MINI Service Trauma

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I collected the Mini last weekend, and I love it so far - it's a proper little dodgem car. Interior reminds me very much of the Rover 75 - same bold shapes/materials, so it's odd that these became trendy while the highly competent 75 never caught on.
First task was a service - the previous owner said it had had no attention for at least 20,000 miles, maybe double that.  After removing the air filter I'm guessing the latter - no wonder it didn't seem very quick.  Plugs didn't look too bad though.  Oil filter was next...

...5 days later, I eventually removed said filter, after much swearing, internet research and grazed knuckles.  It's an element type that lives in a housing on the back of the engine, and they're prone to seizing if not changed regularly.  Needless to say, this one wasn't going anywhere.  I broke the end off my breaker bar :(
In the end I had to remove the whole housing from the car (not easy due to access), then repeatedly attacked it with WD40 and a mains impact gun until it gave up (or was destroyed... I didn't care which at that point).
You bastard!  I smashed the oil pressure switch too, what a donkey.  Also discovered a split inner CV joint boot, that'll need sorting for the MOT next month.
It's all back together now though and much more punchy.  It's done 140K and I believe it's still on it's original Midland gearbox, but it seems healthy enough; slighty rattly in 2nd gear but that's it.  

As soon as it stops snowing I'll prep the Jag for sale.  I'm TRENDY MINI PEOPLE now.

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