Lol, I had to look it up myself.

From what I've read, the MINIs respond well to a good amount of negative camber.

The free camber mod is simple. Jack the front end up and put it on jack stands.

At the top of the struts (in the engine bay), remove the nylon, white locator near the three bolts that hold the strut in place.

Then loosen those three bolts and push the top of the strut towards the engine as far as it will go. Its not very far. Retighten the bolts and then drop the car. Go for a drive.

Its supposed to help with cornering. Its obviously not as exact as having an alignment shop do it.

It could possibly change the toe as a result so keep an eye in your tire wear.

 

Got around to replacing the expansion tank today.

Before:


After:


More pics and commentary in the MINI thread below.

 

This past Friday I finally got the rear bumper paint protection installed so my MiniFini hitch would not scratch the thing up.

Then Saturday I was able to use my hitch hitch and Saris Rack for the first time.

I did a 2-part right up in the R59 section.
Part 1: HITCH on my Roadster: MiniFini Installed
Part 2: HITCH on my Roadster: Still happy, more compromises, different rack?

Here is a photo

 

Replaced the speaker in my radar detector. Too many close calls without it!

From iPad / 2013 MCS Hardtop

 

Gave him a bath, polish and wax.

Inbetween, swapped out front and rear wiper blades and replaced the cabin air filter.

 

I did a free camber mod too. Hit something slidy on the road going round a corner and slid into the curb.

My car is having a holiday at my mechanic while the new parts make their way there. On the plus side, I have permission from my Wife to order some OZ Allegeritas! Also, my Dually D2 Hyper spots arrived so I can install them once I have the car back.

James

 

I had to replace the Battery in my 2007 MCS R52 on Saturday... went to go out for a ride to enjoy the day and ....click, click, click.... DOH! I threw my battery load tester on it and it showed things were not happy. Jump started the car with my Battery Charger and off to Advanced Auto, replaced the stock battery with a Duralast Gold, perfect fit, even had the vent tube hole, (Got my 10% Military Discount) they also verified the stock battery with a load tester, and yes bad battery (it lasted 8 years, not bad) grabbed a 10 mm socket and swapped it in about 3 minutes there in the parking lot... then off to enjoy a nice drive.

Karma steps in and Sunday I had to do the same thing with my MG Midget... $300.00 for batteries on one weekend, ouch!

Motor on!

 

Great, the clubs are a great way to see mods and upgrades in person.

 

Put on my own bonnet stripes and added the Black Jack side mirror caps. It's starting to look more like a MINI. Stripes were tough but they look good as long as you don't get too close haha. They were also $27 when the dealer wanted $315

 

Finally got around to a full interior detailing after a month of ownership. I loved getting into it this morning.
I have to say the previous owner kept it very clean but I was thorough. Maybe a little to much...after 2 hours my wife said, "for such a small car you'd think it would be easy."

3 lessons learned Armor All cleaning wipes (in tube):
1) on non-leather steering wheel it leaves it a tacky residue
2)on the light gray/almost white interior trim- change wipes regularly otherwise leaves gray streaks
3) behind the hatch with the boot open there is no clear coat and would recommend NOT using these. After an initial wipe down the towel became pinkish. Soapy kitchen sponge worked better.

 

Not today, but I just got these new wheels and 215/45 17" Pilot Super Sports!
And I put on a DMM exhaust last week. I'll post a video of before and after!

 

Finally got to install IE exhaust, sounds pretty nice (at least to my tasting). The fitment is not too great, as I cannot get the exhaust tips to stay in the middle of the rear bumper opening. Anyone running into the same problem? But overall, good exhaust, plus shed some pounds getting rid of OEM (anyone wants here? I'll give it away for FREE as long as its local).
Also, pulled out rear seats completely out (I am 6'3" and no one can seat behind me anyway) and installed m7 rear chassis brace

 

here are some pics:

 

L'il Red's been in the shop for more than a week. Okay - there was a holiday thrown in there but still - repaint the bumper, strip the stripes, repaint the hood, replace front aero bumper cover and grills with fresh parts - so I stopped by to see where it stood. Rear bumper (where I was rear-ended) is painted and ready to go. Looks pretty good. Stripes are off the hood and the hood is repainted but that seems to be as far as they got. Of concern is the new front aero bumper cover. The primer on it is very fragile and is going to take a log of futzing with before paint will set up on it.

If this is plastic surgery, I can't wait until the swelling and bruising go away...

 

Wow the Oz wheels are expensive down here. And I have to wait up to 6 weeks for them to be shipped from Italy.

So I ordered some Enkei RPF1s in 16x7. Will probably plastidip them white to see if I like it and get them powder coated at the next tyre change.

James

 

I was looking at the OZ wheels also, but got a smokin deal on the RPF1's in the SBC, but one was a silver not SBC so did some plasti-dip as well. To give you an idea, here it is with 2 coats of white.



With 4 coats (which is what I stopped at) it was a nice solid white, but no picture. I hit it with 5 coats of Blaze Green after but should have stopped at 2 or 3 as it got a bit darker than I wanted when it dried.

D

 

Had a miss when accelerating. Ordered an air filter and four plugs. Air filter I got was wrong one. But the plugs were correct, so I put those. In. And now the car runs like new again.

Now time me to order the correct air filter. Ugh.

Still happy though.

 

On the R50 and R52 Cooper ( NON S ) with the manual and auto trans over the years it gets mixed up.

Pretty much have a triangular filter and a square filter. Which we also carry in Pipercross version.

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/Mini_R50_R52_Pipercross_Filter_2002_2003_2004_2005 _2006_2007_2008_/

 

What do you think about the tyres? I want the same ones but just wanted to get some opinions!?

 

Had a coil go bad on me while traveling through Michigan, causing cylinder 4 misfire. I had to use a Duralast brand coil since that is all they had and I could not wait around. Ugh, I felt sick putting it on, but the Mini is running again. The Bosch coil was 5 years old, but the car has 39k miles. I've heard people go over 100k miles with their stock coils.

 

Install was very straightforward, only had a problem with one of the bolts (on the cat flange) had to cut it off with a grinder, but other than that easy out and back in. It looks great and sounds awesome. Quieter on the highway than my worn out stock one but sounds very nice when you get on it. Very happy with it.

 

Well after eating a pothole of death and pretty much destroying the passenger side front end, I am now driving a 15' 4dr MCS and I personally dont care for it. Its been two day and I miss the Clubby already.
But in light of this damage, I plan on a wheel and either a spring or coilover install. I "think" Ive narrowed my choices to the NM RSe52 in bronze or the deal on ECS for the R113. I am torn on dropping the coin on the coils or going alot cheaper with some lowering springs. Money saved can go to a CAI or other goodies. My Clubby is a DD but never more then 20 miles per day. So. Many. Choices.

 

Yea i like the RSe52 , but i really like the R113.

18" RSe52 Wheels - Set Of Four - Satin Bronze





Or

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES250387/







I say to the photo. Good luck.

 

Yeah I think the bronze would look good on my RG clubby. The r113 I was thinking were the ones with the polished face, I think? That little bit of chrome would also look great. Tough choice.

 

Yea, we dont have the machined face in the wheel / 60% off tire package anymore, they sold out.

R113 Machined face JCW 36116784136

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/36116784136/