Like I said, the prep was the hard part. We put a bristle brush on a broom handle and used the etch they sent and then rinsed really well. Then let it dry a good 12 hours depending on humidity. The actual painting only took an hour with a roller on the same broom handle. We had to split our 2 car garage into 2 and do them each separately so we had a place to store the stuff.

You have to wait, depending on the weather, to walk on it and then drive on it. It was 3 days before we put the car in. The directions are very thorough and easy to follow. It was an easy project overall and I'm really glad we did it.

 

I want to say thanks to everyone in the Week 23 2011 support group. I couldn't have gotten through the wait with out you guys. I hope everyone keeps on posting updates here so we can stay in touch and keep track of what everyone is doing to their MINI.

 

Eddie, NP. I needed the support group too, LOL.

I just got my ST coilovers today I was so ready to put them on but didn't have time today. Hopefully, they'll go on Monday and I'll snap a few pics.

 

I bought a radar detector and a hard-wire kit. I might try and install that this weekend. I'm gonna need it!

 

We all needed this thread!!

Got my windows tinted late last week before I left for NYC. Ordered rear mudflaps from the dealer here and will try to get those picked up and installed this weekend.

Trying to decide on the clear bra. I've never cared for them but I'm really nervous about road debris.

 

I did the clear bra last weekend. I had done one on my previous ride (2008 Infiniti G35xS) and it came out pretty good. The mini was surprisingly difficult. There were some significant concavities and it's hard to get the material to go down in them - it just wants to bridge across. Anyway it came out ok (not great) except for a few bubbles, which, unfortunately, are visible on the chili red in some lighting conditions. But I feel lots better at 80 mph on I-95 with who-knows-what coming off the truck in front of me!

 

I wondered about trying it myself. (Almost did the window tint.) I may look into it.

 

I got the word from the MA and I can pick up my Clubbie tomorrow morning!!

 

That's awesome!! I'm anxious to hear how you like it. That might be our next car purchase.

 

Congrat's midgard40! You're going to love it!

 

We picked up our new Clubbie on Saturday as promised. After nearly 400 miles of fun this weekend, I have to say I LOVE our new mini!! I took some curvy roads out to the coast and she drove like a dream.

 

Congrats, Midgard!! 400 miles! Yikes! I've had mine 2 weeks and I've only put on 300...I'd better catch up!!

 

I put over 400 miles in the first 4 days. I can't wait for this break-in period to be over so I can really open her up.

I've already lowed the rear seat head rests and had my new radar detector hard-wired. Also I bought a small hand held vacuum to clean up the floor mats

 

I did the window tint and a grill badge...oh, and the garage floor! LOL

I've heard about the 1200 mile break in period but when I asked my Mini dealer about it, he laughed at me. I've always heard take it easy until the first so many miles so I'm abiding by it anyway. A stupid little button with 'Sport' written on it has never looked so tempting....

 

You just had to mention the floors again didn't you.

A guy at my dealer told me not to worry about the break-in period. I've gone over 4500 RPM quite a few times but I haven't really pushed it yet. And I know what you mean about the sport button, I've only pushed it once so far, but seeing it there just has me itching to push it again.

 

YURP!!

I want to push that button...so badly. It's like it calls to me...

 

So a couple days ago I realized my deposit I put down when I ordered the car was never mentioned when I was picking up my MINI last week. I thought maybe they applied it as a down payment without asking me. So I looked over my paper work and can't find anything mentioning it. I sent an email and they said they would find out what's going on.

I'm wondering if I didn't say anything would they just have kept my deposit?

 

It's not listed on your financials as a downpayment? Mine is...

 

Not that I see.

 

My dealer forgot about the deposit check, too, but I did remember to ask, so they returned it to me before we left, since I had a cashier's check for the full amount (that was the arrangement we made when I ordered the car, but was never entirely sure that my MA remembered). If you paid the full agreed price when you picked up the car, Eddie, obviously they should return your deposit check, or at least destroy it themselves. If you deducted the amount of the deposit from the total, then they should be able to deposit the check (assuming it didn't go stale during your long wait ).

 

I actually put it on a card. Probably not the best move on my part considering I had to pay interest on that, but I didn't want to give them any of my cash. When I ordered I told my MA I would want to return the deposit to my card. Hopefully this was just a small oversight and it will all be fixed today.

 

Wow, now you guys are making me think twice... I'll check my contract, Thanks.

 

Can't hurt to double check.

Just got off the phone with the cashier from my dealership, gave her my card info and she said it should show up as a credit in the next couple of days.

I still wonder what would have happened if I didn't say anything.

I hope everyone else checks on their deposit also, just to be sure.

 

Interesting....there are very specific laws governing deposits on real estate (non interest bearing accounts and the like) I wonder if there is anything like this for this type of transaction.

Wow...

 

I had the same issue with my deposit. I came to the realization a bit differently though. I had a dream I was in signing the paperwork and I told the finance woman she'd forgotten to deduct my $1000 deposit from the amount I owed. I produced my original debit card receipt and she took the amount off.

That dream kept creeping up in my mind the entire day so that evening I took a look at my paperwork and...you guessed it...it wasn't there. I faxed a copy of my receipt to the finance mgr and it was refunded back to my account. All these stories make me wonder just how common this "practice" is and how many of us lost our original deposits....hmmm.