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no not at all. It was very reasonable at 10.5CAD. But you know how it is - the cheapest ones are 3-4K but you just can’t compare those with clean low milers that have been sorted, like this.
Got the project so far down on film with Rick from @rad.garage
he gave pepper a much needed thorough clean, decontamination, multi stage polish and ceramic coating. Super happy with the results.
Watched that entirely as your beautiful "Peppah" became even more so. Um, but 20+ total hrs? At what shop rate (no need to disclose)? Seemed a lot of hours initially was spray/wipe/spray/wipe on an already seemingly clean car. How did yours get "contaminated" if not left exposed to nature's elements? My own was stored in a large metal out-building most of its years without such detailing until I purchased. I performed that careful DIY by hand using Meguiar's products which turned out nice (especially considering darker metallic), however I'd seriously consider paint correction of this caliber if available in my small town. With that done professionally, I'd follow immediately with professionally applied PPF on frontal surfaces. These (or any) cars of passion are like-new just once. Worth it (within reason)...
Watched that entirely as your beautiful "Peppah" became even more so. Um, but 20+ total hrs? At what shop rate (no need to disclose)? Seemed a lot of hours initially was spray/wipe/spray/wipe on an already seemingly clean car. How did yours get "contaminated" if not left exposed to nature's elements? My own was stored in a large metal out-building most of its years without such detailing until I purchased. I performed that careful DIY by hand using Meguiar's products which turned out nice (especially considering darker metallic), however I'd seriously consider paint correction of this caliber if available in my small town. With that done professionally, I'd follow immediately with professionally applied PPF on frontal surfaces. These (or any) cars of passion are like-new just once. Worth it (within reason)...
Glad you enjoyed the video. Rick is a super cool guy and extremely well respected by the elite community of you tube detailers. Seems like they all share their trade secrets with one another and live to bring perfection to really cool cars!
This one had never been polished in its lifetime - I know this because the clear measured approx 3.5 all the way around.
All paint is fairly contaminated if a car has spent any time whatsoever outside being driven from a season or more. This particular car is 16years old and I haven’t been the only owner - it has 137,000kms on it. Not one of these sad garage queens that never gets driven I hear people going on about so much! My perfect car is swirl free, full of personal mods, and with as high a number in the ODO as possible! I like to drive the snot out of my Mini. It gets very dirty - and then I clean it - often. This time it just needed the “major service” equivalent of a cleaning. Glad Rick could fit me in! Happy motoring - hope you’re burnin’ rubber out there.
I bought and refreshed this manual chilli red ‘02 JCW and I’ll be listing it for sale - probably in spring/summer time. If anyone in Canada would like it, hit me up. I’ve completely refreshed it, and it has around 45k kms on the clock. (Red/black leather interior) and yes, it’s eligible for export to the US from Alberta.
I just reread all 262 posts to refresh my memory of everything that has been done to this PW beauty (and the few new R53 interruptions that came in and out along the way). Yes, I really did. 😂
WOW, such amazing, inspirational work and attention to detail, Nick! Those seats, wheels, GP1 integration….
Any plans for it in 2023? Or is it now pretty much in its final Family Heirloom state?
I just reread all 262 posts to refresh my memory of everything that has been done to this PW beauty (and the few new R53 interruptions that came in and out along the way). Yes, I really did. 😂
WOW, such amazing, inspirational work and attention to detail, Nick! Those seats, wheels, GP1 integration….
Any plans for it in 2023? Or is it now pretty much in its final Family Heirloom state?
I did a grand total of nothing to the Mini this year! (Outside of changing the oil) I have some ideas for the future but in the meantime it’s been fun to drive about town in its current phase. I took some pictures earlier in the year. Thanks for reading!
Bump for one of the coolest, IMO, Gen-1’s on the forum here
@jacktown … any new work on the car since your last post ??
.
Thank you, friend! I haven't done anything other than routine maintenance. I've got some ideas for the future but for now I'm just loving it as is. PS. you're pepper biased!
Wow - it’s been over a year since I posted in this thread. What’s new?
I cleaned up a standard r53 rear bumper that a local mini person gave me a couple of years back in trade for a case of beer. I bought it knowing I’d eventually consider a switch the aero bumper for a rear GP bumper - so a standard r53 bumper would make a great base. I managed to purchase the GP trim pieces for the standard bumper from ALL MAG, brand new - those bits are hard to find these days.
Anyway, I took the clean bumper to my preferred body shop and had them prep and paint it to match Pepper. I think they did a great job. It’s still missing the rear diffuser inserts. I’m working on those!
gave the exhaust rips a little clean with soap and water and some bar keepers friend. I really
like the end result.
The Bridgestone Potenzas on Pepper have been fantastic, but they've reached the end of they're life, being date coded from 7 years ago. In fact, they were probably ready for replacement 2 summers ago having become too hard. I was about to go on a road trip that'd involve about 14 hours of driving so I decided it was time to finally get her some new shoes. I picked a different shop for this one (Tireworx on Manchester Road in Calgary) and I'm so glad I did. They're just a 3-4 minute drive from me which means I can walk down there to pick up the car when ready. They're price was the exact same as from budget tire shops on line (such as Black Circles or Quattro Tire) and the fitting and balancing was extremely resasonable. from order to fitting the entire process was 3 days, and they made me extremely comfortable leaving the car with them, assuring me they wouldn't damage the BBS RC wheels.
I decided on Firestone Indy 500s. I was tempted to get something a little more expensive but the deal was fantastic at under $1,000 Canadian fitted, and there were some availability issues on more premium brands which would have delayed install until after my road trip. So far they've been transformative over my Potenzas. They were a great tire when never (I acquired them wrapped on the R112 wheels I picked up back in 2020, the same week I purchased the car) but these have removed all the 'crashiness' of the ride I'd become accustomed too lately. I look forward to pushing them a little harder in the near future.
I gave Pepper a full wash, decontamination and I topped up the ceramic coating (with the help of my little daughter who gave a great assist on the wheels!) Here she is parked for an early morning breakfast before heading south and over the border in to the US to drive the Going To The Sun Road in Glacier National Park. More pics to come.
your car looks great, Jacktown. I love seeing fellow Canadians going at it. Did you get new reflectors for the GP trim or were you able to fit your reflectors from the S bumper?
Originally Posted by jacktown
Wow - it’s been over a year since I posted in this thread. What’s new?
I cleaned up a standard r53 rear bumper that a local mini person gave me a couple of years back in trade for a case of beer. I bought it knowing I’d eventually consider a switch the aero bumper for a rear GP bumper - so a standard r53 bumper would make a great base. I managed to purchase the GP trim pieces for the standard bumper from ALL MAG, brand new - those bits are hard to find these days.
Anyway, I took the clean bumper to my preferred body shop and had them prep and paint it to match Pepper. I think they did a great job. It’s still missing the rear diffuser inserts. I’m working on those!
gave the exhaust rips a little clean with soap and water and some bar keepers friend. I really
like the end result.
Hey thank you! Where about’s are you and show us your r53.
They are the same side markers on the rear bumper across all of the r53 bumpers be it the aero, standard cooper S, or the GP (which is simply based on the standard cooper S with some different trim attached to it. I did manage to break one of mine while taking it out so I replaced that as park of the installation. I also had to purchase a new tow hook cap because it’s a different shape to the one from the aero kit.
