I think it depends on the quality of the vinyl and how much sun/elements the car sees. My first set was cheap vinyl and the car was outdoors more in the beginning and they lasted 7 years. My current set is better vinyl (from Toddsmods.com) going on 13 years. It is a pain to remove the old stripes, but with some heat and elbow grease it can be done. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestovumbles/albums/72157624232616639/
That's when Checkers stays in the garage until the temp gets to around 70 and no rain in the forecast.
If’n I waited for a minimum 70* degree weather in Northeast Ohio I’d miss out on some spectacular driving days.
Got base on the wiper cowl panel and rt fender I got from the u-pullit. It's for my 04 rescue Mini jcw. Easier to procure extra parts and paint, then bolt off and on than doing bodywork on the car while I drive it. It's so much fun I can't stay out of it. I have a freshly done 71 vette conv restomod and it's been taking a back seat to the mini the last few weeks.
The battery on my 2018 Countryman died the other day. Left the wife stranded at her workplace. I went over with jumper cables and was not able to get the car started. So I called AAA to bring a battery replacement. AAA guy came and had this portable battery thingy and it got the car started right away. I'm going to have to get myself one of those. He told me he knows these cars and he will NOT be able to replace the battery on my car. So I drove it to a non-dealer MINI specialist that I trust. Trusted mechanic got me a new AGM battery for $300. Dealer charges $500 (regular price is $650, I think) + install. Here's the trick. Before recertifying the battery, my friend mechanic told me you have to reset ALL the hidden codes a dead or dying battery will generate. Otherwise, it will supply a lowered current to all the areas that the unreset code measures. Many of the dealer mechanics do not know this. It took about 30 minutes to get all the codes reset. My friends device showed A LOT of codes. Then the recertifying. After that, he started the car and it ran smoother than even when new. The F60 Countryman is not an easy battery replacement. You have to remove the air filter box and a bunch of panels to get the battery out and a new one in. The battery has to pull forward instead of lifting it out. My mechanic friend told me AGM batteries are required due to the start/stop system in the F series of MINIs. They are much heavier than the regular batteries we are used to seeing in cars. Replacing a battery in a Countryman is not for the faint of heart. I learned a lot.
In other news, the annual Vancouver Christmas Wish toy drive happened and about 20 MINIs from the Vancouver MINI Cooper Club went and added to the mountain of toys. MINI Canada was kind enough to come along and bring a Clubman full of MINI Swag. https://www.flickr.com/photos/beken/albums/72177720313389115
Yea MCS, I'm afraid its a deep rabbit hole. I have about 12 cars, each worth much more than the mini, but it reminds me of a mix of a Triumph TR6 and a BMW 635, both of which are a blast to drive. The mini is all upside down money but one of those things that's just a labor of love.
Got clear on the panels this morning. A little trash but it's temporary anyway, I need to do an overall paint job this summer. This car was like a rescue dog, it's been driven relentlessly and not maintained at all. Plastic bits glued on, rear konis missing upper mounting bushes, front uppers shot too, motor mounts, clutch slipping, aftermarket wheels with no centering rings, tires dry cracked total circumference inside and out! It was a hot mess and driving felt like it was gonna come unglued, but there was that blower whine and fun factor so here we go.
@Slofut Done right 300HP is doable, Just think how fun that would be! Add a stand clown ECU you may get more. ECU Masters has a P&P for the R53. Just saying