My friend and I decided to start a car audio and lighting company. In order to do so, we need a demo car to flash our work. That's where 'Mini Mac' comes in. It's been a long and grueling 3 weeks of work, ordering, re-wiring, and more re-wiring, but we're about 75% done with the vast majority of the work!
Tell me what you think!


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Nothing crazy, but i like blue. Converted the brake lights, reverse lights, driving lights, and license plate lights to LED. Last longer, better looking, and now my backups are ultra white instead of the yellow/white.


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Passenger Side. As you can see, i installed the new 'ghost lights' that are going around. They're HUGE! Not quite as easy to find area to install as i thought, but it looks great. Rigged it up to the door lights, so obviously, they turn on every time you open the door.


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Here's a look at the drivers side 'ghost light.' You can see on the door an orange LED as well. That's rigged to the driving/parking lights, and lights up each of the 2 crossovers that we installed on the inside of the doors.


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Here's an up-close shot of the crossover


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Not a great looking pic, but we did some custom fab to the two speaker wells and bezels. The 6 1/2 pokes out, really draws attention to it, which I like, and we cut out the metal grill on the tweeter bezel, and mounted the new tweeter to it. Not only does it keep it solid, but it's angled perfectly to the driver and passenger. Not to mention, looks phenomenal!

Don't have a pic of the 6x9's in the back yet, but long story short, the stock HK ones are kinda just glorified subs. So, we chopped those up, and added new 6x9's that are subs with 2 built in tweeters each. Didn't change the sound 'too' much because the door speakers can't be overpowered, BUT, it really helped with the look and the volume.

Coming up next is we're in the process of cutting a massive piece of MDF to create an all new flooring for the rear. Pulled the seats, i'm putting in a 12inch with a nice vented box. We're mounting the amp under it, with a piece of plexi which allows the amp LED's to shine through. Pictures will follow


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Used a brand new Pioneer Deck. the 9400, which comes with HD, Bluetooth, 2 USB's, and an Aux. Best one they offer because I didn't want a clunky screen popping out. Definitely an incredible upgrade from the stock Harmon Kardon. Not only is the bass stronger, but because we bypassed the stock amp, the volume has more than tripled. Stuff sounds amazing.


By rarrowsmith at 2012-08-25
Finish it up with some of the head lighting we've done. Bought/built new headlight assemblies. Did halo rings (angel eyes), a 6 LED outer half circle, HID conversion for the low's and highs, blue parking lights, ultra yellow blinkers, and the AUDI forward facing LEDS in the hood scoop. Is it over the top? JUST a tiny bit, but it's a head turning, and shows what we can do for our customers.

Obviously more is coming, i've already done a ton of engine work, including chromes all the hosing for a little dress up.

What's everyone think?

Taken us over 40 hours of trial, errors, ordering, returning, and playing, but it paid off. If ANYONE in the Mass area is looking to do ANY mods to a mini, and doesn't want to do that kind of stuff themselves, hit me up! We're looking for work, and the work looks great!

 

I'm lovin' those ghost lights. Wish I could invest some money in something like that. My 2002 MCS didn't get any of the mood lighting, or other cool upgrades the later R53's got.
Keep up the good work!!

 

Thanks, the ghost are 'moderately' affordable. I couldn't use the stock door light whole in the bottom, because the ghost lights assemblies are MASSIVE in comparison, so I just went 3 inches closer to the rear of the door, and drilled there. They're really high quality, and the ghost company makes over 100 different images. From batman, to scissors, to just about every car brand. They were well worth my investment. If they weren't so large, I though it'd be cool to put 1 on the rear hatch, so when it opens the light lights up the ground, but they're just too big, you can't hide it back there.

 

Awesome! Love the crispness of LED lights. And I would be willing to dish out a nice chunk of money for those ghost lights.

The front might be a little overcooked but I realize this is your attention-grabbing car. Otherwise, I would ditch the scoop LEDs.

Good luck in your business venture!

 

Those ghost lights are seriously cool. I bet I could fit one of those into my R56 hatch lid in the old rear wiper motor space.

I'd also ditch the scoop LEDs. Even tho it's attention grabbing it's more than a little cheesy and, I think, reflects badly on your company by taking away from your professional appearance. If you're looking for a little extra lighting for the front, put a strip of rear facing LED strips inside all of the grilles. I did this in my old car and I think it was done on that orange convertible MINI named NanoCar. It looks much, much, much better with the grilles glowing from behind rather than 12 dots of bright light glaring in your face.

Just my opinion but great job otherwise!!

 

Looking good, where do you get those MINI ghost lights??

 

I also like the "ghost lights", however, your headlights you "bought/built" look just like some spyder lights ive seen before. What exactly did you build on them? Are you a audio/lighting manufacturer or do you just install lights/audio?

Also not to rain on your parade more, what makes the led's in the scoop "Audi"? They look like any generic led light strip. What happened to the golden rule of lighting, you should never see the source of the light, only the glow?

 

Lot of hate there, you just love shitting in peoples cereal? Lets start from the top. The lights are modified spyder lights. So next time someone says they bought/built lights, instead of getting cranky, assume they actually did some WORK to them. Bought clear, joey modded, added hids, will be popped out angel ring to add leds to make brighter, And added more venting. Second, google Audi style lights. Since Audi was one of the first mainstream auto maker to use them, not only does it feel good to give them the credit, but they're forward facing leds, not normal vehicle ones, like normal car manufactures use. Lastly, i wiki'd the 'golden rule' of lighting. No such thing. It's personal preference, and i think seeing the leds makes it not only more aggressive, but also pretty unordinary.. Go troll someone elses hard work. Thanks

 

Wow, can't help but feel that part of that was directed at me. Remember when you said "What's everyone think?"

That is what I thought and I don't think I was overly critical. If you were putting this on your personal vehicle I would have said something like "I would also ditch the scoop lights, but I'm not a big fan of audi-style LEDs on almost any car. But hey! It's your car, do what makes you happy, that's all that really matters! (Well that and driving a MINI )

But since you're putting this on a vehicle that you are using to promote your business which probably supports you or your family, you need to mod the vehicle in a way that pleases the majority of the population because that's who you are selling to.

Because of that, I gave you an opinion from a potential consumer standpoint. If I was in the market to get some audio work done I would probably not give your company a call if I saw your car with the scoop light, in MY OPINION it looks cheesy and that would turn me off. I would rather deal with a company that has a totally high-quality and professional appearance and the audi-style lights have been done on way too many riced out hondas to be considered high-quality IMO.

I am in no way in the least calling your company poor quality or unprofessional but that would be my first impression based on my preference.

I would be surprised if more than one person came in here and said they loved the audi-lights. Again, when moding your own car do it so you love it. But when moding a company car you have to mod to the taste of the masses.


On the other hand, I do like the headlights and I'm happy to hear that you are doing some custom work on them as well. All of the other lights look great and so does the interior work.

Can we be bros again?

 

Yes, thanks for making amends. Ive owned the car for two years, and have just decided to start making it a money maker. I appreciate your input. Thanks all

 

Oh im not so much hating, i was being assertive and asking you questions about what you did not aggressive. Any hating was inferred by you. If your giving credit to Audi then you would have put Audi "style" FFLED's. As a previous audi owner and lover i feel like it degrades the quality and style that audi gave us with cheap chinese crap. And yes the "golden rule" is not a set in stone kind of thing, rather a practice of quality installers in a bygone era. And if you were to look at my amazing 7 posts i would hardly consider it "trolling". Lastly i hope you didnt work too jard on that install. Theres your dig you can spout off about.

 

Here's the look I was saying might look good for you. I'd just try it, if you don't like it, you can always switch back. I think this method looks really great and even more eye-catching tho more subtle.

 

Your just a sad man....please decide to use some nicer phrasing and happier dialogue if you ever talk to someone about something they put allot of time and effort into in the future. I think we'd all appreciate that

 

I've never even thought off inverting the light actually. I prefer the flashy crisp look, but i can see how someone would like to be a little more discreet. I'll keep it in mind for customers tastes. I've also got the led underglow getting ready to go up. Its nice, blue, red, white and all the colors in between. It's controlled by a remote, and can strobe and stuff like that. I like it, but it screams ricer. I don't gave a problem with ricers, but with mini's? Egh. BUT, it's good for shows and demos. Going too stick a few leds in the wheel wells too to show of the rotors and mgp covers. I'll post em up when i install em

 

Ill defend rarrowsmith a bit...I would assume his lighting/audio company is going to try to cater toward anyone with money. If the led screams ricer or is being copied by a lot of people...he wants to do it...why? Sheer numbers there are a lot more Hondas being modified tastelessly than minis even on the road. Rarrow needs to maximize customer base and if the largest base is ricers as a marketer by profession..I would be all over that scene. Call me a sellout if you will, but his goal is to make money...maybe he can influence the scene from the inside.

 

Thanks! Its so true though. I'm here to make the customer happy, and money. Not only do i have to provide a service, but I'm going an injustice to my customers if i can't provide them with ideas and stuff to look at! Where I'm located in mass, I'm near a ton of...'getto' cities, and some pretty 'riced' out areas. I've got to give the people what they want...whether my business partner and myself like it or not haha

 

dude! whered you get the "ghost lights"!!! i want! i want!!! post links!! post links!!!

 

There's a few options. Ebay has em for like forty, but they don't have the mini version, they've got like thirty other types. If you can the manufacturer, they're about 110$ I believe. If anyone wants to try to get then cheap, my distributor, Ramko, has them for about 38$. You can google then, and ask for paula! She's the best...if anyone does call, drop my name, Rob from RR Auto Innovations. Maybe she'll hook me up lol. If they won't work with anyone because your not an actual shop, let me know, maybe i can order them for people. I'm pretty sure they were three lowest price i had seen anywhere online

 

coo. little pricey for me at the moment... but still very cool!

you should also look into those SMD led strips. super easy to work with, very bright too, lots of colors (some have remotes to change colors). these things are generally waterproof too. im going to be installing amber ones under my car soon

 

From saying "ghetto", and "riced" cities in MA, I'm guessing that you're near Holyoke or Springfield. Yes?

 

lol I'm in Canada and we use the terms "ghetto" and ricer" all the time.

I've been so tempted to install under glows on my Mini, would be so easy to wire them up to the corner lights on the bumpers, and really cheap these days.
But I feel that under glows are played out, everyone had them 10 years ago when they cost nearly a grand... maybe it's time to bring them back as a cheap mod.

And how did you get the MTX AUDIO illuminated on the back window???

I did the same thing mounting my crossovers and tweeters in the door. Good idea :P

 

Haha those ghost lights look pretty damn sweet, the display is kinda big though (but I guess that's the point!).

-Jorge

 

Good luck with your company. I hope you do well.

My only observation is that I hope you will be keeping this mini under lock and key. Because nothing screams "COME STEAL MY STUFF" like brand name audio stickers everywhere. Now I realize that this is a double edged sword. How will people know you sell Car-Audio?

 

whats your company name?! i dont see that anywhere :P

and,... if you needed any neat ideas, i have a few i'd love to see implemented! (stuff i dont nec have a budget for, but you very well may!)

PM me if you care.

 

Yes, where are you located?