KissMyS (or others, I suppose) -- can you wow me with some detailed photos? I'm curious.

 

And mine w/o the clear bra and 1205 miles on it has at least 3 little rock marks in the front area. :(

 

Abuzavi — I'll attach some pics later today. The deal is, it won't really show anything because it is nearly invisible. But I'll do some closer ups to see if I can show you the subtle fine seams above the headlights. I also had the lights covered.

Eenie — bummer! but as a true "surfer", Moe would naturally have a few rough spots.

FYI, most "full kit" bras, installed by a reputable dealer, run around $700 - $800. When detailing my Avalon to sell, I noticed that nearly 75% of the noticeable dings and pits on the body were all in the front where a bra would have made it look like a new car. I'd never even heard of them until I read about it on this forum.

 

I've attached two pics. One of the whole car in daylight that pretty much shows you that the clear bra is "clearly" unnoticeable. The other is a close up where I put a little dust at the line where it stops on the bonnet to show you how fine it is.

 

KissMyS, that was what I needed to see. Much thanks.

Bumped my flight up to Thursday night -- if all goes well, in my sleep deprived condition, I will go get license plates on Friday afternoon, and....

... wait until Tuesday, since I can't take delivery from them until then.

Oh, the humanity! I suppose I'll be standing, face pressed against the glass, all weekend long, consoling myself that I at least have tags and can see the car.

Big bummer.

 

Every day the W3606 Mystic MINIs drop lower and lower on the post list. Soon we will be lost in time as the W1307 MINIs arrive. Is it that we are spending more time with our MINIs or is it that the newness has worn off? Have we gone on to other forums that best suit our needs ? Or do we find ourselves sitting inside our MINIs at 2:00 A.M. instead of hovering over our PCs?
One thing is for sure, we collectively have discovered the MINI Mystic. The vast knowledge we have shared and made decisions on have defined our MINIs as unique. The last of the Mystic MINIs (abuzavi) is about to come home. The party is over and the four High Druid Priest have gone. We are some of the last of the supercharged MINI Cooper Ss. We are the last of the cast iron engine blocks. We are the pinnical of the reborn American MINI. The new turbo MINI will probably flood the American market place. Less and less MINI waves will be seen.
We as the Mystic MINIs must keep the spirit alive. Wave, flash your lights, rev the engine and beep your horn. It is ritual, it is camaraderie, it is good.

So Mote it Be

 

I know. I feel like the red headed step child.

I'm going to go to pick up Coop, and instead there's going to be a little yellow school bus, waiting just for me.

I hate being last.

 

Hang in there. Whatever doesn't kill us only makes us stronger.

 

Wooohooo!!! I finally got my first MINI wave yesterday and it was a doozy! On a local 4 lane boulevard in town, as I approached the light, I saw a cute HB/HB MCS on the opposite side. I got myself all ready, as we HAD to see each other at a slow speed, and as we passed in the middle of the intersection, we both did the highbeam wink and big waves. He was about my age (mid-50s), had a beautifully groomed full grey beard, thick longish wavy grey hair and a wonderful smile! A kindred spirit! It made my first MINI wave worth waiting for... and my grin grow wider!

Oh, and I have to confess that I blew the doors off of a hopped up pick up who was challenging me to let him inappropriately (not his turn ) merge in front of me at a point where two lane narrows to one just before a round about. So I simply floored Minx, (surprised myself by going from 25 to 50 in about 2 seconds, ) then only took my foot off the gas to sail through the round about. When he finally reached me, he refused to look at me and turned off the road. I was giving him my happy face. I guess he didn't like getting "Minxed".

 

JJ Blue and Kissmys - Well I'm going to keep waving and winking no matter what. There are a lot of oblivious drivers around in SoCal, but, when I get eye contact, there is normally at least the hint of a smile if not a big grin and a wave.

I continue to be amazed by Polly. Going up the Conejo grade yesterday in 6th and there was still a kick in the pants feel when I floored her

 

It's good to see so many 36ers still posting.

I noticed that Admiral Nelson makes a very quiet, rhythmic swish-swish-swish sound when I start him up cold. It only lasts a couple seconds and I'm guessing it sounds funny because all the oil is still in the pan.

Is anyone else hearing this from their engine?

 

I haven't heard it in Merlin. Maybe it's a Royal Navy thing, "God Bless the Queen" and all that tommyrot.

Speaking of which, should we call the unit under our bonnet an engine, motor or power plant? Any Brits in the crowd that can help with the proper terminology?

 

I'm all Broke... IN!

 

Congrats eenieMini! Now the real fun begins...

 

Congratulations on the break in. I will be there this week. Already talked to Randy Webb about installing his revolutionary new CAI and a 15% pulley. The other J in JJ Blue won't go for a rear sway bar just yet. Something about keeping up estimated payments to the IRS. What the heck is an IRS? Some kind of new exhaust system?

 

Yep - that Webb intake is something else....

 

This weekend I'm going to install the auto up and take a look at installing the FSD's (although I probably won't get to it before the long weekend)

 

Has anyone else put their tow hook on? I just got mine painted in red and I love the look!

 

I've got some red brake caliper paint that I was planning on trying on mine when I get around to it. What did you use?

 

Oooooooo..... Brake caliper paint..... that's a cool idea.... I'm planning on mixing up some purplish-blue caliper paint for custom color calipers on my cool blue cabrio... tow hook in matching color would be su-weet...

thanks for the idea

 

I used some red G2 caliper paint. Just make sure not to touch the paint at all until it is completely dry or it will lose is glossy finish and look dull. I made the mistake of testing its dryness too soon and ended up putting on another coat.

 

Thanx for the tip!

 

I got to see my car today. Couldn't take it home, couldn't take it out on the street for a spin, but me and the minions went to visit it.

I think the lady working was a bit vexed when I walked in and her "Can I help you?" was met with "Not, not really, just here to visit my car."

Looks good for delivery on Tuesday. Got all kinds of parts in -- tower strut cap thingies, fuzzy dice, new shifter ****, iPod adapter, etc.

Anyone else out there already score a second set of rims for snow tires? What'd you opt for? Where I live, I will have them on about have the year, so I am reluctant to buy, well, ugly rims.

And, lastly, apparently I will have to make a new signature graphic. After visiting the car, the kids used their vote power on the name Coop, instead accepting the alternate name of Tess Turbo (even though, as the offspring of two gearheads, they understand that it has a supercharger, not a turbocharger). I guess "Boinger" vanity plates are in my future...

Photo is me and the Mädchen, on our first "test drive" in the car. She waved at me while we were pretending to drive -- that doesn't count as my first wave, does it?

 

Of course it's the official first wave. Nothing in the rule book states that you must be moving in order to deliver or recieve a MINI wave.

 

Oh, she's going to love to hear that!

(all list night, she was ramblng on and on about Tess Turbo, as if it was a passing reference to a new kid at school or something....)