Break in is finished. Now we're waiting for an Aquamist group buy to get enough buyers to ad meth and then we can get it tuned. I've noticed with this new motor that there is a lot less vibration in the cabin. Must be the better balancing.

 

This is pretty excellent to say the least! Excited to see the numbers when it's tuned. Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

Very nice! I did not realize that I have been copying someone else's car slowly. I saw the second photo and my first thought was "someone has my MINI" and they stole my MINIs name. Looks like you had it first though. I've been trying to get the license plate REDRUM for years but MVD will not let me have it.
I will try to quit copying your car now
(I need to update my signature photo, I've added lots of the exterior parts.)

 

Thank you. You guys are in here too. I have a used a few of your articles through the years. Most recently the transmission throw out bearing article.

It's okay, similar, but not the same and I took a two year break from NAM so it wasn't on here. This car has been a 10 year labor of love for my wife and she's happy it's back now. I think that Europlate was one of our first mods lol.

 

13 years of people leaning on the roof of the MINI had left a bunch of small dents on both sides so we brought it into Leet Customs in Hesperia.



Leet builds custom hot rods and rock crawlers and does it all in house. He painted the bay for us while the motor was out and has helped me a lot with my 90 GTI. We're also getting a few more little details cleaned up on the roof like the spoiler holes, antenna hole, JCW wing, and and some custom paint that is going to be done with an old skool style using lace.



Since Voltage Products isn't making the covers for the engine compartments anymore, he is going to fab some up for us too. Should all be done next week.

 

Found this pic today. Dec 2005 we bought our 2002 MCS. It had AC Schnitzer rims on it when we found it at a Volvo dealer with 12k miles on it. It's gone through a few changes since then.

 

Nice throwback pic .

I remember when mine was new in 2005.

 

Not finished, but these are progress pics:





Multiple small dents are all gone, antenna and spoiler holes have been filled. That's silver and then black sprayed over the lace. Next is going to be a red candy.

 

Aquamist group buy went through so this MINI is going to have a meth habit.

 

Looking fantastic, can't wait for the candy red to go on...

Motor on!

 

Thanks, Just out of the booth. It's going to sit and then it will get cut, buff, and trim on Friday

 

Brought in new gutters to get installed and got to see the roof in person today and it looks almost black until you get right up on it. They are also making some covers for me made from stainless to cover the back compartments since Voltage isn't doing them anymore and also covers for the holes in the front where the turn signal wires are.

 

Finally got the car back from the paint shop. Hard to capture the paint effect with a camera, but you can see how it can look black and then have the lace detail pop out in the sunlight:











This is without any wax or finish. It needs to cure for a couple of weeks and then we'll get a final cut and buff done. We had a bunch of little roof dents smoothed out and the antenna and old spoiler holes were filled. We also had these covers fabricated out of stainless steel for the rear cowls and the holes in the front corners of the bay:





Got my box from Howerton today too, so tomorrow I will do the meth kit install.

 

Attention to detail.

 

Got the Aquamist installed, took it out and really pushed it for the first time. It was hitting 15 lbs at 6800 rpm and going 90 in 3rd gear. Looking forward to getting on the dyno, getting a new tune and seeing what it can really do.

 

Nice !

 

I love your Mini m8

Those wheels are perfect!!!

Glad you figured out your electrics problem. I can't wait to see some more pics and updates

 

Thanks, the wheels are Schmidt TH-Lines, 2 piece with radinox lips.

Front 8x17 et32 (1.5" lip)
Rear 8.5x17 et33 (2" lip)

http://www.german-wheels.com/technik/radinox/

Really popular in the VW scene, but I haven't seen another MINI with them

 

Oh my I'd love a set of those....
But I won't do that to you...
If you ever move on from them....I better be the first PM!!
I kid..

 

Go for it,

http://www.tunershop.com/Wheels/

There is a lot of other really nice wheels here. I really like the modern-lines too. I have them on my GTI, but they are one piece:

 

I was looking at the 3 piece Schmidt wheels on the other link

I have to say £1345 is not a bad deal for a new 3 piece