Muchos gracias Kris!

Drew

 

Just installed the door sills!






No, I don't have her back yet. I stopped by the dealership today at lunch to install them.

 

I love your car. You have done such nice, tasteful mods to it already!

Drew

 

Drew - I like the aero grille. I am thinking of eventually getting it on my MINI as well. Great choice though! Bliss looks great!

 

Ya know, Drew, I was just thinking....you're going to have to change your sig picture now that you have the new grill!

I was driving past my dealership this morning and Mary's just starring at me like "Mommy! Mommy! Don't you love me anymore?" Even my daughter wants Mary back. I'm getting MINI-sick (ok, just "my MINI" sick).

 

GBMiniGirl, those sills are top notch. In fact, they're so cool I now have to buy some for my better half. For the past few months she has been toying with etching her own sill plates in metal, but after seeing yours now she's gonna have Mike do her design with the domed finish.
How I ended up being the one who would buy them for her though... Ah well, she's worth it...

Hope you get your MINI back soon.

 

Drew, the grill is looking really nice! I've been considering that mod too, but am still on the fence.

I'm interested in the 02-04 reverse light you put in. Did you replace a rear fog with it, or do the combo conversion?

 

Just got word that the new tranny should be in Friday and I should have Mary back early next week! Woo-hoo!

 

JDM, I didn't order mine with a rear fog (i regret it for the empty toggle slot) so I just had the black plastic there. I ordered the parts from www.myminiparts.com and it took about 10 minutes to install. Mine is hooked up as an additional reverse light for now, but in the future will become my only reverse light when I do some customized clear tails.

Kris, I am going to take some new pics soon and will make a new sig then. I've already got a new idea. Oh, and good luck on the transmission. I hope it all goes smooth from here on out.

Drew

 

We should start a "A replaced tranny in a NEW MINI" club. Good luck with the change. Do you know if they are getting a remanufactured or a new tranny? Because if they give you a new one, I'm going to have a long conversation with my dealership...

 

Hello all!

My digicam took a dive and so I HAD to buy a new one. So, of course, I took some pics of Jake.

There's a very nifty setting called Color Enhancer (or something like that) and lo...here's is my first shot with that setting.

Sexy, eh?

 

Drew - BLISS is looking so...sexy! OK...I'm stuck on sexy...word of the day I guess.

What the heck are bimmian silver bulbs?

 

That is an awesome picture. Thanks for the compliments on BLISS.

Bimmian is a place that sells things for BMW/MINI and they have silver turn signal bulbs that glow amber. I put some in the front and side turn signal spots so that when you look at them, you don't see any orage and they are just silver looking. They aren't cheap, but our club president gave me a set for free.

Drew

 

Thanks for the info Drew...and the compliment.

Wish me luck because I decided to submit this shot (I tweaked it a bit first) for the 2007 NAM Calendar. We'll see!

Btw, all of your suggestions on MINI care/cleaning have been great! You are right though...brake dust for days!

 

Wow Clayton, that's a cool shot! It's got my vote for inclusion in the calendar. Also, Bimmian is a great site. They have some MINI accessories that I haven't found anywhere else.

EDIT: Oh yeah, nice watch by the way! If I wore one, I'd look into picking one up.

 

Wow! That photo is cool! Your MINI looks so shiny!!!!!!!!!

 

Wow. Thanks for the great comments on the pic. How cool would that be to get into the NAM Calendar.

Chad - the watch is so cool, IMHO. I really like different watches. Don't wear one all the time...no pun...esp. not when we're in our monsoon season...too humid!

Kris - Jake does look particularly shiny. What's funny is that he is in need of a bath right now. One of my favorite aspects of the photo (after critiquing it) is the clouds reflecting in the windshield. Trippy! LOL!

 

Thought I would rescue us from page 2 with this rare shot of my MINI. You won't see it like this very often, haha. I went to a great MINI event yesterday. I'll post some pics when I get a chance. There were 18 cars, 34 people, and we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also got a chance to run through some seriously twisty roads with a group of 4 on the ride home, and man that is truly when this car is at home! Anyway, here's the pic.

Drew

 

Hi Gang-

I finally got around to doing my first real 'mod' on my Mini - swapped out the OEM HB bonnet scoop for a black M7 Ram Scoop. I actually did it a couple weeks ago, but this weekend is the first time I've had a chance to wash & photograph it.


I'm pretty happy with how the scoop looks painted black. At first I didn't like how the Ram Scoop looked in profile, but it has grown on me.

I also finally got around to putting on my front plate. Man, that front plate really messes up the aesthetics of the car! And with the new black 'nose', it kinda makes the car look like a chipmunk. But after a couple weeks I'm getting used to it - hopefully it wont' be such an eyesore once my custom plates arrive. Still, I'm glad I used a 'hidden holes' plate holder in case I ever move to a state that doesn't require the front plate.

Last weekend I went on my first mini rally - a drive up Mt. Rainier organized by PSMini. The weather didn't cooperate, and I had a cold that made me kinda antisocial at the gathering beforehand, but it sure was fun being part of a 40-mini convoy! The twisties going up the mountain to Paradise were a blast too!

-Rob

 

Wow Rob,

That looks sweet! I really like the profile. Hmmmm...now my gears are turning.

Did you paint it yourself?

How about performance? I briefly read that this should provide better air flow to the intercooler, yes?

Very slick mod!

Clayton

 

No, I ended up having a local body shop paint it for me.

I'm not sure as to the real performance benefits. It feels a little more responsive now, but that may all be in my head. My fuel economy has improved by a mpg or two in the last couple weeks, but again, that might be due to the colder weather. The one thing I can tell you is that I 'felt up' the IC right after a spirited drive the other day, and it was actually cold to the touch - where before it would have been fairly warm. So the ram design definitely helps cram more cool air through the IC.

 

Pretty sweet, Rob! I likey.

Everybody's recent pictures prompt my next question: how do you guys get the crazy shinyness?? Has anyone gone down the Zaino road yet? I'm debating whether I want to get involved with it (or any other crazy wash/polish regimen), 'cause I'm pretty sure if I do, I'll become obsessive.

 

For me, I just stay on top of cleaning it by spending a few minutes every couple of days cleaning it up. I do have a garage, so that helps a lot, and I've been driving my Blazer when it rains most of the time, and obviously that helps too.

I'd say for advice though, working on it often helps to shorten the time you spend cleaning it on Saturdays or whatever. Also, if you want to keep it looking good forever but don't want to devote too much time into it, just wash it regularly, and wax it every quarter. Then, every 2 waxings, do a full detailing, using a clay bar on the paint, and possibly a buffer if you are up for it. Also, work on the engine bay every month or so, but NEVER use any glossy products to clean under here because it will only pick up more dirt in the future.

Important tools to have:
Good carwash
2 Buckets
2+ Mitts or sponges
Newspaper
Quick Detail Spray
Microfiber towels
Terry towels
California Duster
Absorber or Chammios

Drew

 

nothing for now

 

I OWN that road! I made the Zaino leap a while ago and never looked back. I have the shiniest MINI in the Houston club! When I get Mary back (hopefully tomorrow), she's getting some serious luvin' from me and Sal Zaino!