Hey all,

New guy here. Just picked up a 2007 Sparkling Silver Cooper. I traded in a 2007 Infiniti G35X to pick it up; really nice to have a car that gets great fuel mileage and a manual again.

I've done a few things since I picked it up Saturday. Namely a wash/claybar/polish (M105/M205)/wax (NXT 2.0), followed by doing a plasti-dip of the factory grill center and the "Joey mod" on the headlights. The front just had waaaaaaaaaay too much chrome for me, especially on the silver car.

Here's a couple pics of it, first few the day after I got it, the last one with the new mods.







And the slightly tweaked front now:



I plan on having the roof done in gloss black vinyl, changing the side markers to the vented "aero" ones, and adding hood stripes in the near future. I have an appointment for window tint (30%) this weekend also.

I also have a Mazda RX7 with an LS1 conversion that's my toy.

 

Nice color!!
Tasteful mods. Have fun.

 

Welcome aboard and good luck. Just remember to WAVE.

 

Nice! It's gonna look even better after all that. I can't wait to see the pics.

 

Here is a link about the wave. LOL https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...heres-how.html

Also maybe you can add your story here.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...your-mini.html

 

Nice trade in congrats on the pick up! Also.......... Pics of the rx7 :D??

 

Looks great!!! Thinking mine is a little 'over chromed' too............

 

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I will be sure to wave. I used to drive a Subaru and we generally did a head nod, so it's old hat to me. :D I have a local friend with an MCS that is helping me with some MINI specific knowledge (and probably a few parts as well).

I will post up some more pictures as I complete the modifications. I'm VERY pleased with how the tint turned out. I'm going to look at new (to me) wheels tomorrow. If I end up getting those, I will snap some pics. I've gotten a lot of compliments on the car thus far, people really like these little guys. It's a lot of fun to drive, very pleased with my purchase.

As requested, here's a couple pics of the RX7:





It's a forged 347" LS1, 76mm billet turbo, Rossler Terminator Powerglide w/ PTC 5000 RPM converter, controlled by a Big Stuff 3 computer with a Ford 8.8" 4 link, swilling E85.

 

I have to agree, very tasteful mods. ::nods

Hope you'll post more pics as you make updates. You really do good work, and your front looks very tasteful and sharp being de-chromed like that.

Regards,
AlexQS

 

Thanks guys. I generally try to follow the concept of "stock+" on mods. Things that another owner of the same vehicle would notice, but most people would think was just a factory option.

I just picked up some R98s today in trade for my stock 15s. They need a little cleanup, but will turn out very nice when done. They will have black centers and silver rims, keeping with the black/chrome(or silver) theme.

Ordered up my short shifter and engine torque brace insert today as well as the hood stripes.

 

Progress:







I am torn on doing the lips of the wheels in silver or not. Bolts will get taken back to stainless regardless though.

 

I think you should get the edges of the wheels in silver. It would definitely go well with your black and chrome theme. Looks nice!

 

Thanks! I agree, black w/ silver lip it is.

 

Welcome and congrats on your new MINI.

 

Finished up my urethane filled torque arm today and drove it a bit. WOW, I thought people were being overly dramatic with the whole "huge difference" bit. Nope, it really is very noticeable. Much better response, with no "yo-yo" effect. I have slightly more NVH at idle, but it's barely enough to be noticeable, and well worth the tradeoff.

I also completed the refinishing of the wheels this weekend, they look much better with the silver lip, polished bolts and repainted centers (still satin black, just not beat up anymore, haha) and also installed my hood stripes. While the car was in the air, I cleaned up the surface rust on some of the bolts/subframe joints and sealed it up also. Nothing major, just some surface crud. Waiting on the short shift kit to come in.