Project Memoirs: Mini on the Move.

[Dj_efk]

There is also evidence of the 'L' badge having once resided on the boot lid.

[BorniteIdentity]

Sorry but this looks like an L to me from That picture it has seats with proper headrests not moulded plastic, some L's came with dangly mirrors

 

I would ask the seller to prove its base provenance by showing you a picture of the log book

 

Doorcards are definitely base.  It was those that first alerted me to what it was - not the text in the advert.  However, it's only when you see cars like this do you really appreciate the originality of the bASe.  (Austin indicator and Nissan bumper aside...) !!

[fordperv]

Where is it for sale?

 

Edit ive just looked at the other pictures on ebay,

 

i agree they are base doorcards and it has a 1 piece rear seat back rather than a 60/40 split, I love that it used to have an L badge on the rear

[adw1977]

Some L's came with dangly mirrors

 

 

They did, but only 5 door ones. L got normal mirrors for the 1984 model year, same time as the 3 door was launched.

 

That Ebay one is up to £2000 now!

[fordperv]

I have seen a couple of 3 door A reg L spec cars wearing dangly mirrors before they were cool, so they must have been Friday afternoon cars or the owners genuinely liked the base mirrors then

[BorniteIdentity]

Can anyone help?

 

With the Avensis in a state not fit for the Queen’s highway, I’m going to have to put the w202 on daily duties for the time being. No biggy - after all, this is why I bought it.

 

When the car went broken and into the garage, two codes were read that didn’t relate to that particular issue. However, I’m suffering with poor fuel economy- and it’s not just the slightly binding rear brake.

 

First: 020 Idle Speed Control. Unrelated, but what does it mean, Basil?

 

028 Oxygen Sensor Control. I think the dude then said “System Rich”.

 

In essence, I’m trying to make it as simple for myself as possible. Also, if it has to go to a garage, avoid paying any more diagnosis etc. Obvs a 1994 car doesn’t have OBDII but anything to help me would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Guessing a lambda sensor, but maybe there’s another way of setting mixture on these m111 engines?

 

Thanks in advance

[cort16]

It's all computers init. If it's running rich it's more than likely the o2 sensor, which may explain your shite mpg . Does it have a cat?

[BorniteIdentity]

It's all computers init. If it's running rich it's more than likely the o2 sensor, which may explain your shite mpg . Does it have a cat?

Pretty sure it does as my 1993,190e did - and this is 6 months newer and the successor to the w201.

 

Sorry to sound thick, but how do you test them with a meter?

[BorniteIdentity]

Got the Mercedes back from the nice man in the next village last week.  He replaced a caliper, adjusted the throttle cable and idle, changed a brake pipe, changed the brake fluid and gave it a good once over.  It's now running superbly.  In truth, I probably should have bought that immaculate C220 Derv I mentioned in previous memoirs, but it was up at £1100 and I got this for nearly 1/3.

 

It's now on proper daily duties, buzzing the 100 miles up and down the A1M to get me to work.  I've done 1500 miles since I got it 2 months ago and it's running brilliantly.  

 

Also, I found a picture of it on FLICKR earlier on.  Nowadays it's wearing the gingercators I got for £20 on eBay, but it does look smart eh?

 

[Split_Pin]

It does indeed.Glad it is doing you a good turn, look after it and it will look after you.

[Sir Snipes]

Liked for gingercators, too.

[BorniteIdentity]

Hmmm.

 

I’m currently trying to get to the bottom of a minor irritation with the little w202. The front screen continually fogs up at the bottom - dead centre. I’ve removed the pollen filter entirely which I thought helped but might not have. I’ve just cleaned the drains which were dirty but not blocked and generally cleaned up here and there. The carpets are not damp at all in the car; it’s the driest of them all!

 

Any ideas?

 

Here’s a pic of both my green machines. Both from 1994.

[BorniteIdentity]

This sheds a bit more light. Hopefully this helps.

 

[Split_Pin]

I find that a very satisfying remedy, unblocking scuttle drains and letting the water, thats probably been there for ages, drain out. A bit like popping spots I suppose.

 

Aaannywayy hope you get that sorted. Id stick a pollen filter back in too though.

[BorniteIdentity]

I’m not lecturing y’all because, on the whole, I’d be preaching to the converted. But I really do love this old thing. Compared with my w202, which is superior in every single measure, it still wins. I think it’s the honesty of the car, the lack of any pretence or extravagance. Much like me, it’s entirely unapologetic for being what it is.

 

It does need to be a bit more usable though. I went to take it out on Sunday, and I’ve only just succeeded in that task. I’ll be sorting a carb over the weekend, and looking to see if there are more reliable ignition systems I could run.

 

I also want to discretely run a 12v supply into the cabin for charging purposes. That requires a bit more thought, as I’d like the blanking plate to remain in place.

 

[bezzabsa]

Kudos on the Base Sierra.. a rare sight even when they were new....even those were usually tarted up with scrapyard parts..

 

Love the Merc too...have a hankering for an early Non rusting Merc from the 190 era...prices are only going one way though which puts them out of my range

[fordperv]

Why not run the 12v supply into the glovebox

[beko1987]

Hmmm.

 

I’m currently trying to get to the bottom of a minor irritation with the little w202. The front screen continually fogs up at the bottom - dead centre. I’ve removed the pollen filter entirely which I thought helped but might not have. I’ve just cleaned the drains which were dirty but not blocked and generally cleaned up here and there. The carpets are not damp at all in the car; it’s the driest of them all!

 

Any ideas?

 

Here’s a pic of both my green machines. Both from 1994.

9F4E5BE5-B397-4241-B250-A8C73293233C.jpeg

Ooooh Pre 1998 Green Henry with the original hose! *rubs thighs*

[beko1987]

Why not run the 12v supply into the glovebox

I ran a feed from the glovebox of the Xantia to under the centre console, then wired a USB plug into that, then plugged a charging lead into that and bought it up under the trim, had it sat under the number pad with the cable coming out in the corner inbetween plastic and carpet, just hung it off my phone holder when not in use

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-Converter-Module-12V-To-5V-3A-15W-USB-Output-Power-Adapter-LY/391864264034?epid=1864527792&hash=item5b3cee2562:g:lvAAAOSwurVZkpDr One of these, although it wasn't utterly great at fast charging my 6p, part of that was my cable as I've subequently found out. Kept it at the same charge with google maps nad bluetooth music streaming though.

 

Hooked up to one of these (assuming bAse has blade fuses...) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Add-A-Circuit-Piggy-Back-Fuse-Tap-Standard-Blade-Fuse-Holder-ATO-12V/251618137508?epid=0&hash=item3a959c15a4:g:GvsAAOSwPe1T7fj3

 

Then just buy a charging cable for your phone. Could even lob a small switch somewhere as I did just because cheap chinese electronics...

[BorniteIdentity]

Ooooh Pre 1998 Green Henry with the original hose! *rubs thighs*

Ha. I forgot these were your bag. Yep, ‘94 on the serial number and rescued from a skip when work relocated. It’s far superior to the other units I’ve had and still got. Even got the turbo supply on there too!

[Split_Pin]

Surely for one of these, a large 'Bush' or 'Sanyo', portable radio, propped up on the passenger seat is the most fitting solution?

 

I jest of course. I like how you are being 100% realistic with this motor, youre sort of future-proofing it with such technology!

[UltraWomble]

even those were usually tarted up with scrapyard parts..

 

Yeah, but that was the fun of owning a base spec car - Sundays down the scrappy foraging for bits to "upgrade" your car.

[Guest Hooli]

I’m not lecturing y’all because, on the whole, I’d be preaching to the converted. But I really do love this old thing. Compared with my w202, which is superior in every single measure, it still wins. I think it’s the honesty of the car, the lack of any pretence or extravagance. Much like me, it’s entirely unapologetic for being what it is.

 

It does need to be a bit more usable though. I went to take it out on Sunday, and I’ve only just succeeded in that task. I’ll be sorting a carb over the weekend, and looking to see if there are more reliable ignition systems I could run.

 

I also want to discretely run a 12v supply into the cabin for charging purposes. That requires a bit more thought, as I’d like the blanking plate to remain in place.

 

1F666DDC-64CE-4ED2-9208-B8B746031675.jpeg

 

Are the gutters strong enough to keep that windmill on the roofrack?

[Supernaut]

It carries all of Autoshite's hopes and dreams on its humble roof rack. I'm sure it can cope with a mere windmill.

[BorniteIdentity]

In loosely related news, my friend Emma (who the car is named after) was on BBC Breakfast this morning talking about her experiences of living with stage 4 cancer. She was on BBC TV and online too. You can see her on the iPlayer at about 0810 if you’re vaguely interested.

 

She even made the news app!

 

[Angrydicky]

I’m not lecturing y’all because, on the whole, I’d be preaching to the converted. But I really do love this old thing. Compared with my w202, which is superior in every single measure, it still wins. I think it’s the honesty of the car, the lack of any pretence or extravagance. Much like me, it’s entirely unapologetic for being what it is.

 

It does need to be a bit more usable though. I went to take it out on Sunday, and I’ve only just succeeded in that task. I’ll be sorting a carb over the weekend, and looking to see if there are more reliable ignition systems I could run.

 

I also want to discretely run a 12v supply into the cabin for charging purposes. That requires a bit more thought, as I’d like the blanking plate to remain in place.

 

1F666DDC-64CE-4ED2-9208-B8B746031675.jpeg

When I took it to Cornwall, I hooked up a very simple 12v socket, with two wires and two crocodile clips straight onto the battery, which in ran to that cavernous bulkhead shelf where the wiper motor is, and charged my phone there.

Glovebox sounds a good idea. You'll probably find there's at least one 12v feed already there, either in unused wires behind the 12v socket blanking plate, or in the old radio wiring that I carefully taped up.

Would definitely be up for having another go with this sometime, now I've got plenty of undercover parking at my cottage in Suffolk!

[RoadworkUK]

The bASe is still my favourite steed on any of these pages.

 

We have a very close friend - one of our bridesmaids, in fact - who has just been admitted to a hospice at age 31. Heart rending doesn't begin to cover it. Give my warmest regards to Emma, and make sure you spend as much time with her as she can tolerate.

[Guest Hooli]

What Angrydicky said about radio wiring, there should be a switched live in that lot.

[BorniteIdentity]

I did think about running an inverter right off the battery (I already have one not being used and the battery clips etc for it) but I think it might look too shit, even for my tastes.

 

There's a rear quarter panel on ebay at the moment, which I'd really rather like. It might be my Christmas present to myself.

[holbeck]

I saw that item on BBC Breakfast and thought she must be the very same Emma.

 

Brave lady.