Category: My MINI

Impatience

I know its only been four days since I got a production number and I know that my production date will be in July. But I sooooo want to see my tracking page updated with a scheduled production date. Looks like I am not going to be immune to the order wait madness, after all.

Finally, New MINI News!

It took a lot longer than I expected but a new MINI is finally in the works! Just got off the phone with South Bay MINI, having taken one of their July production spots, delivery hopefully at the end of August, maybe September. The final spec:

Dark Silver, MCS/C
Chrome Line Exterior, Grey Leatherette Seats, Anthracite Interior
Convenience Pkg, Front and Rear Fog Lights, Xenon Headlamps
DSC, OBC

Can’t wait to get entered into the system and start watching mine get built.

Where’s The New MINI News Then?

Yeah, ok, I said I’d have news pretty soon and so far there’s not been any. I really did think that by now I’d have news but as I sit here today I still don’t have any to pass on. I thought I would. Really, I did, I wouldn’t lie to you, dear reader. Maybe tomorrow.

A Little Jeep Time

The MINI has been making some nasty noises whilst braking recently so I decided to put it in the local brake emporium to check out putting in some new pads (and I am sure they will insist on discs too). So that meant taking the Jeep to work today.

[Update:] Rear brake pads were worn beyond use but replacement pads weren’t available or orderable!! Had to go up to Brecht and buy them over lunchtime and will take them back this evening… grrr!!! There are definite downsides to owning a MINI.

Of course today would be one of the windiest days in the mountains so not only was I struggling up the hill in 3rd and 4th gear but also keeping a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel to stop us from being blown off the edge. The Jeep has a 3.5 inch lift and 33″ tyres making it quite unstable. It does however allow for a nice view into the passing cars when the driver is worth a look. The mirrors were moved to allow the doors to come off but when I put the windows back in last night they totally blocked the right hand side mirror, can’t see it at all. This combined with a rear window that was almost opaque made for some careful lane changes on the freeway.

Despite only getting 80 miles on half a tank of gas I still got to work in under two hours and I actually had a lot of fun. It will be a shame to sell it but I only drive it 4-5 times a year and it seems pointless to keep it in the garage paying insurance, registration etc for that. And even more so when the value could be applied to the new MINI – news about that real soon.

Motoring

The MINI got a good blow-out of the cobwebs this weekend – a day-trip to Santa Maria. Total round trip mileage was 736, and about 12 hours travelling time including stops and stuff. Whilst the sport seats aren’t that uncomfortable I was certainly glad to get out of them when we stopped. Sarah performed well, averaged 29.5 mpg over the trip and was, as always, a lot of fun to drive, especially on the LA freeways where the speed limits don’t seem to apply. Only saw 3 other MINIs the whole trip, guess you were all sleeping in?

More Stumbling, Not Less

Thanks to a significant decline in the number of vehicles at the house (we’ve lost two of the four this month to accidents!) the MINI became the weekend workhorse and got a lot of town driving. I don’t know if I’ve read too many posts on NAM but I swear that my stumble is worse post-ECU upgrade. Also, yesterday whilst idling at a light, the engine got quite loud and I could even see the bonnet vibrating. A few revs cured it but I was a little alarmed, not seen that before. Now, it was approximately 110F so perhaps that had something to do with it. Anyway, more reason than ever to get a new one but until we know what is happening with the wife’s car I have to hold off on the order.

Convertible Stylin’

I love my Union Jack roof and obviously I won’t be able to have one on the convertible so I’ve been thinking about what I can do to anglicize it. I have a custom side decal in mind involving the English flag but don’t know how I would ever describe it to someone. CooperFlags make some cool stripes and I found this neat rear window decal for the convertible. It says they will do custom flags so they could do me the flag of St. George. Question is: how would it look on a dark silver car??

New MINI Spec (really, this time)

Subject to some, er, financial review this weekend, here is the spec of the new MINI I hope to order from MINI of Pittsburgh next week. They have quoted a 6 week delivery time and free delivery to my place in Brawley, can’t beat that!

Dark Silver/Black Top MCS/C
Body Colour Mirrors
Convenience Package
Front and Rear Fog Lights
Xenon Headlights
On-Board Computer
Security System

Pretty much what I have now bar the DSC, auto a/c and the 17″ wheels. Oh, and the roof, of course 🙂 Feel free to tell me if I should have included something else, and why, in the comments.

I will add stripes once it arrives. I’ve even come up with a decent new vanity plate but shall keep it quiet lest one of you buggers orders it ahead of me 🙂

Back at Brecht

I called yesterday to rearrange my windscreen replacement and to my amazement they gave me a next-day appointment so Sarah is back at Brecht getting an oil change and a new windscreen (her third). I even got a BMW loaner, which is a first, though its an X3 SUV, very different from the MINI.

Whilst waiting for the X3 to come out I took a look around the lot. I didn’t see any MCS convertibles, only MC ones. Every car now had a $2400-$2700 markup so it looks like I won’t be getting my next MINI at Brecht. I did however see an MCS soft top waiting at the service dept that looked awesome: it was charcoal grey, blacktop and a black/silver stripe. That may be the combination I have to go for.