From stock 205/40/18 tires the speed will now be 1.6 mph faster. ...65 with 205/40/18 equals 66.67 with 225/40/18. So with original speedo error you are still going slower than 65 when the speedometer reads 65.

 

You would be correct if the car came with 18 from the factory and all tires even thought they have the same numbers on the side wall will have a different roll out size. When I purchased the car it had aftermarket 18s and I suspected that it had 17s when new.

The 225/40-18 are 25in tall and a 225/45-17 is 24.9in tall and a 215/35-18 (what was on the car) is 24.1 in tall. All this is irrelevant if the car speedo is setup for a different size tire. The 225/40-18 is .5mph off from my gps where as the other was off by more than 4mph.

 

Turned on the fog lights for the first time! And yesterday, my MINI had her first car wash. She was so sparkly in the fog this morning!

 

Just got an estimate to repair the damage to my front (aero kit) bumper. $3413.05

As a side note to those of you in the snow belt - don't drive your MINIs in slushy snow. All that slush builds up in the cooling passage in the bumper and packs up until the bumper pops off.

This is what I get for driving the car on a road that hadn't gotten plowed after we got 2-4" of wet slushy snow...

 

I rolled up next to a great looking grey MCCS with black stripes, tinted tail lights and a nice looking stance. We took off at the green light, then the next, and the next. I pulled away every time. We stopped to talk about engine mods. He was running the AP on stage 1, mine is on stage 1 FMIC. I guess the FMIC really does make a noticeable difference...

 

I swapped in a set of the PIAA headlights in my 08 MCSa. Noticable difference at night, both in low beams and high beams. Also swapped from chrome mirrors to black, and added the JCW scuttles. Car is too dirty to take a picture (embarrassed), but I don't feel like washing it in 35F weather.

Cant wait for snow season to be over so I can install my TSW springs, rear control arms, and IE fixed strut bearings. Life is good....

Mike

 

I have been looking or replacment h13 headlight bulbs. Do the PIAA bulbs have the bluish color or a bright white color?

 

ohhh....Mini street racing.....I want in.......

 

i changed my heater core n have yellow headlights n hid fogs feels spunky now

 

I have not compared the color of the PIAA bulbs with other cars, but they don't look bluish to me, just a nice, bright white.

Mike

 

I've got the PIAA's also. They do appear a little whiter but the biggest change from stock to me is they are definetly brighter.

 

Ouch I am so glad I have a heated garage in my building. I remember driving in conditions like that with my old car... the car sitting outside 24/7 there would be all kinds of packed gunk everywhere.

 

I saw it for the first time in three weeks! I might actually drive it today too! Home for the weekend.

 

K, so it was yesterday afternoon, but I made an appt. with the local MINI mechanic to get the passenger side axle replaced. Back in November, one CV joint's boot was discovered to have recently split (rubber doesn't fare well in the southwest ) and started ejecting its grease, and it's only a matter of time before the joint fails when the joint's unsealed. It hasn't started making any unfriendly noises yet, but better to replace it at the time of my choice than wait for the time of its failure, which is usually finely calculated by Murphy to occur at the absolute least convenient time....

As it turns out, it's cheaper to replace the whole axle than to replace the one joint and its boot, and then the other joint's all new as well....

C ya,
Dutch

 

Thanks for the feedback on th PIAA lights. It is appreciated. I want a slight blue tint and don't know which H13 bulbs to get. Anyone run Hella? Luminics? Halo? Suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Installed a Cravenspeed Tapless Adapter and Hotlink Adapter for the oil pressure and water temperature gauges. Spent a good long time looking for the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing, but eventually found it and got the air out of the coolant system.

 

...

 

Strangest feeling seeing this thing out of the corner of my eye through the sunroof, but I'm excited to use it for the first time on Tuesday!

 

I took my snow tires back off. Kind of senseless wearing them out, when NJ seems to not be getting snow anytime soon.

 

Changed the oil and the manual transmission fluid. Filled the tires with air and washed the windows. 110,000 miles and still going.

 

Mine might be dealing with that. I have a nasty squeal on the passenger side.

 

Contemplating lighting it on fire and collecting insurance.

 

Booooo!


I washed mine and then installed the FES AutoSport Plus module. Car looks amazing when clean but I noticed some minor curb rash on the rear winter wheel... no idea when that happened.

Tell me about it! Toronto has had mostly spring like weather so far with only 1/3 the usual snow fall. Problem is the temps are often still too low for performance tires to stick very well. I am already looking for my summer tires to purchase... I expect to have them installed and in use in a matter of weeks if the weather stays like this.

 

I installed new LCA bushings, new front sway bar bushings, new serpentine belt, new KONI FSD shocks, IE Fixed Camber Plates, and new BGF G-Force Sport tires. My mini needed some TLC...and it got it

It's amazing how well it rides now. Before with the worn out bushings, stock shocks, and runflats.....it literally felt like it had no suspension at all. The ride was so harsh, I was constantly telling my passengers "sorry, but this thing rides really rough. Now it's a totally different car.....it's amazing!!!!

Here are some pictures!