Hello all! This is the official build thread of F5666, my 2018 MINI Cooper S 3-door in Volcanic Orange. The car was purchased by me on October 16, 2020 from Off Lease Only Broward in North Lauderdale, Florida as a one owner vehicle with 6,002 miles on the odometer.

Life began for my car in California, sold to its original owner at Crevier MINI in Santa Ana, CA with 29 miles on January 27, 2018. The car came with nearly every option available, including JCW aesthetics such as bumpers, side rails, wheels and interior bits. It was uniquely configured to have a body color roof but black mirror caps giving it a distinctive look (compared to many other MINI Coopers) I am still complimented on to this day. Attached is the original window sticker.

During this ownership period the car was regularly serviced by MINI of Marin close to the original owners home.

At 5,924 miles on June 30, 2019 the car was in a front end accident that hit a stationary object after driving off the road where the airbag was deployed and the front end sustained damage, with the primary impact happening in the front center area. The CA title was updated on March 13, 2020.

Following the accident, the car was sold to Off Lease Only Broward via dealer auto auction on July 13, 2020. The driver’s side door and fender, along with the hood and front bumper cover were all replaced, the JCW front bumper cover damaged in the accident was replaced with the S front bumper cover. The driver side rear quarter panel, rear bumper cover, tailgate, passenger front fender, door and rear quarter panel were refinished.

The car was first offered for sale following the repair work on September 10, 2020 but was difficult to move without repair/frame recertification and a month later on October 9, 2020 was fully recertified structurally sound. One week later I took ownership and my journey with F5666 began. Attached are a few photos from the day after taking delivery of the car.

This build thread will document the journey F5666 takes from humble factory beginnings to the goal of a power-to-weight ratio that will beat many of the fastest cars on the road, anywhere. I will be updating this thread regularly to periodically, stay tuned!


Original window sticker

October 17, 2020

October 17, 2020

October 17, 2020

 

Knowing that I purchased a car involved in a prior accident, first order of business was to inspect and correct any deficiencies that existed from the repair/reassembly - missing parts, incorrect parts, missing bolts, remaining minor issues etc.

When I took ownership, there were a few disclosed issues which I accepted:

1. The sunroof roller blind was stuck open and inop
2. Third party windshield glass was used and they tried to reuse the glass rain sensors, making the auto wiper function inop (replaced with factory MINI windsheild)
3. Missing lower grill and brake ducts from the S front bumper
4. Missing engine cover
5. Missing intake snorkel
6. Missing underbody tray cover
7. Luggage deck lid

When I purchased a car, I perform all routine maintenance and fluid items with high quality replacements so I have a definitive date to go off and know they were done:

1. All fluids flushed and replaced (LiquiMoly, Motul, MINI)
2. All filters replaced (oil, cabin, fuel, air) MINI
3. Spark plugs
4. Upper motor mount & transmission mount
5. Four wheel alignment

Plus, I addressed all missing items to make the car whole and correct from the factory.

 

Next order of business was to make some minor modifications so the car was more enjoyable for daily use. By Christmas 2020, I did the following:

1. Cravenspeed Stubby roof antenna
2. BimmerTech CarPlay MMI aftermarket wireless, full screen Apple CarPlay retrofit
3. 3M Ceramic window tint - 35% tint on all sides, rear and panoramic roof, 50% on windshield primarily for heat rejection/cabin temperature regulation here in South Florida

 

In February 2021, the car was caught in a flood rain on Miami Beach. Although I managed to get in the car and quickly move it to higher ground before the car was seriously damaged, when I returned to the car the next morning it would start but could not shift the manual transmission due to sensor fouling due to water intake. The car was flat bedded to Braman MINI and following an inspection, it was reported that the clutch disc, several sensors and intake were compromised and needed attention.

An insurance claim was initiated to repair everything necessarily to make the car driver able once more.

At the same time, I spec’d out all the factory parts to de-chrome the car entirely with the work being performed by Braman MINI, including:

1. Piano black belt line kit
2. Piano black headlight trims
3. Piano black taillight trims
4. Piano black door handles
5. Piano black gas cap
6. Piano black model designation in the rear
7. Piano black MINI emblems on hood and rear

Once the car was picked up from Braman, I added the following parts to complete the blackout:

1. Tinted/greyed out LED Union Jack tail lights
2. Tinted side LED turn signal markers
3. Tinted fender lip LED running lights
4. Tinted rear fog light lens + Euro dash light switch module to activate the rear fog lights
5. Piano black trim cover strip for front grill
6. Piano black/carbon fiber JCW Pro exhaust tips

 

By March 2021, this is what F5666 looked like:

 

I will be doing a BIG update here very soon, but here is an updated view of the car and a few things that will be going on the car next week...

 

 

Good looking ride. Is just a trick of the light or did you replace the hood scoop?

 

The hood scoop is the carbon fiber hood scoop that comes with the Eventuri intake system (I have it installed) but had it painted to match the body since I thought it looked better than another big black blob on the hood

 

Looks great! VO is a great color. Nice to see they got the VO top also. Not many people do the matching color hardtop.

 

I agree completely! I do see a few other VO MINIs in Miami but no one has the matching roof and in this color and this spec it looks really good. There is rarely a day that goes by someone doesn't stop me and compliment me on the car's looks/sound/speed.

Thanks for the love guys 🫶

 

Love you guys BTW... spent over $7,300 so far this year with you on this project alone.

 

Nice! Thanks for the support and love to see the progress.

Are you on social or IG? I can have our social team try to post up your MINI on our channels.

 

BIG BIG update coming soon after this weekend. Going to bring the build thread current, lots of special things to share 🤘🏼

The car has its own Insta page ( @supermini_f5666 ) which I have done nothing for and already has 700+ followers magically ha. I will be creating a YouTube channel soon, which I will explain what I am doing at a later date. Would love to have some exposure through you guys, DM me.

 

Instagram is up! Check it out: https://www.instagram.com/supermini_f5666/

Please like and follow to support this project

 

Stunning car & colour. I have never seen an F56 in the UK with roof rails. Or in that colour for that matter.

 

Some update photos I took recently. Teeing up for another big install round for cooling aids. Will be doing a VERY BIG update following that install round.... stay tuned and support this project by liking and following its' Insta page: @supermini_f5666

Happy Thanksgiving everyone 🦃

 

Almost completed the 3D models of my car as it is so CFD can be performed to identify high pressure areas and turbulence/drag. I will use this info to create a much better wide body kit for the car that is slippier in the air

 

Forgot to update the build thread!

Here are the final renderings of the car as it sits today, with a fully modeled underbody. The model is currently undergoing CFD calculations to reveal pressure spots and turbulence areas for improvement, which will get addressed with the widebody kit being designed right now

 

Nice!