Most liked posts in thread: The Phoenix - The GP Roadster Project

ECS Tuning sells the Schwaben tools. Regularly about $75, but they have frequent sales. It's a great tool.

 

So, this happened.



Not exactly what I had in mind today. But stuff happens.

I'm not going to go into a lot of details. Skidded on a corner, dropped a wheel in a ditch with an embankment beside it, and got catapulted back out and over. Road I've driven 100 times.

Bumped my head on the pavement (I think) on the left side while rolling, and have a mild (hopefully) concussion from that, a variety of bumps and bruises and cuts, and a burn on my hand from (I'm guessing) the airbag, but otherwise I'm OK. Head CT came back clear, but I lost probably 15-20 minutes of time... so paying attention for the next few days.

Car is as broken as any MINI I've ever seen. I think the motor will be OK, as is much of the interior, and I think the GP bits are savable.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t446/Noncentsical/Mini Pix/05E20052-96E7-4650-BEC5-B3C68F69E539_zpselawcfio.jpg

Every person who has seen the car has said the same thing: "That roll bar saved you"
That, and the harness, did their jobs.


Might take a day or two to collect my thoughts, but I'm probably going to buy the car back from the insurance company, find another cabrio shell, and rebuild it. I'm getting good at that part. So just a temporary setback...

 

I know you did this somehow, Chris. Just to ensure you'll have your car at the track first. :arf:

 

Back in the garage and on the lift, for preliminary damage assessment.


Obviously, it needs a new body.

When you throw a Mini through the air onto this corner... this happens.


Hard to see above, but there is a definite "fold" in the forward frame arm, it's bent as much as any I've ever seen. That's what happens when you focus the full momentum of the car into that spot.

Though mine has the new "Speedster" windshield...


Crush tube... crushed.


Motor, transmission, intercooler, airbox, etc all look OK.


Both lower control arms collapsed and bushings pulled out.


Right rear shock sheared off.


Left tie rod broke.


Right front sway bar end link broke.

All engine / transmission mounts appear intact. One top plate on the strut bar bent a little, but is OK.

One Xenon headlight and one taillight broken.


Both new RMW axles had the tripod joints pulled apart and boots split (typical for this kind of crash) but they can be rebuilt like new.



Radiator might be leaking a little, but not much. Will be replaced.

Engine still has a full oil fill. A little oil on the engine and tranny, but that may be from when it was upside down. As much oil on top of the engine as underneath.

Rear end of exhaust got banged up but is fixable.


Underside of car is surprisingly clean and undamaged. Didn't rip off any fuel lines, meth lines, wideband, etc.


Even the PS fan looks fine.


Wheels took a beating, 3 of the tires are flat. Interior is OK I think, other than airbag deployment and drivers side harness. I think all the vital GP trim is intact, inside and out. Both door handles got broken off, will have to rekey new drivers door (cylinder is still in the door, may be able to reuse it). Battery reads 4v, but 0v at the engine bay terminal, so the fusable link probably blew and shut down the motor before any damage occurred (I hope). It actually looks like I could hook up a battery and start it right now, but I won't.

Important badges and license frame are OK


This could be a problem...

 

Well yeah... Miata....:devil:

This one didn't fare too bad, but it was a straight roll. Was not a windshield face plant, which is what I did.

But we're in violent agreement... I'll never drive "in anger" in a convertible again, without a roll bar.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72AfDt5IiQA"]ADAC ROLLOVER TEST Bmw Mini Cabrio www.sicurauto.it - YouTube[/ame]

 

Me too.

Yeah, I'm definitely trashing the wheels. They had already survived my tirewall incident last year. I don't run them on the track anymore, but I wouldn't even trust them for the mountain twisty stuff we do.