The wheels look great but now those rotors look tiny!

I wonder how the wider wheels will impact range.

 

LOL - too true! Every other car I have has big brakes, so this one may some day too, although for a daily with the brakes and regen, it stops well enough.

Range is irrelevant for me, so not sure. I am sure it will have a little impact, but I run PSI to maximize handling not mileage.

 

Almost there! New taillights are installed.

 

Fantastic thread! Love seeing these mods!
It'll be a few more years til my next car (ok.. MINI, most likely) but I'm determined it'll be electric. (Ideal car would be something like an EV "JCW" Clubman). I am really liking these SEs, though. But I, too, want to haul bikes around, and that hurts range. I know you said you don't really care about range, but any idea how much your power consumption is increasing when the bike is on the roof??

 

Thanks. Yea, an eJCW will be great!

After a few months with the bikes, I have noticed hardly any range impact. This is on city and rural roads, not highways.

 

Gotcha… thanks for the info!

 

What tire size did you go with that set up please?

 

"I installed the Smoked Led Front & Rear Side Marker Lights last night, and loving them!"

How were they to install? and they ebay adds says the don't fit the 2022.. wonder if it changed or they just don't know..?

 

The side markers don't fit the 2022 model years. The car above is 2020 or 2021. I have a 2021 with the smoke side markers too which fits just fine.

 

Correct, mine is a 21, and the 22 is different.

 

Thanks for the responses. The add says they fit 2014-19. So I'm surprised they work on your 21. My car is on order so I'm going to have to wait to see how the changes play out.. for $50 I may just order them anyway...

Were they a pain to install? @Tifosi

 

The 2020/21's front side marker is skinnier and more than an inch longer than the 2022's side marker.

 

I am curious, I have an i3, I read the EMini has the same basic running gear as the i3. How does the regenerative braking on the Mini compare to the i3?

Is it basically a drive with your right foot car like the i3?

 

It feels just like an i3 in terms of regen braking and one foot driving. However, the SE also has a low-gen mode where the regen braking is not as aggressive and feels like an ICE car.

 

Thanks! One of my favorite things about the i3 is the regen braking and the ability to right foot drive it.

 

@Tifosi Do you ever scrape the front tire air deflectors after you lowered the car? The Eibach springs do appear to lower the car less than the H&R springs and even with KW/ST coilovers.

Are you still liking the Eibach springs?

I find that the ST coilovers are overdamped so it feels a little jittery at lower speeds. I don't do much highway driving with my car so it mostly feels jittery. It feels great when I'm pushing the car but just driving around town, it is a bit much. My wife doesn't like driving it.

Actually, that is a better question. How does your wife like the Eibach springs?

 

No issues with the deflectors.

I am happy with the car. I would like it lower but the wife would complain. As of now, she drives it often and doesn't complain - so I guess that means that they are wife approved! lol

 

I figured out the problem with the ST coilovers and it was my fault. The car feels so much better now!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...correctly.html

 

@Tifosi Since I can't leave my car alone, I decided to buy some Eibach springs and use the stock dampers just like you have. I would like to have a softer ride than what ST coilovers provide.

I'll let you know how it compares.

 

I am really interested to see how it does compare! I know you will post good notes!

with the economy as it is, I am likely keeping mine a bit longer. However, the kid goes to University about 2 hours away next year, so I will change for sure maybe next summer (once the tax issues are resolved and understandable!)

 

I'm at only 7500 miles right now and it looks like the F56 SE will only be 2020-2023. The 2020 model year was pretty small because of COVID and then there was the refresh in 2022. I think I'll hang on to this car for a while even if it gets replaced just because of how unique it is, cheap to operate, and fun to drive.

 

It is all those things, but its an appliance for me. I have "fun" cars. I will just need one that can go 250+ miles on a charge next fall. =)

Speaking of FUN, I *may* have raced a 5.0 Mustang last night (only on controlled and private roads) and from 20-70 I had him! lol. Above 70 he killed me. =)

 

That is why we bought a new VW Tiguan this year.

When I test drove an i3 before buying the Mini, I was very impressed with the torque. I drove my tuned EVO X to the dealership for the test drive and the torque from the i3 felt nearly the same but with zero lag. The EVO eventually runs away just like the Mustang but I use this car for around town and usually under 60 MPH. That is what sold me on the car.

 

Yes, so much agree on your last point!

On the first, we have a Q7, which I love (its nicely worked over to SQ7 specs), but with gas at $6.00 per gallon and Mom's only kiddo going to university, I predict we will be visiting a LOT.

 

@Tifosi I got the new Eibach springs today and noticed it comes with two rubber, circular pads but I'm not sure where those go. Do you remember? I also can't find the installation instructions for Eibach.