Garage 808

11/06/2026

Good morning, all!

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10/06/2026

,

It's Wednesday, the 10th of June 2026.

Klein Saterdag. Weirdness. Because there's no Small Saturday in English.

Anyhoo, halfway to the weekend meant a few things for the team today. As Colin-the-Main-Konyn is still juggling more than a handful of cars, Adele Admin noticed heart shaped leaves in one of the car's boots. She's of the opinion that the car's showing him some love for helping the engine work in the right direction. For anyone who hasn't seen valve stem seals before, these kiekies should be rather profound. The red and green rubbery bits have solidified on the old ones, and can no longer return to their original shapes. Then, the engine oil bypass where it shouldn't and burns off through the exhaust.

Whilst Colin kept on keeping on, A.A. had to go do the rounds to gather supplies, and in the process, noticed two dinosaur birds on a lamp post, silhouetted against the mist. Which was pretty relentless today, as it only took a breather for a few short hours this afternoon. And the scene reminded of two 80's horror movies: The Fog and The Birds. What was with the movies of that era? Did they intentionally try to put the fear of nature into people?

On that note of past things, as Smile FM played their usual feel good play list in the background, I Swear by All-4-One came on and the question arose: does the entire world only hear The Minions's voices when this tune plays? Or is it just us folks at ? Well, back to the outing then, Things We See in Traffic leaned quite a bit more to Things We See in Parking Lots. A.A. had to exercise every bit of self control to NOT pet and tickle that pooch in the car next door. They did have extensive conversations, though. It looked like one of those stuffed teddy bears of about a hundred years ago.

Back at the shop, late afternoon seemed like the opportune time to get that second coat of paint on the toilet walls and ceilings. One almost need skiing goggles to stave off the glare in there now. But soooooo worth it. Just a few bits of detailing required, and then 1 room ticked off the list of never-ending stories of things to do.

But there was actually far better eye candy to entice the senses. A MINI Cooper S R58 Coupé. Some shapes are just so spot-on. Perhaps it's the colour combo, perhaps it's the almost cartoony angle of the kiekie. Regardless, smiles all around. Just not from the leaking water pump, though. But nothing we can't sort out.

Team 808 over and out.

(S.D.G.)

10/06/2026

will be closing at 1pm on Friday the 12th of June, and will re-open at 8am on Wednesday the 17th of June.

09/06/2026

,

It's Tuesday, the 9th of June 2026.

It was a wonderful day. Just wonderful! With winter a few weeks away, the mornings are truly crisping up. Colin-the-Main-Konyn demonstrated to Adele Admin that this MINI's attributes do not stop at the beautifully crafted seat aesthetics. Although, it's certainly worth taking a moment to just soak that in, too. No, indeed, it's the warming energies defrosting your frozen bums, which is the true winner on a late autumn morning. Should we say hot cross bums? Or toasted buns? Either way, tooshies rejoiced at a bit of a momentary spoil.

The rest of the day was perfectly productive, as Colin is conquering the N52N valve stem seals. What a pleasure it is to see an N52 which is not severely sludged up inside. To A.A. it looked a bit like open heart surgery.

Once she had ticked off the absolutely necessary to-do list items in her diary, she intermittently responded to emails and phone calls, all the while painting the walls (and ceiling) of the workshop loo. Out came the paint coat and pants, together with the gardening pantoffels. Sometimes, an artist at heart just need to swoosh some paint around with a brush... whether that's on a canvas or toilet wall, doesn't matter. It's that familiar feeling of moving paint around. Let's see if tomorrow allows coat two.

And then there was a reminder of expectations and those being unmet. When one orders a new Amaz-on Lego set and it arrives in less than amaz-ing condition, the team felt rather flabbergasted at the lack of care taken when the seller sent off the order from Massachusetts. Recently, we read somewhere that logic is a super power these days. Well, logic would determine that sending a flimsy Lego box across the Atlantic ocean would perhaps require some sort of packaging, one would think. But, alas, the seller was of a different opinion.

So, in the very same day then, the founders were gifted with a very used and second hand classic Mini Workshop Manual. And expectations were exceeded by a country mile. What a chicken tooth to be gifted with!? How valuable will this still be with the ongoing restoration of Gracie? One can only wonder who used this manual in 1969 when this sweet little Austin Countryman was born. The illustrations are properse eye candy. And pages and pages of service tools, like a special tool library index, at the back. Gratitude abounds for this amazing piece of history, added to the Gracie-collection.

Oooohhhh.... we can hardly wait to put that wealth of knowledge into practice.

Team 808 over and out.

(S.D.G.)

09/06/2026

If by any chance, you didn't know, has a YouTube channel. You are most welcome to subscribe, or even just enjoy watching some of our videos and shorts. We won't bombard you with vast volumes of content, but the focus is instead on quality of information shared.

If there's something you'd like to see us add to our channel, please let us know in the comments below. We'll do what we can to film what you'd like to know about.

Team 808

We specialise in the service and repair of BMW’s and MINI’s. Good quality workmanship, attention to detail and honest feedback to clients is at the core of our business. Integrity is crucial to winning clients’ trust.

09/06/2026

Good morning, all!

We loved the footage of an amazing BMW and MINI collection in this video. If you have time to watch something over your lunch break today, then this will have you smiling all the way.

Enjoy!

Ever wondered where BMW keeps the cars that aren't in museums, show...

08/06/2026

,

It's Monday, the 8th of June 2026.

And so we met the new work week with its arms wide open, and rain dripping from it. Wie kan ons bedank? Boland. Boland Bank. Nah... actually it was probably Colin-the-Main-Konyn who washed the car over the weekend. You mos know how it goes? Wash the car, and then it rains. That's ok, Cape Town is grateful for the water supply. , we wonder if the public even wonders about the mundane behind the scenes stuff, like water deliveries to workshops. And that it formed part of the exercise regime today, as it was weight lifting and stairs for the founders. Good stuff.

Danie 007 is at the training facility this week, which means Colin's working all on his lonesome ownsome. Work in abundance, so there wasn't an idle moment to be had.

Although, Adele Admin's "View From My Window" was pretty humourous. Did that guy know that the car's emblem is fitted upside down? Historically, when a country would fly the flag upside down, it would signal distress, or even surrender - depending on which Google search thread you follow. Well, perhaps this driver was in distress about the Stormers dropping out of the URC on Saturday. Team 808 is an interesting crew on this topic. Danie is a Bulls supporter and the founders, Stormers supporters. However, Colin and Adele were jumping up and down, shouting super loud at the TV in support of the Bulls during their semi-final win. And the same will be true in two weeks' time with the final.

For peoples who grew up loving rugby, this Springboks off-season is getting a tad too long now. So, it brought great smiles when Faf and Spicy Plum arrived today. They will now proudly take their spots in Team Bobbleheads with coach Rassie. Come oooon, test season!

Fortunately, there's plenty to keep the team busy with, until that time. On the drive home though, it felt like driving through an English country side with the glowing horison at our backs. This lit up the skies ahead, creating the most beautiful rainbow arch. Driving into the Land of Promises. Who wouldn't want to take on that journey?

Team 808 over and out.

(S.D.G.)

08/06/2026

Clients' Questions:

Ring-ring… ring-ring…

Garage 808… Hello!

New client: Hello… can you work on my car?

808: Yes, if you have a BMW or MINI which is out of Motorplan, then we can assist you. If your BMW or MINI has slightly higher mileage, but is still under 200 000 km, we can also assist you. Because when we work on a car for the first time, the mileage must be under 200 000km. We’ll then take care of your car almost indefinitely. We’ve taken some cars beyond 300 000 and even 400 000 km, thanks to the vehicle owners partnering with us for regular servicing and doing repairs as they are required.

Garage 808 is a knowledgeable and affordable out-of-Motorplan BMW and MINI Specialist, offering you an alternative to going to a dealership.

New client: Ah, splendidly marvelous! Thank you for that.

808: You're welcome. 🙂

05/06/2026

KILLARNEY IS TURNING BACK THE CLOCK FOR 3 DAYS ONLY!

Forget everything you know about modern motorsport for a moment...

On 5, 6 and 7 February 2027, Killarney International Raceway transforms into a living, breathing celebration of the golden era of racing as the AG Capital Cape Grand Prix Revival brings legendary 1960s Grand Prix cars back to the very circuit where history was made.

Expect iconic machinery, classic modified saloon cars, golden-era superbikes, sportscars, retro tunes, old-school food and enough nostalgia to transport you straight back to the Swinging Sixties.

Think:
🏎️ Historic Grand Prix cars at full noise
🎸 Beatles and Elvis vibes
👗 Vintage fashion and timeless style
🏁 A race meeting unlike anything else in South Africa

And here's the best part — you're part of the show.

Dust off your vintage threads and help recreate the magic of a time when racing legends were born. Whether you're a die-hard motorsport fan or simply looking for a unique day out, this is your chance to experience history in motion.

Spectators are encouraged to embrace the era by dressing up in authentic 1960s fashion. From sharp suits, skinny ties and flat caps to miniskirts, go-go boots, polka dots, and beehive hairstyles.

Not only will you help bring the event to life, but you'll also stand a chance to be crowned one of our Best Dressed Spectators or Couples. Raid the wardrobe, get creative and step into a time when style was as bold as the racing!

Ticket Prices:
🎟️https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1596804572

Friday
• Adults: R100 online | R150 at the gate
• Under 16s: R50 online | R80 at the gate

Saturday & Sunday

• Adults: R250 online | R300 at the gate
• Under 16s: R125 online | R150 at the gate

Weekend Passes
• Adults: R400 online only
• Under 16s: R200 online only

Children under 12 enter free.

🥂 Premium Motorsport Hospitality Experience

• R1 600 per adult, per day OR R3 000 for Saturday & Sunday and includes an exclusive grid walk. Please note that no under 12s will be permitted in the Premium Motorsport Hospitality Experience.

This isn't just a race weekend. It's a time machine with a starting grid.

05/06/2026

,

It's Friday, the 5th of June 2026.

Isn't it interesting how some days feel more... fragmented... than others. Often Fridays are designed to finish up carry-overs, tie up loose ends and empty out the workshop. Today's theme was more among the lines of uncovering some peculiar challenges. We wondered what it would've been like to travel back in time, get into Honey, I Shrunk The Kids' machine, and journey inside the car components in question. Can you even imagine? Being a microscopic fly on the fall inside the limited slip diff, inside the N20 engine which is singing a rather alarming tune, inside the N52N cylinder head to see what we could see.

Instead, drawing from experience, knowledge and pure determination to quench the unending thirst for answers, the guys keep digging to diagnose, and do what they love: to fix cars.

It's true, of course, that BMW's and MINI's don't exactly have 1 horse power, like the cart overtaking the taxi today, in Things We See in Traffic. Indeed, they are faaaaaar more complicated beings. And as frustrating as they can be at times, just as super satisfying they can be when they give up their secrets. Hence, the team keeping on keeping on.

Along the way, the 808 community is indeed growing steadily. Which is obviously good for business. But, again, far more gratifying, is journeying with our clients. Perhaps as endless as the challenges the cars come up with, as endless are the stories and personalities of the people who choose to partner with . A bag of licorice allsorts? Mmmm, maybe variety being the spice of life. Yeah. Most definitely people spicing things up and adding flavour. How very fortunate we are to be trusted with clients' cars and so much more. Whether their tjorre are just out of Motorplan, or collectible classics or passion projects - or anywhere in between. We get to be threads woven into their tapestries of life.

On the inside of the machine's belly, the team had to come up with creative solutions to time constraints today, as the founders had to make their way to the quarterly (and much needed) ruk, druk n pluk with Dr Justin, the chiro. Which meant the shop had to close a tad earlier. But in preparation for some business coaching homework over the weekend, they had to work through the remainder of the clients' feedback folder first. What's that saying about if the mountain doesn't come to Muhammad? Well, no problem. Then Adele Admin moves the office to where 007 is slinging spanners and Colin-the-Main-Konyn can also add his two cents on what we can do with the feedback and suggestions we've received.

It seemed fitting to finish off the day with a final Things We See in Traffic, which was not necessarily the racing striped old-timer Cortina. But rather the sticker proclaiming: Classic. Not plastic. We suppose that's what we'd like to see happen with most of the wheels rolling through our workshop. That they are SO well taken care of, that they'll last a very, very long time indeed, providing great joy to their owners.

On that philosophical note, it's Team 808 over and out for the weekend.

(S.D.G.)