589 replies to this topic

[jamesquintin]

I'd remove the white and green Manifolw stickers they put around the pipes on your exhaust before they melt their way on there and make a mess. Not quite sure why they're put on there in the first place.

 

Thats he least of my worries at the moment 

[jamesquintin]

Only a small bit done today. Got the hardware for the remote central locking in:

 

 

 

 

Then sorted the new Newton Commercial door cards:

 

 

Q
 

[MacGyver]

Nice bit of action there. 😉
Very posh. 😁

Can I ask where you got the central locking? Most say don't work with rover alarms... 🤔

Ben

[toplessmini]

I'm interested as well...

[jamesquintin]

I'm interested as well...

 

 

Nice bit of action there.
Very posh.

Can I ask where you got the central locking? Most say don't work with rover alarms...

Ben

 

Well, the motors and interface etc came from Minispares, but for some reason they no longer sell the main kit with the motors and arm (might be worth ringing them about it)

I found one set on ebay which has everything I used:

 

Classic mini central locking kit ( for use with Standard rover alarm system ) | eBay

 

Could be useful to find something similar? 

 

Q

[jamesquintin]

Got a little bit one this week. Basically fixing problems that shouldn't have been there in the first place, so kinda feels like I've got nowhere recently! 

First problem was a sticking throttle cable, which I thought was causing a high idle. Managed to fix that so it was sliding nice and smoothly:

 

Then it was time for a head gasket change. It was leaking both oil and water. Its the first time I've ever had a gasket leak from new. I can only assume it was because I put the engine together 2 years ago, and never ran it up to temperature to seal the gasket (Its a BK440)
 

 

 

 

 

So I ran it for 1 min without coolant. Next time I'm there I'll re-torque the head and fill the coolant up again.

 

I still had the problem with blipping the throttle causing a high idle. You have to physically push the throttle back. It's either sticking, or the IVAC is causing a high idle. Not sure yet.

 

Next job was to free the sticking brake caliper:

 

 

I think I've fixed it. The brake pedal still feels soft, so will bleed the whole system again

 

Q
 

[jamesquintin]

Almost had a great day today, until I broke something. More on that later.

 

I got the engine filled with coolant and re-torqued the head. Loving the new rubber gasket from Minispares.

 

 

 

I was having a lot of trouble with the throttle not returning when the engine was running. Thanks' to Steve220 on here, I tensioned the spring a little more, making it stronger to close:

 

Engine now runs properly! 

 

Mini Cooper S - Moving under own power - YouTube

 

I then set about getting the wiper to work. It was doing nothing at all, so I got a new set of brushes as the old seemed to be shot:

 

 

 

 

 

All tested and working, so got the engine bay back together

 

 

 

Next on the list was a bad earth on the passenger headlights. It was very dim. Turns out the connector was just not pushed home properly 

 

 

But in fixing the lights, I managed to brush past the car and snap the headlight adjustment screw off...

 

 

So I've brought that home to fix.

 

When will I have a simple day on this thing! 

 

Q

Edited by jamesquintin, 04 March 2022 - 08:48 PM.

[jamesquintin]

More done! The MOT is getting so close I can almost feel it...

 

First off, got the headlights in:

 

Then on with the stripes!

 

 

Also the grill and the numberplate:

 

I also finished off more of the interior:

 

 

Just need to sort the passenger door card.

 

I also got the head killer in:

 

 

Next thing to go in will be the glass. I'm going to have to get a professional in as I just can't face doing it myself.

 

 

I also got the SRS logos etc onto the new heated front screen :)

Here's a couple of vids of the car running:

 

 

 

 

Thats it for now!

Q

[jamesquintin]

Few more things ticked off the list before the MOT on Tuesday. Got the tappet clearances done again, which has quietened down the engine slightly. I've also changed the oil/filter after bedding in the new cam bearings. The oil was a bit funky (might be from the UV die that I added when hunting down a leak), so I'm glad its out. Luckily there was nothing on the magnetic oil plug!

 

 

 

I've also got the brakes working properly (the back brakes needed adjusting again)

 

The only things left to do for the MOT are fitting the front/back glass (got a guy coming round to do it as I can't face it myself), finding out why the reverse gear lights isn't working and fit the windscreen wipers :)

Q
 

[jamesquintin]

IT PASSED!

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously celebrated by spending more on filling the tank than the whole restoration   

 

Still lots to do like add the side stripes, decals, Cooper S plate, the vent hoses under the wings ect. Oh, and tax it as I've lost my log book 

 

All tucked up ready for my return...

 

 

Q

[MaximMini]

Well done. Congrats for passing MOT first time after all the work and hassle.

[MacGyver]

Congratulations! A drink well deserved for both of you! 👍

[wingnut]

Well done, been following this.Bet you can't wait to get some more miles on it

[GraemeC]

Looks great and congrats on the pass.

 

not sure how you can get play in the off side rear from the steering rack though 

[fokko]

Congratulations! That must feel awesome! Hope you will enjoy many more miles with your Cooper S!