I just got finished blacking out the the chrome on my tailights and early tomorrow i will do the headlights.

 

changed the oil for the first time

 

Finally got my Plasti-dipped mirror caps back on. That stuff is so easy to get on nice and smooth, even if you're not a patient painter like me!



Now to figure out what else I'm gonna dip....

 

Setup a PLX wi-fi device with Devtoaster Rev. I was able to clear the CEL p0303 codes and get it tested for emissions...only to have it thrown again on the way home. At least it will have a valid tag now!

Got a stratmosphere flashpoint header installed and hooked up to my strat cat-back, sounds great. Still gotta align the tips though.

Cleaned her too

 

That's GREAT news - you get to keep your mods! The downside about being able to personalize these cars so much that it makes them irreplaceable.

Hopefully yours will be back on its feet soon.

 

I brought my 2007 Mini Cooper s to Greasy's Garage in Worcester MA yesterday and had an oil catch can installed!

 

Hey Guys,

Had the NM springs installed last week on Geoffrey. On Monday night, i broke off one of the strut tower bolts adding a strut brace from VIP. Freaked out for 24 hours and then drilled it out and put in a new bolt from the bottom, check out the shiny zinc bolt on the left of the picture. I will have it tack welded when I get some suspension work done in the future. Also gave Geoffrey new Motegi wheels and 235/45/17 Dunlop Star Specs. He is a new machine this week!

 

Sounds to me like a great excuse to replace your factory strut mounts (which are noted for being a bit weak and having weak mount bolts) with Ireland Engineering's fixed camber plates, which have a much stronger metal plate and bolts than the stock units.

I got 'em for mine, and they really help the car in quick turns!

C ya,
Dutch

 

I wish I had known about these before I bought OEM mounts and cravenspeed under tower indurators...

much better deal...

I will replace mine eventually.

 

Hey Dutch,

Do these work for the Countryman? I haven't seen them listed as fitting anywhere. I would like camber plates for the front, and control arms for the rear, but I am waiting for them to be available.

Thanks,

 

Yes, you will. The rubber in the strut mount bushings on the stock units is a little weak, and will eventually wear out. AZ is hard on rubber products, so you're lucky if you get 4 or 5 years from bushings and engine mounts. Luckily, engine mounts and some bushings are available in polyurethane, which does not suffer from AZ's ozone like rubber does, and they're stiffer, too! Win, win!

C ya,
Dutch

 

I don't know about the Countryman, but I bet if IE heard enough requests for a replacement, they'd work one up....

HTH!

C ya,
Dutch

 

mount summer 17 wheels and tires (Hankook v12 Evo)

 

Road trip to Winter Park CO and back, after having Milltek Header/Cat and Milltek cat back exhaust mounted yesterday by SCR Performance in Loveland. Freakin' awesome. Great sound, no drone on highway, can feel the extra power. By the way, if you are considering an IE exhaust, don't. Melted my rear bumper insert and some of the cover itself. Piece of junk, or at least the one I had was. Also droned on highway and was kind of heavy for a single sided exhaust. Steer clear and spend the extra on a great product like Milltek. IE only offered refund on exhaust, I am out of luck on my bumper damage. My advice is to be wary of IE.

 

Tackleberry received a couple things the past few days. Tuesday, I installed a JCW CF bonnet scoop. Yesterday, I had EBC Red Stuff brake pads and WMW stainless steel brake lines installed. Today, I put on the new KYOWA EVOLVE 18x8 Flat Black wheeld shod with KUMHO ECSTA AST 215/35-18 tires. Now I need to give it about a 1 1/2" drop. I am getting ready to order some H&R springs to accomplish that.









Tackleberry and MinMin

 

Got my new Craven dipstick today.

It's...weird. Floppy and springy!

Slipped right in...no dragging on the sides...looks like a good solution.

 

Took my mini to the dealership for a much needed coolant flush, and found out that my lower control arm bushings are 90% gone, I have a leaking valve cover gasket, a leaking oil pan gasket, my power steering fan is locked up, a leaking crank position sensor o ring, and my power steering suction and return hoses are bad... Yay for buying a used car without getting it checked out first xD.

 

This is the awesome Cravenspeed dipstick that replaces the lame, hard to read factory dipstick. Here is the link to their website:
http://www.cravenspeed.com/mini-dipstick/

I can't say enough good things about this dipstick. The reading is accurate, easy to see... the spring makes it sooo easy to use... and the handle is well fitting, with a very positive and solid fitment.

And here is the dipstick:

 

^^ nice. i just dont think i could spend that much money on a dip stick.

 

With all the "broken dipstick" stories I've heard, I'm tempted to remove the possibility of *mine* breaking and requiring the engine be taken half apart to get the broken end out....

C ya,
Dutch

 

+1 Got mine in the mail today too. I was a bit surprised that it came in that small box all coiled up. Looks like a nice solution. Its easy to read. But they should still put proper reading directions in the box or on their web site.

It is an expensive part for what it is. All aftermarket MINI products are because this is still a low volume niche car.

 

Just for fun...
length of loan: 60 months
hopefully life of car: >10 years (120 months) or more!
Number of times I will check the oil over the lifetime of the car: > 240 times (2x per month)
Cost of dipstick per oil check: .37 cents or less

Yeah, I'm okay with that. Winnie the MINI is a long term investment. She's the nicest, most expensive thing that I have ever owned. Is less than a dollar a month a good investment, if it makes it easier/more accurate/more pleasant to check the oil? Will I do it more regularly if it isn't a hassle? Yes.

If someone paid thousands of dollars more for a car with a turbo, which has oil level issues much more than my car, would they not consider the one little aftermarket part that would help them to keep their oil level checked properly and without cussing??

That's my point of view. :-)

I'll challenge anyone to a 'dipstick read-off' who has the funky aftermarket stick... ready.. set... GO!

 

Picked up Molly from MoP after her 4yr./45,000mi. Service!! Was hoping to post a pic. of her New Borla Exhaust Tip installed, but not going to happen, Tip sticks out to much and "looks like poo" according to my SA!!

 

Oh no not poo, SA! What are you going to do? Is it something that can be modified to look better?

 

I haven't had a problem reading my stock dipstick.

Dave