Most liked posts in thread: What did you do with your MINI today?

Yeah. I've been about a dozen times. I've only made Dawn Patrol three times, the last time in 2008. People show up before 5AM now to get that hat. I'm not getting up that early for a hat, especially after a late night at RM Auctions on Saturday. They are one of my customers. I always go to RM on Saturday night to see "my" cars go across the block, hoping they draw big money.

It's a weird thing, if a car sells for a record, the seller want's me to shoot all his cars. If the car flops,
the seller forgets who took the pictures.



CD

 

I like them! How much did they cut off your lap times? I'm thinking a good five seconds.

I replaced my puddle lights today with some LED projection lights from OutMotoring, with a MINI wing logo. I reckon that is good for at least seven horsepower.



CD

 

Lots of little things for my "new" 2009 JCW R55.
Transferred the Raceseng shift knob and compact spare from my totalled car,
compact spare foam tool tray to replace the mobility tray, new antenna, wiper blades,
new retaining clip for the cig lighter socket, tweaking alignment front and back,
got but haven't put in spark plugs, filters, mag oil pan bolt,
assorted tools, etc., summer wheels and tires on order (Enkei PF01 17x7 +
Michelin PS S4 215/45/17), sunshade and sunroof shades, glove box organizer
(fits pretty loosely, could have been designed better), and more.

Will update my avatar and garage when I catch my breath.

 

Tweaked the front alignment yesterday from 0L, -.7R camber, 0 toe to -.3L, -.7R, 0 toe by taking out the
nylon pin and shifting the strut inward on the left mount and a tiny turn of the left tie-rod to compensate.
Got the rear alignment from -1.7L, -1.7R camber, 1/8" toe in to -1.3L, -1.3R camber, 1/16" toe in with
the eccentric adjusting plates on the oem control arms today on my lunch hour (took less than 20 minutes).
Now I'm ready for those stickier summer tires and lighter wheels (it'll probably be at least another week before they get here).

 

Your car, in the end, is a machine. It can always be fixed or upgraded . It just depends on how much money and time you have. Everything on your car so far sounds like wear and tear maintenance stuff.

I have that issue with the family car. But the expenses of fixing it is still less than the cost of a new car. So it is still under break fix scenario. I hang onto my cars as long as I can.

 

Oh man! A new camera? That Really sucks!
I just bought a "new to me" Hero 4 Black. I'm testing and evaluating a new Tug Hook system for Raceseng and it includes a combination front plate holder and GoPro mount and a mount for the rear tow hook. I didn't have a GoPro so I started looking for an affordable one. After I placed my order I noticed that they included a GoPro case that I could have used for testing and pictures. Oh well, I've been looking for an excuse to buy one of the things for a couple of years anyway. Amazing that this thing has better resolution than my last Nikon DSLR.

 

Ordered H-Sport Comp rear bar, BSH oil can and DBP plug, new ebrake handle, rear mud flaps, Craven dipstick, and a few other little things for the JCW R55.
My old 2003 MINI Cooper was called BLIKSEM, and although I'm running the same plates on the new one, I think I'll call it DONDER (pronounced donner).
Think more lightning/thunder reference rather than reindeer.
My wife says donder and bliksem were strong words in Afrikaans when she was growing up, so she gets more a kick out of it than I do.

 

This is actually a standard 3 spoke that has been padded and wrapped. Redlinegoods.com did the work. Was about $250 + cost of wheel to have it done. It came out really nice.

 

Started getting the MINI ready to drive in a small town Memorial Day parade with the MINI club. Started installing my carved emergency brake handle, but I am going to have a red boot made to match my interior. Oh, and I drove it to the Wed night poker game...

 

Put in a craven e-brake handle and a BSH oil catch can yesterday (bsh dual boost port/pvc plug to follow when it arrives in a couple days).
Also drove from York to Vienna Virginia to see Live from Here at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap. Stayed over and returning this am.

.

 

Oh no........LXM spreads like a bad case of an STD. That is one group of mainly hyper-controlling, small minded people.

 

Changed the oil last night and swapped out the left front strut for the last time.

 

Just finished doing some test fitting of 3rd Gen tug hook and accessories for Raceseng. I will be writing a review of the new products when they become available for retail sale.

 

Today I calibrated and installed a new wide band o2 sensor, topped off the washer fluid, cleaned the air filter with my air gun and checked the oil.

I pulled the car outside and let her warm up for a little bit and took her out for a test drive. Everything is back to normal and she is back to pulling really hard all the way to 8,000 RPMs with Meth.

When I got back I dusted her off and I am waiting for my wife so we can go to Home Depot to get flowers for out front and have a Mexican lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.

 

Buttoned a few things up in the engine bay this weekend in preparation for our cross country trip to Sconsin this week. Checked and topped off fluids, swapped out that big rubber elbow I had on my intake heading into the cowl for a 135 degree silicone elbow so now it's on piece instead of 3.

 

Over the weekend I finally got the R52 back together and out of the garage. New ball joints, tie rods ends, powerflex bushings, power steering pump, and alternator. I also replaced a !@#$%& 5A fuse that I know was good when I started this project. I also installed a pair of leather seats I picked up earlier this year, removed the Alta light bar and driving lights the previous owner installed, and replaced the melted battery terminal box.

 

So, today I drove John Lennon's last car, a 1979 Beige Mercedes 300TD Station Wagon. Another snoozer. But, Baby I just drove his car, I didn't get to drive it far, not likely that I'll be a star, but I did make some money. Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, yeah.

CD

 

Installed brakes and a sway bar.

Thanks, Chuck!