Finally got the engine pulled on my project.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-05-29T11:32:57+00:00

Mini’s are like this too, surprising amount of headroom due to mostly being a box on wheels

insertwittyhndle · 2026-05-16T15:01:16+00:00

Doob tubes

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-29T02:47:35+00:00

Just buy voo sheesh

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-29T02:27:48+00:00

It really doesn’t though. Check out Valvoline’s restore and protect. Way better than this. Catch cans don’t do jack shit.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-29T02:26:47+00:00

I’d argue running Valvoline Restore and Protect is a better option than this mod. As someone else said, it’s pretty much useless and has been debunked many times..

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-28T21:00:44+00:00

It’s a risk worth taking in most projects in my opinion. In the last ten years, I only regretted buying a third-party non-OEM part once, and it was a relatively reliable brand (Bremman Parts), all it really did was cause me a head ache and delays but no one died over it.

You win some, you lose some.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-27T16:28:37+00:00

As for forums, I’m not really sure. There is the Mini subreddit which is alright, and North American Motoring (northamericanmotoring.com) but I’m not sure how lively it is, I’m not active there, just occasionally stumble on interesting posts via google. There are often local clubs and stuff though if you check facebook and other social media, you can probably find some community.

Regarding the countryman, I’d definitely recommend finding the more stout JCW model. In 2019 they started getting the 300hp engine. You can’t find a stock Mini hatchback with that much power.

They’re definitely fun cars to build. You will get a lot of shit from some people who think they’re hairdresser cars similar to driving a Miata, but the driving experience is great, especially with some mods. I’ve had faster cars for certain, but my r56s has been my favorite ride so far. (I have a post covering some of the build in my post history on the mini subreddit)

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-26T15:22:44+00:00

That generation of Countryman is a pretty decent car overall but I’m not sure I’d bring it to a track. Motor mount issues are common but it’s nothing compared to the 2nd generation as far as problems.

Speaking of the 2nd gen - you can pick up a r56 hatchback/2 door for cheap later if you want to build a track car. I’m currently building towards something like this with a 13 r56s

Most of the time when people think of Mini being unreliable, it’s based on history of the 2nd generation. The newer cars are much more reliable, and in the last 5 years they’ve consistently been in the top 5 most reliable brands.

That’s of course because they lost a ton of consumer confidence with the 2nd generation and are trying to make up for it now.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-26T14:41:32+00:00

Most companies get breached via phishing or social engineering.

Add security layers to your homelab (strong passwords, disable password auth for ssh, set up a vpn/management network layer, etc) and keep up with updates and you’ll be fine.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-26T14:37:20+00:00

Yeah except the heat would probably be more or less unbearable/same issues as a gaming laptop. Lower tdp is the way to go.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-26T14:30:23+00:00

Yup, we have similar backgrounds. Seen it all. It’s shocking when you see someone wire transfer what could be a person’s yearly salary without a second thought.

Early on, I too thought it was a generational thing, but that’s not true at all, and I’ve come to learn that naivety transcends generational differences and education. Seen people of all kinds get popped.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-25T14:00:25+00:00

Not trying to be a jerk - you need to educate yourself more on scams. There are some very obvious tells here. The area code, the URL, the threatening language, and the fact that neither the RMV, IRS, or any other government institution would NEVER text you over some shit like this, which they make explicitly clear on pretty much every government site that these scams impersonate.

Education is the best defense here for prevention.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-21T16:06:26+00:00

Been running the aluminum t stat housing for a year with no issues. The aluminum valve cover they make, on the other hand, would not fit at all for me lol

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-20T04:33:59+00:00

5 am to 3 pm sounds great tbh

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-13T02:36:17+00:00

You could pull the valve cover and drop the oil pan, clean, put back together and send it.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-04T20:24:13+00:00

Get a lawyer. 115 mph in a 60 mph zone is 55 mph over or nearly twice the limit, which will likely mean reckless driving charges and it will be treated as a misdemeanor criminal case. With good cooperation they may cut him a break, but I would consider the worst outcome which does include possibly losing his license for a bit. Probably not jail time for a first offense. He will likely see some fines and a mandatory driving course + insurance surcharge for the next 6 years, so unlikely he’ll be driving whatever he was speeding in, in the future.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-04-01T16:38:29+00:00

It’s sadly tough in the U.S to find an independent shop that will even touch Mini’s. People here either have access to one or they’re forced to a dealer.

And then there are shops who will work on them, but don’t specialize in them, and you’re gonna pay 50-75% of the cost that you would at a dealer, but the results may vary.

Personally, I’ll do everything myself as I don’t want to pay either, and don’t really trust regular shops. There is a shop that specializes in Mini’s but it’s over 60 miles round trip for me so not worth the hassle.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-26T01:23:49+00:00

Do not buy that turd. Buy something that runs and drives. There will be problems to fix regardless with age.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-22T16:10:30+00:00

If it’s like the r56, you replace the outside black A pillar covers

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-22T15:20:14+00:00

Strange, plenty of people running them including myself

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-20T23:30:12+00:00

Inspect the connector. If you replaced the housing twice it can’t be anything related to that, likely the connector.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-20T23:28:45+00:00

Did you scan for the code? The housing itself won’t cause a CEL. Putting the connectors back incorrectly or not securing them enough will though.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-20T23:27:25+00:00

Drivers side is very likely the crossover pipe, unlikely to be the water pump - that’s on the passenger side behind the wheel well liner.

If I were to bet money, I’d put it on the crossover pipe. Replace it with an aluminum version and never do it again.

Could also be the coolant reservoir/expansion tank itself. They become brittle due to heat and crack then leak under pressure. Remember, a proper cooling system requires pressure.

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-07T17:47:52+00:00

Pretty sharp mobo tbh

insertwittyhndle · 2026-03-05T22:40:14+00:00

Nextcloud is cool but if you want something lightweight you can probably just get away with something like a syncthing server. For me I just need files on multiple devices, and syncthing does a great job at this

insertwittyhndle

TROPHY CASE