OK, admit it. It's likely the largest gathering of Minis you will attend all year. You've been looking forward to this for quite a while - for some of us, since the farewell dinner LAST year! So... how did YOU prepare yourself, and your Mini, for MOTD?
Myself - Get extra sleep almost every day for about two weeks ahead to make sure I am good and rested before staying up too late and getting up too early for a week. My MINI - Sent it for 2 months of Spa treatment in the capable hands of Chad at Detroit Tuned.
How did I prepare? Can I change that to how WILL I prepare? I haven't exactly started yet. I have a brand new passenger side CV axle sitting on my kitchen table, I hope to install that this week. Maybe throw a coat of wax on if there's time. Other than that, nothing! Looking forward to some spirited motoring with my MINI friends! Jason
Gonna do oil change, new plugs already upgraded the sound system for the trip...... How do you know your on vacation? Your having breakfast at a Cracker Barrel!
THAT... about says it all, my friend! I put a whole new suspension on the Brave Little Trailer ("BLT"), and among other things (like supercharger oil), Jason helped me replace the defective pulley on my supercharger. The NERVE of that factory putting on one that's 15% too large! :wink: On The List, other than loading 150 pounds of Bingo apparatus, a Pinewood Derby track and assorted Dragon Draggin' debris, is new LED lighting for the BLT, and Friday The Mini goes to have the inside detailed - first time - cannot WAIT for that! While I've kept it pretty clean for a daily driver, this place is known for really bringing 'er back. We shall see!
New MINI5280 sticker. Let's see, new Nitto Motivos, new EBC Red Front pads, new battery, new place to hang the Nuvi, wash and wax this weekend. Next week, get the recall done, new cabin filter and oil change. Ready to GO. Looking forward to the huge crowd.
Getting an oil change next week. I have four new Continental Extreme Contact DWS that will go on at that time.
Going to have my front bumper repainted (clearcoat issues), rotate/balance the tires along with an alignment. Install a DOS CAI (w00t), and I'm sure there is something else I'm missing.
For d'Mini, a new set of Yokohama Avid Envigors (early enough to break in well) and a 10th annual MOTD UJ grille badge. For me, I'm lying sleepless, thinking about ways the exhaust sound-off can go wrong.......ut:
MOTD prep is always about 2 months of planning for me, but this year I crammed a bunch of extra stuff. Besides doing my normal stuff, preparing my menu's and regular car maintenance. (oil change, tires & such) This year I've gotten rid of all the plasti-dip and repainted all those items, I'm finishing up some lighting projects (hid change overs) tail light & side marker films, plus all the things associated with the Sprintex change, like getting the tuning done & even doing some touch-up painting & cleaning under the hood. Not to mention I always bring too much "just in case" stuff. :lol:
Yer gonna love 'em. They're a great "Sport Grand Touring" type tire, quite responsive enough without that "edge" and noise that can get really tiring...
Making MOTD kid- and pet- sitter plans now... "If it uses lipstick or a dipstick, it's gonna give you trouble" <-- love that. Corollary: Men are overcome by two fumes: Exhaust fumes, and Perfumes.
Oil change and alignment later this week, exterior clean & wax next week, 15% pulley and H-Sport sway bar on Wed. at Dragon from Chad. That should take care of it all.
Ok, I admit that a lot of this needed to be done, but I moved it all up as a priority before the Dragon: Mechanical repairs: water pump thermostat housing & kit o-rings and gaskets galore belt tensioner idler pulley exhaust Maintenance belt brake fluid flush oil change air filter spark plugs Exterior PDR blackout beltline PlastiDip grille, latch and gas cap Fun stuff pulley summer wheels/tires put on Yep, think that's it :cornut: Oh, and I'm trying to get back in shape :ihih:
thermostat housing & kit - done swaybar link - done hoping to get a tire rotation and balance in before I take off and try to clear up my front headlights before I leave if time allows have appt at the Dragon from Brake flush and front brake pads Round is a shape, so I've got this one covered already
I cleaned my car and got 3 cases of good beer. :devil::beer But for the last month or so I have done the following for the Dragon. New "DriveShaftShop.com" axles Both axcel seals 4 wheels bearings Power flex lower control arm bushings New Vibratechnics upper motor mount Rear shock upper bushings New rear sway bar polly bushings Picked up 10 gallons of VP M-1 Meth EBC Reds all around AMSOIL change Put a fresh set of new set of Dunlop Star Specs on my Summer rims New air filter Fresh Brisk plugs MAP and T-MAP sensors New front O2 Did a little headlight mod Reset all adaptives with BavTech and packed it for the trip Tested the V1 on the PA Turnpike (for use in Va) I still saved some money for tickets.:aureola::devil: