MPG update / another one bites the dust / thoughts

MPG Update
Date------Cost----Litres--Gals---Mileage--ltrs/mil--MPG--Total Mileage
06/02/05--£41.96--49.42---10.87---218------0.23-----20.1----21049
OBC 21.7mpg : 12.4mph : 4 miles to go

Once again Shell's finest fuel for this tank, a new record I think for me , 20MPG and an average speed of 12.4mph!!
Yep , I definitely think I could walk quicker and save money LOL
Lots and Lots and Lots of very short journeys.

Another one bites the dust..
Yep , another pristine alloy gets scraped against a high kerb..........sigh
Hopefully its easily sorted by a mobile van to touch the marks up.

Thoughts
Car definitely needs an LSD (good excuse for an 05 model ..)
Runflats are totally rubbish in the wet. Understeer city. Car has so much more potential but I often find its very easy to get a 4 wheel drift at very low speeds.........
Must have more power.....(and probably would suit the taller 03 gearbox ratios )
(reports say that the shortened ratio 05 cars feel much quicker , but I feel an upgrade may make them too short???
Will need to test drive an 05 MCS Works to prove that point)
windscreen strip still not fixed , too busy at the moment.

J

IceLinkPlus works :-)

Yep , after sticking some tunes on my ipod and dropping it into the cradle it worked straight away :-)
Big thanks to Mike at for pre-uploading the config file and most recent firmware. (Service was truly excellent)
This meant I didnt have to do anything other than fit it and switch it on....
Sound quality is superb and all the MFSW function all work.

How To Change a MINI Head Unit - MINI2.COM
How to remove MINI interior bits - MINI2.COM
DENSION USA - PDF Download page
IceLinkPlus DIY - NEWMINISTUFF.CO.UK

[TODO : Add pics]

Head Unit swap and IceLinkPlus fitted

My wife bought me an Ipod Mini for my Xmas , and I'm sad to say I havent used it yet!
My excuse was I couldnt use it in the car. So I considered my options for fitting it into the MINI.
My chosen path was to replace my BoostCassette HU with a BoostCDHU and remove the boot mounted CD changer.
(I really wanted to fit an aftermarket HU but decided against it for security and looks issues)
Ideally I would have liked an 05 BoostCD HU as they play CDR's with mp3's , but because the folk with navigation want the later units too they tend to be rare and expensive.
So I have bought a 2nd hand unit off ebay. (incidentally this is my 3rd auction for a cd unit, I lost out on 2!). It cost me 130 UKP , which I think is alot , but the previous owner was fab and its in great condition and comes with the key code and manual.
I also bought a Dension IceLinkPlus off mikeythemini from www.newministuff.co.uk.
His repututation for MINI related ICE issues is legendary. Whilst the Plus has had some issues (and lots of MIN2.com discussions!) the early bugs seem to have been ironed out.
Anyway Sat (yesterday) I replaced the cassette with the CD headunit and removed the cd changer. I also plugged in the icelink between the cd and car loom.
The mini ipod mount is fitted with a metal mount that is really neat and uses the radio fixings.

The CD works fine , I just need to setup my ipod now and check out the icelink.
I hope it works, otherwise I need to have the dash apart again.....
Of note , I didnt need a radio code for the changeover and my H/K functions are all still working :-)
I will provide a fuller report later with pics...

Also washed the car and managed to remove some of the accumulated tar deposits over the boot area.

I also have fitted silver indicators (flash orange!), so you can't see orange in daylight thru the indicators and better high beam bulbs (both from newministuff again) , I have xenons so I can only change the high beam element.

next step is to confirm the icelink works .........

Happy Birthday Allan

Yes , it may be 18 minutes past Allans official birthday but heres my homage.
Hope you had a good day off m8. God Id kill for a cool Cerveza just now.
Enjoy

MPG Summary :: MINI Cooper S (up to Jan 2005)

I reckoned it was time for a summary of my fuel usage with the Mini Cooper S

Miles-MPG----OBC data
315---31.8---35.1MPG/31.2mls/21 to go
259---25.9---29.4 MPG/30mls to go
298---28.2---31.7MPG/26.2mph/12 to go
280---29.3---31.7MPG/25.7mph/40 to go
299---28.5---31.2MPG/27.6mph/8 togo
288---26.9---30.3MPG/26.3mph/7 togo
243---23.5---24.5mpg/18.8mph/20togo
283---25.6---28.2mpg/24.5mph/0 to go!
244---23.0---25.2mpg/15.8mph/8togo

Averages
279---27.0

Thats 279 miles per tank on average and 27.0 MPG.
(On my car the OBC trip computer seems to register an average MPG thats always at least 2MPG above the actual. I reset each time on fill up)
Please note that recently my commuting has become lots of small journeys which REALLY drops the 'S' mpg.
I also had the JCW airbox fitted so I tend to go above 4500rpm more :-)
The warm up phase of the mini seems to burn a lot of fuel.
Longer runs and 28+ is possible.

In comparison my old Fiat Coupe 20VTurbo was actually better on fuel ... go figure.

Hapyy Birthday to me :-)

Yeap another year older...
Hi to Linzi who remembered (bless her cotton socks) and Allan ,
who's birthday is in a few days.

I may even sample a beer tonight ....