Most liked posts in thread: 09 PepperWhite Toy or DD?

I like to think I am thick skinned? I like to read responses as if you were and would be talking to me in person!

MINI year.
I didn't think to look. thanks and it says 2009. Also my insurance used the VIN and set it up as a 2009. So it was simply me not paying attention to things. Don't tell my wife I tell her I always listen and read things completely.:crazy:

 

I like UPS.....:biggrin5:

Thank you Aaron at Out Motoring!!!
Perfect Customer Service:cornut:
https://www.outmotoring.com/login.php

 

^^^^^
hahaha!


The Sprint Booster was a pleasant installation. I only got my knees dirty and a sore neck from getting under the dash to tie up the harness out of harms way.

After a short test drive, well 45 minutes you know how it is when hills are close by with lots of turns and you are behind the wheel of a MINI,:ihih: I found it having an acceptable throttle improvement. :biggrin5:






I may tell the wife the Red light means really good gas mileage. :wink:

 

That's it for me today.:crazy:

I still need to pull it all out,counter sink the screws ,wet sand it and paint it. Then hide the wire back behind the dash panels. There is also a need to make a little shaft to be able to re-set the #2 button which the bracket covers.
The screen display choice you see is only to play with for now. Later a better arrangement for the primary page and other pages will bee done when the bracket is completed.

So far this has been a fun little project. :biggrin5: And several hours of work.:eek6:


Time make to a couple of Margaritas!:cornut:

 

keeping the MINI

I have always thought that if I am going to keep a car for any length of time the logical investment is basic tools to DIY needed things.

So as of today I can say it is official. We will be keeping our MINI at least a few of years.

I have the two things that will make the adventure fun. A Service manual, voted on this forum as the one to own.:wink:

More importantly, the Hot Wheels MINI. I couldn't find a R56 but this one will do for now. :biggrin5:

 

I washed the MINI today and got started cleaning the engine bay. I was surprised to find oil all over the valve cover and the side of the engine. Not from any current leak but one that the dealership had done work replacing the timing chain and other parts as well, like the valve cover and other related gaskets and seals. So they changed all those parts (even broke some other parts during the service) for the previous owner and never cleaned the engine when they were done? I guess engine cleaning is not on the list of warrantied service?:frown2ealerships... :lol:

So you can see from the pictures armed with old tooth brushes, WD-40, various other cleaning agents simply Green leather treatment etc I am on a cleaning mission. It is not going to be a one day on this job. :cryin:

The good thing when I see the clean spot I have done, well to say it is inspirational.



I know...lotsa a Texas dirt under that "tharrr" hood and on the hood! :frown2: a long way to go to call it clean! :lol:

 

I think I will dig out the good old Harbor Freight pressure washer next week and try it your way. To many cracks and crevasses I can't get my fat fingers into even with a tooth brush. I use the same excuse when having my teeth cleaned when the Dental Hygienist is lecturing me about not flossing or brushing better.

Besides I want to take each wheel/Tire off and pressure wash the brakes and everything else in the wheel well along with the back of the wheels.

I got them as clean as possible without removing which is ok for now. But that OCD is kicking in again. :lol:


I said the same thing....why did they balance one wheel with the weights on the outside? :crazy: That is going to get changed!




BTW you all I read dozens of threads and just was amazed at all the great looking MINI's both 1st and second generations. And some of the upgrades...:eek6: $$$$$$ = POWER!

My hat is off to many of you!

 

This really seems more appropriate? The hatch is getting the S dropped and replaced with a T.

I know for some members it may not go over very well but think of it as another MINI owners personal touch. :biggrin5:

 

Some of you most likely noticed in the last posted pictures above the ambient temperature indication (UG found P0073 engine code). ..well working on that.:confused5:

The MINI went into the body shop to get the dent in the rear near the fuel cap and a small door ding repaired. Both of these were from previous owner. Somehow the whole MINI was stripped and repainted.

After being gone for a month we just picked it up yesterday. Casualties of re-paint include so far, fog lights and some turn signal lights don't work, the ambient temperature sensor seems bad, and the biggest thing is NO AC. :cryin:

We had the grill replaced with a black one and did some carbon wrapping on the top,pillars,headlight rings and grill frame. Also re-did all the window tinting including tinting the sun and moon roof. To finish it off we also added new hood stripes a little more fitting with the MINI then the weird angled black stripes that came with the MINI when we got it. The letters on the rear hatch were not reinstalled as a personal thought it looks cleaner.

So here it is so far. :biggrin5:

 

Tail gating me is really getting annoying. :cryin: I hope that this might give them a reason to pause think :idea: and then back off? :ihih:

 

I saw these while shopping around for MINI goodies. Sadly they were out of the RED caps but I did get the black ones. So I just painted them myself.




Little painting humor

 

Why not

"bling" can be good as well as performance parts

 

The MINI is back up and running. The thermostat change did not go bad. The belt on the other hand what a DIY PIA. About 2 hours to do the thermostat and complete cooling system flushing.The belt took me almost an hour. So 3 plus hours for both and the MINI is purring like a kitten and will throttle up again without problems. :biggrin5:

 

Ok so with a good cup of coffee this is what I have done so far. :beer

 

married life

Some how it does not seem fair that the "Honey Do" list from the wife(boss) does NOT includes my little hobbies?? :frown2:

Here is the next step in the Ultra Gauge Bracket.

 

The fit bugged me and I have been file and fitting all morning long.:nonod:
So Fueled by several cups of coffee!






Ok this is better?






I know what you are thinking....OCD! :lol:

 

Well I didn't have anything that I could recess the large head screw so I guess they will be seen.

I got it painted up today and will finish up in the next day or so? I am not the fastest on the block for doing projects but most of the time I enjoy the way they work out.



Truck Bed paint make for a nice textured look for some interior parts. Durable as well.



The lower hole is not a misaligned mounting hole but an access hole for the lower control button on the Ultra Gauge. The finishing pictures will make it a bit more understandable. That darn hole took over an hour to measure correctly and then about 15 second to drill. :lol: