Hi all! Hopefully some of you caught the reference from the title, but if not hopefully someone will enlighten you with the title of a hilarious movie.

Anyways, I've been lurking around these forums for a few months now after acquiring my first MINI, having dealt with a couple of forum members in the market place and the usual suspects as far as vendors go (WMW/ECS/pelican/Helix). So, I figured it was time to introduce myself!

It's a 2003 MINI Cooper S and had 82k miles when I took delivery. All in all I think the overall condition is pretty good considering the age. I've done a decent amount of work just trying to catch up on maintenance, while throwing in a mod here and there while everything was apart for maintenance of course.

So far I've knocked out the following mechanically:

-SC oil
-WMW 17% pulley with appropriate belt/plugs
-Coolant flush
-OEM struts/TSW springs(ordered some Koni yellows after this mistake)
-H-Sport rear control arms
-H-Spot comp rear sway bar
-Brake fluid flush
-DIY CAI

The other misc things:

-Kenwood speakers front/back
-Various plasti dipping(Wheels are probably going back white when the weather warms up a bit)
-Blacked out belt line
-White LEDs for the interior
-Mud flaps(still iffy about them)
-Post face lift steering wheel

Of course there is much more on the way since I'm addicted to this car now... I've always wanted a classic Mini but this will subdue my craving for now I think. Great cars with a great community it seems. Anyways, enough of me yammering, onto some pictures.


Delivery day!

After some plasti dip love to get rid of the chrome and add some better contrast.(I despise chrome)

Tried a different look with the bronze.

As it sits now with the mud flaps installed.

I figured some might as so I added some alternate angles.

 

Looks nice, I think gold wheels go well with the blue. Like here:

 

I want bronze wheels

 

It's actually funny that you post that picture bav. That's the MINI I saw that made me want to see how the bronze looked on my car and I completely agree that with the right wheel shape bronze looks amazing with blue, especially when it's the feathers. I still haven't decided on a color for when I actually get aftermarket wheels but those are the ones I was leaning towards.


And Josh I would highly recommend plasti dip to try if you want to try the bronze look. I think it's a great way to either keep your look fresh or just a great test palate before you dive all the way in on a new paint job. I think those you have on your car would look awesome in bronze. And on a side note, what % tint is that?

 

We're going streaking!!

Loving the bronze wheels with the mudflaps. Contrasts very nicely on the blue. I think you should stick with that color when you pick up a set of new wheels. I like the white gas cap. Was that painted or dipped? Goes nicely with the white roof/mirror caps.

 

Very nice and thanks for the orders. Makes me miss my lightning blue R56 w/ white top.

 

Lol finally someone gets it. I've always loved the rally look so that with the inherent rocks/grime that our cars love to sling all over the cars pushed me to try out fitting some bigger mud flaps since the OEM front ones are tiny and the rear ones I got only fit the r50 rear bumper. And I agree with the gold/blue combo, I just need some different wheels to really bring it together. As for the gas cap, it, and the scuddles are dipped white. Truly great stuff if you care for it correctly.

Likewise ECS. You guys tend to come through for the odd parts that I can't find anywhere else so that's always nice. And it's never to late to grab you another blue/white combo.

 

Thanks , hard to find , EURO , and very strange JCW parts are our thing.

Yea, I need to get another blue , but it have the Red R58 JCW and R52 MCC Hot orange to keep me MINI. Think next one needs to be Blue R53 .

 

Got a name for her yet? Looks like it might be Indi Blue (by far the bestest of all the blues IMO). Rally stripes on the bonnet? Looks solid. Have fun out there.

 

Sounds like you've got a nice collection going there. And I agree a blue R53 would definitely be a nice addition. Any pics up where I can check out those 2?

 

Well my wife has called her "blueberry", but I think Ol' Blue is suiting.

 

It is Indi Blue ! they only made that color ...until 2004 because i use to own a 2004 Indi MCS ...Great color !

 

Indeed!

 

All we are is dust in the wind........... sorry, I know someone beat me to it but I had to chime in.

 

Haha gotta love it!

 

Thanks


My Build list.


2005 R52 MINI Cooper Convertible (Justa) w/ JCW Sound Kit ( and lots other OEM / ECS mods/ JCW stuff. ) 250K+




Its a long list on the R52 ...
ECS STPs
ECS Geomets ( up to 7/2006)
ECS SS Brake lines 4/2003+ R50 R52 r53
2005 steering wheel conversion w/ MFSW controls Button upgrade for full factory bluetooth
Center armrest retrofit
JCW sound kit ( full intake and exhaust , badges ) ( Full kits now NLA )
JCW stictched down tubes. ( Now NLA )
Checkered Dash , interior Rolls overs and convertible interior trim D brace, A covers (Custom)
Custom stripes
Ziza LED interior kit
Ziza exterior LEDs
Ziza plate lights
Ziza back up lights
JCW 4 piston Brembo kit with hawk pads ( just left the stock rear for now. You have to change the front with ECS brakes lines, rears I have not changed , thus stock silver R502 R52 r53 calipers .
Cooper S Euro full suspension ( like Sport plus option), ordered for europe
Full MINI Bluetooth kit with IPhone snap in adapter
R91 wheels silver and R113 black wheels now
Hot orange e brake handle and shift ****
JCW floor mats ( now NLA )
05+ seat back covers
under-strut system prototype
Euro taillights now w/ amber tops (7/2004+)
Clear Brake light ( R52 )
Rear fog light
JCW door sills
Checkered patter on grille and overhead, ( custom )
Stubby antenna
new valeo clutch 7/2004+ Base ( NON S )

Factory white sport stripes (Viper stripes) just added
... Etc

Future:
Euro parcel dash left and right
Wooden Euro dash trim Factory ( Just got actually ) 7/2004+
GP brake boot and shift base
Bilsteins

JCW tuning kit head
Milltek header
and its goes on and on.




2012 R58 MINI Coupe' JCW ( and lots other OEM / ECS mods/ JCW stuff. ) Close to 49 K





JCW Coupe'
ECS CF intake
ECS STP
ECS GP2 6 piston Big Brake kits for Factory JCW models ( on mine ) : For Cooper & Cooper S ( for others )
ECS Geomets Factory JCW brakes drilled / slotted ( before the GP2 BBK kit was installed )
ECS SS brake lines ( before the GP2 Brake kit was installed ) After the GP2 brakes we changed out the front lines with the full kit.
Ziza Lights all around, DRL , interior kit.. ( R58/ R59 models )
Rolls Royce / Goodwood Dash inserts and door grabs .
Spyder Headlights HID DRLs version, they have for halogen people also.
15mm wheel spacers all around


2007 R56 MINI Cooper S ( and lots other OEM / ECS mods/ JCW stuff. )
Up to 120 K , just sold to a Club Member.




R56 MINI Cooper S 2007
ECS and Ziza full coverage
Forge intake tube
Etc

 

Incredible work man. When you first explained your cars I had my suspicions on whether or not that orange cooper was yours or not since I always see it as your model for all of your Ziza LED offerings.

The just looks absolutely amazing after 250k miles on her. Have you had a respray done at all or is that just meticulous care and being garage kept? Simply amazing. And to add to that the list of mods definitely looks like you've put in a lot of work to make it very unique, which I love about these cars. I will hopefully be taking the plunge on those Helix headlights(If I remember correctly) here soon to get rid of the dated halogen headlights. And what is the deal with the rear fog lights on these cars? I'm not sure I understand the purpose but I am quite new to them so please excuse my ignorance.

On a side note if you're looking for some OEM Bilsteins(I highly doubt it) I'm about to have some available since I'm going up to the Yellows.

That R56 looks and R58 look like gems as well. I'm a bit partial to the R50/2/3 type style since they keep getting bigger and bigger it seems but those two are definitely nice looking cars.

 

Ecstuning I better see you at the dragon

 

Are there dates yet for the dragon this year?

 

Check out mini of the dragon. It's either April or March, I live about an hour from it so I'll be there alot

 

Ol Blue- All linked above now, post #16 . Thanks its been painted in the back for the rust issue, but other then that , garage kept and detailed all the time ( used to do high end body and detail work). MINIUSA saw it at MINIHQ in NJ many times and they cant believe the mileage and the condition , one time they bought me a grille badge because I had it in such good shape.

Rear Fog lights linked in my build. Helix headlights here : https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...installed.html


joshua- was there in the past a couple years ago , maybe in the future.

 

Looks like it's May 11-15. I'll definitely attempt it but with a little one due in April and me being on the other side of NC it's a toss up.

Makes sense then, I envy your detailing skills.

 

I'm gonna attempt to make it to the dragon, and I live on the coast of VA, you can make it! Bring the little one and make it a family vacation!

 

We will see. She will only be about 2 weeks old at that point so I doubt any long distance traveling will be done with her lol.

 

Thanks