R53 Production Week 36 (9/4/06)
I wish I weren't terrified to do it myself, but I am. There are three "mods" I'm very serious about having done perfectly to this car, and the clear bra is one of them. Someone just recommended another installer to me who did his GP for slightly less than what Clear Armor quoted me, and I'm thinking it might be even less for "justacooper", so I'm going to call them tomorrow and see what they say.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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I'd be shocked if there was any price difference between clear bra on a GP or "justacooper." Same curves they have to install on.
NAM vendor autopaintguard.com sells the XPEL kits at a good price. Under $270 for full hood, bumper and headlight kits. Just find an experienced installer.
NAM vendor autopaintguard.com sells the XPEL kits at a good price. Under $270 for full hood, bumper and headlight kits. Just find an experienced installer.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Colorado
I would encourage all W36ers to look at the M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates as a must have, as mushrooming of the front strut towers appears to be an Achilles Tendon of the MINI. It is a $109.00 fix to a major problem and anybody with a simple set of ratchet wrenches can do this mod in ten minutes or less.
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Originally Posted by JJ Blue
I would encourage all W36ers to look at the M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates as a must have, as mushrooming of the front strut towers appears to be an Achilles Tendon of the MINI. It is a $109.00 fix to a major problem and anybody with a simple set of ratchet wrenches can do this mod in ten minutes or less.
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From: urban rock
Originally Posted by JJ Blue
We have been slowley breaking the news of our new baby to our 19 year old Suzuki Samurai, Sammy. Little did we expect the outburst of despair this teenaged 4WD boy could lay on us. A horrible screethcing sound came from somewhere in the vicinity of his throwout bearing. We took him into the doctor for an examination.
The doctor asked us if anything unusual was going on. We told him about the new baby brother Merlin. The doctor said "Ahhhh. That must be it."
To make a long story short Sammy threw a fit and got himself sick to the tune of a full clutch replacement and a partial tranny rebuild. $1,700 worth of hissy fit. No 15% pulley or CAI for Merlin for at least 3 months.
Then to boot the hot tub named Vulcan decided he had to put in his two cents worth and blew out his heater pump. Another $800. Cheeze and they say machines don't emulate the human condition. Heck my four adult kids aren't this bad. I dont even want to talk about the wind damage to the garage roof I discovered yesterday.
The doctor asked us if anything unusual was going on. We told him about the new baby brother Merlin. The doctor said "Ahhhh. That must be it."
To make a long story short Sammy threw a fit and got himself sick to the tune of a full clutch replacement and a partial tranny rebuild. $1,700 worth of hissy fit. No 15% pulley or CAI for Merlin for at least 3 months.
Then to boot the hot tub named Vulcan decided he had to put in his two cents worth and blew out his heater pump. Another $800. Cheeze and they say machines don't emulate the human condition. Heck my four adult kids aren't this bad. I dont even want to talk about the wind damage to the garage roof I discovered yesterday.
Handn, I have gotten some clear bra price quites around los angeles. There is a guy is one guy who does nothing but clear bra's. He will come to your house and do the installation. I found him through expel. He will install a bra you buy somewhere else, but he wont warrenty their product. I was actually thinking of having him go to South bay (since I don't have a garage) to install. I think it was about 500. Sticker city in Sherman Oaks is about 580-600. It's like our cars will be the Victoria Secret models of MINI's!!
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From: urban rock
Originally Posted by JJ Blue
I would encourage all W36ers to look at the M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates as a must have, as mushrooming of the front strut towers appears to be an Achilles Tendon of the MINI. It is a $109.00 fix to a major problem and anybody with a simple set of ratchet wrenches can do this mod in ten minutes or less.
1.) install siruis oem receiver
2.) install aux input
3.) install the strut reinforcement thingie
4.) install arm rest (if I buy it)
5.) take out trash
6.) install parcel tray
7.) sweep garden area
8.) install pulley
9.) re-read to do list
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Originally Posted by climbergirl
2.) install aux input
...
4.) install arm rest (if I buy it)
...
4.) install arm rest (if I buy it)
As for the arm rest... our first MINI was before they offered an OEM one. It was something we missed all the time. We imported one from the UK and it was a quick and easy install, too.
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From: Colorado
Climber girl said
hmm... something new to put on the sweeties "to do" list
hmm... something new to put on the sweeties "to do" list
I gotta go
"Yes Dear, I'm on my way. We need how much for Sammy's hissy fit?"
Dang I really gotta go
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From: urban rock
Originally Posted by handn
Just make sure you know about the "reach around" (mind out of the gutter, please) method for installing the Aux. No disassembly needed, as long as you don't mind having the aux input come out the center. That's where I wanted it anyway. Takes 30 seconds to install
Unfortunately, I have a permanent parking place there.
Originally Posted by handn
As for the arm rest... our first MINI was before they offered an OEM one. It was something we missed all the time. We imported one from the UK and it was a quick and easy install, too.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Colorado
Okay so I wear tights from time to time. I might as well come out of the closet.
That is my Granddaughter, Savanah, in the Fairy costume. She doesn't know Grandpa and Grandma are MINI owners but she knows she likes MINIs. She helped me build a $45,000.00 MINI on the MINI USA site. Smart girl, I feel sorry for her future signifigant other.
That is my Granddaughter, Savanah, in the Fairy costume. She doesn't know Grandpa and Grandma are MINI owners but she knows she likes MINIs. She helped me build a $45,000.00 MINI on the MINI USA site. Smart girl, I feel sorry for her future signifigant other.
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From: urban rock
Savanah has good taste!! My mother use to say the same thing about me... she was right.
So, your tights aren't as bad as I imagined.. I was thinking... skinny skin tight leggings kind of tights.... like ice skaters or speed skaters wear! Your tights are ok!
So, your tights aren't as bad as I imagined.. I was thinking... skinny skin tight leggings kind of tights.... like ice skaters or speed skaters wear!
Your tights are ok!
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From: Colorado
Thank yew.
I have some class. That photo is two years old and the costume is better even still. Better sword and short sword. The Granddaughter has grown a bit. I need a silver platted shotgun if she gets any prettier. I have three other Granddaughters and five Grandsons just as good looking.
My wife took the photo, she is not a photographer but she is one heck of a studio manager. I am blessed.
I have some class. That photo is two years old and the costume is better even still. Better sword and short sword. The Granddaughter has grown a bit. I need a silver platted shotgun if she gets any prettier. I have three other Granddaughters and five Grandsons just as good looking.
My wife took the photo, she is not a photographer but she is one heck of a studio manager. I am blessed.
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From: urban rock
Originally Posted by JJ Blue
Thank yew.
I have some class. That photo is two years old and the costume is better even still. Better sword and short sword. The Granddaughter has grown a bit. I need a silver platted shotgun if she gets any prettier. I have three other Granddaughters and five Grandsons just as good looking.
My wife took the photo, she is not a photographer but she is one heck of a studio manager. I am blessed.
I have some class. That photo is two years old and the costume is better even still. Better sword and short sword. The Granddaughter has grown a bit. I need a silver platted shotgun if she gets any prettier. I have three other Granddaughters and five Grandsons just as good looking.
My wife took the photo, she is not a photographer but she is one heck of a studio manager. I am blessed.
Might think about that shotgun!!
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From: Colorado
Climbergirl said
Might think about that shotgun!!
Might think about that shotgun!!
Like I said, I am blessed.
Originally Posted by riquiscott
Just found out why my car has been delayed. Some MINI employee (probably an ex-employee by now) put incorrect VIN numbers on 147 convertibles. The incorrect VINs mistakenly labeled the cars as 2007 models instead of 2006 models. All 147 have been recalled to the factory, and MINI will have to re-build all of the cars.
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From: Alpharetta, GA (Atlanta suburbs)
Originally Posted by JJ Blue
I would encourage all W36ers to look at the M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates as a must have, as mushrooming of the front strut towers appears to be an Achilles Tendon of the MINI. It is a $109.00 fix to a major problem and anybody with a simple set of ratchet wrenches can do this mod in ten minutes or less.
Word of warning, once you start down the road of power & suspension mods you follow an addictive trail.
If you plan on tracking or autox then you are beyond a doubt going to go down that road.
Originally Posted by Gr8Force
My .02... This is a nice item in that it gives you a peace of mind and is relatively cheap insurance but you can probably do without if you're not going to do any power or suspension performance modifications or autocross or track your MINI. If you're going to get a front tower strut bar then you won't need this but I'd recommend the M7 bar if you do as the plate is built into the strut bar config.
Word of warning, once you start down the road of power & suspension mods you follow an addictive trail. If you plan on tracking or autox then you are beyond a doubt going to go down that road.
Word of warning, once you start down the road of power & suspension mods you follow an addictive trail.
If you plan on tracking or autox then you are beyond a doubt going to go down that road.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Colorado
MLWagner79 said
Someone said something about the potential for needing it if you regularly drive rough roads...is that true? If so I definitely will need to do it, the 101 is a big piece of crap up here...
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Petaluma, California
Clear bra recommendation...
FWIW, I researched local dealers that used Xpel products and found a guy in the east bay that comes to your house to install the full clear bra (or partial if you wish) package. His total invoice to me was under $600 and I sent him a deposit of $150 to lock in the pre-September price (it's going up $100 for a material cost increase). When he found out I lived in Petaluma (and lord knows I didn't want to risk driving "braless" from Pleasanton home after picking up Minx! ), he said he'll meet me at East Bay MINI to install it. When I initially contacted him at his business (ProFinish Motorsports) his emailed reply indicated that "East Bay BMW used to be his account". In any case, I guess it isn't unusual to find installers of Xpel product that come to you.
), he said he'll meet me at East Bay MINI to install it. When I initially contacted him at his business (ProFinish Motorsports) his emailed reply indicated that "East Bay BMW used to be his account". In any case, I guess it isn't unusual to find installers of Xpel product that come to you.
