Thanks for the tip. I already haven't done it yet. TS Debby gave me a reprieve, but today is clear and sunny. I have no excuse not to march out there and take on that engine bay. Time to stop cowering in the house and posting on the interwebs.
Yesterday, I got out of my car at a shopping centre and saw that my antenna was limp. The metal snapped off at the base, and the rest was dangling from the rubber casing. Luckily, there was enough of the antenna sticking out of the base that I could unscrew what was left of it. So, I bought my MINI a new MINI Sport Antenna and got everything fixed up! Also, I cleaned some bird poop off my front bonnet emblem. Some bird had some good aim. Oh yeah...and the day before yesterday I put on my "Objects in Mirror Are Losing" and "Panic" button stickers from Stuck On Minis!! I also tried to put a WHEE!!! sticker on, but managed to put it on backwards and had to order another one. LOL.
Bought JCW grille trim for him and waiting for stickers from aesthetic creations to come in (I didn't make them because I don't have the printing capability....yet.)
A general caution to you and any new MINI owners..... Notice that nice factory paint job and how shiny it is.... Well there is a reason for this.... There is a clear coat on top of the paint that gives it it's shine.... I'm thinking this even applies to the non-metallic paints... When you start cleaning the engine bay.... Take special notice that the body color paint doesn't have that same high gloss.... It's kind of a duller finish.... That's because there is no clear coat inside the engine compartment and under the bonnet.... Be extra careful with those surfaces when you clean them.... It's pretty easy to rub through the body color and you will start seeing the primer.... The absence of the clear coat gives these paint surfaces less protection.......:eek6:
Thanks Friskie! :wink: Well, we'll see... No clear coat in the engine bay! Thanks BMW! There's a long, sad thread about that on this forum: Autoglym Engine and Machine Degreaser disaster !! - Detailing World There are forums just for detailing. I found them. That's how much I'm avoiding this task.
Last night took the MINI over to my buddy Dave's house where he put in my new cabin filter (now I know how to do this) and buffed out some bad scratches on my headlights. Woohoo!
Glad to hear you were able to polish scratches out of your lights. I installed a set of headlight protection films to protect the lights when I bought my MINI. So far so good. MINI Cooper Headlight Protection Film
Shouldn't be an issue now. These scratches were from whatever idiot owned the car before me. They were bad when I got them, but not as in your face until I had the lights Joey-modded. Anyway, they look SOOOOOOOO much better. Thanks Dave!
My fear was they would get broken by a flyin stone. Since those lights are so darned expensive I put the films on. They are nice & thick. So far, impervious to rock attack. Unlike the bonnet. :frown2:
So today I fitted chrome looking indicator bulbs, led front side light bulbs, led rear tail light / brake bulbs & some tastful John Cooper signiture decals and finally gave her a polish. Well happy ;-)
I just received a Turbo Oil Line Heat Shield that I ordered from Way Motor Works on Monday! Thanks Way - that was fast! My dealer said they would only put this piece on under warranty if they had to replace a failed turbo or tensioner chain. I am hoping neither of those procedures are ever necessary. The dealer quoted me $50 for the part, so I ordered it from Way for $26 + shipping. I am hoping that this humble little part will help protect the oil line into the turbo from clogging. I am willing to gamble some $30 towards that end. Turbo Oil Line Heat Shield - Way Motor Works scroll down to see it installed on the engine. It just clips on, no tools, even I didn't need directions. Walking in circles around the car, bonnet up, need to clean that engine bay. See the engine in Way's photo? See the rusty part to the right of the turbo, that the oil line shield is clipped on top of? Why is that rusty? Whatever it is, mine's rusty too! When and where is rust acceptable on your car? :confused5:
It's acceptable for that part to be rusty.... It gets extremely hot because the exhaust gasses are routed past that casting. About the only coatings that would stand up to those temperatures are hi temp ceramic coatings from a company like Swain Tech Coatings | Industrial Coatings | High Performance Racing Coatings | Technical coatings to solve problems of heat, wear, corrosion, and friction. It's really only a surface rust mainly....
Thanks, I nearly had a heart attack until I saw the same part was rusty in Way's photo. I thought it was all my fault!
Swapped my header for eighth or ninth time. I'm getting good at it - 90 minutes, start to finish, including all the extra braces and crap I have to deal with. Broken flex joint numero dos. Oy. Gotta get a new flex joint welded in...