I've been reading through the entire "What did you do to your MINI today?" thread, and I'm really starting to get the itch to personalise mine, too!!

In my case, I have a completely stock MINI. So, that's the perspective from which I'm asking. But, I suppose you could put down the next inexpensive thing on your wish list. So, for those of us who want to give our MINI's a little treat without spending a ton of money, what's the best way to spend $200 or less on your MINI? Could be upgrades, accessories, or whatever.

I'll go ahead and kick things off:

I was thinking of getting a badge holder and some badges from gobadges.com or some Prima car care products.

 

Lowering springs but, better yet put that money in a fund that builds interest and save up for something big.

 

First decide, do you want bling, HP, handling, sound, etc.. You look like you are moving toward bling.

I would then talk with a bunch of people about what they did to their cars and why. Then come up with a plan before spending your $200. You don't want to buy something then change direction.

Go to a local Mini club event and look around as well.

 

A nice professional detail

 

Whalen Shift ****!
http://www.whalenshiftmachine.com/in...=index&cPath=1
Check out his gallery of custom MINI *****.
http://thewhalenshiftmachine.shutterfly.com/8
I just got one and wish I had done this right off the bat.
It's a huge improvement over the stock shift ****.
Doug Whalen is super nice to work with too.

I am getting that you want to celebrate your purchase?

Of course, you should just go ahead and get the Prima products anyway.
You need to keep them in stock, along with Black Wow.
Octane Guy can set you up.
In fact, you should take a day and go spend it with him at his show room.
I wish I was close enough to do that.
You can get that nice professional detail that hbr suggests from the best in the business and Richard will teach you how to maintain it.
http://www.showcardetailing.com/

You can endlessly spend money on your MINI long before you need to actually repair anything.

 

Get a lightinsight (www.lightinsight.com). Best $20 bucks you'll spend. Now to figure out what to do with the $180.

 

Gas, then drive it

 

That's like 2.5 tanks! I also like the "Detail it!" suggestion. I've been mulling that over for awhile.

Here are my suggestions.

Handling: Sway Bar
Looks: Tint, or badge holder and badges
Interior: vinyl for the doors/dash (lots of options here.)
Power: Not many $200 options here. You can get a CAI for close to that.
Sound: New head unit.

Edit!! Just saw you had a 2009, so no head unit for you!

 

Rubber floor mats, windshield shade, tint, or car wash/care products.

 

A pulley mod kit and a weekend to install it.

 

The NM Torque arm bushing is the best bang for the buck and cheap.

The Prima Products are great for keeping your MINI looking good.

 

I like the ideas so far!!

And, yes, I'm asking for myself, but I thought some other MINI newbies might be able to gain some ideas from this thread, too.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not a grease monkey at all. I wouldn't mind learning, but it all seems over my head. I wouldn't know what to do with a NM Torque Arm Brushing if I got one. I'd have no idea how to use or install a Sway Bar. Even though both ideas sound very interesting to me.

As for detailing, I was really thinking about that...but I'm torn between paying someone to do it vs gathering what I need to do it myself. I'm leaning towards the latter. I looked at ShowCarSupplies.com. It would be nice to have a "Starter Detailing Kit" put together with all the products, towels, etc. that I need.

The car came with the rubber mats, so I can check that off the list!!

Got my TINT done a few weeks ago. Can't live without that in the NV sun!! At least I don't have to worry about rain spots too often!!

Cheers.

 

OctaneGuy, Richard Lin, will put something together for you to fit your detailing needs.
Check out OctaneGuy's posts in the Detailing forum.
He offers a discount to NAM members.
The discount code is in his sig.
He drives a MINI Clubman and his wife just got a MINI cabrio this past week.
Black Wow is his product, invented by his father.
Another really good product Richard carries is Sonax Full Effect Wheel cleaner.
It reacts to brake dust. You spray it on and hose it off. It really works.

Lots of good suggestions.

Way Motor Works has this heat shield which should be on your engine.
It protects your oil line from the heat of the turbo.
It's a correction for a design flaw in the N14 engine.
If it's not there you may be able to get it under warranty.
If not, it's only $26.
I just noticed that I don't have one!
http://www.waymotorworks.com/turbo-o...at-shield.html
Scroll down the page and there is a good picture of the shield on the engine.
TSB SI M 11 03 08 is about this part:
http://www.minitis.net/tsb/bulletins...p/M110308g.htm

The "Light in Sight" might be the first thing I bought for my MINI.
I don't like the look of it, but it's been indispensable to me.
I can't see traffic lights without it.

You can find lots of things to spend money on at
outmotoring.com

Good thread.

 

Not a mod but, a good tracking equipement that is free.
http://www.fuelly.com/

 

rear sawaybar!

 

Chrome line interior, if you don't already have it.

 

Dang, I wanted to be first to say that...

 

Maybe a driving school?

 

my sister lives in henderson

she motors a mini coopers s

i bet for $200 she would tell you how great your mini looks just as it is!

scott

 

YES

If you/they have never had a driving lesson THIS wil have WAY more impact than any bolt on part.

Even a class at a go-cart track will demonstrate IMPORTANT skills

 

That has to be, of all the brazilian posts in this gigantic forum, the most concise, the most perfect, the most brilliant response I have ever read since October of 2008. Well done!

(Would a Louis the XIV style picture frame for that be over the top?)