Rolling Report for my September 2004 built MINI Cooper

My 2nd MINI was impeccably reliable and I was very impressed... until its first oil service that is...

2 years on / 15700

• Due to a change of circumstances, I was forced to sell my MINI.  At the time of sale, there was not a single thing wrong with it, and it was driving as if it just rolled out of the showroom.
   
• Depreciation was painful, even though MINI was recently declared the lowest depreciating car there is.
   
• It was a struggle to sell.  Private buyers just weren't interested until the price got down to the (very low) dealer trade in prices.

1.5 years on / 10278

• Well I tempted fate when I typed the below text... MINI had to be repaired at the dealer after the oil filter's 'O' Ring mysteriously failed shortly after its first oil service...
  
  Fortunately I heard the ticking tappets and went to investigate and discovered the dry dipstick only 400 miles after the service!!  To say I'm not impressed would be an understatement.  I created merry hell.  The car was PERFECT until the first time the dealer got their hands on it...
   

1.5 Years on / 10,200 miles (up until just prior to first oil service)

• NO Faults found other than extremely trivial ones.
   
• Car has not been back to the dealer since the day I collected it.
   
• 2,000 mile trip to Spain completed with ease.  Overall 42 mpg with the car heavily loaded and Air Conditioning on constantly.
   
• Gearbox got better during the first year but is still clunkier than I'd like.
   
• ZERO Oil consumption.
   
• Harman-Kardon Stereo is just superb - can make a boring journey a treat.
   
• Stability control is good in the rain (can kill accidental understeer) but the traction control (wheel spin thing) is just a menace.  What's wrong with wheelspin?  If I know i need a quick getaway, I turn it off.

Modifications?

Grab Handle

I very quickly replaced the STUPID passenger grab handle which had been hitting my passengers heads, with another side visor to match the drivers side. 
This only cost £19 to do and I highly recommend it for anyone with the same problem!

(Part Number is 5116 7 134 440 and it even comes with the right screws!)

John Cooper Works Induction Kit

The John Cooper Works induction kit is on!  The roar and snarl is back!   Not a difficult job but a fiddly one.  Well worth it though.  No noise when you don't want it, but when you DO want it, it sounds wonderful!