I look forward to seeing your solution. I also like the look of the JCW side skirts but can't justify the cost.

 

Congratulations!

The front of "The Kid" looks awesomegreatfantasticgood!
Sweeeeeeet! Niiiiiiice! Your MINI is definitely turning out to be one of the sharpest Straight Coopers on NAM.

And I'm sure you'll find a reasonable/economic solution to the side skirt issue.
But I admit, I would be a bit perturbed, for certain. But like life in general, focus on the positive 85%, the other 15% will work out in the end.

Will you eventually have the matching stripe put down the boot hatch?

And when you have moment, more pictures please.

 

Albie! While your MINI looked great before the , it looks amazing now!! Gonna make MOTD?

 

Thanks, Pete. That is quite the compliment. I can't wait to get him home and really look him over, get him cleaned up, all that good stuff that I haven't done in over a month.

I flipped when I first saw it. I couldn't understand how I got these when everything I saw in writing said, "JCW". But the reality is this: had I known, I would have been faced with a $1,200 dollar solution, which would have never happened - or gone back to stock black. This will be a good, in between compromise that's not breaking the bank and will accomplish what I set out to do.

I do eventually want to do the stripe down the back - but have to get the JCW rear bumper first.

Pictures when it's complete - should be the weekend.

I wish I could make MOTD. It's a long haul down there for me (not that I won't figure out a way one of these years) but it's also two weeks before my run - I'm always in *management* mode those last two weeks!

 

Update please.

 

Almost 6 weeks later, he's finally home. It was a long day and turned into a long night so not any great pics... Should have some better ones tomorrow or the next day.

 

YaY!

 

Thanks for the update...

Very, very nice, my friend. I love the new look.
If "The Kid" looks that good in an impromptu photo in the garage, I can't wait to see it in a planned formal photo shoot. (Hint...)

That's one sweet Straight Cooper! Congrats again!

 

Thanks, guys. Sooooo relieved to just be done - it was such a long time to be without my MINI. Heck, some have had their MINI built from scratch and delivered in the same amount of time.

Pete - I'm very happy to have painted headlight rings like yours. Nothing like a perfect match. I'm 99% happy with the side skirts - I'll post some pics soon and explain...

Aside from the obvious JCW front bumper, new stripe, europlate and brand new driving lights, I'm very happy with the new bulbs up front. Halogen parking lights were replaced with a pure white bulb and halogen fogs replaced with yellow plasma ions. The A-panels had to be "de-stickered" to paint them, and I like the cleaner look. Gonna keep it that way for now.

 

Something is majorly wrong in this picture...that garage is way too neat

Once again, a sharp looking car.

I do want that areo front bumper. Need to start saving my pocket change

 

looks awesome. congrats!

 

Good timing, Helix. Here's the fix to that side skirt problem...





I'd be 100% satisfied if he had painted them in flat, but he was worried about durability so he did it in satin. It's not awful and I may just leave it, but I'm tempted to try and cover it with plasti-dip or a flat black to match the arches.

In other news they say bad things come in three's. Two and three came today: ticketed for overdue inspection (Nov.) and when I brought it in for the inspection and an oil change, found out I have water pump issues. 71K and it needs a water pump? I've heard of others having to replace the water pump; just not sure if this is premature or normal.

Can't wait to see what THAT costs...

 

Your car looks great!!! Quick question.... If you got a ticked for inspection did the notice the front plate at all? I don't think that you'll get a ticked for the euro plate but for the lack of the NY plate. Thanks and again great looking MINI love the rims too

 

I actually thought he was pulling me over for the plate - but he never said a word. I agree - the lack of a plate would be a ticket for sure.

Thank you for the compliments, too. I'm really happy with how it came out.

 

I do like the new stripes on the bonnet. Nice choice. That was a nice way to integrate the black arches into the side sills. Well done.

 

Thanks. I have to give a big thanks to Mini///M who was able to photo shop a couple different options for me. Once I had a good picture, the body shop took care of the rest.

So to re-cap. Before accident:



Bumped and bruised:



Ahhhhhhh

 

Good god that JCW kit looks amazing. Your car is probably the best Justa I've ever seen, and I plan on making your car a template for when I can order my own Mini. Stunning.

 

The Kid's new face is fantastic! It looks like you turned lemons into lemonade, the JCW bumper and new stripe make for a great awesome. Your solution for the side skirts looks factory. Kid has always been one of my favorite Mini's and it's getting even better with age.
chuck

 

Wow - that compliment is just making me grin. Thank you, my friend. I know I've said it before, but MINI hit a home run with the JCW aero kit. It completely changes the car.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! It's funny you mention lemonade - that's the title I gave my photo album in iPhoto for the pictures from the beginning of this saga to the end.

 

Brought him back to the body shop and called my insurance adjuster to look at my water pump. It essentially started leaking fluid the day I picked it up. First I saw a little steam drifting around the passenger headlight. Then a day later the guys doing the oil change noticed coolant dripping. It's been leaving a puddle in my garage ever since.

The car has 70K and MINI put a plastic water pump on these. It's not absurd to think that it died on its own, but it's way too coincidental for me to decide so I'll let the adjuster have at it.

In the meantime, I have an aluminum water pump lined up that was released by BMW about a month ago. Wish me luck!

 

My mini leaks coolant :( good luck!

 

No luck. Insurance company determined the pump was too far away from the impact. Kind of what I expected them to say. It doesn't help that that they called my dealership and were told that they routinely see them begin to fail anywhere from 55K to 75K. Really a shame. To make a plastic water pump just seems to = fail. And now they've come out with an aluminum version.