Hey new NAM family, I just recently picked up my first mini and have had it for about 2 weeks. All I can say is that I absolutely love it. I searched for a long time to find the right one that had just what I was looking for between exterior/interior colors and options. I test drove everything from higher mile 03/04's to '14 JCW's and even a few modified ones in between. I happened to find mine by accident one night just driving threw a Toyota dealer lot.

At first I was looking at R53's but then decided that I wanted something more reliable with fewer miles and was dead set on the R56 with the N18. The deal I got on this car is amazing. I paid right around book value but negotiated the dealer to give me the employee warranty which is 5 year 100k additional miles. So I am now covered up to 160k for anything that could go wrong.

She is a 2012 and sits with 59,3xx with everything except nav which was optional for me. She is going to get a few simple upgrades, ditching the RFT's, a CS adjustable short shifter, BMS clutch stop, intake (which do you recommend for cost/quality), black stripes down the middle, and a light tint. thats about it. Maybe down the line i'll do suspension/handling work and a tune but I don't want to void my warranty.

Two question I have are in the last 2 pictures I am missing the hatch mini badge decal and the air duct cover is cracked and any help on where to get those would be great. Hope to meet some of you soon. Enough of me talking, here she is.

 

Welcome to the forums and congrats on the new car! The Cooper S is such a blast to drive!

We offer both of the parts you are in need of for 20% off MINI list. See the links below

Air duct: $31.73

http://www.minipartsmass.com/parts/i...&siteid=215989

Emblem: $25.04

http://www.minipartsmass.com/parts/i...&siteid=215989

 

welcome, where abouts in maine? nice car!

 

I'm in Maine too, outside Bangor. I just moved from a 2004 R53 to a 2012 R56 S. Yours looks great and welcome to NAM. As you can see by the first response there are great vendors here who can help with most anything you'll need or want!

Where are you in Maine?

Matt

 

Welcome!!

 

Welcome to NAM, very nice ride!!!!!

 

Thanks for all the warm welcomes, I'm in southern Maine in Scarborough. and i will be hopefully ordering all my parts I need/want shortly from our vendors here

 

Congratulations and welcome to the NAM. The previous owner of my MINI bought the car from a Toyota dealership back in 2011.

The bonnet badge on my car had the same problem where the center came out. I used regular dental floss (some use fishing line) and a hair drier to heat the badge. The floss was worked between the badge and the hatch panel to cut the old two sided tape. Expect the floss to break a few times. The badges have locating posts that you'll have to work around. Came off pretty easy once most of the tape was cut. Goo-gone works to finish the cleanup.

 

+1 on the floss trick:



Truck Badge : 51147026186

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-is-gone.html

 

I love shiny new MINI badges!

 

Welcome to NAM, GMusilli and congrats on your new MINI. Thanks for the pics, your MINI looks fantastic. Happy motoring and please don't forget to wave.

 

Make a big difference with new badges.

 

Congratulations and welcome to NAM! Looks like you got a good deal with the extended warranty, but if you ever need any DIY help you can check out our tech articles. We also just got in a new to us R56 JCW and will be performing much more DIY works to it so if you have any suggestions as to what you'd like to know for your new to you mini, let us know!

And this is a great way to get a badge off the vehicle. Goo-gone will definitely help with the residue. I also use a paper town to help rub it and pick at it so I don't rub my fingers raw. (Did that once haha!).

-Luccia