more easily. But it strains your eyes (something to do with looking at a distance to drive, then close to see the image in the lens) and it also tends to focus the sun into view which can be unpleasant:
M&I / GBMINI 