What did you do to your mini today?
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
I had my first Plasti-Dip experience today. All hail Plasti-Dip spray! 
I "dipped" the intercooler scoop and the grille slats. So far, so good.
I guess I'll see how it holds up. To do the grille slat in the bumper, I had to remove the front license plate and holder. So far, I like the cleaner no-plate look.
C ya,
Dutch
I "dipped" the intercooler scoop and the grille slats. So far, so good.
I guess I'll see how it holds up. To do the grille slat in the bumper, I had to remove the front license plate and holder. So far, I like the cleaner no-plate look.
C ya,
Dutch
(probably is the ONLY good thing for cars in Quebec 
)
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
finally found and had an appointment with a "real" mechanic today, confirmed that the old one was screwing me, earlier jobs where botched and some parts he told me where due are still good for at least 10000 to 15000 miles. 
I still have a big grocery list but he just shaved between 1500$ to 2000$ from the other guy estimate for parts and labor.
really happy about that
I still have a big grocery list but he just shaved between 1500$ to 2000$ from the other guy estimate for parts and labor.
really happy about that
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 0
From: Maryland, USA
I had my first Plasti-Dip experience today. All hail Plasti-Dip spray!
I "dipped" the intercooler scoop and the grille slats. So far, so good.
I guess I'll see how it holds up. To do the grille slat in the bumper, I had to remove the front license plate and holder. So far, I like the cleaner no-plate look.
C ya,
Dutch
I "dipped" the intercooler scoop and the grille slats. So far, so good.
I guess I'll see how it holds up. To do the grille slat in the bumper, I had to remove the front license plate and holder. So far, I like the cleaner no-plate look.
C ya,
Dutch
Stuff easy to use? Any tips? might do my door handles.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 108
From: Mount Doom, Mordor
Several light coats work best. I did two medium coats with a fair bit less than the prescribed half-hour wait between because it was *stooooopid* hot in my garage (and pretty much everywhere else in AZ!). Don't go *too* heavy with each coat, or you'll get runs, just like paint. Blue painter's masking tape is your best friend, along with an old newspaper or two. It pays to be handy with a razor-knife. I prefer the little cheap-o break-off disposable ones. These can help you get your masking tape to conform to curved shapes with no gaps, and *everything* is curved on these cars, it seems. They're also helpful to go around the Plasti-Dipped item to separate the overspray from the item being "dipped". Otherwise, you may pull up the edge with the masking tape.
The best thing--if you don't like the look, it's easily removable. More coats makes it peel off in one piece more easily, since it will tend to have more tensile strength when it's thicker. If you paint it on too thin, it's a little bit of a PITA to get it off, but not *too* bad, as it keeps breaking....
HTH!
C ya,
Dutch
Detailed the under bonnet areas with some excellent products from Phil at Detailers Domain. Painted the cast metal parts/mounts with a can of silver Ceramic Caliper paint.
Removed, cleaned and replaced the Alta foam air filter.
Checked the oil.
Added some Seafoam to the fuel tank.
(Detailed my GF's Honda Element......)
Checked my odometer.....153,939.2 miles.
Removed, cleaned and replaced the Alta foam air filter.
Checked the oil.
Added some Seafoam to the fuel tank.
(Detailed my GF's Honda Element......)
Checked my odometer.....153,939.2 miles.
well yesterday my Mini was loaded on to a flat bed to be brought to an auto body for some repairs 
it seems as if my car has a bullseye on it considering it has been hi, while it's been parked, 3 times now in the less than 5 months I've owned it 
the first time I caught a woman in a Mercedes SUV in a parking lot and got a nice refinished/wetsanded rear bumper out of it along with a rear valance and marker light. The second was a hit & run which I didn't catch the woman (I know the car it was but have no way to prove it), that gave me a dented/slightly creased fender panel. And the latest incident is perhaps the worst since it involved my wife backing into the car in our own driveway this dinged the hood pretty well (probably needs replacing), got the bumper slighty (hoping they replace or re-spray it), and worst of all hit the wheel causing the alignment to go all out of whack (looks like the toe and camber is off, hopefully it's as simple as that). My poor car just can't get a break 
it seems as if my car has a bullseye on it considering it has been hi, while it's been parked, 3 times now in the less than 5 months I've owned it the first time I caught a woman in a Mercedes SUV in a parking lot and got a nice refinished/wetsanded rear bumper out of it along with a rear valance and marker light. The second was a hit & run which I didn't catch the woman (I know the car it was but have no way to prove it), that gave me a dented/slightly creased fender panel. And the latest incident is perhaps the worst since it involved my wife backing into the car in our own driveway this dinged the hood pretty well (probably needs replacing), got the bumper slighty (hoping they replace or re-spray it), and worst of all hit the wheel causing the alignment to go all out of whack (looks like the toe and camber is off, hopefully it's as simple as that). My poor car just can't get a break
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
Detailed the under bonnet areas with some excellent products from Phil at Detailers Domain. Painted the cast metal parts/mounts with a can of silver Ceramic Caliper paint.
Removed, cleaned and replaced the Alta foam air filter.
Checked the oil.
Added some Seafoam to the fuel tank.
(Detailed my GF's Honda Element......)
Checked my odometer.....153,939.2 miles.
Removed, cleaned and replaced the Alta foam air filter.
Checked the oil.
Added some Seafoam to the fuel tank.
(Detailed my GF's Honda Element......)
Checked my odometer.....153,939.2 miles.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
well yesterday my Mini was loaded on to a flat bed to be brought to an auto body for some repairs it seems as if my car has a bullseye on it considering it has been hi, while it's been parked, 3 times now in the less than 5 months I've owned it the first time I caught a woman in a Mercedes SUV in a parking lot and got a nice refinished/wetsanded rear bumper out of it along with a rear valance and marker light. The second was a hit & run which I didn't catch the woman (I know the car it was but have no way to prove it), that gave me a dented/slightly creased fender panel. And the latest incident is perhaps the worst since it involved my wife backing into the car in our own driveway this dinged the hood pretty well (probably needs replacing), got the bumper slighty (hoping they replace or re-spray it), and worst of all hit the wheel causing the alignment to go all out of whack (looks like the toe and camber is off, hopefully it's as simple as that). My poor car just can't get a break
it seems as if my car has a bullseye on it considering it has been hi, while it's been parked, 3 times now in the less than 5 months I've owned it the first time I caught a woman in a Mercedes SUV in a parking lot and got a nice refinished/wetsanded rear bumper out of it along with a rear valance and marker light. The second was a hit & run which I didn't catch the woman (I know the car it was but have no way to prove it), that gave me a dented/slightly creased fender panel. And the latest incident is perhaps the worst since it involved my wife backing into the car in our own driveway this dinged the hood pretty well (probably needs replacing), got the bumper slighty (hoping they replace or re-spray it), and worst of all hit the wheel causing the alignment to go all out of whack (looks like the toe and camber is off, hopefully it's as simple as that). My poor car just can't get a break I backed my MINI into my husband's car in the driveway.
Both cars required body work and 2 deductibles!
The insurance adjuster told me that he backed into his wife's car once himself. He said that about 90% of the claims he handles are driveway fender benders.
Here's to good luck for your car from here on out!
They say that 3 times is the charm.
I backed my MINI into my husband's car in the driveway.
Both cars required body work and 2 deductibles!
The insurance adjuster told me that he backed into his wife's car once himself. He said that about 90% of the claims he handles are driveway fender benders.
Here's to good luck for your car from here on out!
I backed my MINI into my husband's car in the driveway.
Both cars required body work and 2 deductibles!
The insurance adjuster told me that he backed into his wife's car once himself. He said that about 90% of the claims he handles are driveway fender benders.
Here's to good luck for your car from here on out!
The woman said the same thing to me and then later to my wife, told her it happens a lot and that my wife shouldn't feel bad. My wife's bumper (on her Clubman) has some damage but I can get that fixed later, it's minor in comparison to mine. They did say we'd have 2 deductibles ($500 a piece) which is why I'm going to hold off on hers and maybe see if my buddy can give me a deal or something to have it fixed for less than the deductible.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Thanks.
The woman said the same thing to me and then later to my wife, told her it happens a lot and that my wife shouldn't feel bad. My wife's bumper (on her Clubman) has some damage but I can get that fixed later, it's minor in comparison to mine. They did say we'd have 2 deductibles ($500 a piece) which is why I'm going to hold off on hers and maybe see if my buddy can give me a deal or something to have it fixed for less than the deductible.
The woman said the same thing to me and then later to my wife, told her it happens a lot and that my wife shouldn't feel bad. My wife's bumper (on her Clubman) has some damage but I can get that fixed later, it's minor in comparison to mine. They did say we'd have 2 deductibles ($500 a piece) which is why I'm going to hold off on hers and maybe see if my buddy can give me a deal or something to have it fixed for less than the deductible.
For the deductible part it seems weird that you have to pay 2 deductibles If your insurance paid for somebody else's car he wouldn't have pay that deductible
At least for us there was only one to be paid but I'm in Canada so I don't know they have different rules
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 0
From: Maryland, USA
It's stone simple to use if you're familiar with spray paint. Wear a filter over your mouth/nose, or you'll have Plasti-Dipped boogers. Several light coats work best. I did two medium coats with a fair bit less than the prescribed half-hour wait between because it was *stooooopid* hot in my garage (and pretty much everywhere else in AZ!). Don't go *too* heavy with each coat, or you'll get runs, just like paint.
Blue painter's masking tape is your best friend, along with an old newspaper or two. It pays to be handy with a razor-knife. I prefer the little cheap-o break-off disposable ones. These can help you get your masking tape to conform to curved shapes with no gaps, and *everything* is curved on these cars, it seems. They're also helpful to go around the Plasti-Dipped item to separate the overspray from the item being "dipped". Otherwise, you may pull up the edge with the masking tape.
The best thing--if you don't like the look, it's easily removable. More coats makes it peel off in one piece more easily, since it will tend to have more tensile strength when it's thicker. If you paint it on too thin, it's a little bit of a PITA to get it off, but not *too* bad, as it keeps breaking....
HTH!
C ya,
Dutch
Several light coats work best. I did two medium coats with a fair bit less than the prescribed half-hour wait between because it was *stooooopid* hot in my garage (and pretty much everywhere else in AZ!). Don't go *too* heavy with each coat, or you'll get runs, just like paint. Blue painter's masking tape is your best friend, along with an old newspaper or two. It pays to be handy with a razor-knife. I prefer the little cheap-o break-off disposable ones. These can help you get your masking tape to conform to curved shapes with no gaps, and *everything* is curved on these cars, it seems. They're also helpful to go around the Plasti-Dipped item to separate the overspray from the item being "dipped". Otherwise, you may pull up the edge with the masking tape.
The best thing--if you don't like the look, it's easily removable. More coats makes it peel off in one piece more easily, since it will tend to have more tensile strength when it's thicker. If you paint it on too thin, it's a little bit of a PITA to get it off, but not *too* bad, as it keeps breaking....
HTH!
C ya,
Dutch
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
Yeah Happens a lot actually my wife backed the cooper in my chevy a couple of months ago
For the deductible part it seems weird that you have to pay 2 deductibles If your insurance paid for somebody else's car he wouldn't have pay that deductible
At least for us there was only one to be paid but I'm in Canada so I don't know they have different rules
For the deductible part it seems weird that you have to pay 2 deductibles If your insurance paid for somebody else's car he wouldn't have pay that deductible
At least for us there was only one to be paid but I'm in Canada so I don't know they have different rules
Of course I was weeping when my husband called our insurance agent to report the accident and they went on and on about the MINI. Then I heard the agent say, "So, what did she hit?" and my husband saying, "I was just getting to that....."
I was in hysterics when it happened because Little Wing was hurt.
I called hubs from the car cause his tail light was embedded in my driver's side door.
He took one look at it and me and started laughing.
He said maybe I wouldn't get so upset over those parking lot dings anymore.
Wrong, I still park my car out in the middle of the parking lot.
But, ugh, what an awful sound.
He had to pull the Avalon away from the MINI and that sounded bad too.
I was just rolling backwards and hadn't even put the car in gear.
2-3 MPH and a whole lot of damage to both cars.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Brisbane,Great Southern Land
I see Aesthetic Creations has been mentioned on this thread. I'm after their phone number. I'm in Australia and sent them an email to which they have not replied.
Are they still in business and if so a reliable supplier?
Are they still in business and if so a reliable supplier?
Yeah Happens a lot actually my wife backed the cooper in my chevy a couple of months ago
For the deductible part it seems weird that you have to pay 2 deductibles If your insurance paid for somebody else's car he wouldn't have pay that deductible
At least for us there was only one to be paid but I'm in Canada so I don't know they have different rules
For the deductible part it seems weird that you have to pay 2 deductibles If your insurance paid for somebody else's car he wouldn't have pay that deductible
At least for us there was only one to be paid but I'm in Canada so I don't know they have different rules
oh well, the Clubman can wait, I'm more concerned about my car (her car is transportation, mine is much more than that )
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
No more graphics.
http://www.aesthetic-creations.com/
http://www.aesthetic-creations.com/cms.php?id_cms=4
I don't know what you are looking for, but you can expect to wait if you order.
Had my first experience with a run-flat flat and discovered I had no clue what to do when you can't just throw on a spare. Overthink much? My other car doesn't have runflats but has TPMS's that give false alarms when the weather changes, so I was kind of hoping for that. Then I remembered that I threw a tire pressure gauge in the Mini for just such an occasion. 10psi - no false alarm there. But a trip to the tire shop, a nail found and the hole plugged for free, and I'm back on the road. Woo!
I really like how the Mini tells you which tire is the culprit. Very handy!
My other car doesn't have runflats but has TPMS's that give false alarms when the weather changes, so I was kind of hoping for that. Then I remembered that I threw a tire pressure gauge in the Mini for just such an occasion. 10psi - no false alarm there. But a trip to the tire shop, a nail found and the hole plugged for free, and I'm back on the road. Woo!I really like how the Mini tells you which tire is the culprit. Very handy!
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
I finally installed the OEM roof racks that purchased about two months ago. Took close to an hour as I took my time (had to use a rubber mallet on one side as well as it wouldn't go in with wiggling). Now that I've installed it once, I know that I'll be able to do it in under 10 mins the next time around.
Next step is to get a bike rack so that I can bring my mountain bike with me to Minis in the Mountains in a few weeks. woot!!!
Next step is to get a bike rack so that I can bring my mountain bike with me to Minis in the Mountains in a few weeks. woot!!!
The strangest past was that the flat tire warning takes over the spot on the tach where the speed shows, and the speed moves to the teeny numbers below. I almost had to use the dinner plate speedo!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
Nooooooo LittleWing! Will a bandaid and a kiss make it any better at all?
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
At the time a kiss and a band-aid did not make it better.
A body shop made it better and, while they had LW, I had a few things done on my dime - repainted the passenger door from an SUV parking lot gash, painted the C pillars and bumper black (from silver), and installed mud flaps that I had hanging around after buying them from Out Motoring months before.
It's all OK now.