What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[danewilson77]

You will need a new brake pad wear sensor as well.

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[Hermes]

Nice, JP! Loving the shifter.

Looking good Hermes! Nardi is the way to go! Is that wood grain?

Thanks guys! Yes, it's real mahogany

[fredo]

Did some driving for my company a few days ago. They're paying me for the mileage it added to the car (260 mi). I'm new to this and wanna make sure I don't get hosed - what's a fair rate to expect before I submit the information ?

My wife works for the State of Texas. She gets paid 56.5 cents per mile. Sounds like the private sector pays more. You may want to check the IRS website for the rate used in the tax forms.

[Chad44]

Was preparing for Autocross tomorrow, and put the car up to do an oil change- finding a huge amount of oil on the underside of the car. I steam cleaned and pressure washed the engine and undercarriage, did the oil change with a new oil level sensor(mine has failed)..

I am 3 quarts low from 3 weeks ago when I topped off with less than a quart lost in 5k miles...
Let the car run with the engine clean, and have a real good leak at my oil filter housing, so I guess it's time for a new gasket... FML, I don't have time for this right now.

[LivesNearCostco]

My opinion is the stock jack can be safe enough when changing brake pads if you avoid putting any hands, feet, heads or legs under the brake rotor or any other part that could come crashing down on the ground. Assume the jack might fail at any moment and make sure no body parts will be hit by the falling car--don't put your head under the fender either. For added safety, slide the wheel under the side of the car behind the jack (for front brakes) or in front of the jack (for rear brakes). I have worked on brakes this way in a parking lot (with a floor jack, not the stock jack).

At the track I see people putting one jack stand under the car as backup when they work under a car supported by just a floor jack. Not sure that's entirely safe but it's safer than using just a jack with no backup.

I haven't had a jack actually fail, but I've had the car fall off the jack two times. Once because it was on a slope and the parking brake was not engaged (and opposite side wheels not chocked). 2nd time jack was not centered under the jack pad and it slipped off. Now whenever I lift the car, I either engage the parking brake or chock an opposite side wheel, or both.

@alexandre: My current and last company had the official mileage reimbursement rate built into the expense reporting system. You enter how many miles you drove and it multiplies it by the company's approved rate, which for me today is also 56.5 cents/mile, just like for Fredo's wife. Maybe that's what the IRS has approved for 2013?

Bought some ceramic pads for the front since the brake pad light came on. Hopefully these ones will have less brake dust...
Anyone notice that more brake dust accumulates as the pads get to the end of their life? Or maybe I'm noticing things that arent there.
edit: ooh and will the stock jack be safe to change the pads? I dont really trust it when I have to pry off the clip.

[BimmerWill]

Was preparing for Autocross tomorrow, and put the car up to do an oil change- finding a huge amount of oil on the underside of the car. I steam cleaned and pressure washed the engine and undercarriage, did the oil change with a new oil level sensor(mine has failed)..

I am 3 quarts low from 3 weeks ago when I topped off with less than a quart lost in 5k miles...
Let the car run with the engine clean, and have a real good leak at my oil filter housing, so I guess it's time for a new gasket... FML, I don't have time for this right now.

That OFHG is a bear. Took me most of the day when I did mine.

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[danewilson77]

It's about a 2 hour diy.

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[az3579]

It's about a 2 hour diy.

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Took me 4 hours the very first time I did it, then between 2-3 when I helped Charlie with his. 2 hours is definitely doable.

Want me to help you, Chad?

[M0nk3y]

Installed some new cans.

[brewer90]

Nice cans.

I put a new battery in. It was still on it's original from '06 and I didn't want to push my luck especially since this is the first time that battery has seen a real summer (WI vs TX).