Most liked posts in thread: Henrietta :: 2006 MINI RMW/JCW R53

Welp! Dragon is around the corner and I have begun the prep! Not everything I want to have done will be done such as: suspension, header, and hood repaint but I gotta do what is needed and affordable. So here's the rundown... everything has been ordered and half of the items are on their way.
1. New map sensors pre and post supercharger. It is believed that one of them is bad or going bad... either way it's bad, so the other one is a preventative measure.
2. Vacuum leak check... preventative.
3. New spark plugs.
4. New belt and possibly tensioner. I know Dave.0 changes the tensioner every year; my budget doesn't allow for that. :wink:
5. New clutch and greene performance slave cylinder. This is no fun but is a must.
6. Front sway bar and steering rack bushings.
7. Cooling system: new radiator, rmw coolant tank, and fan resister.
8. Minor other things like headlights, oil, and checking brakes.
9. Dunlop Direzza's hopefully. Depends on clutch bill.
10. Possibly a PS delete.

Am I forgetting anything? Probably not. :devil: This prep isn't as fun as it could've been. :frown2: Oh well.

 

Only going to get a whole lot nicer!:devil:

 

More stuff! Tarett Engineering rod end boots, JCW door sills, and SP performance slotted rotors. I wanted brakeman's real bad but couldn't part with that much cash. Oh well, I think I got something pretty decent.
Now where to find the time :idea:

 

Put my Vibratechnics engine mount and torque link on today! :cornut: I'll put up a better picture once I clean out the engine compartment and get my real camera out. Nonetheless, there is virtually no torque steer anymore, no letting off the gas during acceleration, just pure bliss and straight line take offs as well as much smoother shifting. :devil:

 

So it has been awhile since I've posted on my own garage but if you haven't been following I've been trying to keep my garage as somewhat of a project thread; parts I got or am getting and what parts I've put on etc. etc. I've just been forgetting to post.

Without further ado, mid-summer a friend from the MOMs (Nick=MRNTD) and I did camber plates, valve cover gasket, tensioner assembly, and idler pulley. After camber plates always get an alignment within a week... I didn't do this because I went on vacation. Forgot to tell my mom NOT to drive the car and so she drove it. I come home and my tires were nearly bald on the outsides, FYI they were practically brand new tires. Didn't have the heart to tell her that I had to buy new tires because of her but that's what happened. So I went with the orange peel all season Yokohama's. Had an alignment done in Reynoldsburg, Ohio Tire Discounters who have the best staff according to another location. They were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and happened to do race setup; even had me sit in my car to check the alignment.

This past week my dad and I finally got the BSH oil catch can on, yes I know, R53s don't need one however, I just liked the idea of keeping the oil vapor out of the intercooler. Nonetheless, what should've been an easy add-on almost became a nightmare after we broke the bolt that the occ hangs onto a few months ago and had to drill holes into the plastic cowl. But in waiting to put the occ on I learned some things; although mostly forgotten, but basically don't lead the hoses to the passenger side pcv inlet use the drivers side because evidently the oil vapors that go through the intercooler start there. The lesson here is to just do more research before buying stuff. Could've saved myself some money for more important items like whats listed below but I'm sure I would've bought one sooner or later, I guess sooner is better than later.

This coming Saturday is going to be more fun though because we are installing the helix short shifter. As you've seen in my pictures I had Whalen create a longer shift knob for my stubby arms; and in the words of Anson from Best Motor Werks, it is "epic." However, with the short shifter I can only imagine can only get more so.

However, not all additions to this car are for my personal enjoyment but for lasting enjoyment. Henrietta is getting older and more and more miles are being put on. With these miles issues are arising that were not there a year ago let alone months ago. By the end of the year I will have to do some minor maintenance that I've listed out:

1. Front driver side wheel hub assembly √
2. Bushings bushings and more bushings - Next month (November)
3. New PCV valve - This month (october)
4. Crank case seal - This month (october)
5. Timing chain tensioner and perhaps rails - This month (october)
6. ATI damper pulley - whenever I have $300-400 to spend
7. Refurbish headlight covers √
8. Paint front end - whenever I have money after everything important is out of the way

Amongst other things that may come along. Explaining these types of expenditures in the past was incredibly difficult but finally my family has come to the understanding that this car is my hobby and has been what's kept me happy and upbeat ever since I got it.

You may use this garage as case in point on how to modify your car and also maintain the life of it. Have fun modding but don't disregard warning signs like rattles and squeak. And as a general rule ask the folks in your car club or on here for advice and help when needed.