No argument here - They look great on your car; In fact your whole car looks great!

 

Took her on a Club Run with her Cousins, PDX MINI R-O-C-K-S!! Drove up to Griot's Garage, Tacoma, WA anyone OCD about their car should know this place!!

 

Took her on a nice long drive out to dinner and back.

 

Getting ready to replace my stock side mirror caps. Ordered checkered caps. The company I ordered them from say they are easy to install, however, parts guy at dealership said great care needs to be taken when "popping " out the mirror, as breakage is possible. Anyone have any hints as to how to remove the mirrors?!?

Any advise is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Dont know if gen1 or 2 has any difference here. Gen one mirrors you just orient all the way upward by pushin on the top of the glass. Then you slide you fingers under the mirror and pull slowly but firmly. Mine were really tight, and took a lot of pulling.

 

thanks!!

 

Gave her a wash and Installed my NM upper tie bar.

 

Want this setup soo badly but does not yet work with the 2011's.

 

OK Gothmdoc, what did you do to that NM STB? I've got the same thing, but it sure don't look like that! CF wrap? Looks cool.

 

You're going to be waiting more than a month for those door handles..

 

yes, I am just discovering Griot's! We are in the middle of a garage makeover to make the garage fit for a MINI . . . Hopefully we should be done next weekend. We have almost finished painting, and the Race Deck tiles should be coming at the end of the week.

 

Haha, thanks... yep its CF wrapped over the Aluminum bar! Real CF certainly wouldn't be suitable lol.

 

Griots is the best! Order stuff from them all the time.

 

I was researching this issue a few months ago. From what I recall, Gen 1 mirrors have to be popped out to switch the mirror caps, but Gen 2 mirrors can be tilted out of the way. Gen 2 mirrors are supposed to be much easier to work with. There is a thread about this very topic. I bet if you search "install mirror caps" you might find it. You should read the postings before you start your work. Good luck!

 

Installed the WMW Performance BOV. Seemed like it would be rather simple after taking the coolant reservoir out, and moving intake hoses. However, those three screws to remove the stock BOV are a little hard to get at with all the other hoses and wiring in the way. So, instead of what I thought would be a 30 minute job actually took me about an hour. Still not bad for a DIY, and all thumbs.

In the last month I've installed the NM torque arm inserts, and now the BOV, and they do make a nice difference in drivability. Two very inexpensive mods with a nice bang for the buck. I fully recommend these mods along with all those other enthusiasts who have mentioned this previously.

 

What doesn't for the 2011's? The NM STB?

 

Its listed that the CAI wont fit 2011s and it seems some other STBs from other manufacturers wont fit the 11s because of clearance with the CAIs so I assume neither will the NM STB. If you find out I would love to know if it does or not.

 

Oh no. My next mod will be the STB and it sucks that it won't fit a 2011. Has this information been confirmed?

 

nope but Id say shoot NM an email and see what they say about it. They were going to be my next two updates but now might have to wait until sometime in March. Or, hell, your decently close, worth a shot http://www.nm-eng.com/news/29/cars-needed-for-rd.html

 

I drove him to work all clean, and then got caught in a blizzard on the way home. Oh, and it hit -23C as well.

 

It wasn't today, but this past Sunday. I got to meet up with the PittStop MINI club and the guys from MINI of Pittsburgh down at Beaverun. It was a winter driving refresher course to help those of us who aren't really familiar with the capabilities of our MINI's to get acquainted with those limits.

Well as the day wore on the north track started to clear off and we got to run some higher speed laps. So, I got the chance to push myself to the edge of my comfort level and the car still had more to give. Got to do 2 pretty fast laps and after the second one I had to pull off the track my hands were shaking from the adrenaline lol. I was shaking and still have no clue how fast I was going because I wasn't going to take my eye of the track!

Lets just say, my "build plan" for the MINI has totally changed! I'm hooked lol.

 

Just talked to a tech at NM and he stated that the NM STB will fit a 2011 MCS. He said that on some 2011 MCSs that shiny tube that crosses over the turbo intake tube by the MAF sensor may barely touch, but does not present a wearing problem. If your still nervous about this, wrap the tube with high temp tape like MINI does with the pre-2011 MCS!

 

Gave the Brick a wash last night, with the help of my 3yr old son....awesome fun, last Sunday fitted a JCW Airbox(wasn't available in the 1st JCW kits) minus 2nd stage air flap..........might as well have all of the air all of the time !!

 

Just tried to fix an exhaust leak.....still leaking but its less now lol

 

i ordered a "Reserved Parking" sign and MINI wall clock for my garage makeover . . . walls are all painted and race deck tiles are on their way!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ng+mini+cooper

http://www.amazon.com/MINI-Cooper-Ra...9007471&sr=8-2