My Very Cheap Mini One D Dooer Upper...
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Steering column has been ordered so I'll collect it on Saturday and hopefully get a chance to fit it this weekend 
I looked at getting one from a breaker but figured it might end up being as knackered as the current one, so I've scraped my pennies together and ordered a shiny new one from MINI!
I looked at getting one from a breaker but figured it might end up being as knackered as the current one, so I've scraped my pennies together and ordered a shiny new one from MINI!Afternoon,
So, yesterday I popped down to BMW and collected the new steering column. Unfortunately I didn't have any time to actually get it fitted so my fingers were crossed that I'd get some time today instead. This morning, after watching the F1 and keeping my Daughter entertained for a couple of hours I ventured into the marquee to get the column replaced!
First things first was to get it all unwrapped and make sure I had all the bits!
One brand spanking new (bloody expensive!) steering column.
The old column took about 20 minutes to remove and then I could start to compare its movement with the new one!
https://vimeo.com/186143572
I refitted the new one and then it was the moment of truth. Would the steering work smoothly???
https://vimeo.com/186143584
With that little issue sorted reasonably quickly I still had time to bleed the front brakes and the clutch slave cylinder. Once that was done the front wheels went back on and the car was lowered back onto the floor. I decided at this point I should make sure it moved so I jumped back in and with my fingers crossed stuck it in reverse. IT MOVED!!!!
So it's nearly there. Just a few little bits and bobs to finish off, get the tracking done and get an MOT!
The relief knowing I'm nearly there is unbelievable! I never intended on letting it take this long but as with everything, life just got in the way a bit!
So, yesterday I popped down to BMW and collected the new steering column. Unfortunately I didn't have any time to actually get it fitted so my fingers were crossed that I'd get some time today instead. This morning, after watching the F1 and keeping my Daughter entertained for a couple of hours I ventured into the marquee to get the column replaced!
First things first was to get it all unwrapped and make sure I had all the bits!
One brand spanking new (bloody expensive!) steering column.
The old column took about 20 minutes to remove and then I could start to compare its movement with the new one!
https://vimeo.com/186143572
I refitted the new one and then it was the moment of truth. Would the steering work smoothly???
https://vimeo.com/186143584
With that little issue sorted reasonably quickly I still had time to bleed the front brakes and the clutch slave cylinder. Once that was done the front wheels went back on and the car was lowered back onto the floor. I decided at this point I should make sure it moved so I jumped back in and with my fingers crossed stuck it in reverse. IT MOVED!!!!
So it's nearly there. Just a few little bits and bobs to finish off, get the tracking done and get an MOT!
The relief knowing I'm nearly there is unbelievable! I never intended on letting it take this long but as with everything, life just got in the way a bit!
Thanks everyone I must admit that I'm glad to nearly have it finished!
I actually managed to get an hour or so on it this evening. Just sorting out little niggly bits really. First of all the drivers central locking motor was dead. I bought a replacement ages ago so got on with that. It was a bit of a pain in the arse to squeeze past the window regulator but only took about half an hour in total and now the lock works
While the door card was off I replaced the speakers with a set of In Phase components that I bought a little while ago. I ran out of time to do the other door but it shouldn't take long anyway. I also fitted my Alpine head unit and remembered to take a picture!
When I replace the speakers in the passenger door I'll get a picture (probably!)
Last thing I did before heading inside was to fit the matching handbrake gaiter. It was a real pain the arse to fit and it's a bit baggy but it will do. Definitely looks better than the brittle, torn original that was fitted!
I must admit that I'm glad to nearly have it finished!I actually managed to get an hour or so on it this evening. Just sorting out little niggly bits really. First of all the drivers central locking motor was dead. I bought a replacement ages ago so got on with that. It was a bit of a pain in the arse to squeeze past the window regulator but only took about half an hour in total and now the lock works
While the door card was off I replaced the speakers with a set of In Phase components that I bought a little while ago. I ran out of time to do the other door but it shouldn't take long anyway. I also fitted my Alpine head unit and remembered to take a picture!
When I replace the speakers in the passenger door I'll get a picture (probably!)
Last thing I did before heading inside was to fit the matching handbrake gaiter. It was a real pain the arse to fit and it's a bit baggy but it will do. Definitely looks better than the brittle, torn original that was fitted!
Thought I'd give you another update on this.
After getting the car back on its wheels and ready to drive I decided it was time for a run around the block. So the driveway was cleared and in I jumped! Exciting stuff!!!
I reversed off the driveway and turned the wheel to swing into the road, and that's where it all went wrong. There was a sudden clonk and I lost drive. At the same time I lost the power steering! Cue me having to push it back onto the driveway and into the marquee! I gave it a disgusted last look, zipped up the marquee and went inside.
That was about a month ago. Since then I have had absolutely no desire to go anywhere near it. The thought of even having to look at it filled me with hate! However, today after sitting around the house for a few hours I decided it was time to get back out there and sort the bloody thing out!
I got it jacked up and scrambled underneath. As I had originally suspected, the flexible power steering pipes had come uncoupled from the hard pipes. I clipped them back on as far as they went and then gave them a pull. They came straight back off again! I pulled them all the way off again, sprayed a bit of brake cleaner around the clips and then pushed them on again. This time they went on further with a satisfying clonk at the end. I gave them another pull and they stayed put
I then turned my attention to the clonk and loss of drive. I knew exactly what it was. The N/S driveshaft. Or to be more precise the cv joint! I took the wheel off, undid the hub nut and track rod end and surprise, surprise the shaft and joint had parted company. I can only assume that when I reassembled the driveshaft that I didn't whack the joint all the way home on the shaft (that'll teach me to try and rush!). With a couple of whacks of the mallet the joint was all the way on the shaft, but refitting it will have to wait as I don't have anymore cv gaiter clips!
That's me all up to date with the progress again. I'll grab some clips from work tomorrow and try and muster up a bit of enthusiasm one evening this week to refit the driveshaft and try again for the test drive!
After getting the car back on its wheels and ready to drive I decided it was time for a run around the block. So the driveway was cleared and in I jumped! Exciting stuff!!!
I reversed off the driveway and turned the wheel to swing into the road, and that's where it all went wrong. There was a sudden clonk and I lost drive. At the same time I lost the power steering! Cue me having to push it back onto the driveway and into the marquee! I gave it a disgusted last look, zipped up the marquee and went inside.
That was about a month ago. Since then I have had absolutely no desire to go anywhere near it. The thought of even having to look at it filled me with hate! However, today after sitting around the house for a few hours I decided it was time to get back out there and sort the bloody thing out!
I got it jacked up and scrambled underneath. As I had originally suspected, the flexible power steering pipes had come uncoupled from the hard pipes. I clipped them back on as far as they went and then gave them a pull. They came straight back off again! I pulled them all the way off again, sprayed a bit of brake cleaner around the clips and then pushed them on again. This time they went on further with a satisfying clonk at the end. I gave them another pull and they stayed put
I then turned my attention to the clonk and loss of drive. I knew exactly what it was. The N/S driveshaft. Or to be more precise the cv joint! I took the wheel off, undid the hub nut and track rod end and surprise, surprise the shaft and joint had parted company. I can only assume that when I reassembled the driveshaft that I didn't whack the joint all the way home on the shaft (that'll teach me to try and rush!). With a couple of whacks of the mallet the joint was all the way on the shaft, but refitting it will have to wait as I don't have anymore cv gaiter clips!
That's me all up to date with the progress again. I'll grab some clips from work tomorrow and try and muster up a bit of enthusiasm one evening this week to refit the driveshaft and try again for the test drive!
Shadow R1 said:
Doing a great job with it, I would have phoned tow a wreck ages ago. 
Do the inphase speakers make a big difference ?
They do a set for my car I have been looking at.
I've not got round to fitting the other one yet. Once they're both in I'll let you know if they're any good!Do the inphase speakers make a big difference ?
They do a set for my car I have been looking at.
When I got home from work this evening I went straight into the marquee and refitted the driveshaft. Got the car back on the floor and bled the power steering again. No leaks
Decided I'd try and take it for a drive! It made it off the driveway and did a couple of laps of the block! It's finally there!
Decided I'd try and take it for a drive! It made it off the driveway and did a couple of laps of the block! It's finally there!
I reckon this is due another update. So at the last one I had taken the car for a drive around the block. It drove OK but the suspension (cheap coilovers!) was rock solid. This wasn't going to work for my everyday car so I got it back on the driveway and eventually got the suspension swapped over to some aftermarket shocks and springs I had bought ages ago before getting the coilovers.
These are the coilovers.
These are the aftermarket shocks and springs.
Fitted.
It got dropped back on its wheels and then I spent today replacing the N/S door speaker and both rear speakers (what a pain in the arse the rears were!) Once that was done it was time to get it back off the driveway and take it for another drive to see what the shocks and springs were like. Have a look at the little video I made!
https://vimeo.com/197620578
Here it is after getting it cleaned and home!
And the roof after cleaning the sticker residue off. Annoyingly the brown strip wont come off so will need to get inventive.
If you made it to the end of the video then you will see I mentioned it started belching white smoke on the drive home! I stuck my hand under the exhaust and it smelt quite oily! I have a horrible feeling the turbo seals have gone, so tomorrow I'll pull a couple of the boost pipes and see if they're full of oil!
Happy New Year everyone
These are the coilovers.
These are the aftermarket shocks and springs.
Fitted.
It got dropped back on its wheels and then I spent today replacing the N/S door speaker and both rear speakers (what a pain in the arse the rears were!) Once that was done it was time to get it back off the driveway and take it for another drive to see what the shocks and springs were like. Have a look at the little video I made!
https://vimeo.com/197620578
Here it is after getting it cleaned and home!
And the roof after cleaning the sticker residue off. Annoyingly the brown strip wont come off so will need to get inventive.
If you made it to the end of the video then you will see I mentioned it started belching white smoke on the drive home! I stuck my hand under the exhaust and it smelt quite oily! I have a horrible feeling the turbo seals have gone, so tomorrow I'll pull a couple of the boost pipes and see if they're full of oil!
Happy New Year everyone
I'm currently outside having a look at the car and I kind of think it's the turbo but I'm not sure! I've removed a boost pipe and it does has oil in it but it's not dripping with it. I've glanced into the turbo and again, its oily but not soaked. Looking down the back of the engine I can see where oil has dripped out of the join between the downpipe and the exhaust system. I've checked the engine oil level which hasn't gone down and I've checked for mayo under the oil cap and there's none.
I've now had the engine running for half an hour and typically it's not smoking at all. The temp gauge is half way and revving it round to the redline (Happy New Year neighbours!) doesn't seem to be producing much smoke at all. The turbo is sounding very whistly and when I removed the boost pipe from the turbo and started the engine I did get some exhaust fumes pumping out of the cold side of the turbo.
I think it's the turbo but I want someone to confirm my thoughts before I replace it!
I've now had the engine running for half an hour and typically it's not smoking at all. The temp gauge is half way and revving it round to the redline (Happy New Year neighbours!) doesn't seem to be producing much smoke at all. The turbo is sounding very whistly and when I removed the boost pipe from the turbo and started the engine I did get some exhaust fumes pumping out of the cold side of the turbo.
I think it's the turbo but I want someone to confirm my thoughts before I replace it!
Don't know if you can see it but there is a small amount of exhaust coming out the cold side of the turbo.
https://vimeo.com/197674853
This is after running the engine for about half an hour and then flooring it!
https://vimeo.com/197674862
https://vimeo.com/197674853
This is after running the engine for about half an hour and then flooring it!
https://vimeo.com/197674862
Took the car into work today to see how it would get on with the MOT. It failed but not on much. Turbo smoke was the main issue but one of the techs managed to sort that by unplugging the EGR valve which made the smoke vanish! I know someone that can program it out of the ECU so I'll get that done and blanked off soon. It needs the handbrake tightening a bit more, one of the wipers misses a bit of the screen and the number plate bulbs aren't working. All in all not bad!
The camera wasn't attached very well so was vibrating a bit. Could be that?
I've been using the car this evening and done about 50 miles in it. I forgot how much fun these Minis are to drive. With the slightly stiffer, lower suspension it's like driving a go kart! The tyres are atrocious in anything but a straight line so I'll sort out some new slightly less budget rubber soon which will make it even more fun to drive hopefully!
I've been using the car this evening and done about 50 miles in it. I forgot how much fun these Minis are to drive. With the slightly stiffer, lower suspension it's like driving a go kart! The tyres are atrocious in anything but a straight line so I'll sort out some new slightly less budget rubber soon which will make it even more fun to drive hopefully!
I think this is pretty much the end of the thread now. I'll keep it updated with any major changes. I hope everyone has enjoyed following my extremely slow progress and if you fancy reading about my next project then have a look at my other thread for my race car - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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