Comments for UKPylot's MINI Blog

Comment on Another Expensive Oil Change by RB

RB — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:44:37 +0000

Well I guess it could have been worse and hopefully you’ll be trouble free for a few miles.

I’m at 80,000 now and have been really trouble free for most of those miles. A Bott’s dot through the radiator killed the engine at 20,000 but other than 3 or 4 windscreens it’s been a very good MINI.

Comment on Another Expensive Oil Change by db

db — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:41:15 +0000

PS fan and thermostat not too bad. Could have been worse. Like PS pump worse. Or complete cooling system overhaul worse.

I’ve heard that you should expect to pay $1k for every 100k miles per year in maintenance and repairs. So far, that is holding true for me.

Nice to see you have a shop to work with. So much better than paying dealer rates.

Comment on Still motoring by Richard

Richard — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:51:30 +0000

I just saw your previous blog post (XM Radio) but I guess it is no longer accepting comments. Regarding this:

One of the problems I have with playing music off my phone or iPad in the car is that, like many MINIs, if I have the device plugged into the lighter socket it turns the radio off every few minutes. Some sort of interference, I suppose.

A ground loop isolator may help, such as: http://www.amazon.com/GROUND-LOOP-ISOLATOR-3-5-APPLICATIONS/dp/B001EAQTRI
Many MINI owners have successfully used a GLI to solve issues with using the aux while the device is connected to the cigarette lighter.

Comment on No More XM Radio For Me by db

db — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:56:22 +0000

Podcasts man. Might be time. BBC has quite a few radio programs in iTunes you can subscribe too, for free. You might even be able to find the programs you were listening to on radio 1 in podcast form. I know a bunch of morning radio shows are podcasting now the day after too, so if there is something on regular radio you like, good chance there is a podcast.

Comment on No More XM Radio For Me by ukpylot

ukpylot — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:38:56 +0000

Yes I was hoping they’d add Radio 2, didn’t see them dropping the Beeb all together. I think it will come back eventually but in the meantime…..

One of the problems I have with playing music off my phone or iPad in the car is that, like many MINIs, if I have the device plugged into the lighter socket it turns the radio off every few minutes. Some sort of interference, I suppose. And my poor old Droid can’t handle the duty without the juice.

You can stream some of it off the internet but I really liked the time delay that Sirius had, I got the breakfast show in the morning, not the afternoon show.

Comment on No More XM Radio For Me by Ian C.

Ian C. — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:11:38 +0000

I’m debating this too – though I’ve always preferred Sirius channels and don’t listen to Radio 1 (I’d prefer Radio 2!)
But Sirius is pricey and coverage is not great on my daily commute.
I’d like to find some phone App that could record radio stations over WiFi then replay in the car – haven’t found any App quite right yet, and of course the car switches straight to iPod when connected.

Comment on Windscreen Lawsuit by ukpylot

ukpylot — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:51:22 +0000

I believe that if you have a gravatar matching you email address it will use that, but if not then it randomly generates an image. It was using something called “Monster Id” but now I changed it to “Retro” – maybe you likey more?

Comment on Windscreen Lawsuit by Robert

Robert — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:46:43 +0000

So how does one get rid of the prune danish avatar thingy?

Comment on Windscreen Lawsuit by Robert

Robert — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:45:42 +0000

I actually was home when they called…. told them the same. My 2002 had 3, 2003 only one in 145,000 for my daughter, 2004 3… so far. All had sun roofs so my question is more with or without sunroofs? You have a Cabriolet.

Comment on A New Pet Peeve by Robert

Robert — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:07:42 +0000

My ’02 sucked! Got rid of it after 65,000.