Very nice!
Your Rooster Red color line is gorgeous.

 

WOW! Installed the QwikLip from QwikLip.com this afternoon, what a DIFFERENCE! Best $27.99 I ever spent, hands down!!

















Took like 10 minutes, and looks like a $200+ lip! Love it!

 

Thank you.

 

Nice! I just ordered this the other day and it's on it's way.

I also took mine in because there was a "pop" or hitch in the clutch pedal when I depressed the pedal and they replaced the bushings in the master cylinder and it's good as new.

Still waiting for my other parts to show up...I ordered a red NM strut bar and a JCW intake and I'm about to order oil pressure an water temp gauges.

 

Awesome, post up pics when it's installed!

 

Today we plasti-dipped the 03 and the 05's scuttles, blacked out the beltline on the 05, and cleaned both of our air filters!

 

They cover the bolts that are exposed when the roof rack is removed. I haven't installed the rack because the previous owner mentioned the outrageous wind noise (and loss of mpg). The caps just look better than the bolts.

 

Today I pulled out the center pillars to get access to the switch assembly and the center console. I got the switches fixed and applied a couple of spots of epoxy to keep it from coming apart again in the future. I was also able to repair the loose lighter/power port by putting a zip tie on the bottom side so it won't slide up and down any more. After getting it all back together and buttoned up we got to enjoy a nice ride in the country. All in all a pretty fair day for both car and driver.

 

Brought mine home.

 

Thanks for responding, I never saw those before.
I don't have any bolts exposed, but the rubber seal around the roof is cut where the racks attach to the car.
Maybe it's a Gen 2 difference?
At any rate, the roof racks were a disappointment, but I kept them just in case I ever need to carry something on the roof.
I can't imagine what, but you just never know.

 

I took Nudnik for a ride up to Prescott to sample some "cold brewed" coffee roasted by my friend Rich, who runs Prescott Coffee Roasters. Had a nice lunch afterwards at the Iron Springs Cafe with him and his lady friend, then took off toward Mingus Mountain when the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light popped on again. It was P0171. Again. The same one it threw a couple weeks ago in Payson, which is at a similar altitude to Prescott. The car was running just fine, and the Autozone I went to when I got back here suggested that the pre-cat oxygen sensor was the likely culprit. 92k miles on a sensor isn't too bad, considering. If I could've found a place up there to get the code read, since the ECU is programmed to go safely a tad rich when the oxygen sensor quits, I'd've gone ahead with the ride up Mingus, up through Oak Creek, then down from Flagstaff via Lake Mary and Payson. It's one of my favorite day trips, and it was a **GORGEOUS** day today. So, instead, I came home--didn't even stop at Rock Springs Cafe for a pie, even though I was going right past the place--and put a new oxygen sensor in. Now to get my friend's code checker and read/clear the codes....

Hmmm....might have to roll back up at least to Rock Springs tomorrow for my test drive after clearing the codes.... Mmmmmm....pie....

C ya,
Dutch

 

I finally decided to get better air flow through my hood scoop and took off my scoop grille. I used Plasti Dip to paint the underneath body color where the hood scoop overlays. It looks great and especially you can't see it at all during the day or night since its black!

 

As far as ive seen i am the first and only MINI owner to attempt this mod... im lookin for some feedback!



i installed 4 blue LED's inside each scuttle... they are spliced into my headlights.. which resulted in a headlight out warning bc of the extra current draw... i am looking to wire them as part of the turn signal that are NC (normally closed) and flash open (off) as opposed to NO (Normally open) and flash closed (on)...

also thinkin about droppin the Volts down a bit with a resistor... a few of my buddies say they are pretty bright from next to or behind the car...

 

I replaced all the interior lights (and boot) with LEDs this weekend and it looks great.

I used a spare AZNOptics festoon in the glove box, two spare AZNOptics 194 units in the boot and center roof spot (they have missing resistors but still work). The footwell and door puddle lights are V-LED "5K WHITE 3 CHIP" units and the four map lights are V-LED "5K WHITE HIGH POWER 1-LED" units.


Anybody know what LEDs to use to replace the sun visor mirrors lights???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walk0080/7279864344/http://www.flickr.com/photos/walk0080/7279864344/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/walk0080/, on Flickr

I also got warranty replacement AZNOptics 194 units for the city lights and more festoons for the licence plates. Put them in as well and will see how long they last this time.

 

That is a Gen2 mounting setup. You can buy 4 little plastic plugs to go in the rain gutter openings if they are missing. The great thing about the MINI rack is the amount of weight it can carry safely. You can actually have a roof box AND fill it up with stuff unlike some after-market setups that are at 50% capacity when the roof box is empty.

 

Thank you so much!
I did not know that I could get plugs for the rain gutter openings.
I will check with my dealer about the plugs.
Even though I don't use the rack, we think it is a good idea to hang on to it.
It's the kind of thing that is indispensable when the need for it arises.

 

Your dealer can confirm, but I think this is the part #:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...71&hg=82&fg=51
07 Dismantling hooks and plugs SET # 82720426987 $13.25


Went to the park with our dog and drove around for a bit. Nice mild weather, sunroof and windows open... lots of exhaust popping. Always a hoot in town when pedestrians are around. I am saddened by the amount of dog drool and hair that has accumulated after just one week.

 

Thorough bath, clay bar, and waxing. Took the wife to dinner and just drove for a while. Nice.

 

Replaced the power steering cooling fan. Not a fun project, but it needed done.

 

Well, it *was* technically today (i.e., 12:30AM last night)....

Took out the new oxygen sensor and replaced it with the marginal original, since the new one was defective.

I'm going back to the store to return it and get another one. At least it's not *too bad* of a job, since, by the time I get the replacement in place, I'll have done it *THREE TIMES*.

C ya,
Dutch

 

Yesterday I did a Doc Hudson and put the ol' Race Tyres on (old Falken Azenis that had quite a few heat cycles on 'em) and went autocrossing...

Took 2nd in STX behind a 300hp Mustang on newly-shaved Hoosiers, beat a few WRXs in the process... not too shabby!

 

A friend and I vinyl wraped the crome grill trim. It almost matches the body color. Not too bad for a couple of newbs.

 

After 5 months of ownership, I finally received my first official MINI wave and smile earlier this week. It was a cute little blue hardtop, with white sport stripes. I've always been hesitant to wave to any MINI's, thinking perhaps they would resent a non-mini Countryman, but glad to see at least one driver in this town was cool with the common heritage.

 

^^^ If it has a MINI badge, I wave at it!

 

Over the last 2 days, O2 sensor, K&N Typhoon cold air kit, then I cleaned the heck out of the intake with carb cleaner. After I had Autozone clear the six trouble codes it's runing really well again. Bosch universal O2 sensor w spliced harness, took the ECM awhile to adjust, then I started the car without reattaching the throtle body plug after installing the K&N, which was otherwise, a pretty smooth installation, and a sharp looking mod. But, it's all good now.