What did you do to your mini today?
I've been trying to accomplish this mod for some time now and I can finally claim success. I had the stock black brake ducts chromed. No, this isn't one for you "Black-Out" boys and girls but I feel it finishes off BUSTER's look nicely. Hopefully a manufacturer will see these and perhaps decide to start making them for the JCW trim. It would certainly save other people from the agony I suffered getting this mod accomplished.
C ya,
Dutch
I left a tiny bit of the original rubber inside to locate the center bushing, then packed the polyurethane around it and left it to cure. After it was done, I trimmed up the top a little, and sprayed it with red Niteshades translucent paint. Once it was cured, cleaned up, and ready, I swapped it for the other dead mount I'd got from my mechanic which I'd put in for the interim while rebuilding the original. It takes about a week of sitting in the sun to cure it well enough to mount and drive, and from there, engine bay heat under the bonnet will finish the job....
C ya,
Dutch
It wasn't actually today, but last weekend I used some Meguiars rubber and vinyl cleaner/conditioner to treat all the exposed bits on my Roadster and, holy hell, that stuff is amazing. Made it look brand new again. I'm tempted to try it out on the black plastic cladding around the bottom of the car, rather than the very messy black shoe polish looking stuff I've been using.
Sent from my phone using NAMotoring, which is why I've probably mistyped something.
Sent from my phone using NAMotoring, which is why I've probably mistyped something.
We have the chemical guys Extreme VRP and its works great for the wheel arches and side rocker , front and rear bumper black plastic trim ( black plastic only ). Wipe on thin with a clean cloth and I found it collects much less dirt then the Meguiars on Gen 1 and Gen 2 MINIs. Also, work great on the tires and it smells a little like coconuts. Has a nice shine. dry to the touch.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2619132/
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Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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Finally got around to removing my hood stripes this morning. Been debating removing them for the better part of 6 months, but wanted to wait till it was warm enough outside to bother trying it. Lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) its 97 degrees today. The stripes were factory applied and I bought my car about 2.5 years ago, its garage most of the time, but it does sit outside during the day while I'm at work. I can't see any paint discoloration in person, and they came off pretty easily, all said it took maybe 10 minutes total to remove them. Then another 30 minutes to wax/buff the hood.
Finally got around to removing my hood stripes this morning. Been debating removing them for the better part of 6 months, but wanted to wait till it was warm enough outside to bother trying it. Lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) its 97 degrees today. The stripes were factory applied and I bought my car about 2.5 years ago, its garage most of the time, but it does sit outside during the day while I'm at work. I can't see any paint discoloration in person, and they came off pretty easily, all said it took maybe 10 minutes total to remove them. Then another 30 minutes to wax/buff the hood.
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I added stripes to mine last year. It was fun for a while. But when I took them off this spring I really loved the way it looked without the stripes.(my hood scoop is still black) With the stripes off you really notice the hood bulge. I love the way it looks. Very clean look. And your car is no exception. Maybe just a black scoop now huh?
Cool. I'll check it out once I go through this stuff. I did end up trying it on the arches and rocker panels this weekend and it worked well -- so, so much easier to apply than what I've been using -- but I did notice a bit of dust and fluff stuck to it this morning. So yeah, that could end up being an issue.
We have the chemical guys Extreme VRP and its works great for the wheel arches and side rocker , front and rear bumper black plastic trim ( black plastic only ). Wipe on thin with a clean cloth and I found it collects much less dirt then the Meguiars on Gen 1 and Gen 2 MINIs. Also, work great on the tires and it smells a little like coconuts. Has a nice shine. dry to the touch.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2619132/
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2619132/
Coming from the R56 perspective I didn't mind the F56 when I drove by it a couple weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't care for it from the photos. But in person, I thought to myself, 'oh, well thats not too bad really'. All perception and tastes I suppose
Then again, "the faithful" seem to have always disliked he newest revision of the car. From the Mini folks bashing the 2002 MINI, to the R50 folks dissing the R56, and now...
Spray can painted r50
I just finished spray can painting my 2002 r50 in the parking lot of my apartment building. In the worst possible conditions - dust, sometimes windy, still using the car as a daily driver! But I'm really happy with the results, especially never having painted before. But it was way more expensive and time consuming than I anticipated. I used 2 part paint cans (with a catalyst) took 20 cans!
Last edited by tangomini; 07-11-2014 at 10:01 AM. Reason: wrong link to youtube
I don't think you'll start a war with that opinion--it appears to be the general consensus around here.
Then again, "the faithful" seem to have always disliked he newest revision of the car. From the Mini folks bashing the 2002 MINI, to the R50 folks dissing the R56, and now...
Then again, "the faithful" seem to have always disliked he newest revision of the car. From the Mini folks bashing the 2002 MINI, to the R50 folks dissing the R56, and now...
Agreed Dave. I saw the pictures but wanted to see one in person. I passed on the left and noticed the backend. Looks bigger, wider and blah… It’s missing that “something” that made it a MINI.
By the time I got next to the car, I was looking to see the nose. I think that is where my issue lies. The bonnet. MINIs have short hoods. This new model has a much longer hood that sticks out more, and for me, starts to kill the silhouette of what a MINI should be. We could talk about R50s, R53s, R56s… but I am going back to the general image of what a MINI should be and I think MINI overstepped. They are making the car larger and bigger and heavier. With that, in order to try and regain the “fun factor”, they have to put a 2.0L motor into it. To house the 2.0L motor, you need a larger bay. Seems like the manufacturer is backing into what the MINI should be instead of designing the next generation to look like a MINI and then supplying the necessary powerplants to move them.
So I’ve seen the pics on the net like everyone else and now I have seen the car in person. I will stick with the MINIs that look like MINIs.
True, but for some reason the F56 is a more noticeable departure from what's been considered "MINI."
These cars are supposed to be small. I mean, it's so-described in the name!
These cars are supposed to be small. I mean, it's so-described in the name!
I don't think you'll start a war with that opinion--it appears to be the general consensus around here.
Then again, "the faithful" seem to have always disliked he newest revision of the car. From the Mini folks bashing the 2002 MINI, to the R50 folks dissing the R56, and now...
Then again, "the faithful" seem to have always disliked he newest revision of the car. From the Mini folks bashing the 2002 MINI, to the R50 folks dissing the R56, and now...
Finished up my mirror caps. Bought 'em black, 4-5 coats of Duplicolor Chrysler Flash Red (matched most closely with my bike rack), 5 coats clear yesterday; today wet sanded smooth with 2000 grit, Meguiars Ultimate Compound, then Scratch-X for a nice glassy finish.
Now I just have to decide if I actually like them... Pardon my dirt, it needs a bath badly.
Now I just have to decide if I actually like them... Pardon my dirt, it needs a bath badly.
Finished up my mirror caps. Bought 'em black, 4-5 coats of Duplicolor Chrysler Flash Red (matched most closely with my bike rack), 5 coats clear yesterday; today wet sanded smooth with 2000 grit, Meguiars Ultimate Compound, then Scratch-X for a nice glassy finish.
Now I just have to decide if I actually like them... Pardon my dirt, it needs a bath badly.
Now I just have to decide if I actually like them... Pardon my dirt, it needs a bath badly.