- #271 of 282
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Re: It would be nice! [coasterguy]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (3:40 am)
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Replying to: coasterguy (Jun 16, 2008 6:52 pm)
Except for my astonomical maintenance bills, which are basically my fault for not searching out a good independent mechanic, (which I will now begin to do!), I have nothing but great things to say about my 02 MCS. It is a great car and definitely makes driving fun. I'll keep it until I go to heaven where there will be no maintenance bills to deal with anyway! It is well made, hugs the road even when my Pirelli fun flat was flat on the right front, (really). I love the run flats. Never knew about them until I got the Mini and would never have any other kind of tire! LOVE the car!
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- #272 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [rlmiller9]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (4:50 am)
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Replying to: rlmiller9 (Oct 20, 2009 5:49 pm)
Thanks for your replies. I think your number 1 is pretty much what was happening. I have always been afraid to take the car to anyone else so have always taken it to a dealership. Now I definitely see the need to search for a good independent shop. I also will educate myself more on the mechanical aspects of my car instead of just depending on what someone tells me. I'm glad I found this site. Lots of good info. Thanks again for your encouragement.
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- #273 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [shark715]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (5:04 am)
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Replying to: shark715 (Oct 20, 2009 10:36 am)
Thanks! Glad to hear you have seen steam too. That really had me concerned. The whole oil pan gasket thing could have probably been fixed as you suggested because after reading your post, I do remember hearing something thump pretty loud under my car not too long ago while I was driving and wondering if it hurt anyhing. Could have knocked the oil pan loose but I'll never know. One last question regarding this whole thing. I asked if the rear rotors had to be replaced too or just the pads and she told me they were "together" so they both had to be replaced. Is that true? I know it is not true on other cars but when she told me that, I thought it was something unique to the Mini.
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- #274 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [snicker2]
by shark715
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Oct 21, 2009 (5:33 am)
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Replying to: snicker2 (Oct 21, 2009 5:04 am)
The rear brakes on your Mini are just like disc brakes on any other car. As with most front wheel drive cars, the rear brakes generally last far longer than the fronts because they have far less work to do. The rotors would need to be replaced only if they are damaged or warped, which would be fairly unusual for rear brakes unless you have been unusually hard on the brakes. Sounds like she inferred that the rotors must be replaced when the pads are, and that's simply not true unless the rotors themselves need to be replaced. The game that I've seen a lot of dealers (and unfortunately other garages) play is to tell you that you need new pads and/or rotors before they reach the point that the manufacturer says they need to be replaced. It's like asking a barber if you need a haircut. Dealers make an incredible markup selling parts and labor at retail, so they have a vested interest in trying to "sell" you as many parts and services as they can, especially expensive parts like rotors.
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- #275 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [shark715]
by british_rover
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Oct 22, 2009 (6:14 am)
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Replying to: shark715 (Oct 21, 2009 5:33 am)
Remember that the MINI is a euro car and like most euro cars the rotors wear with the pads.
Sure sometimes you can get away with just a pad swap and not replacing the rotors but the new pads most likely will not last as long. You might be able to do that once but not twice as the rotors on most newer euro cars are too thin and too soft to turn even once.
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- #276 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [british_rover]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Oct 22, 2009 (8:40 am)
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Replying to: british_rover (Oct 22, 2009 6:14 am)
On German cars today, you throw the rotors away if there is any discernible wear.
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- #277 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [Mr_Shiftright]
by british_rover
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Oct 22, 2009 (2:36 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 22, 2009 8:40 am)
I know I did that on my MINI but most people are cheap and think they can get away with new pads and old rotors.
Generally the new pads will last half as long, sometimes less, when matched up to the old rotors.
That is not cheap at all.
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- #278 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [british_rover]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Oct 22, 2009 (8:20 pm)
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Replying to: british_rover (Oct 22, 2009 2:36 pm)
You know, like when you need to stop in 100 feet to avoid that flatbed truck and you stop in 102 feet instead........I spend lavishly on brakes and tires.
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- #279 of 282
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After market exhaust system
by snicker2
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Nov 11, 2009 (4:40 am)
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A Borla Catback exhaust system was installed on my 02 MCS before I took ownership of it and recently I discovered that the exhaust intake boot was split. The tech told me it would be best to put the factory part back on the exhaust intake, which he did. Now after reading about the exhaust system, I wonder if the aftermarket intake part, (which looks very different than the factory part), needs to be put back on and repaired. I know that originally the exhaust intake was changed for a reason. Does anyone have any knowledge regarding aftermarket exhaust systems on the MCS?
Thanks!
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- #280 of 282
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mini maintenace annual fee
by epfrankyi
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Nov 26, 2009 (3:49 am)
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hi everyone,
my girlfriend and i are thinking to buy a mini cooper. try to find a cheapest one. both of us just started to work no long ago, so we can't afford a fine one. but, there is one thing we are really concerned about the car maintenance. i heard it's VERY expensive. anyone who has the experience can give me a clue how much might the cost will be in a year. thanks a lot. reply or e-mail me both are fine. epfrankyi gmail.com
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