Tell me, are these worth doing...or am I being retarded.
Note: Some of these I have said or asked before in other forums but I can not find some of them and some were so off topic they were ignored (as they should have been)

1. Rear Seat Delete: Kit or DIY? Kit is like $250 but I'm not sure how easy this would be to do. I need it level for a spare tire.

2. Tires: I hear so many bad things about the runflats I'm thinking of buying a spare wheel and 5 all season tires, then selling the 4 runflats either here or on ebay/craigslist for whatever I get the other 5 for. They wouldn't have more than about 20 miles on them. With the rear seats out I'd have more than enough space for a spare.

3. Automatic Shift ****: I'm getting an automatic trans and want to get a nicer ****, is it replaceable and if yes, where can I find some options...I can't find much online.


What else should I do/buy before I get my MINI to keep it maintained or to spruce it up a little bit right when it arrives?

 

The RFs aren't that bad, I did mine for 30k and now have regulars. They ride softer and a little quieter. Mainly they're a lot cheaper. Some people get a donut spare which is small. I don't carry a spare, just a pump/fixaflat goop/kit. I don't think they have aftermarket shift ***** for autos because of the button thingy.

 

I sold my stock bridgespokes on the marketplace pretty fast. Why do you want a full size spare? I think there is a kit to add a dounut spare to the non-S.

 

Without the back seat I plan to make a rig from two male ends of seat-belts and one round strip of seatbelt or something...then strap the full size to the floor like you'd see in a rally car...however be accessible trough the seatbelt receptacles in the back

 

I've not seen the kit you purchase. I did my own. Mine was complicated because I built a custom cabinet as a barrier between the boot area and front seats. This contains a sectioned cabinet (for the 6x9 speakers) that is isolated from the main cabinet with anti-vibration pads. Without all that, it would be fairly easy.

This thread has some photos: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-project.html


Most people are carrying a Slime compressor and plug kit, instead of a spare. However, a spare could be less hassle if you have a catastrophic blowout. Most nails are slow enough that an air pump will get you to safety.

Because the auto shift **** has a release mechanism in it, you wont find an aftermarket ****. For the manual transmission, you can get custom engraved stainless steel shift *****, and billiard ball ***** from Doug Whalen.

Wooden shift ***** are also available in a variety of woods.

A 10-150 ft. lb. torque wrench for your wheels (103 ft lbs), and a wheel hanger.

You will also want an oil filter with copper crush washer, 5 qts of MINI brand 5W-30 oil (or other ACEA A3 rated synth oil) to do your own oil change at 1,500 miles.

Detailing supplies, such as Hydro, and your favorite wheel wax. MINIs put out a lot of brake dust (unless you switch to Carbotech 1521 Bobcat pads ).

Stubby antenna.

Clear vinyl protection for headlights and fog lights.

Dynamat and soundproofing. It gets loud without the rear seat.

Replacement speakers.

Glovebox tidy.

MultiVex rearview mirrors.

I could go on...

 

Run flat tires ARE that BAD!!! They are noisy and harsh. They also do crazy things. By hitting potholes at highway speed on two different occassions (wife was driving), I witnessed a) tire AND wheel break (first pothole), and b) tire break (second pothole)! When the wheel broke, it split nearly completely in half around the hub circumference. Imagine if it broke completely, the autmobile would have hit the ground and control would have been lost.

I switched to Falkens from Tire Rack and immediatley began enjoying a better and quieter ride. I also paid about 35% of the run flat cost for a set of four tires. I immediately enjoyed the saved money, too.