Interior/Exterior Dorky Cheapskate Mods - Gen 2
#101
I have a dremel as well and thought about using it, but after thinking about it more I decided I could probably get a cleaner end result with a sanding disk. It only took me maybe 20 minutes total and I didn't have to be really meticulous. If you only have a dremel then go for it. If you don't have either, an angle grinder is only $20 at harbor freight.
#102
Well thanks for the led bulb link but one thing I put them in the parking light spot and my side turn signals but when I turn my car on they make it kinda look like a cop car since all 4 flash but once I turn park lights on and off they stop anyone else with this problem? They all work though. Now to think on which fogs to get
Last edited by sorbert; 09-16-2013 at 06:00 PM.
#103
Well thanks for the led bulb link but one thing I put them in the parking light spot and my side turn signals but when I turn my car on they make it kinda look like a cop car since all 4 flash but once I turn park lights on and off they stop anyone else with this problem? They all work though. Now to think on which fogs to get
#106
#108
Did mine yesterday.
A word of warning. Those little 5w bulbs get extremely hot. When I replaced the first bulb, I turned on the lights and tested all four LED sets then installed one of them. The LED lights only work in one direction in the plug. I removed the socket assembly and grabbed the bulb and pulled it out. It was at that time that it felt like my two finger tips were holding the sun. I dropped the bulb on the driveway and had to hold my tongue as my wife and kids were nearby. I ran over and ran water from the faucet over my fingers and my wife went inside to get ice. As I sit here typing, my fingers look and feel burned but have not blistered yet.
My parking lights look much better now though.
Do they make a similar replacement for the fog lights?
A word of warning. Those little 5w bulbs get extremely hot. When I replaced the first bulb, I turned on the lights and tested all four LED sets then installed one of them. The LED lights only work in one direction in the plug. I removed the socket assembly and grabbed the bulb and pulled it out. It was at that time that it felt like my two finger tips were holding the sun. I dropped the bulb on the driveway and had to hold my tongue as my wife and kids were nearby. I ran over and ran water from the faucet over my fingers and my wife went inside to get ice. As I sit here typing, my fingers look and feel burned but have not blistered yet.
My parking lights look much better now though.
Do they make a similar replacement for the fog lights?
Well, one of my LED markers failed. For the last several days I kept getting the bulb warning and could not find any bulbs not working. Yesterday I pulled out the LEDs and one of the five LED squares was blinking erratically. So I swapped it out for one of my spares and it is all good to go now. I could not see the difference with the bad one mounted, but the warning was very annoying.
#109
I'm going to go the other way when I install my gauges....I've scuffed up the raised ring around each gauge pod so it looks matt black in contrast with the rest of the shiny plastic. That way it at least looks distinct instead of the one molded piece that it is. I dont have chrome anyway, just a matt black ring around my rev counter, so it will kind of match that.
I've devoured all 36 pages of the original Dorky Cheapskate modifications thread - and with the thread's location it's mostly all pics of R53s! Show us your dorky cheapskate mods for your Gen 2 Minis! Share your ideas!
I am currently working on chroming my JCW Sport Gauge. The first attempt was using some 1/8" Chrome Pinstriping - $3 at O'Reillys, but that failed horribly. The whole curving thing messed up my sticker.
The next attempt will probably be with Spaz Stix paint. But that's gonna be like $19 (although if it works it'd probably be enough paint to do all the Mini's gauges for those without chrome line trim already.
Doesn't that all black gauge just drive you nuts? Drives me nuts at least....
Any other ideas are appreciated! What mods have you done?
I am currently working on chroming my JCW Sport Gauge. The first attempt was using some 1/8" Chrome Pinstriping - $3 at O'Reillys, but that failed horribly. The whole curving thing messed up my sticker.
The next attempt will probably be with Spaz Stix paint. But that's gonna be like $19 (although if it works it'd probably be enough paint to do all the Mini's gauges for those without chrome line trim already.
Doesn't that all black gauge just drive you nuts? Drives me nuts at least....
Any other ideas are appreciated! What mods have you done?
#110
#111
Ymmv but if you live in an area with marginal coverage to start, you will probably notice the difference.
(Still worth it to me. Don't love the stock antenna at all.)
#113
I believe you that it plays a big role on AM stations. I can't make out sh*t on the emergency AM station for the causeway bridge since switching. Not that it was audible before...
#114
Really? I put a stubby on my car last year and ever since I get a little static when listening to NPR compared to before. I'm not convinced.
I believe you that it plays a big role on AM stations. I can't make out sh*t on the emergency AM station for the causeway bridge since switching. Not that it was audible before...
I believe you that it plays a big role on AM stations. I can't make out sh*t on the emergency AM station for the causeway bridge since switching. Not that it was audible before...
I would be curious if you removed the stubby if that would clear up.
Now that would make me scratch my head.
#115
An interesting idea! I may try that sometime when I'm certain of no rain.
#116
$15 of e-bay parts.
2.75" 90 degree elbow.
3" intake.
3 clamps/DONE.
Sounds great, I'm sure "power wise" its not good.. but that sounddd!!!
See this thread - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ntake-mod.html
2.75" 90 degree elbow.
3" intake.
3 clamps/DONE.
Sounds great, I'm sure "power wise" its not good.. but that sounddd!!!
See this thread - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ntake-mod.html
#117
#118
Last night I painted my tail light trim gloss black. I have some wrap coming this week but I hate using it on those thin trim pieces. I used 600 grit sandpaper on the chrome, did two light coats of auto primer, then did about 3 light coats of gloss black automotive enamel, and 2 medium wet coats and let it sit overnight. This morning they were shiny and smoother than I had imagined. Popped em back on and headed to work.
#119
I popped off my cup holder trim rings and had them painted bright red, as well as my shifter base trim ring, which I had painted gloss black to match the one on my horn pad.
I also had my trunk lid handle painted black to match my roof.
I'll post pictures sometime after I vacuum out my car. It's hard to keep it clean in the winter.
I also had my trunk lid handle painted black to match my roof.
I'll post pictures sometime after I vacuum out my car. It's hard to keep it clean in the winter.
#120
1) I had to press the cluctch pedal VERY hard to start the car.
2) I felt that I was encountering some extra resistance changing gears...kinda felt like the clutch wasn't completely disengaging. However, in first gear, stopped, at idle, releasing the clutch a wee bit made no apparent difference in RPM's, so maybe the clutch WAS completely disengaging?
Anyway, #1 was enough to make me remove a shim, and, shifting feels as good as it did with all the spacers.
With one shim out, it works great.
#121
I have a 2009 MC...I took out one of the shims as with them all on,
1) I had to press the cluctch pedal VERY hard to start the car.
2) I felt that I was encountering some extra resistance changing gears...kinda felt like the clutch wasn't completely disengaging. However, in first gear, stopped, at idle, releasing the clutch a wee bit made no apparent difference in RPM's, so maybe the clutch WAS completely disengaging?
Anyway, #1 was enough to make me remove a shim, and, shifting feels as good as it did with all the spacers.
With one shim out, it works great.
1) I had to press the cluctch pedal VERY hard to start the car.
2) I felt that I was encountering some extra resistance changing gears...kinda felt like the clutch wasn't completely disengaging. However, in first gear, stopped, at idle, releasing the clutch a wee bit made no apparent difference in RPM's, so maybe the clutch WAS completely disengaging?
Anyway, #1 was enough to make me remove a shim, and, shifting feels as good as it did with all the spacers.
With one shim out, it works great.
I always feel like I'm the ONLY one who isn't impressed with this shim piece. I mean, people go nuts and rave about how perfect it is but I just don't get it. I don't think I could have installed it wrong, so maybe its the way I shift? I don't press the pedal to the floor during normal shifting so I never even reach the clutch stop on a normal basis. Is this supposed to be for speed shifting?
I too have had a negative experience starting the car with this piece. Sorry guys but I feel like an alien on this one. I just don't get the appeal
#122
Visor Yellow Decal Fix
Recently found this thread and saw the post on placing beige/white vinyl over the offensive yellow decals on the visors. I, too, found the yellow decals annoying and chose a commercial application for a solution. It was low cost and, I believe, classifies as dorky, particularly among those dislike stickers. But, this was not adding stickers, just improving ones that are OEM.
With the view that maybe a seatbelt warning could be helpful, I found a better worded and more readable message for the passenger side visor.
Not needing such a message for the driver's side, since I always use my seat belt, I choose a black jack for a bit of British image.
]
Purchased these stickers from the artist who makes the sunshades with eye expressions - Artistic Reflection.
http://www.artisticreflection.com/fu...r-stickers.htm
They come in two's for $8.00. So, I do have an extra set of this mismatched pair. Giving thought to buying a second MINI - if so, the offensive yellow will be quickly dispensed.
Not much money, the offensive yellow decals are covered, and the MINI is personalized a bit.
With the view that maybe a seatbelt warning could be helpful, I found a better worded and more readable message for the passenger side visor.
Not needing such a message for the driver's side, since I always use my seat belt, I choose a black jack for a bit of British image.
]
Purchased these stickers from the artist who makes the sunshades with eye expressions - Artistic Reflection.
http://www.artisticreflection.com/fu...r-stickers.htm
They come in two's for $8.00. So, I do have an extra set of this mismatched pair. Giving thought to buying a second MINI - if so, the offensive yellow will be quickly dispensed.
Not much money, the offensive yellow decals are covered, and the MINI is personalized a bit.
Last edited by Green Flash; 01-09-2014 at 11:42 AM.
#124
2nd Gear
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I've done striping with plasti-dip before too, here's a time-saver. Peel up the masking tape before the plasti-dip dries. it will leave a nice clean edge that will be less likely to lift over time.
Another dorky cheapskate mod: before paying a vinyl shop to cut a custom hood stripe for me, today I used plastidip to see if it would really look as hoped. Blue painters tape to define the shape and mask off the washer jets, and newspaper to cover the car from overspray. Since it dries stretchy, I used a straight razor to slice a line in the coating along the tape when I removed the tape and paper. Pics:
#125
nice job
sweet looking! I did that with my 2012 Roadster but never posted pics. it's easy and if you order from China.. it's only 10 bucks. they last a long time too. only problem I had within the 2 years was one of the LED squares burnt out so I had to order again the strip.
but I just got a new JCW and I got the official MINI LED DRL lights.. now those are sweet!! have you seen them? i'll post mine on here soon.
later
but I just got a new JCW and I got the official MINI LED DRL lights.. now those are sweet!! have you seen them? i'll post mine on here soon.
later
Wanted to do something this weekend, and none of the "fun" things I've ordered have arrived, soooo...
Don't know if I will keep them or not yet, but I installed some 12" flexible LEDs in the gap between the bonnet and bumper for a cheapo faux Audi-ish DRL look...
Wired into the parking lights behind the wheel wells.
Cost = $20 (PepBoys)
Time = 1 hour
Pics:
Don't know if I will keep them or not yet, but I installed some 12" flexible LEDs in the gap between the bonnet and bumper for a cheapo faux Audi-ish DRL look...
Wired into the parking lights behind the wheel wells.
Cost = $20 (PepBoys)
Time = 1 hour
Pics: