Tracking those Eastern Iowa MINI Mods
#28
05-16-2008, 07:12 PM
After 5 months of prohibitive winter weather, crazy work schedule, and other generally lame excuses--I finally, finally got my side stripes installed today. 
Sara over at SportsWorld in Prarie Du Chien was fantastic and did a fabulous install. In retrospect, I wish I would have purchased my stripes from them initially; they have all of the advanced fabrication technology and can do just about any custom work you can imagine for about 1/3 the cost of the marquee vendors. If you live in eastern Iowa, western Wisconsin, or southern MN and want to get professional vinyl work done, this is the place.
Sara over at SportsWorld in Prarie Du Chien was fantastic and did a fabulous install. In retrospect, I wish I would have purchased my stripes from them initially; they have all of the advanced fabrication technology and can do just about any custom work you can imagine for about 1/3 the cost of the marquee vendors. If you live in eastern Iowa, western Wisconsin, or southern MN and want to get professional vinyl work done, this is the place.
Last edited by Gil-galad; 05-17-2008 at 06:57 PM. Reason: Add pics
#31
05-21-2008, 05:58 AM
Thanks guys! I think I'm going to take a break on the the exterior cosmetic body mods since I'm pretty close to my original goal. Next on the list... brake pads/calipers/rotors. 
(Yep, I am proof positive that the modding bug is definitely a disease...)
(Yep, I am proof positive that the modding bug is definitely a disease...)
#33
05-31-2008, 09:21 AM
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I just ordered (well as of Thursday) Front Brake Pads and Rotors from raceshopper.com. the pads are Hawk HPS and the rotors are SP performance diamond sloted. Very reasonable on the price and they will be here mid-next week. if anyone is looking for brakes i would highly suggest going to that website and shooting an email to edwin for prices on what ever you are looking for, i talked to him on the phone also and he said he can get about anything anyone is looking for. I'll have them on the MINI late next week and post how i like them.
#34
06-11-2008, 08:11 PM
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#35
07-04-2008, 11:59 AM
#36
07-04-2008, 04:28 PM
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#37
07-05-2008, 06:04 PM
Thanks for the encouragement Miah...got 'em installed and bedded in, and they seem to be working well. I even Epic'ed the inside of my wheels while they were off--is that OCD or what?
I'm looking forward to checking our your new Diamond slot rotors on Saturday.
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I'm looking forward to checking our your new Diamond slot rotors on Saturday.
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Last edited by Gil-galad; 07-05-2008 at 06:09 PM.
#38
11-15-2008, 05:56 PM
My ramp extensions finally came in today, so I was able to get the MINI up on the ramps and complete my skid plate install. Since SHADOWFAX is my daily driver, I'm glad to have the added winter insurance against ice chunks tearing up the oil pan and power steering assembly.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the Moss Mini Cobalt Aluminum Skid Plate next to the OEM R50 plastic skid plate. You can see how much more protective it is.
After all of the friendly NAM warnings about severe corrosion problems with the supplied hex head mounting bolts, I took the good advice and purchased my own 18-8 stainless steel bolts (10 mm x 1.5, 20 mm length). They're 5 mm longer than the supplied bolts to accommodate matching flat and lock washers for added security, supplementing a bit of blue loctite. Here's one of the supplied hex head bolts sitting next to one of my substitute stainless steel bolts:
Here's the skid plate, mounted and ready to rock and roll:
You can see the PS fan through the one vent hole, which looks like it still has good access to cooling air. I was also happy to see that the oil drain plug is right above the forward edge of this same vent hole, meaning oil changes should be little extra challenge.
Took less than an hour to install. It was nice using the ramps and not having to worry about the MINI working its way off of the jackstands.
Edit: Also wanted to add that I used a tap and die to clean out the mounting holes prior to installation.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the Moss Mini Cobalt Aluminum Skid Plate next to the OEM R50 plastic skid plate. You can see how much more protective it is.
After all of the friendly NAM warnings about severe corrosion problems with the supplied hex head mounting bolts, I took the good advice and purchased my own 18-8 stainless steel bolts (10 mm x 1.5, 20 mm length). They're 5 mm longer than the supplied bolts to accommodate matching flat and lock washers for added security, supplementing a bit of blue loctite. Here's one of the supplied hex head bolts sitting next to one of my substitute stainless steel bolts:
Here's the skid plate, mounted and ready to rock and roll:
You can see the PS fan through the one vent hole, which looks like it still has good access to cooling air. I was also happy to see that the oil drain plug is right above the forward edge of this same vent hole, meaning oil changes should be little extra challenge.
Took less than an hour to install. It was nice using the ramps and not having to worry about the MINI working its way off of the jackstands.
Edit: Also wanted to add that I used a tap and die to clean out the mounting holes prior to installation.
Last edited by Gil-galad; 11-15-2008 at 06:12 PM.
#39
11-15-2008, 08:00 PM
#40
11-21-2008, 06:31 PM
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I got STDs!! And when I say that I mean Strut Tower Defenders. I think that we talked about this out in Clarence over the summer and after that I ended up getting them. I think it will pay off and from what I read in Road and Track on buying a used MINI, they said that this was one of the biggest issues with alignment and all. I got my Intake on and would like to do the Intercooler since they are half price on ALTA. Would anyone be willing to help with this install?
#41
11-21-2008, 06:41 PM
Dan, would love to see a pic of your STDs. (Glad you didn't pick up the OTHER variety...
)
My acumen is limited on the R56 intake system. There must be some others in the CR-IC area with appropriate wrenching skills who could help you out, provided a heated garage and a couple of beers were part of the equation.
)My acumen is limited on the R56 intake system. There must be some others in the CR-IC area with appropriate wrenching skills who could help you out, provided a heated garage and a couple of beers were part of the equation.
#42
11-22-2008, 06:10 AM
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Hey Dan. If you need help with the intake i would be glad to help install of an intake, though i haven't done one yet it can't be to hard. I've had mine off like 3 times, unless you are talking about the intercooler, than well, i could still do it, but isn't the R56 a front mount intercooler? if so the front bumper would need to come off. let me know.
never mind on the intake, i see it is already on, just didn't read the post very well. what intake did you get?
never mind on the intake, i see it is already on, just didn't read the post very well. what intake did you get?
#43
11-22-2008, 08:49 AM
#47
12-06-2008, 04:30 PM