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

Something like that.[emoji38]

 

I gave my Mini to my Daughter for the rest of the week. Since I've got so much free time I was a hand picked volunteer to get her car inspected. I still have about 500 miles of break-in to go on the new motor and her daily round trip commute to work is ~150 miles so I figured I'd let her put a few miles on the car for me. About the only miles I've been putting on the car lately is 25 miles round trip for PT three times a week. She logged quite a few miles on my '07 MCS hauling me to doctors and hospitals last year so I trust her with my new toy. Besides, she's one of about three people that I trust their driving enough that I can sleep when they're behind the wheel.
Now I can schedule my first oil change for next week, install my NM power module and start pushing it a little harder. Still hope to get my springs and RSB installed and another alignment before MOTD.

 

You might want to mention to her to not set the cruise. Varying speeds is what you want.

 

I must confess, I left the MINI at home, again, even though I previously said I would take it to work today. Hey, a my stuff was in the rental car, and it was paid for, so I drove it. Besides, the rental is a Dodge, so I saw an opportunity for a Dodge joke if Richard saw it. :biggrin5:

I only saw Richard for a few seconds while I was shooting this car...



I never got my chance to crack my Dodge joke.

The TV show was shooting on location today, so I got to do my work without the the show's crew and I getting in each other's way.

BTW, the network is the "Phone Police," but the Fast and Loud crew is really cool. I don't know any of them by name, and they don't know me, but I try to stay out of their way when they are working, and they try to stay out of mine when I'm doing my job. I couldn't see myself asking for any more than that.

CD

 

That's AWESOME CD! [emoji2]

 

You shot that rat rod!

So now it has bullet holes as well as rust!?

 

Nice looking car, but I think it would have looked better with Baby Moons.
Great picture though CD! You do nice work.

 

Got this today for the MINI...
Made in Germany....
Took the black forest elves 5 attempts to get it right...
Hope they figured it out this time...
Come on guys... we are paying for a product that's supposed to hit the target on the first attempt...

 

New 82mm? So far mine has made dreams come true! Its been in for about 6 months. The quietest my car has been. Even after having new timing chain and tensioner installed.... the first 3 times

 

Yup...

11 31 7 607 551

 

New Pilkington windshield installed today.

 

I added a little car club identity bling to the front of my '70 today.

 

Went and did some qualifying laps around the Monaco F1 track in a MINI.

Leaving the pits



Coming up to turn 1



Going a bit too fast, even for a MINI, into the chicane


A shot of me going into a corner too wide from a TV view replay.

 

Took off the winter tires, put on the summers and took the S for a stroll.

 

Why are those 3.5" disks seemingly so easy to access? Use em a lot?

 

Replaced my A/C compressor. Replaced some bumper hardware that was long overdue.

 

I think they could make those computer car racing games even more realistic by calculating the monetary cost every time you crash, if you were in the real car, on a real track. :biggrin5:

CD

 

lots of Mini action in the garage today. First checked my car's brake pads if possible to re-use the rears after rotor change, but looks like new pads are a must when replacing what appears to be original rear rotors (95k miles... yikes). Front Wilwood rotors are near new. Guess another set of Akebonos for the rear need to be ordered, or a full set of front and rears of matching compound, which means HAWK or EBC pads. No rush, the brakes are still fine.

Looking at my axles (RF outside boot still spitting grease), I saw a scrape mark around both axles from what must have been the drop links. Need to take a closer look with the car on the ground to see if this is from the new BC drop links or if the stock parts I pulled last summer did that.

While the wheels were off we found a nail in the RF tire,. Doh. Went to Costco for warranty repair but the nail is near outside edge and they can't repair, So, they will replace tire, but needs to be ordered. No leak, but clearly needs attention.

Red Mini was next in the garage, checked our power steering hose replacement job from last week and it seems to be holding. Then the planned brake work began. Parts are new Centric rotors front and rear, Stoptech stainless lines front rear, Akebono Pads front rear, new caliper bushings (rubber), plus full fluid flush with ATE fluid.

We got most of the front done, ready to flush, but we'll do the rears first, since proper flushing begins with the rears. Thing is, we have to get new caliper bracket bolts. Passenger front side look like they got overtightened (stretched in center) and I think they are a part that on my Tundra were a one-time-use part anyway. Don't have them on hand, and they are probably hard to come by on a Sunday unless O'Rileys or Napa stock such parts. Very common bolt on a BMW and almost all Minis, so should be in stock at Mini or BMW in town. Still, not going to get the car on the road until Monday. Spring Break, so my son doesn't need the car.

 

Installed some new to me wheels...

 

Pulled the race car motor today. Load'n up and heading to Portland a week from tomorrow to install the new one. Hoping VARA 2016 will be another great year!