We talked about this on the show a few shows back, and I know there are some of you out there actually considering getting one of these.
Well, should you have a mile or two of open road to get it up to 70MPH and decide that what was really missing from your day was to plow into a 20 ton concrete barrier, you’ll be pleased with these results.
If, on the other hand, you would rather put huge mudders on your smart and gingerly drive around a dirt field hoping you don’t roll over, you would probably prefer this.
Me? I’ll just stick with the MINI thankyouverymuch ;)
update. This already happened. Thanks to everyone for coming by and listening!
Been a little bit since we have done one of these, and I’m still working out a schedule. But we will be live via uStream.tv tonight.
Check back to WRR or Motoringfile.com at 7PM PST/9PM PST/10PM EST to check it out!
Last time we had 40 listeners, 25 of them in the chat room! Do I hear 60?
So that happened today. Well, tonight. Ok, so I had to drive an extra 4 miles after I got home to hit it, but I would have done it tomorrow anyway taking the lad to school. So, yea, go me.
Next up on the repair list is suspension. Before I talk shocks, springs or sway bars I need to give some serious attention to the least expensive parts on the front end. The ball joints. In a word, loose. Yes, that fairly well describes them. In another word, expensive. I’ve heard that it’s a 7 hour job to do (more than $1K at my dealer just for labor, no thanks) so I will be seeking out a different shop to get that part of the suspension done.
After that, I’ve decided to stick with stock-ish shocks, some Eibach springs I acquired a few years ago and a new rear sway bar.
If anyone can recommend a good shop in Orange County or South LA county (don’t say Steves. That’s like a 3 day drive for me) I would really appreciate it.
I’m not terribly familiar with the new MINIs out there, but I was pretty sure that, at least through 2005, the power steering made a very distinct squealing sound.
My new power steering pump doesn’t make that noise. Absolutely silent.
Not that I mind the quiet, but I am kinda missing the squeal.
Final tally for repairs at the dealer yesterday came to just about US$1k to replace the power steering pump and power steering pump fan. Apparently the fan stopped working, which then caused the pump to overheat and short out. So, keep on eye on those fans!
On a sillier note, if you don’t have anything better to do tonight, there is a rumor that I’ll be on Street Tuner Challenge. Someone let me know how bad it is since I won’t be home in time and my DVR is on the fritz.
The one thing that I have heard about problems with, from many MINI owners, is power steering. Going out altogether, over heating and all that. For about the last 6 months I’ve been waiting until I could also be one of the few, the proud, the select with failed power steering.
I no longer have to wait.
Driving home tonight it just stopped working. No warning, no funny noises, nothing. I was stopped a signal and when I went to go the familiar squeal was gone and my steering was extremely hard.
I’ve owned cars without power steering before. Granted, they had steering wheels that were about 24″ diameter, which made them very easy to steer. The MINI without power steering is not very easy to steer, in case you wondered.
I have an appointment first thing tomorrow morning to have it looked at and to have the belt tensioner replaced (which was left from my last service visit). I’ll have more updates after I talk to my SA.
Mileage tonight as Roxy sits in the garage is 178,950. So, I guess I was due.
Updates in the comments
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