I was not riding on run flats. I had BFGoodrich G-Force on the 18".
If you know them they have the same tread as a crotch-rocket. They are very thin. If you were going racing, they would be great. But just for driving, they are expensive, rough riding, and they don't last long. I really Loved the look. But the 17" wheels help make the ride a lot smoother, and more like I expected.

 

drove both my toys today, then cleaned them... and found out I can park them in the same stall of my garage

didnt clean the tbucket before I took pics but it still makes me smile

now the trailblazer can fit in and the corvette also, only vehicle outside is the sport trac

 

jdum - I need a garage that deep!

I picked up my Bridgestone Grids today. Good looking tire and should do much better in the winters than my stock run-flats. Why on earth would MINI put a *summer performance* tire on a car sold in NY? I could see AZ, but not here.

One of my OEM wheels is being stripped and prepped to be powder coated black. They're having a heck of a time getting the original paint off... Anyone ever deal with getting down to metal on a stock wheel?

 

 

I did not drive her today but yesterday I hauled my 1/2 size acoustic bass to a gig. It fit! But...glad I got an automatic because I could not have shifted a manual!

 

I gave Molly a little more character...


I should add that I have Googley Eyes with different eye lid colors, there is White, Blue, Yellow, Red, and Green. I also have the plain White Googley Eye with no eye lid. If anyone is interested and my supply does not run out I would be happy to send them to yuo, just PM me your address, and what your color selection is.

 

That is so cool! Where did you get that???!!!

 

A craft store... They are just googly eyes with a sticky backing.

 

Giggles, I've added something to my last post, if you want PM me your address and I'll send them to you.

 

Yes, John they may seem a bit "" to you, but they do give Molly a little bit of extra character IMHO!!

And the backing does not need to come off in order for them to stay in place!!

 

I installed brightstar ultras 9008 bulbs, and new wiper blades, gettin ready for the ugly stuff.
Also finally sat down and figured out how to reattach the upper chrome grille surround, that was KO'd by an exploding tire off a POS Honda Civic ricer that lunched a left fronter on I95S while I was trapped next to him. Thanks buddy. Wasted better n an hour figuring out and installing tiny metal angle brackets to drive screws through the unseen bottom edge that meets up with the grille side. I think it'll stay put, hopefully, n saved me a 2 hr round trip and who knows what $$$$$$ from the parts dept at Towson MINI. Who woulda guessed that tire shranel would be able to break 50% of the mounting clips on the plastic trim? They are absurdly flimsy though, so maybe this should be faulted as 50% BMW as well.
So snow tires next, yup, 16" Bridgestones. To answer some of the other observations, yes, they do wander and until you scuff them in they will be downright scary in really fast sweepers, dont worry, they smooth out later and grip quite well for what they are made to do. They will never hold a candle to a proper summer tire in cornering but you wont get stuck in your own driveway either, as I did the week before I "discovered" Blizzaks in about 1998-99 or so and removed my Bridgestone Potenzas for the winter. After I bolted them on, I crawled underneath the car when I got to work the next morning to see if somebody had bolted in 4WD while I was sleeping. They are that good. That was a 1992 GP 4cam 5 speed MT with about 265 HP. It can be a handful.
For summer I went w/ 17"s cause this is my daily driver and I need a little more compliance for these crappy MD roads, I lived in PA for 14 yrs and even truckers vote PA roads hands-down the worst but MD sure is close. My weekend toy has 245/18s and they are brutal, although they stick like glue. Cjoose carefully if you go 18, better be in GA or something where the roads are better.
I like the gooley eyes, dont think it would match well w/ my scheme but its entertaining and fits with the offbeat character of MINIs in general.

 

Ordered some aftermarket parts for my car that is on her "Cruise" ship.... And yes the first of Mini,, I mean many!

 

started reading my "new" bentley manual for the eventual transmission swap

 

About a month ago I Black Wow'd my fenders and side skirts.

 

I used the same product but it didn't seem to keep the parts as black as everyone states and the little masking card is pain in the a$$. Do you need to apply a second coat in order for it to take better?

 

I use Mothers Back to Black for my trim. I apply several thin layers of the product so that allows it to be absorbed into the plastic and protect it. Stays black for many days in sunny weather. It still stays black with rain but by that time dirt is getting on the side of my car and side skirts so it has to be washed anyways.

 

Said it before I'll say it again: Kiwi Black Shoe Dye. $3 at Dollar General / WalMart / CVS etc. No oily residue like Armor All and their ilk, so it doesn't attract dust. Comes with an attached Applicator for precision application. Just apply a decent coat, and rag evenly while wet to even out the color and penetration. If you're super ****, apply a second coat. Lasts for many months, not just until it rains, doesn't rub off, and doesn't attract dust. Did mine a few weeks ago, still satin black after 2 washes and several beat-on-me rainstorms.

 

I didn't do a second coat cuz it was a pain in the as to do it one time around. But using the recommended "pea" sized amount, was too little. I would have burned off a lot more calories trying to spread that amount laterally. So I used maybe a nickel sized amount and dabbed it along the fender and then rubbed it in. But because I was doing this at night and without sufficient amount of light, I realized I was applying it unevenly, I had the shine the area with a flashlight.
I just wanted to see if it got rid of that wax residue, which it masked away. So I was happy.

 

I actually used tire shine on my trim, brings it too a very dark look with no residue, and not too much shine. It just gives it a nice clean look, instead of the dirty off colored look it normally had. I just spray some on an applicator pad and wipe it on, I reapply when I wash it about once a week. Not sure how long it lasts because I've never gone more than a week without reapplying it haha.

Anyway, today I reinstalled my radar detector, scan guage, police scanner, and HIDs after removing them to take the car in for the timing chain issue. Didn't want the give them any reason to be picky. haha.

 

The tire shine I've used rubs off on my clothes if I rub up against the car... FWIW the Kiwi doesn't once it's set (takes a few minutes), and doesn't attract dust like oilier tire shine products (not sure which one you're using).

 

I was in the Army for 4 years and very familiar with Kiwi.... I may give it a try.

 

Removed my MINI 50th sticker and scheduled the final end-lease inspection. Had better remove my grill badge holder this weekend.

Gonna miss having that Union Jack on the grill for the next 1-2 months.

My JCW hatch is still scheduled for Production. Hope it gets build soon so I can have it in time for Xmas (and before my lease ends...!).

 

Thanks for the tips. How do you think the ride of some ride of some nice 17's would compare to run-flat 16's? My biggest concern is that I do back-to-back 12 hour days a few times a year and if the ride is too stiff it can actually be painful after that long.

 

Glad to hear the Bilzzaks will get better. Actually, I think I've noticed that already. I'm leaning toward 17's for summer although I do drive some pretty rough dirt roads to get to my favorite Mt Biking trails so good thing I have a few more months to think about it.

 

ordered my 6 pc million color interior led kit, and took my car in
3 changed in my car today... CAN YOU SPOT THEM?(1 might be hard)
BEFORE!



AFTER