Sold the Accord, bought a Mini! few Q's

tc20

Hi all,

recently sold the Accord and bought a 95 Jap import Mini. Its for herself, she reckoned the Honda was too big for her, but i think i'll be driving it just as much
She did have one years ago but never really drove it that much, but is more determined this time round. I dont have to extol the virtues of Minis here, but they are one of the very few cars that just put a smile on your face the moment you get behind the wheel.

So i have a few questions - i did get a handbook, but its in Japanese, naturally.

On the centre dash, where the switches for rear window/lights etc are, on the far left is a switch which has the same symbol as for 'handbrake on' on a regular car dash. it is red and backlit when switched on. Anyone know what this does?

Secondly the radio seems to be in Japanese frequencies - FM band starts at around 78 -can these be retuned or is it a case of chucking it and getting an 'Irish' or euro radio?

I haven't fiddled around with the stereo too much yet, was having too much fun driving it tbh, just wondering if anyone else had come across similar.

Cheers

DaveCol

Good choice! Any photos?

The switch is a brake system check. If you press it, it should light up and your brakes should therefore be working ok. If it lights up by itself without being pressed, it indicates a fault in the brake system. They don't always work though!

I have two 1980 Minis at the moment, the brakes work fine on both. The switch in one car lights up when you press it, the other one never has in the 18 years I have owned it.


Not sure about the radios, but I suspect the easiest thing do is replace it

Ferris

DaveCol wrote: »

Not sure about the radios, but I suspect the easiest thing do is replace it

Replace it with a solid state radio or one that will accept an aux input or connect to an mp3 player. Mini's and CD players don't work very well on Irish roads

tc20

Thanks for the replies lads..

@ Ferris - i thought that might be the case, just replace the stereo. And i hear what you're saying re Minis, CDs and Irish roads

@ DaveCol - would i be right in saying the brake system check switch was for the Japanese market only?
Would you not know when the brakes are dodgy from driving it anyway
And are Mini brakes prone to failure? (from normal driving i mean, not hooning it around)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Rover/Mini/Tartan/1052560/

This is the actual car, got her for €5200.

Ferris

tc20 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads..

@ Ferris - i thought that might be the case, just replace the stereo. And i hear what you're saying re Minis, CDs and Irish roads

@ DaveCol - would i be right in saying the brake system check switch was for the Japanese market only?
Would you not know when the brakes are dodgy from driving it anyway
And are Mini brakes prone to failure? (from normal driving i mean, not hooning it around)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Rover/Mini/Tartan/1052560/

This is the actual car, got her for €5200.

Well wear man, just remember to get some sealing wax into the sills and behind the front door pillar, also in the bottom of the doors. A friend of a friend got a jap import mini and its lovely, not a trace of rot.

tc20

Ferris wrote: »

Well wear man, just remember to get some sealing wax into the sills and behind the front door pillar, also in the bottom of the doors. A friend of a friend got a jap import mini and its lovely, not a trace of rot.

Thanks man, i'll give her a good going over. It is a very clean example. There was a slight gap in the rear windscreen seal, but sorted now.
I think most of the 'good' Minis, well mid 90s models seem to be ex-Japan.

MercMad

Were the Jap spec cars even undearsealed ?

I would check it out and give it a thourough clean underneath and recoat it and apply the cavity wax everywhere.

If its good then keep it that way !

tc20

MercMad wrote: »

Were the Jap spec cars even undearsealed ?

I would check it out and give it a thourough clean underneath and recoat it and apply the cavity wax everywhere.

If its good then keep it that way !

I'll be getting in touch with Benjamin to service the Merc & am considering getting a fresh coat on that, so i'll have him throw an eye over the Mini too.

btw, the merc is like driving a sofa after the Mini!!

DaveCol

tc20 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads..

@ Ferris - i thought that might be the case, just replace the stereo. And i hear what you're saying re Minis, CDs and Irish roads

@ DaveCol - would i be right in saying the brake system check switch was for the Japanese market only?
Would you not know when the brakes are dodgy from driving it anyway
And are Mini brakes prone to failure? (from normal driving i mean, not hooning it around)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Rover/Mini/Tartan/1052560/

This is the actual car, got her for €5200.

No, all Minis have that switch.
Don't worry, you will know if you have a problem with them!
Properly maintained they are no more prone to failure than anything else. The back brakes will need to be adjusted from time to time though, as they don't self-adjust
That is a nice looking Mini, I have seen it in the showroom, well wear!

Japanese ones seem to be low mileage and rust free, but i don't think they are any better protected/sealed than Irish/UK models.

CamperMan

nice mini.... love the interior!

Mr. Presentable

tc20 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads..

@ Ferris - i thought that might be the case, just replace the stereo. And i hear what you're saying re Minis, CDs and Irish roads

@ DaveCol - would i be right in saying the brake system check switch was for the Japanese market only?
Would you not know when the brakes are dodgy from driving it anyway
And are Mini brakes prone to failure? (from normal driving i mean, not hooning it around)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Rover/Mini/Tartan/1052560/

This is the actual car, got her for €5200.

Nice, but is €5000.00 not a lot to pay for a 13y.o. car with no creature comforts, not even a working radio?

tc20

nipplenuts wrote: »

Nice, but is €5000.00 not a lot to pay for a 13y.o. car with no creature comforts, not even a working radio?

Maybe, but good Minis are not too plentiful, and we wanted a Mini.

Ok, so for my €5k i could have got a 206/Polo etc from a more recent year, but in my eyes it has neither the personality or fun factor that a Mini can provide.

viz139

Nice Mini,welcome to the wonderfull world of mini driving.
The switch is for testing that the brake warning circuit and bulb are indeed functioning.The warning depends on the year of car,early system warned of differance in brake pressure between front and rear, later systen(yours) measures brake fluid level.
You can buy a radio frequency expander that will convert your radio to run in Irreland.
The Irish Mini Owners Club is having its monthly run this Sunday heading from Cloncilla towards Wickalow. Cheakout the forum at www.irshminis.ie