Second washing and clayed the window. Nasty stuff on it from delivery. I cringed at the sound when the MA showed us the wipers at delivery. Read about claying and went to work. Other than that just keepingn it clean. Oh and window tint. Just the legal MD tint= 35%. Looks great. Just dark enough to accentuate the "band of darkness" that seperates the roof from the rest of the car all the way around. Its two weeks old

 

I got XM's latest deal 6 months for $24.99 and free activation
Bergii also got a bath today - then it rained

 

Way to make us curious. Sounds big (or small, I'm not sure!).

I know you'll be using your covers more than I did. Here's the difference - the old lights were on for just under 3 years without covers. I love the look with them off, but I'm going to be way more selective (no highways) about when they do come off this time.

 

Sorry about that... I had to take it for a drive.

 

Nice!

C ya,
Dutch

 

JCW injectors installed and the Aero grills finished.

 

Albiecrazy are those the original MINI lights? Did you install them yourself ever? I understand there is some programming required, but the wiring is what I'm curious about if there is anything special about it, instructions included with the kit, etc? It looks like you can get the entire kit, grille and all for around $500 but the dealer told me about $1200 installed. They typically charge $100 for a program change. Thanks!

 

Anyone using clear-bra typr protection on thier driving lights?

 

I've used clearbra-type (Lamin-X) film on lamps in the past, works fine, doesn't absorb too much light, but doesn't really defend against cracks (road debris can carry a lot of energy). It does hold the lens together if there's an impact - and if you don't mind the look of a cracked lens it can allow you to drive on safely if necessary, depending on the crack.

I have Hella500's (2 fogs outer and 2 driving lamps inner on a 4-light bar) and use the Hella hard acrylic clear lens guards during winter when I'm using the lamps a lot, and black opaque covers in summer during the day. No clear guard on those, and minimal clouding/fogging/pitting as shown above on the glass lenses.

If it's going to be dark during my drive, highway or not, the covers are off and lights appropriately engaged (driving lamps with high beams, fogs when it's foggy or inclement or if I need cornering lamps). I bought the lights to light up the road and let others know I'm coming, and if they show a little wear, I remove/clean/polish the lenses and reinstall - though that hasn't been necessary in 4 years of hard use, admittedly with clear covers on. I do have (2) cracked fog lenses from road debris, but the cracks don't affect operation.

Even with xenon lamps, the fogs are useful for illuminating objects outside the firm beam cutoff, and the driving lamps add critical range and breadth to the pretty-good R53 halogen high beams.

 

Gotta get me some JCW injectors before the weather gets hot again. My car didn't like the really hot weather after the JCW tune was put in with the stock 330/340cc injectors. Venting the bonnet helped a fair bit, though.

C ya,
Dutch

 

I'm not going to be much help - had the stealership install them (1st time) for just under $800. Second time, the body shop did it - covered by insurance.

 

Motored with two of my favorite JCW's today - a dry run for the owner of that blacked out beast in front of me. Nothing like running in a small group.





Came home in the snow with a grin.

 

Odd question for an eclectic forum! My 05 Cooper S passenger door won't open from in or outside: I'm stuck, I've got the panel off and can feel/see everything in the lock. No matter what I move: it won't open. Even with someone outside squeezing the handle while I diddle around with stuff inside on the lock: nothing!! It's closed & wants to stay closed. My question is this: is there a 'magic' hole or something to press/push or pull that will open the door? I'm kind of assuming for now that something inside the lock has broken as pulling either/both Bowden cables does nothing. HELP; Please🙀 my wife is gonna kill me if she continues to climb over the drivers seat just to have the pleasure of sitting next to me😵

 

Sounds to me like your car is asking for a new paint job and roof graphic. You might have to yell YEEE HAWWW! a lot more too.

 

You stole my joke, Kirby. Sorry paul - that's two NAMers that are no help at all. Too bad Mark (Orangecrush) isn't around much anymore - he'd probably know.

 

Hello all! Brand new to NAM....and the Mini world. This is actually my first post.

This past Saturday, had the pleasure of tearing apart my dash to install the ScanGaugeII. First "real" thing done to the car since I bought it last March. In November, I got rid of the whip antenna and put an Alta SuperShorty in its place. Also, threw in a K&N panel filter.

Have a living room full of exterior parts, but it's too cold to work on my car.

Current List:
JCW Grill & Trim
Blackout Headlight Rings
Black Side Scuttles w/LED (takes 2 minutes to change, but IT'S COLD)
MINI FINI Black Scoop mesh
JCW CF Boot Handle
M7 OCC (going to sell to get the BSH)

Also bought the GT SPEC Strut Brace last month....still on order. Plan on getting the DDM RIS and it seems that that may be the only strut bar that fits.

 

New idea (hopefully a helpful one this time) - start a thread in the Gen1 section with your problem in the title. People in the know might be more likely to notice it there, rather than in this "general updates" thread.

Great minds, Albie. Great minds.

 

Welcome to NAM! Looks like you've caught the bug. It's hard to cure once you get started. Just sayin'.

 

You hit the nail on the head with that one!

I'm going to buy my first can of plasti-dip from Home Depot this weekend. Going to tackle the gas cap. Not sure how to deal with the door handles...I know removing them is not an option for me. Waiting for the MINI Blackout tail light trim to become available (mid Feb) and then I will add that. May plasti-dip my chrome ones in the meantime.

I've see what plasti-dip does to people. I feel like an intervention may be in my near future

 

^ yeah I did my door handles with the plasti dip and didnt turn out very good. I actually did them 2/3 times trying to get them perfect. But couldnt get it just right.

 

Took off the air duct sucking in air to the intake box since my MINI had some weird rattle at speeds. Hopefully that loose piece was causing it cause it was pointless having it on anyway since I have a cone filter.

 

I had my uncle in Europe buy the TL trim for me and it should be here in a week or so. I already bought the HL trim from my dealer with a discount which was nice:-).

 

Turned over 100000 miles on the 08 clubman on the way to work.

 

Nice! I'm ordering mine through ECS Tuning. I hope their ETA of Feb 15th is correct. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

That Clubbie is keeping busy! Lots of road trips or a long commute?

Looks awful cold in MO...