Yay! Just picked up my GP1281 from Milpas Motors in Santa Barabara, CA today! It was there on consignment from a local collector. Awesome little car!! Fell in love after about 30 secs into the test drive when I couldn't stop squeezing on the gas pedal to make it peel out throughout the twisties. Drove it straight to my bank and got the money and bought it.

Never been sold on a car so quickly!!! I knew after driven my wife's Laurel Sport that mini's were fun, but the GP takes it to the level that I'm more accustomed to in my M cars. I am not even sad anymore that I sold my MCoupe!!!! It not only is sporty and composed in the twisties, its actually comfortable and civilized!!! I couldn't have asked for a better daily driver!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fobulousrich/6111612936/

 

Congrats! Got mine a few weeks ago and love it too.

(was it a z3 m coupe? I Love those!)

 

Congratulations! And the owners page is updated ...
http://gpmini.net/wp/introduction/

 

Congrats! The GP is a hoot! Like you, I don't even miss my e46M3. Great performance, decent gas mileage, trick looks and creature comfort...Life is good!

 

Congrats... Wish I owe one

 

Congrats on the new GP. Glad you are already enjoying the car.

 

Do you guys recommend the JCW strut brace or the M7 antimushrooming strut brace?

Also, since I have poor night vision and fall is upon us, has anyone retrofitted HIDs via bulb and ballast alone, or replaced the whole headlight unit with factory or ebay style units?

Is Bluetooth an easy retrofit in our cars? And lastly, is it easy to add a powered sub to the factory system? I'm ok with the front speakers, but of course it doesn't have enough bass for my tastes.

I think thats pretty much all the modding I will do.

 

The headlights are a little disappointing . I have not dealt with it yet, but here's a good read from this forum.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...s-on-a-gp.html

 

Welcome to the GP family...
I added driving lights to help at night.
I have the M7 brace, it looks great.

 

Thanks guys! I am going to go down to M7 to pickup the brace later this week as the MIL lives in Lakewood (gotta show her my new ride...excuse to drive it everywhere!).

I have considered the driving lights but if they're anything like the ones on my wife's Laurel then I would rather just have xenons. They are very bright and throw is great, but they only come on with the high beams. I want something that gives me good light all the time.

Are the factory Xenons any good for the R53? If they're anything like the Xenons on the R56 then they are nothing short of amazing.

I found these and they look promising (handsome factory like design). Hopefully they can accept a HID 35w or 55w kit. I know my Sonar Headlights on the Z3 MCoupe handled the 55W kit with no melting issues at all.

http://www.handhelditems.com/popup_i...d=151561&img=0

 

Congrats on your GP! Jealous, but only just a lot

 

M7 for me too.

 

Does anyone run a ram air hood scoop or the modified intercooler cover? I have a scanguage II and I can see that intake air temps are usually 10F over ambient (which is nothing short of amazing on a stock car), but was wondering if I could lower it some more with an aftermarket design? I'm thinking you can't gain too much more as the factory design is probably maxed out.

Was at the dealer today chatting it up with some old BMW friends that have since moved to the mini side and one guy said the GP comes from the factory with a 15% pulley stock? Is that right? So no pulley upgrade is necessary on our cars?

 

GP has JCW pulley which is a bit less than 15%. One quick Google search suggests 13.5% but I don't know for certain.

 

I believe the JCW pulley on the GPs is about 12%.

 

this pulley question is a good one. I have read that it is 13.5% in a tuner article on line. I was told by a well known mini aftermarket vendor that it was about 14.8, and told by another mini aftermarket vendor that it was around 12-13%. I'm interested to see other responses on this one as well. I decided on a 16% and its sitting in the garage waiting.


(I also read on line in several places that the GP mini would have 16" brake rotors.)

 

I have the inter-cooler cover from Way. It looks nice, I'm sure more air gets in by design. I also changed out the vent to CAI to a oracle.

Stiffen up the sway bars and end links - the cornering is incredible...

Get a cooler thermostat like the M7, better spark wires a screaming demon but if you want some more juice, get a map by Jan.....

 

The reason why I love the scanguage so much is it gives me instant real world readings. I wish manufactures/vendors would provide those type of numbers for their products. So many claim to do x, y, and z, but how much do they actually deliver vs. stock? Just curious to know if anyone has installed these CAI, IC covers, pulleys, and recorded before and after numbers.

 

Congrats!

 

BTW, is there some feuding on NAM in regards to RMW? My whole post about how well my RMW tune was deleted and no explanation was given. Anyone care to fill me in? Seems like of forum politics?

 

I was wondering what happened to your post. I saw it in my notices but it was gone when I tried to go to the post. Then I saw it was about a RMW tune and figured it was deleted.

Over the last few years there was online battling between a couple tune competitors and thier friends. It almost ruined the forum. Many people left this forum because very performance mod post would create a battle between a few people and ruin the intent of the post.

 

Wow those look like good hp and torque numbers from an otherwise stock gp. Hows the driveability, etc. I am looking forward to a custom tune myself, just not sure when.

 

They are good numbers for a stock car. Congrats on the purchace. Yes there has been some forum feaud's with the tuners that where on here, and that led to multiple people getting the boot. Yes it sucks, and I wish that everyone could keep their oppinions to themselves that way we dont lose more people.

 

I was made aware today the reason behind why my post was removed by the mods and their explanation was similar to all of yours. I guess I missed the good old days eh? lol

Oh well. I have nothing bad to say about anyone here and the tune by RMW was more than impressive. The overall drivability and fun factor has been upped. The extra low end torque that was tuned back end definitely helps down low (15ft lbs at the wheels). It was definitely a win win for me.

Here are some pics from the session:

 

I found a source that said the JCW GP pulley is 11.3% which allows the SC to reach max rpm at 7100rpms. Now I can't recall where I saw it last night otherwise I would link it for reference.