What did you do to your mini today?
Redid some of the plasti dip I had done before. Put my all season floor mats in the car. And tried putting some headlight film on the car. Keyword on the try part. Got the top of the headlight just fine it was the bottom that was being a pita. Ill go at it tomorrow or sunday again. Got my Alta intake today too. Need to install that bad boy as well.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley, CA
It is an Autocarbon carbon fiber/ Alcantara steering wheel from bimmian.com.
http://www.coopersport.com/56/STW/
I love the feel of this steering wheel. The added thickness really makes a difference for me. The construction is superb. I did get the only one they had in stock at the time. I would image before long, they will have another built and ready to go. It will be built on my original steering wheel I sent them as a core exchange. BTW, the carbon fiber inserts are overlays from CARBONMINI.
http://www.carbonmini.com/#!shop/pro...ergalleryv24=4
(I need to find a drooling emoticon!)
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Maryland, USA
Indi is getting new brake pads tomorrow. Hubby is teaching me how to do it 
And yes, this is the first time for the pads, and she just hit 108k miles today. Awesome little car! Oh, and that means in the just over 7 months I've owned her (3-26-12), I've put 10k miles on her in that time span. Yup, sounds about right 
And yes, this is the first time for the pads, and she just hit 108k miles today. Awesome little car! Oh, and that means in the just over 7 months I've owned her (3-26-12), I've put 10k miles on her in that time span. Yup, sounds about right 
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,836
Likes: 6
From: North Denver Colorado
Intakes might give 1-3 HP
SC pullies depending on size give between 8-15 HP on a honest dyno
Catback exhaust systems dont give hardly any power
A good header might give up to 7-8 HP
All the other little bolt ons you will see dont eaqual anythng for the most part.
Now if you have a internally stock R53, add the pulley, intake and exhaust with a header, a good tune could get you an adtional 15-20 HP on top of the little increases the parts will free up by themselves.
Cam's, head's, and pistons, along with S/C swaps are where you will find the big power in an R53.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: SE Wyoming
anyone know what i could do to give my car fast? ive changed the exhaust to a borla agressive cat back.. cold air intake.. and supercharger 15% reduction pulley! i wanna do more mods without having to redo the whole engine! im thinkin header and injectors but would i have to change my camshaft? or anything else or would the engine support these mods? how can i add more horsepower without costing me over $2000??
Take it in to a place that has a dyno and get the ecm remapped.
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: OBX, NC
Removed front bumper and repainted everything behind it black. Where the paint was chipping you could see it thru the grill. Bugged the crap outta me.
Before:
After:
Also painted the intercooler black so that was all you see thru the scoop.
Before:
After:
Final product:
Before:
After:
Also painted the intercooler black so that was all you see thru the scoop.
Before:
After:
Final product:
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: North Phoenix, AZ
Turns out she didn't need new brake pads :/ Took off the wheels, checked all 4, and they're fine. Granted, the rears are halfway done, but with the way I drive, they'll last a long time. Returned the new ones and am now $84 richer lol. I do need to fill up the tires though, as it seems I have neglected them :( Stupid me.
Had the new wheels and tires mounted yesterday, today washed and detailed.
Also had a JCW CAI put in. Great sound and brings out the 15% pulley a bit more.
I'm lucky enough to live near a kick *** BMW/MINI shop.
They found my spark plugs were a bit loose and had yellow tips. Previous owner must have used bad off brand gas and/or octane booster. Replaced with Brisk plugs.
Also had a JCW CAI put in. Great sound and brings out the 15% pulley a bit more.
I'm lucky enough to live near a kick *** BMW/MINI shop.
They found my spark plugs were a bit loose and had yellow tips. Previous owner must have used bad off brand gas and/or octane booster. Replaced with Brisk plugs.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 112
From: Mount Doom, Mordor
Pixs to follow, after I get a little more work done on the chips and scratches on the nose and I'm at the next stopping point in the process.... Today was, otherwise, a complete wash for actually *doing* anything. Slept late, and the weather sucked today (cold, cloudy off and on, windy). Got the 800 and 1000 grit wet-or-dry paper I needed to go after the scratches that wouldn't buff out. A little work with that, then the 1500 I already had, and it'll shine up like glass. Then I just need to bring up the chips to a little over level, shave 'em back down smooth, and buff 'em shiny, and the nose will look as pretty as new. Eventually I need to get a compressor, a paint gun, and some paint, and re-shoot the whole bonnet, though.
C ya,
Dutch
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: OBX, NC
Gave it a good scrubbing and waxing. Drove up to Walmart to pick up some cake supplies for my wife. As I'm back in the automotive section, who do I run into?
That's my boy with Dennis Anderson (Grave Digger).
That's my boy with Dennis Anderson (Grave Digger).
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 112
From: Mount Doom, Mordor
Pixs, as promised earlier....
Inside of bonnet scoop painted RED....
You can see the little rock chips highlighted by the buffing compound left in them. Next step is to wax-strip the paint, fill in all the little chips a little above level, sand 'em, and buff again.
Long term goal is to remove the bonnet and re-shoot it with the correct color. Apparently the previous owner or the dealer re-shot the nose with the wrong shade of green. It's pretty close in direct light, but goes horribly wrong when the light angle changes....
C ya,
Dutch
Inside of bonnet scoop painted RED....
You can see the little rock chips highlighted by the buffing compound left in them. Next step is to wax-strip the paint, fill in all the little chips a little above level, sand 'em, and buff again.
Long term goal is to remove the bonnet and re-shoot it with the correct color. Apparently the previous owner or the dealer re-shot the nose with the wrong shade of green. It's pretty close in direct light, but goes horribly wrong when the light angle changes....
C ya,
Dutch
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 112
From: Mount Doom, Mordor
Now you can put that monthly payment in the new engine fund.
C ya,
Dutch
Neutral
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Shore Of Maryland
Ask me what my wife did!.....lol
Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that the Doors cranked loudly on the stereo completely drowns out the backup sensors. Now I am looking for a new bumber cover for our 2008 Cooper S convertible. It has the red tail light integrated into the bottom of it and is Pepper White. 
Neutral
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Shore Of Maryland
Ask me what my wife did!.....lol
Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that the Doors cranked loudly on the stereo completely drowns out the backup sensors. Now I am looking for a new bumper cover for our 2008 Cooper S convertible. It has the red tail light integrated into the bottom of it and is Pepper White.