Finally installed my water temp sender. I was hesitant because of the coolant mess.

so i put some towels under the hose and come to find out after taking the bleeder device out.
Radiator hose is empty. Cars been sitting for awhile.
Kudos for me. No mess. Now the question.

do i have to bleed it again after the thermostat opens up? Or since it’s empty it’s all good?

there’s coolant in the reservoir. And i didn’t open it when i installed this. Any inputs appreciated.

 

Gave it a check over the other day, it hasn't been getting driven as much this year. Cleaned it up a bit to recheck some leaks. Also checked the spark plugs, they looked good, but I found the #4 plug wire wasn't pushed down the whole way. That seems to have improved the hesitation I'd been feeling at lower rpms. I'm surprised it never seriously stumbled or threw a misfire code.

 

Built new RSD. Finished it this morning around 2am - so that counts for today!




Color match isn't perfect, but to your eye it is barely noticeable. The camera picks it up better than the eye does. Came out really nice, and when I get the boot liner in, won't even be able to tell.

 

The Cobra RS-Forty seats were delivered today. Rushed home to unbox them. Fairly well packaged, and lighter weight than the numbers indicate. I did not weigh the one seat that I took out of the box, but it is definitely sub 19lbs. Absolutely stunning looking seat.



Even threw it into the car quick to get a picture of how it might look...



... if I was going to install them. Which, unfortunately, I will not be doing. I think these seats are gorgeous, and they are quite light. But they are just about 4 inches too short to support my upper back and neck. They are a smidge on the narrow side as well. My butt and lower back fit well, but they feel quite narrow up by the shoulders (or where the shoulders should be). I'm just too tall for these seats at 6'2" - I think they'd be fine for folks shorter than 6 feet, and man they just look like they belong in the Mini. So, I guess almost did for myMini.

Thought about getting leather covers made again - and still thinking about it, but they are so heavy... Ugh - back to looking for another pair of seats.

 

Stripped all my trim an spoiler of the roof of my R50. Plus I removed my mirror caps. Going in tomorrow for a new paint on roof. The clear coat failed. Wipe your hand across it, it would turn white.

 

Well she is off to the paint shop. Will get back on Thursday. I added a respray of my hood strips aswell. Will see how it goes.

 

Interesting... cant wait to see the pics of how it turns out!

 

Annual oil change and vehicle inspection.

 

Well I got my car back from the body shop.
Did not come out to bad.



Now I got to clean up the rest of my paint.

 

I upgraded my lights. Replaced my headlights from stock halogen to "premium" halogens. I didn't think it did much until it got dark. Then it looked worthwhile. I switched my DRLs to 10000K LEDs. They look very nice. I'll have to upgrade my parking lights to match my headlights now, but overall I'm very happy with how it came out. It was very easy and fast (although you need small hands).


OEM halogen headlights; dated yellow color

"Premium" halogen headlights (Philips Crystal Vision); can't really see a difference during the day

But at night, you can see the difference. The parking lights will need to be changed too.

OEM halogen DRLs; again, ugly yellow tint

10000K LED (iJDMtoy) plug and play bulb; looks much more modern and clean

 

Ours was totalled out today... Deer ran into the side, but the repair cost was too high for insurance. I seriously considered keeping it, but decided to get a different one and let this go. Anyone who watches auto auctions - keep an eye out for a Pepper white/black 06 R53 with a broken driver's mirror and a couple dents. It's got new brakes, new stereo, all services performed, low mileage, and drives great...

 

Sad to hear that... hopefully, no one was injured.

Sad to see another R53 get totaled out. R chassis Minis are tougher to find these days... R53s/R50s are harder...

 

That would likely be a good one for someone to snag to fix up or turn into a track car. ‘06 was a really good year for MINIs...

 

Supercharger oil service, water pump and t-stat/housing replacement, and some general cleanup while I was in there.

 

Now that looks like a load of fun.

 

Honestly it wasn't bad. The clutch job sucked, but that was the first really big job I did on this car over a year ago. I'm getting used to how it's put together, so things go pretty smoothly. I'm also a BMW tech, so it's not too far out of my normal. The new X1 and 2 series are built on the Mini chassis, and it actually hasn't changed much from the r50/r53 stuff. Plus I was in at work so I had my lift and my full toolbox. The whole thing took about 4.5 hours including all the cleaning and cleaning up my work bay afterwards.

 

Did mine in the apartment parking lot. Thank God I have a load of tools.

 

... and a tolerant landlord

 

That is awesome! Yes, tons of fun!

 

Or you can just break every rule in your lease and do it 😉 I wouldn’t know by experience or anything. Just flushed my brake fluid and slave cylinder. I haven’t had my car that far apart yet, knock on wood, but there have, brake changes, oil and brake fluid changes, spark plugs, tire rotations, filters, and mass detailing efforts. There are more tire shine marks in my spot that any other fluids that go in the car.

And yes management and the maintenance guys have seen me in action and normally just leave me alone to go about my business. They felt sorry for me when I was doing the brakes on the wife’s 2018 escape.

 

Yes.
Some are good and reasonable about
it and some are hardasses.

 

Luckily I got the reasonable ones. In a former life I used to install Directv back here, and they were hardasses when it game to Dish installs. 5 years later we move in here and they have been as bad, they kind of pick and choose their battles here. I did score some scrap carpet, when they were flipping one of the townhouses, that I lay down underneath the car when working. I guess a little bit of respect goes a long way.

 

GP2 belly pan install to complete the gp underbody (diffuser added couple months ago)

 

Bespoke Braum Advans just ordered! $249 extra for the pair to do all the customization. Super stoked - this will go perfectly with the blue stitched leather shift and brake boots and finish the interior (mostly) off, and save at least 40lbs! Might do the chrome trim rings on the interior to finish it off.

 

Hi, I have a 2015 Mini Cooper S that has been boosted with a factory JCW exhaust system. I am looking to get more scoot out of the boy. Dealer told me there is nothing else to do, I am looking for suggestions from others who have done radical mods to get more acceleration. Thanks in advance