actually I will probably make it to lunch on this Friday not positive but maybe just to see you guys off

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.

Stripes look good!

cant wait to see in person on the 14th

Wow! I'm amazed. Shadofx looks marvelous!! You need to show that MINI.

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...)

Calipers as in BBK or Cailipers as in paint and such

Dont forget Miltek exhaust sounds fantastic on the MINI R50

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.

I got my brakes on today. I did it at work. Even though all i've done thus far with them is burnish them in, i can tell a big difference in the way the MINI stops. much smoother, and i cleaned up my rims a little so i can keep track of how little brake dust i get...lol.

My Independence Day MINI project -- CarboTech pads, PowerSlot rotors, and 4 x caliper refurb/paint...

...s'pose I'll ever get it back together again?

Looks like a fun afternoon project. should take to long to do, mine only to about 30 min. for the fronts... but than again i didn't referb the calipers...


HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL FELLOW MINI'ers!!!

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.

__________________

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.

I have been debating that as well.. let me know what you think overall

I also and debating strut tower defenders for winter assurance

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?

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.

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?

More than willing to assist as well if you need to use a garage I do have an attached garage we could use for the day as well.

Let me know

MINI got a new battery today, factory one lasted since 2002 so can't say to much bad, only lasted me over a year though.

exhaust is going on this weekend !!!

So very happy with the exhaust

what a great sound and so well built.

I changed my mind and went Miltek

Next up

Debating a "black Jack" roof graphic
Black Jack Door handles
Blacking out chrome belt line and boot handle to start

Hopefully this spring for all of that

Sweet. now i just need to hear the exhaust. good choice on the miltek.

when do you work next Miah?

monday (8-4), tuesday (notsure), wednesday (notsure), thursday (notsure). can you tell any power gain?