Garage Day, Saturday July 31st 9 a.m.

[Albiker]

I plan on coming to try and sell a Mini Cooper S suspension with only 67 miles on it for 2007+ hardtops. I also have a performance exhaust with 1,845 miles on it for 2007+ R56 MINI Cooper S Hardtops. I will barter for headlamps. What is the address? Thanks.

Al

[BLUGOOSE]

We don't need a garage day we need a garage weekend.The "Goose" will bring a set of stands and don't forget your 2x4s.

[kabootist]

if there is a lot, we can split off to my garage that is about a 15-ish minute drive from John and Johnna's. Will have to double check with Toeknee on plans for the weekend.

oil changes and such we can get done quick and i have an extra set of everything.

also found screenshots on the garmin OBD2 thing if anyone else was interested.

http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garmin-ecoroute-screen-shots/#2435098

[davester]

Your ramps will be very helpful for the oil changes.

[toeknee]

if there is a lot, we can split off to my garage that is about a 15-ish minute drive from John and Johnna's. Will have to double check with Toeknee on plans for the weekend.

No plans, ya'll are welcome here. The only thing I would ask is that someone bring something to put used oil in if you come over. We don't really have a place for it and still have what came out of our Jetta last week. We are quite well equipped for the basics like oil changes. AND our garage is air conditioned.

[IowaM1N1]

This has turned into quite an awesome little event.

I'm disappointed to be missing it. Heading back to Iowa for the wkend.

When you are all wrenching, I'll be admiring some old American iron -- the National Buick Meet is in Ames, IA this weekend.

See everyone next Thur night.

[matti the mini]

Ok, if you didn't attend - this was by far one of the most helpful days that I've spent with fellow MINIacks!

Thanks to all that helped - I replaced my serpentine belt (with a run back to the store to get the correct one) and did an oil change.

Many thanks to Dave and David for the use of the correct tools, encouragement and supervision!

Can we do this next time when it's a little cooler please :D:D!

[davester]

Yes, this was a very beneficial day at the "Garage Day". We performed three serpentine belt changes, two spark plug changes, three oil changes, one brake job and one cooling fan replacement. We had a very busy day indeed. Just had one problem with a spark plug but we overcame the problem and persevered. All of the cars ran like a top when finished. Thank you John and Johnna for the working area and lunch Maybe next time we could do a "Beautification Day" of wash and waxes--- Just a thought

[LiLReD1]

Agreed, it was a very productive day. Didn't do anything to our cars specifically, but it was nice to hang out, and give a hand when it was needed. Hope we can do it again soon before I deploy. Show n' Shine sounds like a great idea as well! I just hope there's more people to show up next time.

Hey, maybe next time, we can swap all the mods from my car to Allison's R57! Since we're getting rumors of a deplyoment well over a year, I'll prolly be putting LiL ReD up for sale so she doesn't sit for over a year and be all lonely. That way I can start fresh with a brand new MINI, or something else. Maybe a classic?

[Counterfit_Mini]

Hey, maybe next time, we can swap all the mods from my car to Allison's R57! Since we're getting rumors of a deplyoment well over a year, I'll prolly be putting LiL ReD up for sale so she doesn't sit for over a year and be all lonely. That way I can start fresh with a brand new MINI, or something else. Maybe a classic?

Wanna sell your wheels?

[LiLReD1]

Sure, buy 'em, lol.

[ragtopday]

Here's the link to a few pics from yesterday:
http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd10 ... ly%202010/

10 MINIs and 2 Minis gave the neighbors plenty to gossip about for at least another couple of days. Big thanks to all of you that shared your expertise and tools. It was a very productive day!

A pic from speed_racer:


And one lifted from MiniX2's phone:

[Minidave]

First off I'd like to thank John and Johnna for hosting this event, it's a big disruption to the household when you have this many folks over, and working on all these cars just adds to the confusion. Oh, and that nice big flat driveway really helps!

Second, I have to apologize to MiniGeoff for wussing out early when his car was still in the middle of repairs, the heat just finally got to me! Looks like you had plenty of good help tho, so I'm not sure you really needed me there too....

BTW, how's everybody's cars running today? Hope you're all running wonderfully!

Mark, did you have any temp problems with your car, or did you wind up bleeding more air out?

[monty]

Big thanks to John and Johnna for letting use their driveway for this event.
Dave, I had to bleed some air off but everything is ok.

[ragtopday]

My car once again has a firm STOP! The guy that turned in front of me on the Plaza today may have this look on his face the rest of the day: . Wow, does it STOP! Thanks y'all for the help with my brakes!

[Minidave]

I'd also like to give a big shoutout to Frank (Blugoose), he was a big help to a lot of folks, and I want to be sure he gets a mention!

Also the newlyweds, Tim and Allison. Tim didn't know he was going to be turning some wrenches when he came over, but his hands were plenty dirty by the time he got ready to go home!

Dimini showed up in the P'up and lent his considerable expertise as well.

Bentley jumped in with both feet and really went after his car - changing the serpentine belt, and his oil.

Speed racer got a new serpentine belt (her's had well over 100K on it!), some new plugs and fresh oil too. All she needs now is some more "monkey strength!

Monte got a new cooling fan, which is not a fun job ! Good to hear all is well there, Mark.

All in all it was really a fun day. MiniX2 has a nicely appointed shop/garage and was kind enough to lend his tools and hands whenever needed.

Hope I didn't miss anyone......

Now, we just need a rainy day to find out if we cured MiniGeoff's running problems!

[BLUGOOSE]

Just wanted to add my thanks to "Davester" for his outstanding abilities,his excellent workmanship,and his ability to work with some people that are were not sure of what they were doing. By the way ,that would include me.--Frank

[MiniGeoff]

Many many thanks to the folks that helped me with my spark plug 'issues,' especially Don who finally was able to get it all fixed. I'd probably have had to move in with John and Johnna if he hadn't done it... well, my car might still be there anyway...

[davester]

Does your new belt squeal or can you tell a difference from your old one?

[MiniGeoff]

Does your new belt squeal or can you tell a difference from your old one?

No squeal, but I only really had an issue in the wet, so I'm not 100% sure the issue is fixed yet. However, someone riding with me noticed that my supercharger whine was *significantly* more noticeable then it was pre-belt change. As soon as we get a good rain I'll know for sure, and I'll say then. I did find an article on NAM where someone else had the same issue, a squealing belt along with what seemed like slippage in the wet, which caused the car to go into gimp mode and throw the same engine code as I was getting. There wasn't any solution to the issue posted at the time I found it, but at least there were a few people who commented that they had seen or heard of the same thing.

I've also noticed a substantial improvement in gas millage, I'm up to 27+ in traffic, with my A/C. I'm sure a lot of that is from the new plugs, but since it's 3 or 4 MPG, I'll take it.

[davester]

When we were changing your belt, I noticed that you did not have a splash shield. You need that to help keeping water from splashing on your alternator belt area. Just a thought....

[MiniGeoff]

When we were changing your belt, I noticed that you did not have a splash shield. You need that to help keeping water from splashing on your alternator belt area. Just a thought....

Really? There is a splash shield? I wonder if KC Autosport forgot to put it back on when they did it, or if we did when we did the belt originally and it's in my garage somewhere. What's it look like?

[davester]

I think it's the one in this picture ---
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=75

[Minidave]

Geoff, do you suppose they took it off when they were running the tow bar?