I have been having some fun with minor cosmetic modifications to the Mini...and will soon venture off into higher end performance mods, but for now, wanted to share some insight with everyone.

1. Honda S2000 antenna. There are other antennas out there that cost nearly $30 that are offered for the Mini...and one is even the S2000 7" black flexible antenna. This is a direct fit to the mini without any modification needed. I got mine at a local Honda Dealer for just over $16 including tax. Much cheaper than what is being offered through Mine aftermarket companies.

2. Tinted wheel well side markers. I just bought some tint film from Checker Auto parts...20%, self adhesive, pressed it on, and trimmed it slowly with a razor blade. Looks good and has not come off yet...been on for 2 weeks, and through 2 car washes. Brad Mott saw it, I think it looks pretty good for a $5 mod.

3. Cooper S chrome gas cap. Put this in last night, and following the instructions provided on this web site, was a piece of cake. I painted the plastic insert flat black...so we will see how that holds up, I may need to redu that with some better paint.

4. Test painted rear access panel covers black. I have a tan interior and want to go black on the doors with tan in the middle where the door arm rests are....but need to see how the paint will hold up first. I got this idea since the plastic panels are simply painted to begin with. I need to see what paint works best. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know what they have tried. I prefer something in a spray can since I don't have access to an air gun and want to do the work myself.

5. Headlight lens protection film. Got some bubbles on one side :evil: but live and learn. The other side looks good, but at least my lights are protected.

6. Red anodized Oil cap and Power steering fluid cap. I want to do red accents throughout the engine bay, so I got started since there was a sale on these from http://www.cobraaccessories.com. The only thing is that the PSF cap has the mini logo upside down when fully tight. Need to see if there is a way to get the thing turned around...hhhhmmmmmmmm


So, I have been having a good time searching for things to do to the little bugger, this sight is great for reference info. Just wanted to share and offer what I have learned to everyone else. If anyone has any feedback on other options, please feel free to chime in.

later
jon
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2003 Indy Blue Mini Cooper
2001 Black Audi Allroad 2.7T
http://www.rmcb5.com

 

Jon,

Any pics of the tinted marker lights?

You've been busy, all I've done is brake pads and debadging.

 

I can get some pictures tomorrow of everything...and post them tomorrow night. I think they look pretty good, and if the film comes off...I have yards of it so I can keep on reduing it over and over.

 

 

oops

 

Wow! Look at those beautifully clean wheels! :smile:
I have the S2000 antenna also. I like it, and I think it might even get slightly better reception than the stock!? (...or maybe it's just psychological! :smile: )

 

Jon,

I tried it your way. Bought the tint and had a hard time manipulating it to look good - call me fumble fingered. But what i did instead was bought some translucent black paint from a hobby store. I painted the side markers tonight, after masking them off, I think the results are similar to yours. We'll have to wait and see if the paint holds up, or not.

 

Nice Mark,

some of the guys at RMCB5.com have tinted their tails with that kind of paint, some have done fine, others have pealed. It will be interesting to see how it holds up. Mine have held up fine, but I did pull them off to re-du them, one got scraped up in a parking lot by a small hit and run, no real damage, all fixed with a little buffing, but I wanted the tint to match, so I re-did them all. Let me know how it holds up.

Also, what brakes did you decide to go with? I have been dying to know. The suspense is killin' me

cheers
jon

 

StopTechs are on the way! I'm pretty sure the 16" SSR comps won't fit, so I'll be selling them. I'm hoping the 17" OZ's will fit without using a spacer, but if they don't I have a spacer ready. Then the problem will be whether the wheels clear the fenders - the OZ's have a 37mm offset. So, best case I need to buy one new set of wheels, worst case two new sets!

Here's a pic of the gauges I've been working on:


_________________
IB/W some mods

 

Mark, those looks sweet. I am sure you are gonna love the stoptechs...I am jonesin to see them in person. Before you sell your SSR's, talk to me first, please

 

Here are the Stoptechs, 17" SSR Comps and the PZero Corsa's.

 

WOW!!!

 

Do you actually get faster braking from th e stoptechs, or does the ABS take over and keep things as they were? There is one school of thought that says the ABS system is calibrated for a certain max brake HP, and larger brakes won't stop faster than that. Sounds like BS to me though. I think our ABS is run by rotation sensors, not g-force sensors.

ANYONE?

 

since this is a mod thread, I will update what I have done so far, I already posted this in Mini Talk, but wanted to keep it all together as well. I have more things on the way this week, so once they are installed, I will get some pics up.

Mark, Wish those stoptecks fit under the OEM S-lytes...I would be all over them, they look awesome. How do they feel? or have you not had a chance to check them out yet. Can't wait for a ride this season, and I will return the favor with the Allroad...got the Zimmerman and ceramic pads in, H-Sports are on the way, new 18" RS6 rims with Falken Azenis 115s on them, super huge, super fat and APR should be installed by the end of the month, gonna be the fastest darn grocery getter in town, hehehe.

cheers
jon

 

Lekfx asked whether you get faster (shorter) braking from Stoptechs, or whatever.
I think you are partially right the limit of any braking system is the contact patch of the tires. If you can engage the ABS then you're getting full braking, right? Well, not really. I think that the bigger brakes will do a number of things for me:
#1: Fade resistance, the stock brakes fade badly on the track,
#2: Better modulation, the new calipers will have better control over their clamping force (4 pistons vs 1)
#3: Better heat disipation will mean better pad and rotor life, I've gotten stock pads so hot they crack and the rotors hot enough they look like they've had spall from a welding rig dropped on them,
#4: I can change the pads without taking off the calipers, they go in like pieces of toast from the top,
#5: they look really, really cool

Next up: Leda's, adjustable rear control arms and front camber plates.

Jon, You're looking good! I should try and take pictures of my car when it is actually detailed!

 

Nice looking wheels. Are those the silver or anthracite SSR Comps? I'm looking to put a set on my MCS once it arrives (late April).

 

Anthracite. Looks like you're probably down to counting the days!

 

a couple of more mods so I'm ready for the track:

 

Looks reat Mark, hope to actually make it out there sometime so I can go for a ride

cheers
jon

 

Who's roll cage is that? Can you unbolt the cross bar and use the back seat? Looks very nice.

 

Custom built by one of our very own Colorado MCS owners: Grant (AKA Built by bones). Do a search on e-bay, he's starting to sell them on-line there. The cross brace is removable; in fact it is all removeable.