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Nice!!! Any more info on the vendor, turn around time, or cost? Please PM if you don't want to post publicly. Thanks!
It was done by a guy out of Poland, he does it under the name AA Cars, he does a lot of other types of cars like Audis, VW, Mercedes, and he has done a couple R56 wheels I've seen so I messaged him to see if he could do a R53 wheel, and he had just got his first one to do, so this is the first R53 wheel I know of like this But it was 450$ shipped the the US and he does it by finding his own steering wheels over there so you get to keep your stock one also. Was about a month turn around.
Update time, been spending some time dreaming about whats next for the MINI, and think I have an idea, and need some input on if it sounds good or not. I am thinking along with a tune this spring I am also going to get a RMW street cam, 450cc injectors, and a RMW shorty header with the new CAT Jan started putting on them. I think with my current mods and these I should get the ultimate street setup power wise without getting into major motor building.
That sounds like a great plan. The only thing I could think to add would be an intercooler upgrade or maybe meth... if you wanted to go that route....
Yeah considering Michigan doesn't get super hot really, I really have not seen the need to warrant it, I watched my intake temps through my OBD_II and Dashcommand and it really isn't that warm ever really don't get super huge increases in temp unless I'm in stop and go and that is understandable. When on the highway on a 70 degree day I'm actually getting about 67 degrees for intake temp which is decent. And from all of my looking into them the only worthwhile intercooler upgrade is if you went to a W2A else its kinda loosing a street car power because you are increasing the volume but you never really get it up to the temp where it really makes a increase in cooling over the stock intercooler.
Haha sorry nope have not "Checkered Jacks" been napping. But Ive been really tempted to get out there and do it. Its not in the heated part of our shop though right now and its cold here. I was going to wait till I get the striped and everything done this spring by other places, so that my wonderful new wheel doesn't get super dirty right away but we will see once I get it uncovered in the spring to hopefully do a cam, injectors, and header now also... I will post pictures right when it goes on
So it was a weird anomaly in Michigan this weekend..... 50 degrees in February, so I got a chance to add somthing you've wanted to see. Out with the old wheel and in with the new. I can't wait for spring to actually get to drive with it now
Very nice, even though the checkmate wheel is a rare thing to see. Too bad they could not copy the checkmate colors on the leather, that would have been cool also.
Yes I know checkmate wheels are rare but also they get really dirty. I've still got the checkmate wheel and am keeping it and if I ever came across someone that could match the leather that one would be done too, it just like the seats of a checkmate though to be done right it takes time and money.
Yep, know what you mean that gray tends to get dirty. Always thought the checkmate would be cool with a stock thicker wheel like the factory JCW wheel w/ that pacakge, but with those colors. Yep , time and money.
Update: I have been tracking my package from RMW and it will arrive Monday before 8PM I have spring break in a week so it will be perfect timing to work all day long and come home and hit the mini, hoping to have it ready to go get some stripe as soon as the road get the salt washed of up here in michgan, which could be a while. It will be fun to have a RWM cam, injectors, street header, and tune along with some nice new spark plug wires. Cant wait for spring to come!!!!!!!
well 60 degrees now here in Michigan and well underway to have the cam in and the header should be cake too. I got the engine loose, injectors out and the entire cam area broke loose. I didn't remove it because our torque wrenches are at our machine shop. Got a couple little things to retouch up while I'm doing this but it should be easily ready for the road by the end of the week.
well 60 degrees now here in Michigan and well underway to have the cam in and the header should be cake too. I got the engine loose, injectors out and the entire cam area broke loose. I didn't remove it because our torque wrenches are at our machine shop. Got a couple little things to retouch up while I'm doing this but it should be easily ready for the road by the end of the week.
Very interested in how this all feels - I am considering that cam as well. How was the install? And tips or tricks?
Last edited by Kahnfucious; Mar 8, 2016 at 08:03 PM.
Very interested in how this all feels - I am considering that cam as well. How was the install? And tips or tricks?
Sorry just re-read. Definitely keep me updated on when you do get the cam in. I watched the mod mini video on head gasket replacement looks very straight forward except for the rockers and making sure they don't bind or get mispositioned.
But it was 450$ shipped the the US and he does it by finding his own steering wheels over there so you get to keep your stock one also. Was about a month turn around.
But Ive been really tempted to get out there and do it. Its not in the heated part of our shop though right now and its cold here. I was going to wait till I get the striped and everything done this spring by other places, so that my wonderful new wheel doesn't get super dirty right away but we will see once I get it uncovered in the spring to hopefully do a cam, injectors, and header now also... I will post pictures right when it goes on
Too bad they could not copy the checkmate colors on the leather, that would have been cool also.
I have spring break in a week so it will be perfect timing to work all day long and come home and hit the mini, hoping to have it ready to go get some stripe as soon as the road get the salt washed of up here in michgan, which could be a while. It will be fun to have a RWM cam, injectors, street header, and tune along with some nice new spark plug wires. Cant wait for spring to come!!!!!!!
