Watcha Guys and Gals,

Just joined to say hello and also have a couple of questions.

I bought my wife a Mini Cooper S just before Christmas and it's started to develop a rattle (not unlike the exhaust note) but different from the gearbox/clutch which disappears as soon as I push the clutch pedal down - this is while idling in neutral. I’m think clutch-release bearing or something but I’m not familiar with the mechanics of these cars...?

The other more general issue which I’m sure the response will be "welcome to the club" ...is that the fuel consumption on the cooper S is insatiable!
I’m wondering whether the lambda sensor is knackered as I filled the tank up 3/4 the other day and it said range 167 miles. Um...last time I looked I wasn't driving a Sherman tank Is this the kind of fuel "efficiency" other people have experienced?

What is funny is my car is a VX220 and its actually more economical than the mini!

Having said all of this I must say that the cooper S is the most impressive little car I have ever driven. It is fantastic.

Thanks in advance and I hope at some point if people help me, I can help later on when I get some experience of being a mini owner!

Alex.