What did you do to your mini today?
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Ford City, PA. 16226
I did the one ball mod this past Saturday at a friends house. Cost me $15.00 for the 90 degree elbow, a pizza for $12 and about 3 hours!
I also painted the OEM factory tips a flat black since I had the muffler off.
Yesterday I took off the top of my factory air box then installed a 2.5" I.D. cone filter. All I used was a 2.5" pipe about 3" long as a coupling. Then i had a small strip of metal about .5" wide and about 4" long that i bent and used as a mount to keep the filter in place in the air box. I slid the metal strip under the metal clamp around the OEM black plastic intake pipe.
The intake (filter) cost me about $14.00 bucks on ebay and it came with the black silicone coupling attached to the filter and a metal clamp.
All in all it was a nice "budget" weekend! (Hey im married with a 2 year old daughter with 2 dogs and 2 cats
)
One ball mod - $15.00
Intake - $14.00
All in all for about $35-$40 bucks in parts i got an exhaust and intake
I also painted the OEM factory tips a flat black since I had the muffler off.
Yesterday I took off the top of my factory air box then installed a 2.5" I.D. cone filter. All I used was a 2.5" pipe about 3" long as a coupling. Then i had a small strip of metal about .5" wide and about 4" long that i bent and used as a mount to keep the filter in place in the air box. I slid the metal strip under the metal clamp around the OEM black plastic intake pipe.
The intake (filter) cost me about $14.00 bucks on ebay and it came with the black silicone coupling attached to the filter and a metal clamp.
All in all it was a nice "budget" weekend! (Hey im married with a 2 year old daughter with 2 dogs and 2 cats
)One ball mod - $15.00
Intake - $14.00
All in all for about $35-$40 bucks in parts i got an exhaust and intake
First oil change service, NM insert install, break-in miles logged
Finished logging break-in miles on my MCS today, and I'd promised myself I'd do a quick oil change service at this point (force of habit).
a. new filter, 4.x qts of real MINI oil: 20 minutes. The change kit I bought from Way was just right, I didn't have Goliath install my drain plug like some others I'd read about and the supplied hex wrench was aok. That filter *is* down there a ways...no real issue though.
b. While I was under there...installed an NM insert: 8 minutes. Surprised that my 1/2 drive set didn't have a 16mm socket, but I made do with my 3/8ths set and it's foot-long breaker. It had helped a lot to read about other's installs. Loosen the small end, remove the bolt on the large end, swing down, press in the inserts, slide back into place. No issues. I could easily move the engine/the torque arm with my one hand to line up the bolt hole and use my other hand to put it back into place. Quick test drive: *yes*, very noticable, the "wind-up" when accelerating / slowing is substantially reduced. Apply throttle: it just goes. I didn't notice any extra vibration at idle. Just a 10 minute drive, I'll have more experience tomorrow, but my first impression mirrors many others: it's a nice improvement for just a few dollars.
A good 1/2 hour investment...and got to learn a bit more about how my MINI is put together!
a. new filter, 4.x qts of real MINI oil: 20 minutes. The change kit I bought from Way was just right, I didn't have Goliath install my drain plug like some others I'd read about and the supplied hex wrench was aok. That filter *is* down there a ways...no real issue though.
b. While I was under there...installed an NM insert: 8 minutes. Surprised that my 1/2 drive set didn't have a 16mm socket, but I made do with my 3/8ths set and it's foot-long breaker. It had helped a lot to read about other's installs. Loosen the small end, remove the bolt on the large end, swing down, press in the inserts, slide back into place. No issues. I could easily move the engine/the torque arm with my one hand to line up the bolt hole and use my other hand to put it back into place. Quick test drive: *yes*, very noticable, the "wind-up" when accelerating / slowing is substantially reduced. Apply throttle: it just goes. I didn't notice any extra vibration at idle. Just a 10 minute drive, I'll have more experience tomorrow, but my first impression mirrors many others: it's a nice improvement for just a few dollars.
A good 1/2 hour investment...and got to learn a bit more about how my MINI is put together!
Paid the Lexus dealer's detailer to professionally detail the interior, engine bay, and exterior. Yes, usually I do this myself, but I had no time nor the proper equipment and chemistry to clean leather/cloth seats, etc.
All I can say is Wow. In a very good way.
All I can say is Wow. In a very good way.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 14
From: NW Georgia, USA
I installed a new battery in my MINI. There was nothing wrong with the one I had, but since it is a 2005 MCS still running the original battery, I figured it's better to be safe than sorry. Seven years on the original battery has got to be a record!
I got the 2009 MCS back from the shop today. Had a small ding repaired. In the meanwhile, the DDM Works intake came in along with the MGP caliper covers and carbon fiber vinyl. I had enough time to get the intake installed before it got dark. I managed to ge t the bot handle covered with the CF vinyl, but it was too dark to take pics of that. The NM Eng. carbon fiber splitter arrives tomorrow. I am really looking forward to installing it.
Tomorrow will bring more pics.
Tomorrow will bring more pics.
Neutral
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, NC
On the Mini not much that can be seen but in the last month:
Oil change,
Spark plugs- Over 60k on the S actually over 63k now
New turbo oil line with heat shield- old one was leaking and 2007 did not have the shield
Powerflex Torque Arm bushings
BSH Lower Engine mount Bushings
Month before Way Motor Works Diverter valve
One me...PermaGrin, gave some to my friend too who I let test drive the Mini.
Oil change,
Spark plugs- Over 60k on the S actually over 63k now
New turbo oil line with heat shield- old one was leaking and 2007 did not have the shield
Powerflex Torque Arm bushings
BSH Lower Engine mount Bushings
Month before Way Motor Works Diverter valve
One me...PermaGrin, gave some to my friend too who I let test drive the Mini.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Long Island, NY
Washed up my winter wheels - getting ready to store them away. Also stopped in to see a local graphics shop to see about some custom center cap decals for my new wheels - really tempted to see about some graphics for the door panels while I'm at it!
http://www.eemproductions.bigcartel.com/
I must admit I have not done anything to my car in the past week other than drive it (around 800 miles I guess). Went to a big show in CT the day before Easter so I cleaned it up real nice but I haven't touched it since
maybe this weekend I'll give it a nice wash.
Alliance Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 230
From: York, Pennsylvania
had a cracked strut mount replaced a few months ago, which involved removing and putting the strut back in,
and just got around to re-checking the alignment yesterday - found about 1/16 to 3/32 inch toe out in the front,
so I corrected it back to zero which is my preferred setting.
and just got around to re-checking the alignment yesterday - found about 1/16 to 3/32 inch toe out in the front,
so I corrected it back to zero which is my preferred setting.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: RIGHT BEHIND YOU... Made you look!
Swapping the F & R speaker channels. For some reason more bass is fed to the smaller, front speakers. Swapping the channels will give you better bass response.
I believe there is a how-to thread on doing it.
I believe there is a how-to thread on doing it.
