Well, today started off GREAT! Got up early, got ready to go, and headed off down the road. I was going to Draggonmann's house to install my M7 pulley and do the VGS mod.

Anyway, on the way there, WOW...great backroads through the twisties...amazing. So we get to Draggonmann's house and we begin. Note* He did all of the work, not me. So HE started with the VGS mod. Got all the wiring, tubes, connections, etc. done.

The VGS took ~30-45min and I thought went pretty smooth. Now, onto the fun stuff, the pulley! He took off everything as far as bolts, mounts, and wires, etc. to get the engine jacked up. He jacked up the engine, pulled the OEM pulley off with no problem, and slide the M7 in place. Finally! I got my pulley on!!!!

So we button everything back up, start it up, and everything's good. Sweet, time to leave and test it out on the drive back home! We go back through the twisties and as we are coming around a turn, a car started to come into my lane, and then BAM! I hit a GIANT pothole. I think, HOLY CRAP WTF! Then nothing seems out of place...so I continue. Draggonmann and I split off and I get back on the highway, well about 10min into the drive home all of the sudden my car starts shaking violently and it was hard to control. I'm thinking, oh crap....my pulley is not on straight or my belt has come off. Well, I keep on driving to the next exit, and I knew my belt didn't come off because I was obvously still getting acceleration. The jerking continue's and I pull off of the highway and call Draggonmann. He meet's me at an Ihop restraunt and we elavuate what to do. My tire is flat, and he found out the rim is bent. Also, from the hard impact, my right front trim snapped off three of the tabs....so now it's just hanging!

So I follow him home and this is where I'm at....my rim has a 3-4" piece that is obviously supposed to be round, but now is straight! The tire is fine, but the rim is bad enough where it won't hold air.

So....now I'm stuck! If you guys know any good deals on aftermarket 17/45/R17 rims (sub $400, the cheaper the better) or an OEM S-lite please PM me or post here! I need either one ASAP.

My appreciation and thanks goes out to Draggonmann! First, he did the install, and now he helped me out with my tire situation. Great friend!

Oh, btw: the 1 mile I got to drive with my pulley...it was great! I can't wait to get this situation worked out and get my MINI back on it's feet :p I'm liking that pulley....

THANKS DRAGGONMANN!
-Cody

 

Sorry to hear about the HUGE
pothole. But I am glad to
hear that you finally got your
pulley on. Is this maybe a
sign...? Well, just look at
it this way. The MINI god
saw how much fun you were
having with your new mods.
So, he made you hit a pothole
so you could get new RIMS!
See? This is the way it is
supposed to go!

 

I was looking for a cheap wheel awhile back & someone PM'd me with a really good, cheap offer for a 17" S-Lite. I will PM them & ask them to PM you if they still have the wheel for sale polizei.

Do I win an award for most use of "PM" in a post

 

Damn the potholes!

 

Thanks! I really want aftermarket rims...so I will try to convince my parent's to let me dish out the money for them.

-Cody

 

Oh that sucks hope you can get it fixed cheap

 

yeah that sucks, but i agree i think its a sign that its time to switch from those heavy s-lites to soemthing lighter.

just a question are you runnign run flats on your car, or non runflat tires

 

Wouldn't the cost of a replacement rim be covered by insurance?

 

Hi guys. Well, since it was only one rim, insurence would cost to much, because I think our decuctible is $500. And Red, I have Pirelli RunFlats on.

If I didn't owe money on my MINI still, I would deffinitly be going aftermarket, but my dad was able to rebend and pound the rim back into shape, at least enough until I can get a replacement.

-Cody

 

Check these out.. They look nice in person


best part? $95 each!

 

Those are nice. Plus they look alot easier to clean they my webspokes!!

 

Yea....problem is I owe $3,200 on my MINI lol, so I don't have money for anything! I'm going to try and drive on my bad rim once I get my strut tower replaced. If it's still bad I'll probably just get one OEM wheel...oh, and I don't like universal rims. I like the correct number of holes...to me it looks "proper" that way. And there not black lol, and I like 5-spoke.

-Cody