Figured I would make my first post here after lurking for nearly 2 months, and reading approximately 300 separate threads. (seriously Ive read a lot).

Picked up an 2002 EV/W Cooper S, with 93K miles. Had a couple issues when I picked it up. Leaky coolant tank, fixed. Slight mushrooming and torn passenger strut mount, replaced with IE fixed camber plates, and I put some Tein S-techs on while I was at it. Still have a few problems, like a busted up key, and the front lighter outlet doesnt work.

 

Cool ride!! Welcome to North American Motoring! I bought an 06 R53 a few months ago with same mileage on it.

 

Nice ride! For your key you can search the forums and look for member valvashon, he seems to be the key guru. I'll be sending him one of mine to fix as soon as I find it from my son loosing it.

 

Thanks for that tip, Ill read through his posts. My key is missing the rubber outside, and the button in the smaller of the 2 holes is totally broken. The larger hole button still clicks but doesnt do anything to the car itself.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

So I went and read through the key thread by valvashon, and on the off chance it would work I put a new battery in my key. It did work, but it doesnt seem to actually do anything. I hear a lock/unlock kind of noise from the rear driver-side quarter panel area, but it doesnt seem to actually do anything other than make that noise. Thats from the button where the mini logo is meant to be. The other button is busted and half is missing. Ive ordered some new buttons from ebay, once again thanks to valvashon. But at least now I know the key itself is functional.

 

Welcome!

 

Starting the process of de-chroming. Also I am probably going to wrap the Alloy Petina on the dash (because I hate it)

Before


After

 

The front lighter socket not working should be a fuse in the box near drivers footwell. If I remember it slot 15 or a 15 amp fuse.

Should be an extra fuse in there to swap out.

 

I already replaced it, didnt work.

 

Nice Mini! Mine started out just like yours....I have since "de-chromed" some stuff, and plasti-dipped the wheels. I think that color is one of my favorites.....even though I didn't really like it when I first got it

 

I actually have your after picture bookmarked as my inspiration.

I wasnt the biggest fan of the color when I bought the car, but the price was right and it had the features I wanted. But it grew on me -really- fast, I love it now.

 

More chrome gone
Before


After

 

More wrappables:

 

Did you try pulling it to see if it is disconnected? Or replace it, is dirt cheap http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-C...ter/ES2674216/

 

Did you plastip? I want to do this, is about the only thing left with chrome in my R53

 

Or get these stealthier R50 ones:

 

Not a bad idea but I would like to keep the S. Looks good

 

The R50 sidemarkers are made of better plastic. They're unlike the brittle chrome R53 1s.

 

I swapped it with the one in the rear, which doesnt seem like its ever been used. Now neither of them are working.

It is plasti-dip. I also bought some matte black vinyl on ebay for like $12 before shipping. I just need more practice with it to do the bumper pieces.

 

Oh man that is weird, but it's a MINI there's more weird stuff to come, I hope that you can get it sorted. Dip you wheels you'll love the new look :-)

 

Did the joey mod on the tails, and put vinyl on the trunk handle. Now I need to drive 20ish miles to walmart to find fabric to redo my headliner, its destroyed.

 

Figured I would post an update on my car.

Had the throwout bearing go out on the car, and replaced it all with the Valeo single-mass flywheel kit though Way.

Upgraded the BPV with a Detroit Tuned BPV, and replaced the intercooler boots with Alta boots.

Just made some custom spacers for the speakers in the doors, the originals were completely destroyed.




Also got a sweet deal on an M7 Extreme scoop.

 

Great looking car. Liking the little bit of mods your doing. Adds a good amount of character.

Did you wrap the gas cap and door handles?

 

Very nice indeed...

Motor on!