Restoration-Mini

General Discussion => The Lounge => Topic started by: Willie_B on May 23, 2025, 04:25:10 PM

Title: This site
Post by: Willie_B on May 23, 2025, 04:25:10 PM
The MiniMania forum is slowly fading. A recent post over there talked about the forum fading away and mentioned this forum as a place to go. We may see a few new members if there is anyone left there that still drops in there. I still check it daily just to offer help if anyone is looking for some.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 23, 2025, 04:45:32 PM
Yeah they just need to register and send me an email per the registration notes to get approved.  I get too many spam registrations to let them be automatically approved. 
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on May 23, 2025, 05:28:30 PM
It would be good to get some new members in here posting....or even some of the old ones!   :grin:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: tmsmini on May 23, 2025, 08:00:38 PM
There was a article by Haggerty some where that said that Facebook has ruined the auto forums. I cannot find the original, but some of it made sense
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 24, 2025, 06:15:04 AM
I don't understand it really because you can't search and do research on Facebook like you can a forum.  One of the things I never liked about MM was things drop off after 365 days.  It's always bugged me we lost all our attachments on here for going back doing research on a current project.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: ve9aa on May 24, 2025, 06:19:40 AM
Thanks for all that you do for us Dan !

 :039:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 24, 2025, 06:32:15 AM
Thanks Mike
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Dan Moffet on May 25, 2025, 05:29:42 AM
Moffet has landed!

I have finally registered and love what I see already.
Nice to be among old friends too.

Special thanks to Dan for sorting out my application... and for this site.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 25, 2025, 05:32:43 AM
Evidently I need to watch my own spam box because the few of you all went straight there when you sent the personal email!  I guess my Gmail account has gotten so many spammy messages regarding the forum it's sending everyone there now.  Oops!
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Veggivet on May 25, 2025, 07:06:30 AM
Thanks for adding me. Coming from MiniMania, dying a slow death, I'm afraid. Nice to be here along with my 87 Japanese Spec 1275 in Surf Blue.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on May 25, 2025, 09:35:35 AM
Welcome "newbies", glad to have you here!

Hope you bring the rest of the Mania crew too.....
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MPlayle on May 25, 2025, 11:30:14 AM
Another welcome to the "newbies".   :cheesy:

I've been watching the MM board die its low death for many years.  I started there back in 1998.  Joined here sometime after that but also long ago.

I dropped off MM when all the troll nonsense happened and went to just lurking there.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 26, 2025, 05:36:02 AM
Hell I don't even lurk there!  I almost couldn't login to make a post in that thread.  Looks like I signed up there in 2002. Time sure flys!
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Banky52 on May 26, 2025, 12:05:06 PM
Martin Greenbank, Kanab, Utah, just joined.
One mini pickup, 2-1/2 Mokes.
Thanks Dan.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 26, 2025, 12:10:20 PM
Welcome aboard  :great:   I like those additional lights you added to the pickup.  I have a pickup as well, but sitting in the corner waiting for a restoration.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on May 26, 2025, 12:42:19 PM
I couldn't open the two pics/vids? at the bottom of the page, it needed an app you have to buy.

Welcome, Banky!   :13:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 26, 2025, 12:44:02 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on May 26, 2025, 12:42:19 PMI couldn't open the two pics/vids? at the bottom of the page, it needed an app you have to buy.

Welcome, Banky!  :13:

My phone opened them right up.  But here they are converted.

Title: Re: This site
Post by: Veggivet on May 26, 2025, 06:11:54 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on May 25, 2025, 09:35:35 AMWelcome "newbies", glad to have you here!

Hope you bring the rest of the Mania crew too.....

Well, that would include a lot of trolls and spambots! You don't want those here, do you??
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 26, 2025, 06:34:22 PM
You should see the spambot list I have waiting for approval.  It's up around 600 at the moment.  I had to make it Fort Knox to become a member here. 
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Veggivet on May 27, 2025, 03:21:51 AM
Geez, that must be so frustrating.  :banghead:  :banghead:  :banghead:

Thanks for all the time you put on this site... :13:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: ve9aa on May 27, 2025, 05:32:39 AM
Quote from: Dan Moffet on May 25, 2025, 05:29:42 AMMoffet has landed!

I have finally registered and love what I see already.
Nice to be among old friends too.

Special thanks to Dan for sorting out my application... and for this site.

There you are Dan in Ottawa ! :13:

I've had a couple of my pretty neutral posts removed from the MM board lately and this morning when I checked, my latest one was actually NOT deleted, but what I did notice is I am pretty sure the AI spam bots are actually replying to one another in a couple different threads.  :lipsrsealed:  Oh my !

Welcome welcome everyone. :cheer:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 27, 2025, 05:50:24 AM
So why are they removing post over there?  Aside from the obvious spam post.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: ve9aa on May 27, 2025, 01:04:00 PM
Quote from: 94touring on May 27, 2025, 05:50:24 AMSo why are they removing post over there?  Aside from the obvious spam post.

I had made some comments about most of the posts lately being from spambots / AI (absolutely true) and was there not something they would do about it?

,.... and made another very neutral comment about an actual order I had placed for my BINI and I waited and waited and waited (for a month) and then when I inquired, they still could not give me an ETA!  I said something like I wish I had known before I was forced to cancel my order.

I never called anyone a name, used any derogatory remarks or anything I couldn't say to my grandma (*you get the idea) but they didn't like the bad press.

I see they've deleted other similar remarks.  If you check right now there's a similar post by a newbie (or a 'bot') asking about their order.  I wonder if it'll be gone in hours.



Title: Re: This site
Post by: Veggivet on May 29, 2025, 02:03:43 AM
I had a similar experience commenting on an order that was placed over a month ago now (just a gas cap). Nobody picks up the phone, and emails go unanswered. I think even the crickets are abandoning the site. I'm going to contact my credit card company and attempt to cancel the transaction. I ordered from Moss Motors and it was here in a couple of days.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on May 29, 2025, 03:48:55 AM
Funny how they have time to delete your post but not answer emails or the phone.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on May 29, 2025, 08:18:17 AM
I was getting pretty good service from Mania on the things I ordered shortly after the BK, but lately not so much, although it's rare that I order anything from them now.....just small stuff that I don't want to get from England.

Wild Child has really upped their game on inventory, but I would be surprised if most of their stuff isn't common replacement stuff, brake parts, suspension parts etc. Still, Nate's a good guy and I hope he continues to succeed.

It was so nice having Victoria British right here in town (15 min away!).....they didn't carry Mini stuff exactly, but they had a great inventory of Sprite, Lucas and other generic parts used all over our cars. Moss bought them and they're gone now.....I was a little surprised Moss didn't keep the warehouse, since we're so centrally located but I guess most of their business is from either coast.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Jims5543 on May 29, 2025, 11:42:21 AM
Quote from: 94touring on May 29, 2025, 03:48:55 AMFunny how they have time to delete your post but not answer emails or the phone.

That reminds me of ECS Tuning, horrible customer service. Yet, they have time for people to monitor bulletin boards like NAM and run interference when someone complained about them.

I ordered a rear bumper for my E30, they took 3 weeks to ship it, then it made to to Atlanta, where UPS declared the packaging and item were damaged and sent back to ECS.

2 weeks went by and nothing from ECS. I email them ask whats up, no reply for a week.

I used paypal, I reversed the charge, that got their attention. My SIL was dating a guy that worked at BMW / Mercedes Dealership at the time, he got me a OEM bumper for half the price in 48 hours.

It is amazing how they have time to monitor boards and cannot be arsed to reply to a customer.

I think I used MM once or twice, I stick with Out Motoring, Mini Spares is my go to.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on May 29, 2025, 12:19:25 PM
What do you all think of MiniSpares new website? I find it difficult, but that could just be the normal learning curve any time you encounter something new from what you've used the last 10 years. There were a lot of things missing from the new site that are slowly creeping back in - like links to the parts book pages and links to additional items associated with the thing you were looking for.

There are times where you really need to know the exact language they use in order to find something, and sometimes I just can't get there, but go to google and it takes me right to the correct part on their site.

Also......I don't know if it's because of the uncertain situation with the tariffs or not......but when you place an order they say they will quote you shipping before the order can be placed, which can add another day at least. Also, I have no idea what will happen when my latest order hits customs.....could be interesting.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Veggivet on June 01, 2025, 03:08:31 AM
Quote from: 94touring on May 29, 2025, 03:48:55 AMFunny how they have time to delete your post but not answer emails or the phone.

My thoughts exactly! Great minds think alike :13:
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Red Riley on June 01, 2025, 04:33:17 AM
Quote from: MiniDave on May 29, 2025, 12:19:25 PMAlso......I don't know if it's because of the uncertain situation with the tariffs or not......but when you place an order they say they will quote you shipping before the order can be placed, which can add another day at least. Also, I have no idea what will happen when my latest order hits customs.....could be interesting.
I've had really good luck with ordering from Somerford Mini over the years, and that's how they've always done it. Never had any hangups with customs (yet).
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on June 01, 2025, 08:13:14 AM
I've ordered from pretty much all the major players over the years - Spares, Sport, Somerford, Bull Motif, Mania, 7 Ent, and several more....in the past Spares has been the easiest and quickest way to get what I needed, but I recognize that times have changed. Since this is my last Mini build it won't be a problem if I have to wait a bit for the stuff to show up, and the increased cost while a factor won't keep me from finishing this project.
Title: Re: This site
Post by: Blumeanie on June 01, 2025, 02:09:13 PM
I came here via MM as well - and I am glad to be here. I joined-up MM in 1999 or so while living in the Netherlands. I bought my mini the following year, but I went 'radio silent' in 2013 or so when the kids started coming... (They seem to take-up a bit of time!) AND while going through several relocations to far away lands. - I guess those continue.

The MM board was great back then - It was super active - It was difficult to keep-up with the posts! I met some good folks at mini events back then.
I was very surprised and disappointed to come back to find it essentially on 'life support'...

Facebook locked my account a few years ago. I thank them for that. I never looked back.



Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on June 01, 2025, 02:17:19 PM
There's been a good number of you come over and I look forward to some more activity here.  We've always been a very small group and many of us know each other personally.  I believe this is year 16 of this forum.  That went by quick! 
Title: Re: This site
Post by: MiniDave on June 01, 2025, 04:35:02 PM
I joined in 2015 I think, and would like to see some more activity too!

Looks like the forum started in March of 2009
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on June 01, 2025, 04:53:53 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on June 01, 2025, 04:35:02 PMI joined in 2015 I think, and would like to see some more activity too!

Looks like the forum started in March of 2009

March 21, 2009, 09:25:47 AM
Title: Re: This site
Post by: ve9aa on June 20, 2025, 10:40:42 AM
I see at least 1 thread @ MM where the AI-bots are replying to other AI-bots.

How sad !
Title: Re: This site
Post by: 94touring on June 20, 2025, 12:17:02 PM
Quote from: ve9aa on June 20, 2025, 10:40:42 AMI see at least 1 thread @ MM where the AI-bots are replying to other AI-bots.

How sad !


Well we've added a lot of new members since that post was made over there.