What did you do to your mini today?
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
I'm a noob to R56 mods, but how did you get the front grill in pepper white?
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 579
Likes: 15
From: Maine
I greased up my gear shift cables. I installed a new gear shift boot and JCW gear shift ****. Replaced my cracked antenna with a nice short version and repaired the broken trim pieces from my recent front window repair.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 679
Likes: 27
Replaced my few month old Moog mounts with new OEM ones. The only reason I knew they had sagged that much was a loud rubbing/creaking noise which I later found was the lower mount rubbing on the upper spring plate.
Don't buy Moog mounts unless you want to do the job twice.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words:
Don't buy Moog mounts unless you want to do the job twice.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words:
Replaced my few month old Moog mounts with new OEM ones. The only reason I knew they had sagged that much was a loud rubbing/creaking noise which I later found was the lower mount rubbing on the upper spring plate.
Don't buy Moog mounts unless you want to do the job twice.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words:
Don't buy Moog mounts unless you want to do the job twice.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words:
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 679
Likes: 27
I'd like to say that that fixed the groan/creaking sound, but I just added another problem a popping sound when I steer. This car is so close to being set on fire or traded in.
The car has all new ball joints, control arm bushings, steering shaft, tie rods, struts, swaybar links etc.
Edited found the source of my new problem. It looks like the shock pinch bolts are done stretched out. I torqued them up when I reinstalled them, but they're loose again. I removed one and it looks like the head is about ready to pop off.
The car has all new ball joints, control arm bushings, steering shaft, tie rods, struts, swaybar links etc.
Edited found the source of my new problem. It looks like the shock pinch bolts are done stretched out. I torqued them up when I reinstalled them, but they're loose again. I removed one and it looks like the head is about ready to pop off.
Last edited by Nicefeet; Sep 20, 2014 at 02:18 PM.
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
I'd like to say that that fixed the groan/creaking sound, but I just added another problem a popping sound when I steer. This car is so close to being set on fire or traded in.
The car has all new ball joints, control arm bushings, steering shaft, tie rods, struts, swaybar links etc.
Edited found the source of my new problem. It looks like the shock pinch bolts are done stretched out. I torqued them up when I reinstalled them, but they're loose again. I removed one and it looks like the head is about ready to pop off.
The car has all new ball joints, control arm bushings, steering shaft, tie rods, struts, swaybar links etc.
Edited found the source of my new problem. It looks like the shock pinch bolts are done stretched out. I torqued them up when I reinstalled them, but they're loose again. I removed one and it looks like the head is about ready to pop off.
Glad you found it. I really like my son's 2004.........
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: Paradise CA, USA
Installed Vibra-Technics lower motor mount.....NICE!
Ordered the V-T lower motor mount for my R53 from Colin down in SoCal last week and put it in today, took all of half an hour and so far I like the change.
There is definitely a small increase in vibration transmitted to the cabin at low rpm's , this makes sense as the V-T mount is a stiffer piece of kit than the OEM , and mine was probably timed out at 65K.
As on old -school motorhead I like the increased awareness of the motor, I generally do my spirited driving with no tunes as I like to hear and feel what's going on, and it may be my imagination but the overall feel of the car seems more connected and direct.There's more communication to the pedals and shifting feels a bit more precise.
I will post again in a few weeks after I've put more miles on it, but I'm happy with the small change, may go for the other two mounts in the near future.
Mad Gepetto
There is definitely a small increase in vibration transmitted to the cabin at low rpm's , this makes sense as the V-T mount is a stiffer piece of kit than the OEM , and mine was probably timed out at 65K.
As on old -school motorhead I like the increased awareness of the motor, I generally do my spirited driving with no tunes as I like to hear and feel what's going on, and it may be my imagination but the overall feel of the car seems more connected and direct.There's more communication to the pedals and shifting feels a bit more precise.
I will post again in a few weeks after I've put more miles on it, but I'm happy with the small change, may go for the other two mounts in the near future.
Mad Gepetto
1st Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
what I did to my mini.
Finished installing Forge intercooler, turbo manifold , and blow off valve. Along with a nm engineering rear sway bar and m7 j brace made the throttle response sharp and my mini lunges with bursts of power. Good times. So the manifold, intercooler, hood and seats are all lighter then stock allowing me to lose 250lbs.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 310
Likes: 58
From: Providence, RI
I finally got around to installing the Radio Aux. Input Port kit, purchased over a year ago from Germanautoparts.com, in my 2003 MCS.
I simultaneously installed a Center Console Organizer, purchased a few days ago from Outmotoring.
I put the aux. port in the Center Console Organizer...
I simultaneously installed a Center Console Organizer, purchased a few days ago from Outmotoring.
I put the aux. port in the Center Console Organizer...
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Sea Foam Rig
Built a rig to do Sea Foam treatments. Bought a misting nozzle and small two brass shut off valves. Built a contianer out of ABS plastic. Installed the nozzle and one shut valve in inlet hose on Mini and the other shut off valve in the bottom of container. Used clear plastic tubing to connect both. Attached my air regulator set to 30 psi to the container. Put 5 oz. of Sea Foam in the container and attached air hose. Started the car and opened valves while keeping engine at 2000 rpm. Took about 2 minutes for Sea Foam to empty. Worked great!
Replaced mine with Lemforder and had no issues in the Gen1 MINI. Recommend to do them in pairs. Since you will see how to do one side then the other. Just to let people know there is an early design Strut mount for 2002 models. Here is a helpful link to more info and what to check.
Gen 1 MINI R50 R52 R53 2002-2008
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...alignment.html
Thanks
Gen 1 MINI R50 R52 R53 2002-2008
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...alignment.html
Thanks
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MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
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
