I'm slowly fleshing out my dream MINI. It's going to come relatively bare-bones ("relatively") because I want to do most of the me-ifying by myself, and I'd rather go with aftermarket whenever possible (which apparently means I still have to go with MINI for HIDs, rear fogs, etc ). I want the outside to be pretty plain, albeit still eye-catching (it IS a MINI after all), but nothing that would draw the attention of some pissed-off H2 owner or overcompensating Mustang owner, so other than (aftermarket) sports suspension and brakes, that's probably all I'm gonna do in terms of performance (who knows, will probably change and go on a modding frenzy, but I'm going on past experience of what kind of person I am). However, for the inside, I want it to be...a perfect expression of me. I plan on doing lacning74's Security/Dashcam/Back up Camera set-up (or something similar), V1 mount with remote, custom Whalen, custom Wet Okole seat covers, Coco Mats, possibly redo the interior to my own custom color line/interior surface colors... Probably replace the speakers with aftermarket as well. I want the NAV just because...it's just pretty.

So back on topic, what suggestions does anyone else have for the interior? I'm familiar with electrical work, and I'm a quick learner also. I'm not looking for the most high-end, maxed out performance car, nor am I looking to do custom leather (not a fan of leather) or any super-luxurious looking interior... I'm just...a 22 year old female, looking to have something a little unique that reflects me.

 

I've got nothing to offer you in relation to your post. I did however want to say I'm awed by your level of comfort with car modifications and the well organized choices you have made so far. And I thought I had put thought into my order before I placed it...

Hell...mostly I'm just being juvenile and I'm really just jealous that at 24 I feel inferior to your knowledge and capabilities. Good luck and enjoy your MINI!

 

You'll need to let folks know something more about your tastes for suggestions about making it unique and "reflecting you."

 

Oops, sorry, I noticed in the title of your post that you are "geeky."

OK, folks, help her out!

 

I'm planning on taking out the rear seats - not gonna be anyone in the car other than hubby and myself anyway, no need for extra surface to clean.

As for my tastes, yes, geeky is probably the simplest word. I love electronics, but not so much for ridiculously expensive 20" rims/obnoxious bass/etc. I like simple color matches (i.e. Cream White/Piano Black), but also would love to have an interior like MISFITOY's. I'm a Pre-Med student, and have a few more years of school to go, so I'm thinking of making a boot box in the back with a special shelf/compartment for books/dissection tools/etc. Also wanting to assemble an emergency kit, and if I have enough money to throw down, a halon extinguisher setup like BlimeyCabrio's (not that I won't have a fire extinguisher in the MINI anyway, just not...like a $500 fire extinguisher setup...). I'm getting my conceal carry license soon, so I'm wondering if a Euro parcel shelf or the secret compartment has anywhere near enough room for a subcompact Glock 9mm with extended clip... (Yeah, I'm...a weird girl.)

I also found a lot of information on hacking the NAV system in the 02-06 MINIs, but is it possible to hack the NAV on the newer models? I have to commute once a month to Oklahoma City (a three hour drive) for husband's eye checkups, and we always end up sitting in the car for around an hour or so after the appointment (which takes all of 15 minutes...blech) just resting to prepare for the 3 hour drive home...was wanting to not have to take my laptop along every time just so we can have a DVD to watch...

In short, I like accessories. I like "custom". Yes, it's not greasemonkey modding (that's my husband-the-mechanic's forte), but it's me.

 

Well, the one thing I CAN help you with is that i speak from personal experience that the "baby" glock or rather a Glock 26, 27, 39 will fit in the secret compartment just fine with and without the finger extender....
Oh, and btw i think the boot floor might be the perfect place to mount a Noveske N4 Diplomat (google) that is on the way

 

...I like the Glock 22 better...

As for options, look at the things you can't easily add on afterwards -- I wanted the auto-dimming mirror, the multifunction steering wheel, iPod connectivity, and the universal garage door opener. So for me, the convenience package made sense.

Conversely, didn't go for the hi-fi package as I wasn't impressed. Did the front speakers last weekend, and will do the rears in a couple of weeks. I know which end of a soldering iron to hold, so hardwiring the radar detector and adding the ham radio have been easy (this weekend I drill a hole in the roof for an antenna).

This is your chance -- think of sitting in the car a few years from now, driving somewhere, and thinking, "I sure wish I'd gotten the ..."

 

OMG that entire post was just utterly sexy.

Got a sister?

Ok..on a serious note..being somewhat geekcentric myself, you may find this site interesting outside of the normal mods (which in the end lend to a conformity of modding itself) - Try http://www.mp3car.com/ The things you can be done are limitless.

 

This post was REALLY interesting until "husband" was mentioned :-)

 

Gonna pop the .38 snub in the secret compartment when I get my MINI.

I did get the hifi but I might have to upgrade it after reading more. We'll see what happens.

As far as the radar and ham radio, I plan on doing the same thing, but probably going to see about a through the glass antenna. The ones I've seen max out at 50W, so I'll have to limit my IC-V8000, but no big deal, better to run at lower power anyway. I do plan on mounting a GPS antenna on the roof, but that'll be mag and run down the pillar into the boot. No holes for me!

BTW, good to see another ham and MINI owner! 73 de KI4CLM

 

I have primarily handguns. Two shotguns, and a little .22 rifle, and I rarely take them shooting anyway, but then you never know...

Exactly. I mean, I'm sure I'll love my MINI either way, but I'd really rather have it in my mind "perfect."

I am totally wanting to do the carPC thing now. I have an old(-ish) Sony T250 sitting around, and the thing is tiny with excellent visibility in sunlight... Oh, the ideas...

Heh, as much as I'd want to, I think having the .357 snub in the secret compartment would be overdoing it a tad though. Just the subcompact and my little stun gun will be okay.

 

i can honestly say that I've ever expected the word Glock and secret compartment to show up together on this site..

i'm a Sig guy, so i say pick up one of those surplus Sig P6's instead of the tupperware.

 

Cameras. Motion sensing cameras that transmit the feed to your laptop. Computer with multimedia software with a wifi box in the boot so your passenger can surf the webs watch movies, etc... Have the cameras record to the HDD of the computer. I personally want a Mac Mini or AppleTV in my mini that uses wifi to update from my main iTunes catalog in my apartment. Flux capacitor.

 

You could consider designing some wet okole seat covers to coordinate w/ your car's exterior colors.

 

I originally wanted to get the black leather interior from MINI because it was just ...so pretty. But then I realized I didn't like leather, couldn't stand it, and definitely didn't want to deal with the upkeep, so I wanted to get Wet Okoles that had a similar pattern. On the site, I can custom so it's all black with white piping, but I was wondering if anyone on NAM had that same color config so I could get maybe a picture of it? Agh.