Hey Everyone,

Just joining the Mini Family! I have been a fan since my first trip to England! Currently, I drive a 2010 R56 model. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a deal on a manual shift, but I will save that for when I get my Paceman or Clubman as my next vehicle,

Concerns -
1. I feel like my vehicle has high RPMs on its way through the first few gears - Is this normal? My mechanic saw nothing wrong with it, but I don't fully know how much he knows about Mini's.

2. How do I know when to get "walnut blasting" done and how often?

3. Upgrades - What could I do to make suspension better? I live in a terrible town for paved roads, and a couple of bumps I've experienced so far were rough, and I want to ensure my car lasts me a while as it was a dream car in the past.

4. What indications from under the hood should I look for when trying to maintain my vehicle? And What DIY things should I learn to do on my own vehicle?

Any information on maintaining my car would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for any information added to my post!

All the Best,
JG