More products to help the larger/taller guy fit in the '06 or earlier MINI comfortably:

1. The Minspeed dowtube pad: http://www.minspeed.net/MDKP.htm
Sick of having a bruise just below your right knee on the oustide of your leg because it contacts the downtube near the radio? This will solve your problem

2. Light-in-sight: http://www.lightinsight.com/
Too tall to see traffic lights because they are obscured by the roof? Stick this cheap Fresnel lense to the inside of your windshield and you can see 'em all now!

3. Short Shift Kit: I chose a kit that dropped the height of the shift **** by an inch or so... made for a more comfortable hand height and gear shift reach for my long arms. Not a huge improvement, but it was nice.

4. Restraints: CG Lock or Schroth Harness - If you are a big guy and need some help keeping yourself in the seat and under control under hard cornering (track or AutoX), I strongly recommend getting a CG Lock ($40) or Schroth harness ($200) to keep you locked into the seat. If you don't have to try to hold yourself into the seat with your arms, you can use that energy to better control the car and you won't be as tired by the end of your run (better focus).

5. Armrests: I haven't found one that fits me just right, but if you like a more relaxed pose while driving, I'd recommend going to a local MINI club meet and trying lots of different armrests.


For the better ride:

- Lose the runflats! The stiff sidewalls transmit more road noise and vibration to the interior of the car.
- Get higher profile tires... learn about tire sizes and chose your next set with a taller profile for more cushion.
- Go to a smaller diameter wheel... 16" wheels with high profile tires will feel more comfortable than 18"s with low profiles... you will lose some crispness of the turn in and several other factors, but if it comes down to selling your MINI or making a tire change, I'd make the tire change! :D
- Think about a stiffer spring! Yeah... I know, it doesn't make sense... why a stiffer spring? I got the TSW lowering springs a few years ago and I love 'em. Maybe they bring the stock suspension to a sweeter spot. Maybe the stiffness changes the rebound and I find it better to live with. Maybe there was a geometry change. Maybe it's a combination of all those things. Whatever happened, my wife likes to ride in the MINI much more now than before the spring install.

 

Agranger, a total pleasure to speak with you on the phone, Thanks for the fantastic info, Its great to see that BMW mini folks are as helpful as classic mini folks, That is a group I have been a part of for years and an importer/exporter for just as long.

Great speaking with you. Peter

 

The decision now is whether to go for smaller wheels.....

I have to check but I think my pedal support bars are arranged differently than in your photo. I will check tommorow.

Peter

 

Agranger, A question, do the pedal covers mount by drilling a hole through the pedal and then bolting on? You mentioned being able to move them so I was wondering if there was a bar that went across the back to affix them? Just trying to figure how best to put in a small spacer and make a firm mount.

Many thanks. Peter

 

It was nice talking to you. Glad I could help.

Once you pull the stock pedal covers off, the base pedals are about the thickness of a coin and have a solid metal bar on the back... I think it's the same one you are steping on, mounted vertically on the back of the base pedal.

Once I had my pedal covers, I covered the front face of the base-metal pedal with double sided tape (the masking-tape like stuff that I use to attach my golf grips) and played with pedal position so that I wouldn't have any interference on the back of the pedal with the bar and I could still move the pedals around to either side. The double-sided tape let me stick 'em on, step back for a look, then reposition if necessary. When I got 'em in the right place, I could mark the tape w/ black felt-tip pen, punch the hole and drill away!

You might have to buy longer screws, but it should be easy to find some to work. I'd be tempted to first start with a stack of washers between the new pedal cover and the top of the base pedal, threaded down each screw. Depending on how it felt, that might make for an OK final solution or you could go back after a few days (if you like it) and firm up the washer stacks with some epoxy to make a more coherent washer mass.

Good luck and keep us informed!

 

thanks very much, I have now messed around enough with seating position and think I may have solved the problem, I will try the new further back seat position and see how things progress, After our conversation I did make a move to solve my other problem, See my Horrible ride thread.

cheers! Peter