12/27 we head south, 12/28 and 1050 miles later we landed in Fort Myers, Fl. Had to pull the bumper to get her off, so she’s in the garage.

 

Well, Happy New Year in your new location.

As that goes, Happy New Year to all!
Enjoy and Motor On

 

First time on jack stands at new place. Bumper needs to go back on, and I might as well get rid of those stupid all seasons and back to R98’s with Indy 500’s.

 

Same to you and yours. Remembering the Mini Performance Group!

 

As much as I would love for this to be a mini only garage, got to make room for the Tiguan, so she’s back in summer form looking forward to her first bath. She went on the trailer way cleaner than she came off.

 

Hi Jason - welcome. Are you down here full time. I moved to Fort Myers in 2018, but am in Estero now. Feel free to reach out for anything. I have a reasonably equipped garage with a lift if doing something that requires height. Dan

 

Yes sir permanent move. We are in North Fort Myers, Cobblestone on the lake, so far loving every minute of it. Sweating while moving in shorts and t shirt was nice. Wearing 2 layers packing sucked. I might take you up on the lift, honestly having the 2 car garage vs a carport is a world of difference. As you can see I’m not afraid to roll around, only thing I really need to do is the timing cover, I thinks that’s the rest of my oil leak, so while I’m there, might as well do new timing chain, and valve cover 😞 not something I’m really looking forward to, but would be nice to not drip oil.
Jason

 

Again, Welcome. I hope you love it here.

Currently working with a couple of chaps from Trinidad on building out a G35 ( donor car on left/front, build car behind ) - so a two to make one effort. Donor car will be out in a week and the build car will be a roller once we install the take out suspension from donor ( engine is getting pulled and taken somewhere to be built ). So will be easy access to the two post.

You can see my Laurel R57 on the right.

I'll be happy to be a your sous mechanic/chef - as I am more brakes/suspension/easy stuff ...

Cheers

 

maybe you can learn how to do timing chain on a r53 with me 😉 will be my first time.

 

Nice bunker/garage Dan! Poured pre stressed trusses for the roof! Hurricane proof.

 

Thanks - I used to live in a house with a garage, but downsized to a condo ... well actually two condos: One in a residence community, one in a garage community

 

Got to Love the spirit of this “community”!

 

Can’t be anymore officially moved in than this.

 

yep - that is a florida garage !!!

 

Yes - Nothing beats a house and garage built on a solid concrete foundation. No sagging, rickety wooden stilts down there

 

Replaced my mirror gaskets today, 19 year old rubber had seen better days. Since I was out there, made her Florida ready.






Quick coat of wax, did the plastic trim, quick wax on wheels. As I was pulling her out to take pics, the white van came home from work, not his fault, just bad timing on my part.

 

Looking nice - but you it won't be officially Florida ready until you switch the plates. Until then - you have snowbird status

 

Funny you say that, looking at what I need to do for plates and license. Printing the forms out now, wife’s car will be the fun one. Going to set an appointment and plan on spending the day there I’m sure.

 

Depends where you go - there is a place by me that is quick, but when I first moved here, I had a wait at a different one. I believe you can make appointments too

PS Be prepared for Car Insurance Sticker shock if you have not already switched over :(

 

No more salt and snow!

 

she only saw salt once, and was washed the day. Then because I’m just picky enough she got a bath, before loaded on trailer. Rained 80% of the way down here, figured that would be the case anyway.

 

Yep the old Gen 1 MINIs i see around here are all rusted out now. The rust below the taillights and trunk grip. Glad yours did not see that much.

 

Tough to keep cars nice here in the rust belt. Just wash them all the time in the winter and make sure the under carriage gets a good wash too.

 

Replaced both rear wheel hubs and bearings this afternoon. At 200k miles they were starting to make a little bit of noise. Probably the easiest bearing replacement I’ve ever done. Jack the rear of the car, remove wheels, remove calipers and rotors, pull the ABS sensor, disconnect sway bar end link, unbolt the bearing hub and remove. Reinstall in the reverse order and done. All in, was maybe a 1.5 hour job.

 

Jason ...Thats a really, really nice r53!