Who says a Mini isn't practical. Full week's worth of groceries.

 

LOL...
been messing with my lady's mini...I actually kinda like the damn thing.

 

It's a fun shitbox
Trying to put as little $ into it as I can & keep it going.
Need to replace the FRM module so the windows/dash lights will work again. Putting it off for now. All in, it's $4-500.
Radio still inop. HK amp is a grand, but have seen a few run a JBL DSP that can be had for $2-300, that'll be the route I likely go, unless I can luck into a functioning used HK amp that'll plug & play.

 

Could you just aftermarket dolphin pioneer radio?
maybe something small like 2 solobaric 15's in the back to go with it?

I'm in the same boat with my Dad's Jeep XJ...
Keep it cost effective but it needs tires and headliner and this and that...

 

Not sure if you can [easily] bypass the amp on the HK audio system.
I've been getting by with a BT speaker between the seats.

 

But if you go headunit, your own amp, you can just tap into the speaker leads after the HK amp...
is the sound system incredible? If so, I guess just fix it right, if not, make something better for way cheaper.

 

No idea how the HK audio is. It's been dead since I got it. With it being a ragtop, I don't expect stellar audio as it is.
Figure a $2-300 JBL amp is the simplest route for now. And it's confirmed to work in place of the HK amp.
A nice HU with a screen & AndroidAuto would be nice, but shitbox, so not in a rush to drop much $ on it.

 

PLZ on Amazon makes a nice little headunit I put in my Yukon...
not sure if you have room for a double din...

Pioneer HU, small old amp powering 2 front JL speakers and an all in one sub in the S2000
and it sounds decent enough even at top down 80mph

 

Not really a place for a repalcement.
Most of the kits replace the giant speedo & put the screen in the middle

Factory [not mine]


Aftermarket with 7" android tablet

 

Shietttt...
didn't even think about that and placement.
Go old school and just run a few self tappers to a regular headunit under the dash

 

I'm a BMW driver for real now.
The footwell module [FRM] has gone into full fail mode.
Before when it would 'fail' I'd lose all instrument lighting, door windor control & the blinkers would work but not self cancel & there was no dash indication for them, and the reverse lights didn't work.
This would come & go with no real consistency.

That changed this week. Typical FRM fail condition, but now I have no blinkers at all.
Also, the door windows don't index, so they arent lowering that 1/2in when opening. The head/tail lights are in an always on state & no high beams. And, all of the interior lighting is now off.

Waiting on a vendor on the Mini forum to advise on the correct part to order, as there's 3, with no real indication of which is correct. Then have to get it programmed to the VIN.

 

Can you not just pull the one out of your car and read what the PN is to help in ordering???

Edit: You can also use this website. Pop in your serial number from your VIN at the top and it pulls the appropriate PN list for your car.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select

 

I think I'm going to try cleaning up the connectors & board to see if it revives it.
If so, that's far preferable to $600+program.

Didn't think to check realoem + VIN.

 

Knowing BMW, I don't think it'll be that easy to fix but it can't hurt at this point.

 

Well, no go. Pulled the FRM & cleaned up the board & pins a bit more. Still no dice.
Checked the fuses that are supposed to go to it & all 4 are good.

Looks like I'll be out a few hundos to order a new FRM & get it programmed.

 

I saw this parked at a trailhead with the driver sitting in it. I had a 20 minute long conversation with him about it. I couldn't believe it's a '93. He imported it from Japan. Pretty neat little car.

 

We passed one on our drive to Pensacola from Houston last week. My kids were shocked at how tiny it was.
I'd love a vintage Cooper. Would be even better if my Midget was a year older, as it'd share the 1275cc engine with the Mini.

 

I can't believe such a vintage looking one was a 90's one.

 

IIRC, the 'vintage' Mini ran through something like 2000, just before BMW took over the marque.

 

now...did they make it MORE or LESS reliable

 

 

Was all set to order a new FRM & get it programmed locally, was going to run nearly a grand
Found a company in PA that will take the bad FRM & load the VIN/build data into a new one & send it back, plug & play
Cost me a bit over $300 less than option 1.

If this fixes all these issues, the only thing left will be getting a new amp for the HK system so the stereo will work.

 

and then obviously lowering spring, 3 piece wheels, a subwoofer, intake and exhaust...
but after that, that is IT!

 

Nah, this thing is getting as little $ put into it as possible to keep it working for commuter duty.

All in, I'm less than $2k into it.

 

for now...
there's still time.

 

Maybe if it were a Cooper S & a manual. As it is, the Poop Coop™ will live in commuter shitbox territory.

 

the harder it is for something to look cool...the harder I work at it.
my gf has a 2025 in the new rendition of British Racing green....I put it on some overpriced H&R springs and XXR bronze wheels...
it looks SO good...also painted the calipers yellow.

 

which XXR wheels? Just curious

 

@is300eater LOL...she loved the look of the new 530 in Bronze/Gold on her British Racing Green, honestly, super nice.

 

Well, pics or it didn't happen
Surely there's a shot of it in the grass under a highway overpass somewhere.

 

I don't think the XXR 530 is all that new because I had them on my Mini Cooper S 🤷 (unless I've mistaken the model number)
I missed this car, if I had the choice to keep it when I got the Subaru, I would have 😕

 

 

Sorry, I stand corrected, it was the 527R...

 

 

Looks great in BRG, but is300eater wins on the wheels. My favorite style, very BBS-like.

 

I'm a sucker for a 10 spoke...
although both my Audi are on a style closer to the BBS look.

 

The BBS RS-GT, RG-F & LM do it for me, so anything in that style is a winner.

 

Got my FRM back from ECUPro. The sent me the replacement, and sent back my water damaged, failed FRM.
Just installed the replacement, and everything seems to be working again. Bonus, the dome light now works [hasn't worked since I got the car], and I didn't even know there were lights in the bottom of the door panels!
No lane change blinker, only get 1 blink, but that was something that came & went before, so maybe it'll get back to normal, too.

Need to pull codes & make sure the FRM code is gone, or clear it and make sure it doesn't return.

Now to give it a few days & make sure all is good, then I can start thinking about the amp replacement so I'll have a functional stereo.

I'll miss the 2022 F150 I've been driving, makes me miss having a truck, just a bit. The effortless torque from the TTV6 is quite nice, and a 1700rpm cruise at 75mph isn't bad either. The knobby all-terrain tires on it, though, nearly as noisy as the Cooper at highway speed

 

Glad you're back on the road and (mostly) functional. Maybe I missed it, but have you determined where the water was coming in?

 

When I got the car, the exterior A-pillar trim was missing, thinking it was leaking in from there.
That, or the detached rear window let water travel all the way forward from there


With both of those fixed, car no longer fishbowls when it rains