With my MINI due for Service II very soon and approaching 85,000mi, it’s time for me to do a lot of preventative maintenance. Service II doesn’t ask for much more than Service I, most of which I can perform myself. But more importantly there are some other things that would be smart to do as I near 100,000mi as well as 5 years. So I’ve ordered up all the parts I’ll need and hope to get things done myself or by a good MINI mechanic over the next month or so.
– Oil change – actually did this last weekend as it was the most overdue. A 6-pack of filters from Atlantic British definitely cuts costs.
– Cabin air filter with activated carbon – should be a pretty easy task.
– New spark plugs and boots/wires – NGK BKR 7 EQUP plugs as Motoringfile specifies for JCWs here.
– New accessory belt – Specially ordered the JCW size. This will be one of the harder jobs I will attempt myself, so I got a tensioner tool used off NAM, and a Detroit Tuned Tensioner Stop “just in case” to install while I’m in there.
– New brakes, rotors, and steel lines – I will definitely need help with this one. I’ve had steel lines that I got for a steal sitting in a drawer for years, as well as a replacement set of Mintex Red Box pads that I am still very happy with. My rotors may not be bad yet, but I might as well put new ones on, they are pretty inexpensive from Atlantic British. A can of Super Blue for the bleed, as well as replacement rotor bolts, again just in case. I will also add DT brake caliper bushings to the fronts, hopefully all combined will help tighten up my mushy brake pedal that just bleeds have not fixed.
– Craven Speed strut tower plates – Not convinced yet on the whole strut tower mushrooming issue, but I’ve hit some nasty potholes this winter and drive daily over some of the worst roads in Mass (if not the country). $120 is worth some future piece of mind.
Sadly still no performance mods etc. Frankly I’m still completely happy with my MINI the way it is, and just want to continue driving it every day of the year for years to come.
Good luck getting those rotor bolts off..Get a good quality impact screwdriver and a top quality Torx bit.Apply liberal amouts of rust penatrant and it sit for a while..Then heat up the bolts cherry red and bang away.
Comment by Joe — February 26, 2009 @ 8:46 am
I tried to put on a Dinan strut tower brace and it was hell! Finally got it on but ad to pound tower tops down. Didn’t really feel any diff though.
Comment by RB — June 29, 2009 @ 7:39 pm