I'm a new MINI owner and have a few questions. Since there seems to be several MINI owners on this board, I'm hoping someone can help me out.

1. I've heard automatic car washes are not good for the paint on MINIs. Where do you wash your MINI when it's cold?

2. How often do you apply the convertible top fabric guard?

3. Has anyone gone to any of the MINI events?

1. I have used the soft cloth car washes - though not frequently - maybe four or five times in two years. I am more likely to hose it off in the driveway....pretty much use the car wash, when it's open in the winter.
2. Haven't used the fabric guard yet....I suppose I should.
3. My husband did an event at the Joliet racetrack the first time it was offerred. The price has gone up significantly from that time. We also did a breakfast thing where we all caravaned (is that a word?) over to see Bill Jacobs personal car collection. He was so nice and let our son sit in some of his very old and very amazing cars. Clam would have enjoyed the collection greatly.

LOVE my MINI!!!

Mardie,

Perfect timing for a MINI convertible. The weather is just starting to get better.You are going to have a blast.

Soft cloth washes are fine, but stay away from the "touchless washes". They use a real abrasive detergent, sort of like dishwasher soap. It will etch your clear coat.

As for your convertible top... the fabric was treated at the factory. No need to do anything to it. Actually, if you use something and it has an adverse effect, it'll void your convertible tops warranty.

Events? There is a great MINI club called the Chicago motoring club. They do a lot of drives which are a lot of fun. My sister and I did one a few years ago and had a blast. I also met the some of the members for dinner one night in Geneva. They are a nice bunch.

My sister, husband and I all have MINIs and love them! I am sure you will too.

~Christina

Car washes are just fine. Wax the car twice a year (better yet...take it to Fuller's in Hinsdale and have them do an express wax..don't do it yourself. It's an unpleasant job.) The water is recycled and cleaned. I agree on the touchless washes. They suck. The one at BP on Roos...gets your car nice and wet. But it looks the same when you pull out.

Most people don't keep their cars long enough to ever have to worry about the finish on them. Like I said...2 or 3 waxes a year and there is no way you'll have a problem.

According to my computer, we are averaging 28.4 MPG. All driving is done in town...rarely on the highway where it allegedly averages 40 MPG.

Thank you Amy and Cannes for your suggestions. I love this car! I just traded in my 7 passenger SUV and couldn't be happier.

Thanks for the heads up regarding the touchless car wash...I actually thought that would be better. So which soft-cloth car wash do you use in this area?

Christina, the owners manual says to re-apply a fabric guard to the convertible top after a couple of washes. Can I skip this then or should I have it done once a year when I get it detailed?

Welcome to the board Christina. When I read that you are the house with the MINIs on Western, I had to laugh. My kids love to drive by just to see what's in the driveway on any given day.

Until I got the MINI, I never noticed how many MINI owners there were in Glen Ellyn. There really are quite few.

Thanks again!

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Car washes are just fine. Wax the car twice a year (better yet...take it to Fuller's in Hinsdale and have them do an express wax..don't do it yourself. It's an unpleasant job.) The water is recycled and cleaned. I agree on the touchless washes. They suck. The one at BP on Roos...gets your car nice and wet. But it looks the same when you pull out.

Most people don't keep their cars long enough to ever have to worry about the finish on them. Like I said...2 or 3 waxes a year and there is no way you'll have a problem.

According to my computer, we are averaging 28.4 MPG. All driving is done in town...rarely on the highway where it allegedly averages 40 MPG.

Thanks Clam. I've only had mine for about 3 weeks and am averaging only 21 MPG with average speed of about 15 MPH. But I know the convertibles don't get quite the gas mileage as the coupes. I won't complain though, since I traded in an SUV that averaged around 15 MPG.

Do you ever use Leslie's Car Wash?

quote:

Originally posted by Mardie:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Car washes are just fine. Wax the car twice a year (better yet...take it to Fuller's in Hinsdale and have them do an express wax..don't do it yourself. It's an unpleasant job.) The water is recycled and cleaned. I agree on the touchless washes. They suck. The one at BP on Roos...gets your car nice and wet. But it looks the same when you pull out.

Most people don't keep their cars long enough to ever have to worry about the finish on them. Like I said...2 or 3 waxes a year and there is no way you'll have a problem.

According to my computer, we are averaging 28.4 MPG. All driving is done in town...rarely on the highway where it allegedly averages 40 MPG.

Thanks Clam. I've only had mine for about 3 weeks and am averaging only 21 MPG with average speed of about 15 MPH. But I know the convertibles don't get quite the gas mileage as the coupes. I won't complain though, since I traded in an SUV that averaged around 15 MPG.

Do you ever use Leslie's Car Wash?

Is your car an S...or non-S? What year? Color? Home address?
SS number? ATM PIN number, etc?

I do not use Leslie Car Wash.

new 2008, Non-S. The S was a little too much for me on the test drive. Decided to take baby steps.

I've had scratches from car washes before, so I'm hoping someone can recommend a good one close by. I try to hand wash when I can, but it's not always possible.

Anyone get the Multivex mirrors? I've heard they help with the blindspot on the convertibles.

I've used the soft cloth wash at Shell on the corner of Roosevelt and Park.

I'm getting about 24-25 MPG on my convertible with mostly in-town driving. I've done a couple of trips with almost all highway driving and got about 34 MPG.

I haven't gotten the multivex mirrors. I just pull out really slowly...

Thanks for the welcome, Mardie. My driveway, like my house, is always changing The MINI is such an eye catcher, I figured it would be an attention getter.
The owners manual says a lot of things. Seriously, don't worry about the top.

Gas mileage should improve after you get past the break in period (1250 miles).

A little trick I learned back when the MINI convertibles first came out... position the passenger mirror all the way out, so you will see the lane next to you on the right. That almost completely eliminates the blind spot! Give it a shot and let me know how it works out.

Here's a little wiki on setting mirrors: CLICK

It takes a little getting used to, but once you've tried it, you won't go back.

Mardie....what color ya got?

Clam, at the risk of “outing” myself…Night Fire Red. I love the color...it changes depending on the light.

Christina, the kids came home from school one day this week and promptly reported that the “MINI house” had a non-MINI (gasp) PT Cruiser, parked in the driveway. The sharing of this information took precedence over test reports, school gossip, and the usual after-school recap. You might want to consider informing non-MINI owner visitors to park around the corner as it is too traumatizing for the neighborhood kids.

Thanks for the suggestions about the mirrors HalfinGlenEllyn. I'll try it.

Amy & Clam, are you using premium gas? That's pretty good gas mileage.

Yes, premium. It increased my mileage by about 5 miles per gallon. Makes it worth the extra 20cents. The car just runs better on premium too. When it was new I'd say it took almost 2,000 miles before my mileage increased too.

quote:

Originally posted by Mardie:


Christina, the kids came home from school one day this week and promptly reported that the “MINI house” had a non-MINI (gasp) PT Cruiser, parked in the driveway. The sharing of this information took precedence over test reports, school gossip, and the usual after-school recap. You might want to consider informing non-MINI owner visitors to park around the corner as it is too traumatizing for the neighborhood kids.

Will do That is the funniest thing I have heard/read all day but it freaks me out a little since I don't know anyone with a PT Cruiser I have had a lot of people stop by and ask if we're "flippers". Maybe it was someone curious about the work being done... at least, I hope that's what it was.


Nightfire Red is HOT!

Pepper white up and down...black stripes....ridiculously large pimpin' wheels. Live in the CLEA. Two doors from GW. That's outing yourself.

Premium...yes. My mileage number comes from the on-board computer which may or may not be BS as far as accuracy is concerned. It's 28.1 right now. So I was a little off. I have also noticed that MINI has backed off the 40 MPG claims in their adds. Down to 37 MPG highway. 2008 models are the first year for EPA's new numbers for calculating mileage. 28/37 is still a nice figure.

quote:

Originally posted by HalfinGlenEllyn:
Here's a little wiki on setting mirrors: CLICK

It takes a little getting used to, but once you've tried it, you won't go back.

Agreed. I've used this set up for years now have not had a scary moment of cars sneaking up on me.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
I have also noticed that MINI has backed off the 40 MPG claims in their adds. Down to 37 MPG highway. 2008 models are the first year for EPA's new numbers for calculating mileage. 28/37 is still a nice figure.

Actually, Clam... the EPA changed the figures on all cars across the board for 2008.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/car-advice/20070505_dr...r_EPA_mileage_a1.asp

Yes they did. They have been using an old way of calculating and the EPA said "enough."

MINI's model year changes in March or April instead of in the fall like most manufacturers, IIRC. So their '07 cars have been for sale until recently...hence the new numbers for the '08s.

Was your car in town today? Saw one like it. Come to think of it...I have been seeing so many MINIs that it is mind boggling.

I would join this mini group

That sounds like a fun place for a car to vacation!

Hotellerie le Chateau Fort de Sedan