DIY Friday is back by popular demand with a must for all those who either want a little extra in-car safety or often find burning Fieros on the side of the road. (MINI parcel shelf required)
Would not be halon. Automotive companies can’t sell the stuff any more, at least not in the U.S.
At the moment it is legal to buy halon for aviation purposes for which there is no suitable alternative. Some aircraft require halon bottles for engine fire extinguishers, for example, because nothing else has been certified yet. But even that use is coming to an end as substitutes are found and certified.
Halon itself is no longer manufactured, and there’s a big surplus of the stuff because recapture and recycling has been so effective. (Halon prices have fallen in recent years.) Halon severely damages the earth’s ozone layer if released into the atmosphere, so the Montreal Protocol banned its manufacture. Don’t buy it and don’t use it — there are good substitutes now for automotive use (and increasing aviation uses).
The most direct substitutes are Eclipse’s PhostrEx and DuPont’s HFC-125 (“FE-25”), but these are rather exotic compounds for typical automotive use. (However, PhostrEx could be interesting for MINIs because it’s so light. Anyone want to start a business?) There are plenty of other options that’ll keep the planet in good condition.
If you do have a halon extinguisher then be sure to dispose of it properly. You can do that now. You can take them to almost any fire suppression equipment company, and they’ll take them for no charge. Make sure they are going to carefully capture the halon and that they are EPA authorized — this is not stuff you want to toss into the regular trash bin. For you Chicagoans there are plenty of options, but the one that took my halon extinguisher was Sentry on North Avenue near Elston. I still have one left (in an aircraft, of course), but I downsized to 14 ounces and will take that last one to Sentry at next replacement when the new stuff will be available.
Wouldn’t be halon. Automotive companies can’t sell the stuff any more, at least not in the U.S.
At the moment it is legal to buy halon for aviation purposes for which there is no suitable alternative. Some aircraft require halon bottles for engine fire extinguishers, for example, because nothing else has been certified yet. But even that use is coming to an end as substitutes are found and certified.
Halon itself is no longer manufactured, and there’s a big surplus of the stuff because recapture and recycling has been so effective. (Halon prices have fallen in recent years.) Halon severely damages the earth’s ozone layer if released into the atmosphere, so the Montreal Protocol banned its manufacture. Don’t buy it and don’t use it — there are good substitutes now for automotive use (and increasing aviation uses).
The most direct substitutes are Eclipse’s PhostrEx and DuPont’s HFC-125 (“FE-25”), but these are rather exotic compounds for typical automotive use. (However, PhostrEx could be interesting for MINIs because it’s so light. Anyone want to start a business?) There are plenty of other options that’ll keep the planet in good condition.
If you do have a halon extinguisher then be sure to dispose of it properly. You can do that now. You can take them to almost any fire suppression equipment company, and they’ll take them for no charge. Make sure they are going to carefully capture the halon and that they are EPA authorized — this is not stuff you want to toss into the regular trash bin. For you Chicagoans there are plenty of options, but the one that took my halon extinguisher was Sentry on North Avenue near Elston. I still have one left (in an aircraft, of course), but I downsized to 14 ounces and will take that last one to Sentry at next replacement when the new stuff will be available.
I’d have to say that this is one mod I don’t want. In fact if there is a little fire I’s my problem. I pay for the repair. If there is a fire that totals the car my car insurance pays.
6 pages of instruction on how to put 2 screws in!!!
The fire extinguisher may only be installed by a
specialist workshop that has the required special
tools and manuals.
…a 5 mm drill bit (MINI/BMW Special part #8385038274389021)
and a screwdriver(MINI/BMW Specail part #08337474832914738922).
As a matter of fact, I do have fire extinquisher in my Fiero. So thanks for posting regarding putting one in my MCS.
Sorry to have my knickers loose about this, but along with owning a MINI Cooper S, I also am an owner of a 1985 Pontiac Fiero. I’ve owned it for over 21 years now. I object to the comment about finding lots of Fieros on fire at the side of the road because there really weren’t very many of them burning.
Many of those not in the know, would be surprised to find the MINI “culture” is not all that different than the Fiero “culture”. I belong to a local club of about 100 Fieros and participate in more drives and tech sessions than I do with the MINI club here where I live.
I don’t feel all that well about classic Mini owners snubbing MINI owners and I just got the same treatment (though I’m sure you didn’t mean it in a bad way) from a fellow MINI enthusiast about other cars that I and a few people actually admire.
If you’re interested in a comparison review between driving and ownership experience of a stock V6 Fiero vs a 05 MCS, I will be more than happy to oblige, as I own both and enjoy both cars.
I agree with you that it would be prudent to have a fire extinquisher in your car. It should be a safety device available for all cars.
I knew I’d get in trouble from someone about that 🙂 Actually I’m a fan of the Fiero – especially the ’88 GT. But the extraordinary fires that a few Fieros spawned were legendary in their intensity! I suppose I could have mentioned Pintos instead – but I kinda don’t want to mess with those guys. They’re kinda crazy. I mean, who collects Pintos?
So, is there any room left on teh parcel shelf after this install? All I typically keep there is my sunglasses case, a small flashlight and my cell phone.
Too funny. I have actually witnessed a Fiero burning on the side of the road. To add more irony to the story, when I stopped to help I found out that the driver was a fireman.
The final version of the Fiero GT was indeed a nice car with a great suspension and had fully outgrown it’s “commuter car” background.
To tell you the truth, I had a fire in my Fiero also. But the fire was not so much due to bad design and engineering as shoddy servicing by GM dealers.
I’ve seen other cars catch fire with more intensity. An old Ford Granada (sometimes referred to as Grenade by my friends) come to mind where an engine fire also lit up the interior passenger, the driver standing outside making good use of my fire extinguisher.
I have a small fire extinguisher in one of the cubby holes in the boot of my MCS. Fits perfectly, no need to drill holes or install a shelf.
The MINI Installation documentis legitimate, but it seems that the item is either no longer available or that they never actually came out with it. The date on the file is 01/2002 and the part number is in the catalog but there are none available in the U.S. or Europe. According to BMW the part number is no good. I would have to bet they just never released the item due to lack of interest.
So, why print an installation guide for an item that isn’t available.
Is it just me? Cant get into link.
The link just worked fine for me.
Reading now.
Thanks Gabe!
I don’t know why you would necesarily need a parcel shelf for this DIY.
Those Brits! What’s an oddment?
Where are these available?
MINI dealer-only item?
Cost?
Are they halon or CO2 ?
Interesting idea MINI. You made the item easy to get to but made the shelf almost unusable.
Oddments Box!
I thought I’d heard it all. Makes Boot, Bonnet and Winkers seem downright pedestrian.
Would not be halon. Automotive companies can’t sell the stuff any more, at least not in the U.S.
At the moment it is legal to buy halon for aviation purposes for which there is no suitable alternative. Some aircraft require halon bottles for engine fire extinguishers, for example, because nothing else has been certified yet. But even that use is coming to an end as substitutes are found and certified.
Halon itself is no longer manufactured, and there’s a big surplus of the stuff because recapture and recycling has been so effective. (Halon prices have fallen in recent years.) Halon severely damages the earth’s ozone layer if released into the atmosphere, so the Montreal Protocol banned its manufacture. Don’t buy it and don’t use it — there are good substitutes now for automotive use (and increasing aviation uses).
The most direct substitutes are Eclipse’s PhostrEx and DuPont’s HFC-125 (“FE-25”), but these are rather exotic compounds for typical automotive use. (However, PhostrEx could be interesting for MINIs because it’s so light. Anyone want to start a business?) There are plenty of other options that’ll keep the planet in good condition.
If you do have a halon extinguisher then be sure to dispose of it properly. You can do that now. You can take them to almost any fire suppression equipment company, and they’ll take them for no charge. Make sure they are going to carefully capture the halon and that they are EPA authorized — this is not stuff you want to toss into the regular trash bin. For you Chicagoans there are plenty of options, but the one that took my halon extinguisher was Sentry on North Avenue near Elston. I still have one left (in an aircraft, of course), but I downsized to 14 ounces and will take that last one to Sentry at next replacement when the new stuff will be available.
Wouldn’t be halon. Automotive companies can’t sell the stuff any more, at least not in the U.S.
At the moment it is legal to buy halon for aviation purposes for which there is no suitable alternative. Some aircraft require halon bottles for engine fire extinguishers, for example, because nothing else has been certified yet. But even that use is coming to an end as substitutes are found and certified.
Halon itself is no longer manufactured, and there’s a big surplus of the stuff because recapture and recycling has been so effective. (Halon prices have fallen in recent years.) Halon severely damages the earth’s ozone layer if released into the atmosphere, so the Montreal Protocol banned its manufacture. Don’t buy it and don’t use it — there are good substitutes now for automotive use (and increasing aviation uses).
The most direct substitutes are Eclipse’s PhostrEx and DuPont’s HFC-125 (“FE-25”), but these are rather exotic compounds for typical automotive use. (However, PhostrEx could be interesting for MINIs because it’s so light. Anyone want to start a business?) There are plenty of other options that’ll keep the planet in good condition.
If you do have a halon extinguisher then be sure to dispose of it properly. You can do that now. You can take them to almost any fire suppression equipment company, and they’ll take them for no charge. Make sure they are going to carefully capture the halon and that they are EPA authorized — this is not stuff you want to toss into the regular trash bin. For you Chicagoans there are plenty of options, but the one that took my halon extinguisher was Sentry on North Avenue near Elston. I still have one left (in an aircraft, of course), but I downsized to 14 ounces and will take that last one to Sentry at next replacement when the new stuff will be available.
I’d have to say that this is one mod I don’t want. In fact if there is a little fire I’s my problem. I pay for the repair. If there is a fire that totals the car my car insurance pays.
6 pages of instruction on how to put 2 screws in!!!
The fire extinguisher may only be installed by a
specialist workshop that has the required special
tools and manuals.
…a 5 mm drill bit (MINI/BMW Special part #8385038274389021)
and a screwdriver(MINI/BMW Specail part #08337474832914738922).
Man, this would have been usefull here.
[IMG]http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/20060510_0021.JPG[/IMG]
>6 pages of instruction on how to put 2 screws in!!!
This is par for the course for any manufacturer. If you want to see how to install it just skip to the last page.
As a matter of fact, I do have fire extinquisher in my Fiero. So thanks for posting regarding putting one in my MCS.
Sorry to have my knickers loose about this, but along with owning a MINI Cooper S, I also am an owner of a 1985 Pontiac Fiero. I’ve owned it for over 21 years now. I object to the comment about finding lots of Fieros on fire at the side of the road because there really weren’t very many of them burning.
Many of those not in the know, would be surprised to find the MINI “culture” is not all that different than the Fiero “culture”. I belong to a local club of about 100 Fieros and participate in more drives and tech sessions than I do with the MINI club here where I live.
I don’t feel all that well about classic Mini owners snubbing MINI owners and I just got the same treatment (though I’m sure you didn’t mean it in a bad way) from a fellow MINI enthusiast about other cars that I and a few people actually admire.
If you’re interested in a comparison review between driving and ownership experience of a stock V6 Fiero vs a 05 MCS, I will be more than happy to oblige, as I own both and enjoy both cars.
I agree with you that it would be prudent to have a fire extinquisher in your car. It should be a safety device available for all cars.
I knew I’d get in trouble from someone about that 🙂 Actually I’m a fan of the Fiero – especially the ’88 GT. But the extraordinary fires that a few Fieros spawned were legendary in their intensity! I suppose I could have mentioned Pintos instead – but I kinda don’t want to mess with those guys. They’re kinda crazy. I mean, who collects Pintos?
So, is there any room left on teh parcel shelf after this install? All I typically keep there is my sunglasses case, a small flashlight and my cell phone.
This is for track addicts like me. Very useful. You can take out the extinguisher when not doing an HPDE, so you can use the shelf again.
BTW, you can get most of this from a $16 fire ext kit from lowes or Home Depot.
Or you could always go with this <a href="http://www.livermoreperformance.com/mini_safety.html#Brey%20Krause" rel="nofollow">bracket</a>.
Anybody have a photo of the finished install? I too am wondering how much of the limited Parcel Shelf space this thing takes up.
Too funny. I have actually witnessed a Fiero burning on the side of the road. To add more irony to the story, when I stopped to help I found out that the driver was a fireman.
The final version of the Fiero GT was indeed a nice car with a great suspension and had fully outgrown it’s “commuter car” background.
To tell you the truth, I had a fire in my Fiero also. But the fire was not so much due to bad design and engineering as shoddy servicing by GM dealers.
I’ve seen other cars catch fire with more intensity. An old Ford Granada (sometimes referred to as Grenade by my friends) come to mind where an engine fire also lit up the interior passenger, the driver standing outside making good use of my fire extinguisher.
I have a small fire extinguisher in one of the cubby holes in the boot of my MCS. Fits perfectly, no need to drill holes or install a shelf.
From the parts folks at Classic MINI:
The MINI Installation documentis legitimate, but it seems that the item is either no longer available or that they never actually came out with it. The date on the file is 01/2002 and the part number is in the catalog but there are none available in the U.S. or Europe. According to BMW the part number is no good. I would have to bet they just never released the item due to lack of interest.
So, why print an installation guide for an item that isn’t available.
THERE IS A NEW TYPE OF INEXPENSIVE FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT IS NOT HALON