Most liked posts in thread: MINI Parts upgrades THINK

Great thread idea

Mark

 

Good Library article -- Every MINIac should read before they mod ---

 

Man...

you mean I can't just add one more shiney part and expect to have an F1 car? Damn....

Matt

 

I'm installing a second grill badge holder on the Clubbie today, anything I should watch out for. Goes on the license plate holder, so no air flow issues. Should I do a butt dyno before and after?

Mark

 

:lol::lol::lol: U :devil:

 

Bad idea. I think you have to bend the spark plug wires or something if you have more than one grill badge holder. And you really shouldn't install that unless you're planning on a tune at the same time anyway. Plus, those grill badge holders can really throw the alignment off; most people would add powerflex bushing to the front sway bar and get the car corner balanced after such a dramatic mod....

 

Bushings and an alignment were just done. So what your saying is I should have installed the badge holder, then done bushings/alignment:mad2:

Mark

 

YOU DID THE ALIGNMENT FIRST?!?!?!

I'd cut my losses, sell the car, and start over from scratch. I'm pretty sure you've not only voided your warranty, but doing things in that order has caused several uprisings in third world countries.


And Lynn, just because I don't take Lotsie seriously, it doesn't mean I don't take you or this thread seriously...

But if I quit hijacking threads, then what purpose do I serve in the MINI community?

 

All good points Lynn. Too many times in the heat of getting that new speed part installed, it's easy to forget about all the other variables that have an impact on the success of the final outcome. Thanks for the reminder.

 

I think our banter just shows what can happen when mods(albeit the more performance ones:lol get talked about on forums. Someone can say they did X to their car, and it worked great. Then someone else does X mod, but don't have mod YZ installed, and it works like crap.

Mark

 

This thread makes some very good points. I have posted several times that I love my Sprint Booster, but I always add that I have the torque arm bushing too, because it came first and then led me to notice the need for the SB. Of course asking Way a bunch of questions, that he very helpfully answered, was another part of the mods.

Jim

 

Always best to ask questions, then to just forge ahead to figure out the right answer.

I do however forge ahead to figure things out at work, but this is things I can predict the outcome. MINI mods is not one of those things that I have decades of time doing.

Mark

 

+1

 

+2

I have thought long and hard about doing performance vs. longevity "Mods" to my 03 justa, which is pushing 110K miles, (that's 175+K kilometers for the Canucks).

The history of Poco;

First 90K miles (3 years), mostly commuting 100 miles a day on flat straight prairie 2 lane highway. Winters last 5 months, with temps down into the -40's (-40 is -40 in both C and F) He drove through major snowstorms, gale force wind conditions, summer temps in the 100F range, and never missed a beat. Well he did get a new Midlands at about 35K, it was about -45 and an axle seal had frozen, dumped the tranny fluid, so the dealer put in a new tranny(not a rebuild) other than that no major issues.

Since moving to Missouri 4 years ago, his annual mileage has dropped significantly to less than 10K a year, but with more twisties/hills. But no real(for him and me) winter conditions.

He is on his 3rd set of tires, 2nd set of brakes, (remember back on the prairie I stopped less in my daily commute than I do now to get to Lowes 2 miles away), just changed first set of front bushings, 2rd serp belt. Oil changes every 5000 except the first one, at 2500.

He now has a Way/DDM intake, a Megan exhaust (OEM rusted out a 95K) engine damper from Way. Besides the fact he is a justa with a Midlands in him I'm leary of doing much else to him, except some minor suspension work. My goal with him is to keep him going for as long as possible, with as low a $$$ per mile as possible. At the mileage rate he is going now, he will almost be able to be registered as a classic when he hits 200K:lol:

He still feels strong, the S owners have to work hard to keep up in the real tight twisties on club runs, and he looks better than at lot of new MINIs, paint wise.

Just how I look at it:beer

Mark

P.S. His break in consisted of varying speed and RPM, but hitting bounce on a daily basis:smilewinkgrin:

 

Yeah Mark, and the best part is the clutch still works!

 

Yeah, well the Clubbie is a whole other story:rolleyes5:

I wish we had one of those here in STL. That said, our dealer does take very good care of us. Club members get 15% off labor, and either 20% off, or 20% over dealer cost(whichever is less) on parts. We always get a loaner, and there is something to be said about getting a warranty on the work they do. We do get work done by Way when he comes to town.

Mark