Week 11 (3/08/09-3/14/09) Support Group
#978
Now over 1600 miles and on the first non-break-in tankful, Lolly MCCm delivered only 35.7 mpg on the latest 13.5 gallons. Disappointing, since the MCSm averaged 34 mpg, with 50 more horsepower
It has been very windy, and the realtime fuel gauge shows a huge difference with the wind direction. And my butt may be a little fatter
It has been very windy, and the realtime fuel gauge shows a huge difference with the wind direction. And my butt may be a little fatter
#979
Sorry to mash all of these replies together, but the multi-quoting would be crazy so here goes
Steveski, awesome picks - especially the first w/ the lights. I desperately need a tripod for my camera so I can get some good dawn/dusk shots
That being said, here's a couple shots from this weekend - ~150 mile round-trip run with the DCMM group (I'm the 3rd from the front):
The motoring was awesome, even if it was unseasonably hot (95F!) and turned clean Minis into very dirty Minis (my wheels were gray by the end, heh). Anyway, can't wait for more!
MotorMouth - awesome news, glad to hear you got to pick her up after all Love the color, too, heheh.
Sorry to hear about the dings! I know it's only a matter of time before I get some, though I'm being as careful about parking as I can. I also opted for a PDR service package when I picked up the car. It's $9/mo but I can get an unlimited number of dings removed as long as it doesn't chip the paint and is credit-card sized. Where I live, that's going to be great value (sad as that comment is about how people treat cars here).
oldsbear - Isn't the Clubman significantly heavier than the MCS? I bet your mileage continues to improve, but it may never be a big leap since the car is heavier and the engine has to work harder to go the same speeds.
Steveski, awesome picks - especially the first w/ the lights. I desperately need a tripod for my camera so I can get some good dawn/dusk shots
That being said, here's a couple shots from this weekend - ~150 mile round-trip run with the DCMM group (I'm the 3rd from the front):
The motoring was awesome, even if it was unseasonably hot (95F!) and turned clean Minis into very dirty Minis (my wheels were gray by the end, heh). Anyway, can't wait for more!
MotorMouth - awesome news, glad to hear you got to pick her up after all Love the color, too, heheh.
Sorry to hear about the dings! I know it's only a matter of time before I get some, though I'm being as careful about parking as I can. I also opted for a PDR service package when I picked up the car. It's $9/mo but I can get an unlimited number of dings removed as long as it doesn't chip the paint and is credit-card sized. Where I live, that's going to be great value (sad as that comment is about how people treat cars here).
oldsbear - Isn't the Clubman significantly heavier than the MCS? I bet your mileage continues to improve, but it may never be a big leap since the car is heavier and the engine has to work harder to go the same speeds.
#981
I stumped my MA and the entire dealership on this question . Here's a quote from our emails.
My question:
Steve to Rich
show details 3:14 PM (2 hours ago) Reply
Hey Rich,
A couple quick Q's
1st - It's prolly somewhere in the owner manual somewhere, but what are the red markings on the speedo at 30 and 50 kph supposed to mean?
2nd - For the sake of curiosity, if you ever get an older supercharged S on the lot and can let me take it for a quick boot around the block a couple times(I'll be nice I promise) just to compare the R53 to my R56. Auto or manual doesn't matter.
Thanks
Steve
and the reply:
Rich to me
show details 4:17 PM (1 hour ago) Reply
We have a few supercharged models around. Next time you are by for a wash you can take one for a spin to compare . The red markings at the 30km and 50km are there to indicate that myself, my service advisor, and our technicians still do not know everything about your MINI (lol). I have forwarded your question to our Operations Manager and his MINI technical team. If we don’t have an answer for you, I think you should get some type of MINI gift.
I’ll let you know once I get the answer.
Cheers,
Rich
Anyone know what those marks are? It's the lines that represent 30 and 50 kph respectively. All others are black. I assume they are on the American model as well, but obviously not at 30 and 50, maybe the equivalents. I did take a quick scan through the owners manual and couldn't find any reference to the marks.
If they really get stumped maybe I should ask for a loaded JCW as my MINI gift
My question:
Steve to Rich
show details 3:14 PM (2 hours ago) Reply
Hey Rich,
A couple quick Q's
1st - It's prolly somewhere in the owner manual somewhere, but what are the red markings on the speedo at 30 and 50 kph supposed to mean?
2nd - For the sake of curiosity, if you ever get an older supercharged S on the lot and can let me take it for a quick boot around the block a couple times(I'll be nice I promise) just to compare the R53 to my R56. Auto or manual doesn't matter.
Thanks
Steve
and the reply:
Rich to me
show details 4:17 PM (1 hour ago) Reply
We have a few supercharged models around. Next time you are by for a wash you can take one for a spin to compare . The red markings at the 30km and 50km are there to indicate that myself, my service advisor, and our technicians still do not know everything about your MINI (lol). I have forwarded your question to our Operations Manager and his MINI technical team. If we don’t have an answer for you, I think you should get some type of MINI gift.
I’ll let you know once I get the answer.
Cheers,
Rich
Anyone know what those marks are? It's the lines that represent 30 and 50 kph respectively. All others are black. I assume they are on the American model as well, but obviously not at 30 and 50, maybe the equivalents. I did take a quick scan through the owners manual and couldn't find any reference to the marks.
If they really get stumped maybe I should ask for a loaded JCW as my MINI gift
#984
That's what I first thought. But why bother watching the speedo in the middle of the dash while accelerating to know when to shift? An indicator in the computer screen on the tach would make much for sense to me. Even if they just put in a light. In the end it makes no difference to me, I'll shift when I want to shift which is sadly still below 4500rpm.
I've grown to love that little psssss sound of what ever kind of blowoff/pressure release they put in there. I'm not into "tuning" but it is a nice sound.(this is my first turbo charged car) Also am I just hearing things or is the exhaust slightly changing sound as the engine breaks in? Maybe it's just because I'm driving with the windows down lately or some sort of auto placebo effect but I swear it sounds different.
#985
#991
The biggest difference between this and my modded 07 so far is the sweet sounding exhaust =) Power difference if minimal at the moment - BUT I've already been to the dimsport tuner and had my ECU read. Once the new program is loaded I expect it to be quite a bit stonger than my 07.
oh yes - the brakes on the JCW are stronger than the brakes on the 07 even though the 07 has carbotech pads!
oh yes - the brakes on the JCW are stronger than the brakes on the 07 even though the 07 has carbotech pads!
#992
Well I got the answer to the red mark question. I would have never guessed this answer.
From: jason.huang@bmwgroup.ca [mailto:jason.huang@bmwgroup.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:45 AM
To: Rich Acosta
Subject: RE: great question
Hey Rich,
Its to caution our European drivers to be alert of max speeds in inner cities…
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
--------------------------------
MINI Canada
Jason Huang
MINI Operations Manager, Central Region
920 Champlain Court
Whitby ON, L1N 6K9
From: jason.huang@bmwgroup.ca [mailto:jason.huang@bmwgroup.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:45 AM
To: Rich Acosta
Subject: RE: great question
Hey Rich,
Its to caution our European drivers to be alert of max speeds in inner cities…
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
--------------------------------
MINI Canada
Jason Huang
MINI Operations Manager, Central Region
920 Champlain Court
Whitby ON, L1N 6K9
#994
I had some questions and also was surprised the answers:
These are in regards to the Clubman -
1) Only one backup light seems to work - Is this normal ?
2) The driver's side rear window appears to have defroster wires in it similar to the rear hatch defroster wires - Is this because the window is made defaulting to what is used in the UK to keep that left rear side window clear as an aid for a UK driver with steering wheel on right side and looking thru the left rear side window for traffic ?
1)Answer: The Clubman has one rear backup light on the right side. The rear left has a red reflector and for those that have rear fog lights, that red reflector lights up when the rear fog lamps are on. Otherwise, for those without the rear fog lamps, it is then just a red reflector.
2) The wires in the driver's side rear window comes standard that way - The wires are used as an antenna for those that order satellite radio.
These are in regards to the Clubman -
1) Only one backup light seems to work - Is this normal ?
2) The driver's side rear window appears to have defroster wires in it similar to the rear hatch defroster wires - Is this because the window is made defaulting to what is used in the UK to keep that left rear side window clear as an aid for a UK driver with steering wheel on right side and looking thru the left rear side window for traffic ?
1)Answer: The Clubman has one rear backup light on the right side. The rear left has a red reflector and for those that have rear fog lights, that red reflector lights up when the rear fog lamps are on. Otherwise, for those without the rear fog lamps, it is then just a red reflector.
2) The wires in the driver's side rear window comes standard that way - The wires are used as an antenna for those that order satellite radio.
#996
#997
COKen,
Maybe your MINI is making the roundtrip ?
Cameroon,
I'm heading back to Rob @ ProForm on Monday afternoon. When he installed the main section of the clear bra (the one that covers the full bonnet), there was a whitish area under the film right in the middle of the bonnet. It's only about 1/8" x 1". When Rob noticed it, he indicated I should be doing the squishing out of any water bubbles and if that small area did not go away after a week, then he would replace the bonnet. Well, I waited almost 2 weeks because it is such a small area and not all that noticeable and seems like a shame to go to the bother of replacing the film but....it's there and it cost a bunch..and he did offer to replace it. So, I called the other day and mentioned how about just slitting the film, cleaning that one little area and then pat it back down. His answer - "Bring it in on Monday - I want to replace the whole film on the bonnet"
Okay...So, I'm headin back ! Guess it's as good excuse as any to take off some hours from work and go for a nice drive !
Maybe your MINI is making the roundtrip ?
Cameroon,
I'm heading back to Rob @ ProForm on Monday afternoon. When he installed the main section of the clear bra (the one that covers the full bonnet), there was a whitish area under the film right in the middle of the bonnet. It's only about 1/8" x 1". When Rob noticed it, he indicated I should be doing the squishing out of any water bubbles and if that small area did not go away after a week, then he would replace the bonnet. Well, I waited almost 2 weeks because it is such a small area and not all that noticeable and seems like a shame to go to the bother of replacing the film but....it's there and it cost a bunch..and he did offer to replace it. So, I called the other day and mentioned how about just slitting the film, cleaning that one little area and then pat it back down. His answer - "Bring it in on Monday - I want to replace the whole film on the bonnet"
Okay...So, I'm headin back ! Guess it's as good excuse as any to take off some hours from work and go for a nice drive !
#998
#999
#1000
COKen,
Maybe your MINI is making the roundtrip ?
Cameroon,
I'm heading back to Rob @ ProForm on Monday afternoon. When he installed the main section of the clear bra (the one that covers the full bonnet), there was a whitish area under the film right in the middle of the bonnet. It's only about 1/8" x 1". When Rob noticed it, he indicated I should be doing the squishing out of any water bubbles and if that small area did not go away after a week, then he would replace the bonnet. Well, I waited almost 2 weeks because it is such a small area and not all that noticeable and seems like a shame to go to the bother of replacing the film but....it's there and it cost a bunch..and he did offer to replace it. So, I called the other day and mentioned how about just slitting the film, cleaning that one little area and then pat it back down. His answer - "Bring it in on Monday - I want to replace the whole film on the bonnet"
Okay...So, I'm headin back ! Guess it's as good excuse as any to take off some hours from work and go for a nice drive !
Maybe your MINI is making the roundtrip ?
Cameroon,
I'm heading back to Rob @ ProForm on Monday afternoon. When he installed the main section of the clear bra (the one that covers the full bonnet), there was a whitish area under the film right in the middle of the bonnet. It's only about 1/8" x 1". When Rob noticed it, he indicated I should be doing the squishing out of any water bubbles and if that small area did not go away after a week, then he would replace the bonnet. Well, I waited almost 2 weeks because it is such a small area and not all that noticeable and seems like a shame to go to the bother of replacing the film but....it's there and it cost a bunch..and he did offer to replace it. So, I called the other day and mentioned how about just slitting the film, cleaning that one little area and then pat it back down. His answer - "Bring it in on Monday - I want to replace the whole film on the bonnet"
Okay...So, I'm headin back ! Guess it's as good excuse as any to take off some hours from work and go for a nice drive !
Next up, wheels and summer tires and then maybe some Texas Speedwerks springs. And somewhere in there some less dusty brake pads