My Very Cheap Mini One D Dooer Upper...
Discussion
Sammo123 said:
It's nowhere near as hard as you think to do this sort of thing...
You've just described about 95% of building/tree felling/spannering jobs.It's the other 5% that'll kill you or ruin the finished project (and why mere mortals will happily pay someone £65/hr to scratch their chin and suck through their teeth)!
Very impressed with your effort - look forward to updates (no pressure).
The Don of Croy said:
It's the other 5% that'll kill you or ruin the finished project.
That's a good point actually. In my home spannering career I've had 2 cars fall on me and I've managed to knacker one other myself! Not bad statistics though considering I've owned over 40 cars in the last 13 years 
Sillyhatday said:
Good show. Just commenting to bookmark really.
Are these quite frugal on fuel? Would make sense if your using it as a daily in future
As far as I'm aware they're not too bad. They're woefully underpowered though with their raging 75bhp under the bonnet so a degree of heavy footedness is required a lot of the time, which isn't going to help it sip the fuel. Are these quite frugal on fuel? Would make sense if your using it as a daily in future
Fair point. A small engine needs to be worked, so you could end up using more than you would expect.
I've never driven the diesel mini. I've driven a 53 plate Cooper 1.6, an 06 plate Cooper 1.6, 08 plate Cooper S 1.6 and the new 15 plate Cooper S 2.0. There really quite a good little car. If you say the diesel is good to throw around, then you've got a bargain of a daily hack here.
I've never driven the diesel mini. I've driven a 53 plate Cooper 1.6, an 06 plate Cooper 1.6, 08 plate Cooper S 1.6 and the new 15 plate Cooper S 2.0. There really quite a good little car. If you say the diesel is good to throw around, then you've got a bargain of a daily hack here.
The plan was to get the subframe bolted back on this weekend so the car can be dropped back onto its wheels. Once that's done I can start replacing the gaskets on the engine ready for it to be bolted back in. Unfortunately I found out today that I'm going to be working this Saturday so that's put an end to that idea. I've got a family meal on Sunday so won't get any time this weekend 
Today I ordered what I think are the last few bits I'll need to get the car up and running. I've got a few bits to make it look nice at the same time too I've also got a front mount intercooler sitting in my shed that was originally bought for my Mk1 Golf G60 project that never quite happened. I'm in two minds whether to fit it to the Mini while I'm at it so if I do decide to up the power at all it's one less thing to do.
Today I ordered what I think are the last few bits I'll need to get the car up and running. I've got a few bits to make it look nice at the same time too
I've also got a front mount intercooler sitting in my shed that was originally bought for my Mk1 Golf G60 project that never quite happened. I'm in two minds whether to fit it to the Mini while I'm at it so if I do decide to up the power at all it's one less thing to do.Sammo123 said:
They're woefully underpowered though
95bhp, 220nm torque, jobbedhttp://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=23&fue...
cheddar said:
I've already done a bit of looking around at remaps Definitely something to be done once it's all up and running again!Sammo123 said:
cheddar said:
I've already done a bit of looking around at remaps Definitely something to be done once it's all up and running again!jamiebae said:
This is one of the cars where I wouldn't have any concern remapping it - the transmission and other bits are lifter from the Cooper S (hence the 6 speed box) as the chocolate Rover gearbox in the One and Cooper couldn't take the torque from the Toyota sewing machine engine.
By the time I'm done with this there should be no reason why it can't handle any more power!Nothing car related today I'm afraid, but I have spent an hour out there today pinning the marquee down with another 12 sandbags! The bloody thing was trying to take off earlier so a quick trip to B&Q for some ballast and plenty of heavy lifting later and it's pinned down again and not going anywhere (fingers crossed!)
Evening ladies and gents,
Once again I must apologise for the long gap between updates. Life has just been getting in the way of me doing anything to the car recently. Thankfully though I had this week off work which meant I had 3 free days in that week to work on the Mini! YAY!
So, at the last (car related) update I'd managed to fit the new shifter cables. Exciting! My aim for this week was to have the car dropped back onto its wheels ready for the engine to go back in (once I've replaced all its gaskets).
When I walked into the marquee on Monday morning I was faced with the car still on axle stands with no subframe, steering or suspension.
On the bench next to the car sat the subframe all bolted together and waiting to be fitted back on the car.
First things first, I fitted the anti roll bar to the subframe and then lock tited all the bolts and torqued them down. I then manhandled the subframe onto the floor and got the trolley jack positioned underneath. I forgot how heavy the subframe was when it had everything else attached to it! I thought I was going to fall over backwards as I lifted it up and then started to lose my balance!
After some messing around trying to keep all four corners balanced whilst jacking it up I managed to finally get the subframe bolted back on
I figured the next step should be to build the front struts up and get them bolted on. This is where I hit a stumbling block. The bottom ball joints were seized solid in the hubs! I spent about half an hour trying to smash them out with a hammer and chisel but had no joy. I just couldn't hit them hard enough on the floor with my foot keeping them steady! So they got packed into the car and off I trotted to my old garage where I worked 10 years ago! Thankfully the owner and I are very good friends still and he doesn't even bat an eyelid when I come strolling in and start using his tools, vices etc. Now even with the hubs clamped into the vice these ball joints put up a hell of a fight! There was no way they ever would of come out hitting them on the floor! Anyway I got them both out and took full advantage of being in a proper workshop and cleaned the hubs up so the new joints and bearings would slide straight in when I got home. I said my goodbyes and off I trotted back home.
Once home I started to build the struts back up and decided I was going to use the coilovers after all. It's been a long time since I've lowered a car so why not! I'm so glad that I cleaned the hubs up at the workshop. Everything went back together so easily and it was actually an enjoyable thing to do
With both struts built up it was time to bolt them on. They went on with the greatest of ease and I even managed to do the tracking by eye so at least the wheels won't be pointing in opposite directions when they go back on! I only did the balljoints, track rods and drop links up finger tight as I'm going to have to undo them again to put the driveshafts back in.
At this point I was all excited thinking it was time to bolt the wheels on and drop it on the floor! No. I still needed to reattach all the hydraulic lines for the power steering In theory this should be an easy job. In reality it's been 4 months since I took them off and I had no idea how they fitted back on! The Haynes manual I bought to get the correct torque settings for the suspension components and it doesn't cover the diesel Mini so has no information about the hydraulic power steering. Luckily there happens to be an online BMW/MINI parts catalogue with all the factory parts diagrams. A quick look on there and I had a much better idea of how to route everything. Happy that I'd routed it all properly, I bolted it all in, refitted the heat shields and stood back to admire a much more complete looking subframe.
Now as a quick aside. When inspecting the engine bay after buying the car I noticed a lot of chewed wiring (mentioned previously in the thread). The majority of it was part of the engine loom which is being replaced, however one of the wires that had been eaten was coming out of a plug that was something to do with the heating system. No idea what it does but it must do something.
Anyway I decided to try stripping the plug down to replace the wires. Now wiring is definitely not my forte and I try and avoid it at all costs but I fancied seeing how the plug came apart so I gave it a go. It took about half an hour but I managed to rewire it and all I need to do is find my soldering iron to attach the new bit to the old bit and it'll be good as new
Finally though I was at the stage where the wheels could go back on (I know the car has no front brakes fitted and the suspension is only done up finger tight but none of that will happen until the engine goes back in anyway!).
That brings us to 3.30pm today when it was time to pack all my tools away, have a shower and go and pick my Daughter up for the weekend I'm very happy with the progress I've made this week and I'm ready to get the engine onto the stand so I can give it a bloody good degrease and start replacing all the gaskets!
I'll try not to leave such a big gap before the next update this time
Once again I must apologise for the long gap between updates. Life has just been getting in the way of me doing anything to the car recently. Thankfully though I had this week off work which meant I had 3 free days in that week to work on the Mini! YAY!
So, at the last (car related) update I'd managed to fit the new shifter cables. Exciting! My aim for this week was to have the car dropped back onto its wheels ready for the engine to go back in (once I've replaced all its gaskets).
When I walked into the marquee on Monday morning I was faced with the car still on axle stands with no subframe, steering or suspension.
On the bench next to the car sat the subframe all bolted together and waiting to be fitted back on the car.
First things first, I fitted the anti roll bar to the subframe and then lock tited all the bolts and torqued them down. I then manhandled the subframe onto the floor and got the trolley jack positioned underneath. I forgot how heavy the subframe was when it had everything else attached to it! I thought I was going to fall over backwards as I lifted it up and then started to lose my balance!
After some messing around trying to keep all four corners balanced whilst jacking it up I managed to finally get the subframe bolted back on
I figured the next step should be to build the front struts up and get them bolted on. This is where I hit a stumbling block. The bottom ball joints were seized solid in the hubs! I spent about half an hour trying to smash them out with a hammer and chisel but had no joy. I just couldn't hit them hard enough on the floor with my foot keeping them steady! So they got packed into the car and off I trotted to my old garage where I worked 10 years ago! Thankfully the owner and I are very good friends still and he doesn't even bat an eyelid when I come strolling in and start using his tools, vices etc. Now even with the hubs clamped into the vice these ball joints put up a hell of a fight! There was no way they ever would of come out hitting them on the floor! Anyway I got them both out and took full advantage of being in a proper workshop and cleaned the hubs up so the new joints and bearings would slide straight in when I got home. I said my goodbyes and off I trotted back home.
Once home I started to build the struts back up and decided I was going to use the coilovers after all. It's been a long time since I've lowered a car so why not! I'm so glad that I cleaned the hubs up at the workshop. Everything went back together so easily and it was actually an enjoyable thing to do
With both struts built up it was time to bolt them on. They went on with the greatest of ease and I even managed to do the tracking by eye so at least the wheels won't be pointing in opposite directions when they go back on! I only did the balljoints, track rods and drop links up finger tight as I'm going to have to undo them again to put the driveshafts back in.
At this point I was all excited thinking it was time to bolt the wheels on and drop it on the floor! No. I still needed to reattach all the hydraulic lines for the power steering
In theory this should be an easy job. In reality it's been 4 months since I took them off and I had no idea how they fitted back on! The Haynes manual I bought to get the correct torque settings for the suspension components and it doesn't cover the diesel Mini so has no information about the hydraulic power steering. Luckily there happens to be an online BMW/MINI parts catalogue with all the factory parts diagrams. A quick look on there and I had a much better idea of how to route everything. Happy that I'd routed it all properly, I bolted it all in, refitted the heat shields and stood back to admire a much more complete looking subframe. Now as a quick aside. When inspecting the engine bay after buying the car I noticed a lot of chewed wiring (mentioned previously in the thread). The majority of it was part of the engine loom which is being replaced, however one of the wires that had been eaten was coming out of a plug that was something to do with the heating system. No idea what it does but it must do something.
Anyway I decided to try stripping the plug down to replace the wires. Now wiring is definitely not my forte and I try and avoid it at all costs but I fancied seeing how the plug came apart so I gave it a go. It took about half an hour but I managed to rewire it and all I need to do is find my soldering iron to attach the new bit to the old bit and it'll be good as new
Finally though I was at the stage where the wheels could go back on (I know the car has no front brakes fitted and the suspension is only done up finger tight but none of that will happen until the engine goes back in anyway!).
That brings us to 3.30pm today when it was time to pack all my tools away, have a shower and go and pick my Daughter up for the weekend
I'm very happy with the progress I've made this week and I'm ready to get the engine onto the stand so I can give it a bloody good degrease and start replacing all the gaskets!I'll try not to leave such a big gap before the next update this time
Oh you'll probably notice that my motorbike has appeared in the marquee between updates! During one of the recent storms the wind blew it over and dented and scratched the tank I moved it into the marquee to save it from anymore damage but it has taken up a big chunk of my work space
I moved it into the marquee to save it from anymore damage but it has taken up a big chunk of my work space 
carinaman said:
Crikey, that's frightening just looking at the photos and reading it. Good work. Well done on managing to split that connector and not break it. Sorry your bike toppled over.
I was crapping it thinking I was going to destroy the connector! Thankfully it came apart quite easily and then it was pretty obvious what I had to do!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff