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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Window tint, got clear bra on the whole hood (bumper next week) and got a stripe. Its incomplete because of time. I cant decide if I like it how it is or should I go below the scoop?
Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; Feb 28, 2016 at 11:40 AM.
Window tint, got clear bra on the whole hood (bumper next week) and got a stripe. Its incomplete because of time. I can decide if I like it how it is or should I go below the scoop?
Nice! I plan on window tint this summer. Looks great!
Finally got around to changing out the two upper motor mounts on the R53, at 71K miles it was time.Used OEM parts .All in all not really a bad job, but definitely a bit of work.I had put in a VibraTechnics lower motor mount last year, now things feel nice and snug.
As an added bonus I greased up the shift linkages while I could get at them and replaced the little rubber vacuum hose to the throttle body, it was cracked all over the surface and getting to it is a lot of work so why not?
Got rid of a fair bit of vibration and will be off to take a nice drive shortly!
Changed from clear to amber lenses on the side scuttles. Just personal preference. I like having a little color. To me the clear lenses appeared maggot white. No likey.
He is DIRTY but going to stay that way since we have rain and snow in the forecast for this week.
Replaced the lower steering column and lubricated the upper column bearing with white lithium grease. Got the last of the two front inner control arm ball joints removed from the control arms. Took some work to get them out; had to cut the ball joint with a cut-off tool to get the bracket out of the way. Then used a hydraulic press and a large socket to press out the remaining studs. Sounded like a gun went off when they released. New ball joints have been painted to protect the exposed metal. The control arms are off to the bead blaster tomorrow to get cleaned up before they too get painted.
I've decided that this system is too loud for my tastes. I was hoping it woudn't be that loud till ya wadded the throttle a bit but it's just
a bit too obnoxious for me. I'd like to get somethin that's a bit quieter till ya push it some.
ahh well, it's only money.
I will get some vids of this today or tomorrow if I can.
I'll try to get some sound bytes of this system tomorrow. I keep going back n forth on if it's too loud or not. lol I'm starting to like it.
I have to order 4 new hangars and have the mechanic fix the tip alignment when he does the new hangars. They are a bit off, ones higher than the other and it sadly melted my bumper spoiler. Getting a bit of vibration too since theres a few hangars missing. Hopefully that will be remedied...
Good work CooperSAZ... feels different... before and after? More in depth comments, observations?
Now, about that picture below... I think there's a yellow CRX hiding behind your Mini!! Shouldn't it be more prominently displayed?
Thank you!
Over time, I noticed the LCA bushings deteriorate. When I turned the car over, I heard an additional/slight vibration that sounded out of place. One that was like, "Great, what is coming next?" hehe While driving this sound was gone, I only heard it at idle and when I started to move from a stand still. Once I passed about 2k rpms, the vibration sound went away and it was back the MINI and Milltek.
Moving… Even pulling out of the garage and past the sidewalk, there is a decline/ramp that links the city street to the sidewalk. Slowly going down this ramp, you could feel the wheel turn and the LCA shift within the bushing collar. Not a great sound.
While moving, the car would slightly pull to the right (right bushing was toast) as if it needed an alignment. Even while driving on a city street or on the highway, the car felt twitchy. There are times it would want to (ever so slightly) pull to the left or pull to the right. So you had to keep one hand on the wheel for fear or “changing lanes”. So slightly annoying. What the MINI felt like and how it drove was a mere memory.
Even while getting under the MINI while he was jacked up, you could move the wheels a few degrees in each direction. Hardly ideal.
Post install, the first thing I noticed was coming off the driveway, past the sidewalk to the street. Going down the ramp, there was no sound, there was no knock. Just silence. I went for a quick stroll and the MINI felt very solid.
Going for a longer drive, the steering wheel was dead straight and steady. There was no twitchy feeling and the MINI did not want to pull in one direction or the other. I got up to 45mph on a straight stretch and let the wheel go. The Mini just went straight and did not “change lanes”. While driving, I noticed that the handling of the Mini was back and the slightest adjustment in the steering wheel, the Mini reacted. Very very cool feeling. So I made a left hand turn through an intersection without having to stop (at pace) and the MINI felt great! No secondary movements, no counter movements, it just went where you steered it.
I cant wait to throw on some Koni Yellows and TSW springs with a larger swaybar. This could get fun.
Very good eye! I have a thing for yellow. The CRX Si is very much on display but on another website. I hate to muddy the waters here since this is a MINI forum. But you can read up on the CRX on the CRX forum. If you get a chance, let me know your thoughts.
well, not today but last night i finally swapped out my factory header for a megan racing 4/1 design.full exhaust now with the megan header and magnaflow catback. also repalced a cracked front pillar trim on the exterior passenger window. the header makes my mini sound pretty gnarly and added a bit more pep too....i like it!
I'll try to get some sound bytes of this system tomorrow. I keep going back n forth on if it's too loud or not. lol I'm starting to like it.
I have to order 4 new hangars and have the mechanic fix the tip alignment when he does the new hangars. They are a bit off, ones higher than the other and it sadly melted my bumper spoiler. Getting a bit of vibration too since theres a few hangars missing. Hopefully that will be remedied...
Which ebay system did you purchase. Sometimes I have seen where adding the OEM JCW center resonator pipe quieted down other custom set ups. May work in your case too.
I'm starting to like it.
Getting a bit of vibration too since theres a few hangars missing. Hopefully that will be remedied...
