If you make it start reliably then they are excellent.  The problem is the
coughing and spluttering if you don't keep the water out of the distributor.

Rocky does warn that you can beach a mini in deep snow and have all four
wheels off the ground.

The Muffin Man

I used my 1989 998cc special on a dialy bases for about 3 years. It never
gave problems in wintertime, just have the water-shield in front of the
ignition, good high voltage leads, good rotor and distributorcap, and make
sure the battery is in good condition. I had a Metro electronic ignition
fitted for the last 1.5 years but the point ignition never gave problems
(just got tired of changing points).

I have even used my 1380cc mini for a few weeks in wintertime. A-block with
non-electronic ignition, but it always started no problem.

I currently drive a 2000 Mpi mini, lets see how its does the coming season.
--
Bye, Ray

http://home.hccnet.nl/raymond.van.elst/
Mobile robot, walker and I-Cybie, and Mini

Exceptionally well. All the engine and gearbox weight acts directly on
the front wheels, so plenty of traction. The back of a Mini goes where
the front goes and can be helped around with the handbrake. What more
could you ask for? How do you think they won the Monte Carlo Rally?

Regards, David Betts
davidb@minilist.org
The Mini Gallery:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334

I used to completely cover behind the grill on my mini (even in the UK). I'm
extremely out of date(!) but assuming it is one with a wheel well radiator,
you can cover the grill (realistically in summer too) and this can help keep
slush away from the distributor.

The very cold airflow over the block can keep an engine much cooler than it
needs to be.

I used to have a piece of linoleum (black side forwards) clipped onto the
grill with a few tie wires.

Does anyone do this still or is global warming too effective?

--
Rickety

With sufficient anti-freeze you shouldn't have engine problems. An
electronic ignition conversion is a good idea.

Below zero the suspension cones get pretty stiff so it will be a rough
ride until the suspension movement warms the cones.

Snow tires are available but hard to find. You might have to shop
north of the border. Remember they go on the front.

Your biggest problem will be the amount of salt Michigan puts on the
roads in the winter. Does the law still require that a minimum tonnage
be applied to the roads every winter?

Cheers,

Kelley

I had no problems with my 92 cooper, speshly as I'd had the Mini Sport stage
1 fitted. \o/
The only problem was when I slid into a kerb on snow and bent my wheel.
Boo-urns!!
Then again that was in a British winter where if it's -5C people start
dropping in the street...

Get some chains made up if you can, speshly if you're running on 145s...

Don't bother putting pure antifreeze in your coolant system - after 50-50,
it doesn't get any more effective, and actually gums up your water pump.

If you think you might be buying a new battery, then now's the time to do
it.  Go out and buy one with the highest Cold Cranking Amps that you
possibly can.  This is a meaurement of how many amps the battery can put out
in 15 seconds at zero F without dropping below 7.2 Volts.  Anyway, the
higher the number, the better your starting power in the cold.

Nickety's advice of covering up the grill is a good one.  Actually, about a
year ago I saw some rather fancy grill covers in Mini World, and I can't for
the life of me think who made them...

As for -36F - wassat, about -15C?  Hmmm, maybe go for some higher viscosity
oil so it'll get around the engine quicker in the morning.

Anyone know anything about fitting a block heater to a Mini?  That would
probably help. Or if it's garaged overnight, get a little fan heater and
keep your happy friend cosy toasty warm. :)

Chris