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Cant believe I'm saying this but this is my 3rd Mini Cooper since October.. LOL
I first got a 2002 R50 in October that was amazing but two weeks into owning it, I hit a deer.. Its currently almost finished being put back together and I'm giving it to my Dad.. You can see the work HERE.
Next over Christmas I went to look at a 2004 for my cousin but he ended up backing outta the deal. Well the seller called me two weeks after and asked if I was still interested. Long story short i ended up buying that car! My cousin came up and saw it and drove it and offered me me $500.00 over what I had into it. You can see that car HERE
Last week i was on Craigslist and saw a 2007 R56 with 94K on it. I was leery because of the timing chain issues and what not. When I spoke to the seller he stated they bought the car for their son, but he didnt know how to drive a manual. Since buying the car in October they only put 84 miles on it.. Within those 84 miles the son burnt up the clutch. After getting it replaced by Mini he tried to back the car outta the garage and dented the hatch door and at that point the father decided to sell it.. And thats where I came in. I got it for a REALLY GOOD PRICE! Has heated cloth seats but the stereo SUCKS compared to my r50 stock stereo. Runs really really really well ... Only thing weird is the shifter compared to the R50's.. It feels like your shifting in notched sections.. I have to drive another R56 to see if maybe something off with the shift linkage.. Other than that enjoy the pics!
The Bad - MINOR DINGS AND DENTS
- CLEAR PEELING ON THE HOOD
- MINOR RUST ON ONE OF THE FENDERS..
FUTURE MODS AND FIXES:
PHASE 1: - TIMING CHAIN KIT (DONT KNOW IF IT WAS DONE) NOT RATTLING BUT DOING IT TO HAVE A BASELINE
- TUNE UP (SPARK PLUGS, COILS, OIL CHANGE AND FUEL FILTER)
- AEM INTAKE
- FORGE DV
- INTERCOOLER AND DOWNPIPE
- ALTA COLD SIDE PIPE
- CATCH CAN
PHASE 2:
- SPYDER PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS
- LED HEADLIGHT AND FOGS
- LED INTERIOR
- H-SPORT 25MM REAR SWAY
- AEM STRUT BAR
- COIL OVERS
- BLACK 18" WHEELS AND TIRES..
Looks good! Subscribed to watch your progress. Also, the notchy feeling is actually a common thing for people to describe. Here is a thread on NAM about it.
Looks good! Subscribed to watch your progress. Also, the notchy feeling is actually a common thing for people to describe. Here is a thread on NAM about it.
Unfortunately, in '07, that is when Mini did away with the pop & gurgle sounding exhaust and it did not return until 2011. Why anyone would not like this sound is beyond me as it is a very distinctive feature to Mini...but as they say, to each their own.
You can get a little of the pop and crackle in sport mode ( on ) in running hard in the 2007-2010 MCS . In the 2011+ MCS its more evident. The JCW factory exhaust mod can help the sound .
They took it away in early gen2 because in the first gen MINIs people thought it was a backfire issue and complained. But they brought it back after a while. Which they would have keep it all the way through.
GOT MY AEM INTAKE IN THE MAIL ON FRIDAY AND SINCE IT WAS 58 DEGREES OUT I WENT AHEAD AND INSTALLED IT.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- THE INSTALLATION IS STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE STEP BY STEP WALKS YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING.
- LOOKS NICE UNDER THE HOOD
- AFTER INSTALLING I TOOK IT FOR A 15 MILES RUN TO HOME DEPOT AND BACK. IM STOCK SO I NOTICED A LITTLE BIT MORE SOUND.
- LATER TONIGHT I CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT STRONGER DURING ACCELERATION. TORQUE IS ALOT BETTER. I THINK DISCONNECTING THE TERMINALS DURING THE INSTALLATION MIGHT OF HELPED THE PC RELEARN EVERYTHING. ON THE DRIVE BACK THE CAR IS DEFINITELY FASTER AND A TAD BIT MORE FUN TO DRIVE!
NEXT UP
- FORGE DV
- CERAMIC COATED DOWNPIPE
- TUNE UP (PLUGS, COILS AND OIL CHANGE)
- TIMING CHAIN KIT INSTALLATION
A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME ABOUT A LED KIT HE GOT FOR HIS AUDI ON EBAY THAT LOOKED AMAZING AND AT 64.00 I HAD TO GET TWO SETS FOR THE MINI. I ALSO ORDERED THE SPYDER HEADLIGHTS, SOME LED PARKING LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE OUTCOME WAS AWESOME.
FIRST UP THE PARKING LED LIGHTS: GOOD THING IS THESE BULBS ARE BRIGHT AND GIVE OFF NO ERRORS.
NEXT ARE THE FOG LIGHTS.. THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS INSANE!!! I CANNOT WAIT TO GET THESE INSTALLED ON THE SPYDER PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS. . FIRST IS THE COUPLE COMPARISONS ARE COMPARED TO STOCK AND THE LAST IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT.
GOT MY AEM INTAKE IN THE MAIL ON FRIDAY AND SINCE IT WAS 58 DEGREES OUT I WENT AHEAD AND INSTALLED IT.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- THE INSTALLATION IS STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE STEP BY STEP WALKS YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING.
- LOOKS NICE UNDER THE HOOD
- AFTER INSTALLING I TOOK IT FOR A 15 MILES RUN TO HOME DEPOT AND BACK. IM STOCK SO I NOTICED A LITTLE BIT MORE SOUND.
- LATER TONIGHT I CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR FELT STRONGER DURING ACCELERATION. TORQUE IS ALOT BETTER. I THINK DISCONNECTING THE TERMINALS DURING THE INSTALLATION MIGHT OF HELPED THE PC RELEARN EVERYTHING. ON THE DRIVE BACK THE CAR IS DEFINITELY FASTER AND A TAD BIT MORE FUN TO DRIVE!
NEXT UP
- FORGE DV
- CERAMIC COATED DOWNPIPE
- TUNE UP (PLUGS, COILS AND OIL CHANGE)
- TIMING CHAIN KIT INSTALLATION
Just installed my AEM kit yesterday too. I have an 07 MCS as well. I ran into a problem because I have the ALTA boost port which is located below the air box. I had to heat the box and form it to fit over the boost port. All went well after that!!
Just installed my AEM kit yesterday too. I have an 07 MCS as well. I ran into a problem because I have the ALTA boost port which is located below the air box. I had to heat the box and form it to fit over the boost port. All went well after that!!
Good luck with your new ride!!!!!
Good to know I will be putting in some gauges in the next couple of weeks.
A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME ABOUT A LED KIT HE GOT FOR HIS AUDI ON EBAY THAT LOOKED AMAZING AND AT 64.00 I HAD TO GET TWO SETS FOR THE MINI. I ALSO ORDERED THE SPYDER HEADLIGHTS, SOME LED PARKING LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE OUTCOME WAS AWESOME.
FIRST UP THE PARKING LED LIGHTS: GOOD THING IS THESE BULBS ARE BRIGHT AND GIVE OFF NO ERRORS.
NEXT ARE THE FOG LIGHTS.. THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS INSANE!!! I CANNOT WAIT TO GET THESE INSTALLED ON THE SPYDER PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS. . FIRST IS THE COUPLE COMPARISONS ARE COMPARED TO STOCK AND THE LAST IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT.
Looks good, the spyder headlight complete the front end lights.
Yikes a little build up on the old plugs. On the coils from the moisture that get past the gasket, from the front engine scoop and everything they get that rust , mine had a little bit of it at 19K.
Looks like the tip on the spark plug was worn down a bit.
Yikes a little build up on the old plugs. On the coils from the moisture that get past the gasket, from the front engine scoop and everything they get that rust , mine had a little bit of it at 19K.
Looks like the tip on the spark plug was worn down a bit.
Yeah they were bad.. I have some maintenance to do this weekend like cleaning the vanos screen. i have a rough idle and a slight hesitation in 6th gear under heavy load that I want to get rid of.. Im also going to try and get the Carbon Cleaning done next week..
For sure.... Before that i am tackling the Vanos Solenoids this weekend while installing my DV.. I did a search and found the thread you referenced a day ago.. so thats good info going into the weekend.
For sure.... Before that i am tackling the Vanos Solenoids this weekend while installing my DV.. I did a search and found the thread you referenced a day ago.. so thats good info going into the weekend.
Once you hit it with the walnut materiel it usually does not take much for it to come off, when mine were done it was a huge difference we could even see on the dyno.
Since I had some time on Saturday I wanted to get the headlights installed and also do some Plasti-Dipping. I did the Front Emblem, Upper Grill Surround and the headlight surrounds.. Right after I had to stop because the temps dropped and it started raining.
As for the headlights they look amazing on the car, I still need to wire up the DRL's and decided to take out the LED Bulbs and go with HID's. The Pattern was wayyy off due to the funky LED Bulbs.. They do need some adjusting (to fix the gap) which I will do this week or weekend but overall im happy with the outcome.
Gotta order some Anti-Flick adapters on Ebay and everything should be all good..
Thanks my favorite pelican girl!!! LOL For the price it is definitely worth it..
Anytime! It's coming together nicely. Do you plan to do all the chrome, including the trim around the windows and the door handles? I think it's pretty sweet how well the plastidip holds up on these components. It's also a nice added layer of protection if you think about it. Thinking about doing some dip to some of the exterior bits on my car that have faded due to the sun over the years.
[B]A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME ABOUT A LED KIT HE GOT FOR HIS AUDI ON EBAY THAT LOOKED AMAZING AND AT 64.00 I HAD TO GET TWO SETS FOR THE MINI. I ALSO ORDERED THE SPYDER HEADLIGHTS, SOME LED PARKING LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE OUTCOME WAS AWESOME.
FIRST UP THE PARKING LED LIGHTS: [COLOR=Black]GOOD THING IS THESE BULBS ARE BRIGHT AND GIVE OFF NO ERRORS.
From what I see in that photo, the headlights are well focused and throwing a tight beam of light. The lower lights are just blobs that look unfocused and may be throwing light everywhere. I don't think calling them "parking lights" is accurate any longer, and I'd be interested to know if they are actually throwing focused light down the road instead of in oncoming driver's eyes.
I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I'm noting that adding light in a poorly focused light housing can create some really obnoxious lighting effects. A parking light should be low powered and should only provide enough illumination to show where the vehicle is parked, or let you move through an area with minimal light. A parking light housing is not designed for higher power lamps, and it can become obnoxious to oncoming drivers if you go that route. Dodge Ram pickups are awful - the lights low on the front end are almost blinding at night.
I suggest going out to a dark road at night, turning on lights and getting out of the car, then walking towards it from 50 yards away. If you find the light from those "parking lights" unpleasant as you approach your car, consider removing the upgrade and going back to a light setup that doesn't cause excess light scatter. If they look OK, then you will be comforted that you're not causing a problem.
Last edited by ColoCoug; Mar 14, 2016 at 12:38 PM.
From what I see in that photo, the headlights are well focused and throwing a tight beam of light. The lower lights are just blobs that look unfocused and may be throwing light everywhere. I don't think calling them "parking lights" is accurate any longer, and I'd be interested to know if they are actually throwing focused light down the road instead of in oncoming driver's eyes.
I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I'm noting that adding light in a poorly focused light housing can create some really obnoxious lighting effects. A parking light should be low powered and should only provide enough illumination to show where the vehicle is parked, or let you move through an area with minimal light. A parking light housing is not designed for higher power lamps, and it can become obnoxious to oncoming drivers if you go that route. Dodge Ram pickups are awful - the lights low on the front end are almost blinding at night.
I suggest going out to a dark road at night, turning on lights and getting out of the car, then walking towards it from 50 yards away. If you find the light from those "parking lights" unpleasant as you approach your car, consider removing the upgrade and going back to a light setup that doesn't cause excess light scatter. If they look OK, then you will be comforted that you're not causing a problem.
Truthfully once there in there they are not coming out... Looking bad or not as long as they are doing the job I need them to do..
Anytime! It's coming together nicely. Do you plan to do all the chrome, including the trim around the windows and the door handles? I think it's pretty sweet how well the plastidip holds up on these components. It's also a nice added layer of protection if you think about it. Thinking about doing some dip to some of the exterior bits on my car that have faded due to the sun over the years. 
