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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Last night I changed my oil and filter. I decided to go with Liqui-Moly this time, since I was at NAPA and they had it on the shelf. Figured I would see if I could notice what all the fuss was about.
I also changed my transmission fluid. Decided to go with Royal Purple Synchromax. I can't remember what I had in it last time, but it was due. It might have had 30-40k miles on it. So far, shifts feel slightly smoother. See how it does longer term...
During the change, did you do a single drain/fill or multiple drain/fills to reduce the volume of old fluid?
Never mind - realized you have a manual...
Last edited by thefarside; 06-28-2024 at 07:00 AM.
Installed front and rear brakes, seatbelt extension guides, a 17mm ball for my CarPlay unit and the Bluetooth music module so I don't have to see any wires plugged into the USB/Aux port, new Black trim and hood scoop from eBay China and a gauge pod from Etsy.
Warning ahead: Yet another stoopid story not really worthy of posting...
It was just a matter of time. I've been running my grille mounted Rally Spot lights night and day since I'd mounted them back in July of 2020.
This afternoon, while admiring my Mini in the reflection, as I drove behind, a nice shiny pickup, I noticed one of the (H3) bulbs in my Rally lights had burnt out. I stopped into O' Reilly which was just up the street to grab a couple of replacements. NO GO = sold out.
Continuing on; I saw and stopped into an Advance Auto. Sold out.
On the way home I made the foolish mistake by stopping in at a local Auto Zone. They had 2wo left on the rack @$17.99/ea ($38 total) - with no other choice but only a single (H3) ultra white @$26.99 on the rack. I purchased the 2wo matching bulbs.
After removing the lens' and bulbs from the Rallys'; I come to realize the pigtails on Sylvania (Basic) H3 replacement bulbs I purchased were too short. Rather than taking the smart approach and returning the bulbs or sourcing Amazon - I moved forward by splicing on a longer pigtails, connectors and heat shrinked the wiring's to make it work/reach. That's all well and fine but...
Yet in a foolish afterthought; I went online and sourced Amazon...More to choose from at fraction of the price I had just paid.
No real moral to the story so I'm just going to end it there.
That's what I didwasted time and money on my Mini today = #face-palm
The brake lights on Grumpy have been staying on anytime the ignition is on. OK, no biggie, the switch died. Ordered a Hella switch, popped it in tonight, key on, lights are still on. Grrr. I guess I'll have to do more digging.
Started working on some custom side scuttle for Ziggy, our R55 Clubman S today. I sourced some used, slightly ratty Union Jack scuttle off Ebay UK. I wanted this style specifically for the flat recessed surface on which to apply an image. Today I began exploring and got one of them disassembled. As I was exploring I found they were made in Taiwan, so they are aftermarket. I ordered some more supplies to finish them. Hoping they turn out how I hope. I was a little disappointed to find some openings around the edges of the recess where the Union Jack image was. Adhesive removal left things a little more marked up than I thought, though, so covering the entire recess is now part of the plan, anyways.
Yesterday, I replaced the rear panel of the panoramic sunroof, also replaced both shade screens. The panel had shattered when I was driving on the freeway. I taped a cardboard rectangle in a plastic trash bag to keep the mini covered in case of amlny monsoon storms (I don't have a garage to park it in). Sourced a replacement panel from a junkyard, purchased the shades from Amazon. Replacement took about an hour. Now I have to work on getting the tape residue off.
Worked on some paint correction yesterday. Still more to go, but the buffer was a Father's Day present and I had to try it out! Someone got too aggressive with sap removal, a bird poop etch mark, and some water marks from around the washer nozzles down the hood. It's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement!
Bird poop mark. Sap removal mark. There's more sap and another spot like this on the other side of the hood. Looking good! Imperfections are hard to photograph, especialy when they have essentially disappeared!
06-28-2024, 06:21 AM
I feel your pain H2G, done that more times than i want to remember.
