R60 What did you do to your Countryman TODAY?
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 53
Likes: 7
Finally had winter tires mounted and confirmed fitment. They fit with about 3mm of clearance between the front strut and rear inner wheelwell.
Tires: General Altimax Arctic 12 225/55R17 (26.75" tall... or 2.5% taller than stock 225/40R19 tires)
Wheels: BMW "style 44" 17x8 +47 (powdercoated black)
Tires: General Altimax Arctic 12 225/55R17 (26.75" tall... or 2.5% taller than stock 225/40R19 tires)
Wheels: BMW "style 44" 17x8 +47 (powdercoated black)
Finally had winter tires mounted and confirmed fitment. They fit with about 3mm of clearance between the front strut and rear inner wheelwell.
Tires: General Altimax Arctic 12 225/55R17 (26.75" tall... or 2.5% taller than stock 225/40R19 tires)
Wheels: BMW "style 44" 17x8 +47 (powdercoated black)
Tires: General Altimax Arctic 12 225/55R17 (26.75" tall... or 2.5% taller than stock 225/40R19 tires)
Wheels: BMW "style 44" 17x8 +47 (powdercoated black)
Nice!. I run that size with tons of clearance but my wheels are et40 which helps push them out a tad.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 186
Likes: 19
From: Tampa, FL area
I just relocated to the Southeast from the Denver area. In CO I had a JB+ installed off and on in My 2016 CM S All4. My car never liked the JB+ in CO. I ended up removing it, and i was bummed as I had an accessory that I could not use. Well, I wanted to see if my car would take to the JB+ any better down here at sea level, and where 93 octane is avail. Bingo. Unbelievable difference. The JB+ finally woke my Countryman up the way it was intended. Super fun. Feels like a different car! I also installed a K&N drop in air filter. I expected no change at all. The change in engine sound is very noticeable. My Countryman sounds meaner and I can hear all the whistles and whirrrs from the turbo. Also fun.
I mounted winter tires (I'm cheating a little because it's been a few weeks). I opted for non-run flat Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3. A week ago we got 8" of snow and the tires were great. We live in the bluffs about 500 feet up. The road is steep and has a couple of switchbacks. No trouble at all between the tires and All4. And the ride quality of non-run flats is great. Transformed the car. There's a lot of life left in my RF Michelin summer tires but I'm looking for an excuse to ditch them come Spring.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 105
Ditch the runflats! I put 225/45/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Tires on our CMS All4 and transforming the car is an understatement! I have runflats on my JCW and those will be going as well when they wear down! You will save $ by going with non runflats also....it’s a win-win!
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
Ditch the runflats! I put 225/45/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Tires on our CMS All4 and transforming the car is an understatement! I have runflats on my JCW and those will be going as well when they wear down! You will save $ by going with non runflats also....it’s a win-win!
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
I didn’t do it today, but today I checked and my PCV diaphragm replacement is doing just fine! I’m very pleased to save $ anytime, especially since I have no warranty anymore. So for $25 including shipping, I replaced it, instead of $400 for a new valve cover, the diaphragm was about $25 including shipping from Russia. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to arrive, but the money saved makes the wait worth it! If interested I have a thread about it titled “PCV repair question “ and I will be making a brief DIY write up for those that wish to go this route. You can PM me for more info too.
Ive gone and put about 150 miles on it so far and gained a little over 6 mpg from it!
Ive gone and put about 150 miles on it so far and gained a little over 6 mpg from it!
I'd read about the Hakkapeliittas for years but before moving to Wisconsin we lived in Florida for 5 years. Finally have a need for them.
I'm printing the below and giving it to my wife.
I'm printing the below and giving it to my wife.
Ditch the runflats! I put 225/45/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ Tires on our CMS All4 and transforming the car is an understatement! I have runflats on my JCW and those will be going as well when they wear down! You will save $ by going with non runflats also....it’s a win-win!
Wow that alt did not last long at all.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
My alt went at 200K on the R52, AC compressor just locked up at 284K. So i guess its just the MINI 
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
My new (to me) Thingy came today! Thanks Mariokart for sending me a sprint booster v3! I’m going to go find out if it really is a five minute install, lol.
Once I get it installed I will have to drive around for a while to figure out where I like it set at. And see if the ECU needs time to adjust to it. I wouldn’t think so, but I read somewhere that it does need a while to do just that. We’ll see.
Im excited though!
Ok, I just spent all of a minute and a half installing it, it’s even easier than I thought to install.
Now to drive it and play with the settings!
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 46
Likes: 14
From: Live free or die
i have 96 k on my 15 soo kinda I drive the wheels off it. Good news is I was able to do it in under 3 hours and I didn't have to take the bumper off like everyone said did it my way
It's not so much with I did but what I'm creating! I'm looking to create the perfect hybrid turbo....
Fast stock-like spool
350hp capable
useable low end torque
Solid high end power
It's been a years in the work, just because I don't have the access to the actually machinery and I own a company that keeps me pretty busy. But, I'm hoping to have an answer and solution by mid next year!
Fast stock-like spool
350hp capable
useable low end torque
Solid high end power
It's been a years in the work, just because I don't have the access to the actually machinery and I own a company that keeps me pretty busy. But, I'm hoping to have an answer and solution by mid next year!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 103
Likes: 14
From: Thurston County, WA
Blacked out fender flares
Slowly but surely reducing the amount of chrome and non primary colored trim pieces. Not sure I'll black out all the chrome, we will see. My Mini is green and black and I want everything to be one or the other.
I recently replaced my fender indicators (Yellow front, red rear) with "Smoked" versions from WayMotor Works. Replacement was easy, only a few curse words needed. I did upgrade the lamps that came with the new signals, they were not bright enough for my liking.
Next...the chrome grill trim.
I recently replaced my fender indicators (Yellow front, red rear) with "Smoked" versions from WayMotor Works. Replacement was easy, only a few curse words needed. I did upgrade the lamps that came with the new signals, they were not bright enough for my liking.
Next...the chrome grill trim.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
It's not so much with I did but what I'm creating! I'm looking to create the perfect hybrid turbo....
Fast stock-like spool
350hp capable
useable low end torque
Solid high end power
It's been a years in the work, just because I don't have the access to the actually machinery and I own a company that keeps me pretty busy. But, I'm hoping to have an answer and solution by mid next year!
Fast stock-like spool
350hp capable
useable low end torque
Solid high end power
It's been a years in the work, just because I don't have the access to the actually machinery and I own a company that keeps me pretty busy. But, I'm hoping to have an answer and solution by mid next year!
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
Slowly but surely reducing the amount of chrome and non primary colored trim pieces. Not sure I'll black out all the chrome, we will see. My Mini is green and black and I want everything to be one or the other.
I recently replaced my fender indicators (Yellow front, red rear) with "Smoked" versions from WayMotor Works. Replacement was easy, only a few curse words needed. I did upgrade the lamps that came with the new signals, they were not bright enough for my liking.
Next...the chrome grill trim.
I recently replaced my fender indicators (Yellow front, red rear) with "Smoked" versions from WayMotor Works. Replacement was easy, only a few curse words needed. I did upgrade the lamps that came with the new signals, they were not bright enough for my liking.
Next...the chrome grill trim.
Here is before and after.
Before
Another angle from before
After
After
It's been hard but I'm doing my best to find the best combo of compressor size and turbine style. 400hp is cool and all but most people won't want to go that high, mainly because they'll need a little bit of engine work. trying to keep within a realistic range of what the stock engine can handle, at least the N18.
So with that said... even a 47mm is too much for most people to maximize. That's what I currently run. The 42-45mm range available now are pretty darn good, but I feel there is still lots of potential to have quicker spool and more torque early on in the RPM range. We'll see I guess!
So with that said... even a 47mm is too much for most people to maximize. That's what I currently run. The 42-45mm range available now are pretty darn good, but I feel there is still lots of potential to have quicker spool and more torque early on in the RPM range. We'll see I guess!
The wheels look incredible. You did that with plastic-dip? Wow.
The grill trim is easily done with plasti-dip. It’s what I used to Black our mine, including the wheels. It was originally just to see if I liked it, and I figured when it started to peel, it would remove it and use something more permanent. But after at least half a year, it still looks great! It’s easy to do too!
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 246
From: Washington state
Thank you. Yeah I used plastic-dip for all of it. I did the wheels, the belt line chrome, the grill chrome, and the light rings and emblems with it. It really looks way better than I ever expected it to. The trick was using just a little bit of glossifier too, but only a light coat to make it a more satin like finish. I would not recommend using it for the door handles though, lol.... I tried that and it started peeling off almost right away on the passenger side where my wife and son get in. Plus it was in the hottest part of the summer, so it stayed a little bit soft for about a week. But it’s been on there really well since. Multiple car washes (drive-thru too) and even a flat repair that only left me with about a dime sized spot to touch up. I was very surprised by how well it holds up!
