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I installed my new to me OEM front cup holder today that I got on the market place. I love it.
I also installed the new rear view mirror seals, Looks way better!!
The wife was looking at the seals that go around the back of the top. She said they were pretty rough looking and could I replace those. I said I sure can do you want me to order them? She asked how much they were, I said about $350 for both of them, one for each side. She said I could wait a little while on those!!
Before, really bad looking Now that's much better!!
I will remove the mirrors and redo them at a later date now that I know I can remove them without taking the door card off. The black part looks really bad.
The wife was looking at the seals that go around the back of the top. She said they were pretty rough looking and could I replace those. I said I sure can do you want me to order them? She asked how much they were, I said about $350 for both of them, one for each side. She said I could wait a little while on those!!
I had to pay 4 grand to the IRS and spent over 2 grand in automotive parts between last month and this month so far. The majority of the money has been parts for my Escalade. 8 new coils, plugs and plug wires, charcoal filter and new rear differential. I can hold off for a little while, but they are on the list!!!
I did a deep detail on both the R50 and the R52 yesterday, wash, wax, vacumme the whole meal deal. I also re-dyed the fender flares black on both of them. I drilled the hole on the plastic piece in the glove box and ran the aux cable in the R52. I noticed the rear view mirror seals on the R50 are also falling apart, looks like I need to replace them too.
The new seals for the R50 rear view mirrors are supposed to be delivered today and I'll get those installed. I drove her to work this morning since I have been driving the Cabrio a lot more lately. I don't want her to feel left out.
The new inner and outer ball joints came in for the R52, I just about have everything to do the 100-thousand-mile service and do the control arms bushings and related parts. The 2 new rear speaker covers for the R52 are on the way and should be delivered next week. The only thing that doesn't work on the R52 is the interior rear-view mirror, the auto tilt doesn't work.
The new exterior rear view mirror seals came in today so I got those installed. They were not quite as bad as the 52's were but they were worn out and falling apart.
Still waiting on the rear speaker grilles for the R52.
I have been working on my Escalade the last week because it's going to the body shop soon. My mother in law wrecked it a while ago and I am finally getting around to getting it repaired. I replaced a bent passenger door and it saved me over $600 dollars labor and paint cost. I was going to get it fixed last summer but I bought the R50 and spent the money fixing it up.
I did notice something on the R50 that has been happening lately. When I drive it in the rain the driver's floor and mat would get wet. At first, I thought it was me getting in and out with my wet shoes. This morning it is very wet and it has been raining the last few days. I started looking and knew it could not leak directly onto the floor from the middle of the steering wheel. It's not the heater core leaking. I stuck my hand under the car and it seems to be missing a body plug. I found a tapered plastic plug and a little RTV and now no more water intrusion!!
Brand new!!
My wife should know by now not to leave me unattended! I got a few things done this afternoon while she was out and about.
Here is an old broken one
Here is the new one installed..
Got both of the new covers installed and it looks so much better now!!
I also installed a new rear Mini Badge. The old one was super glued on; it took me a while to get all the old glue off so the new badge would stick correctly. Old and worn out
New one installed Much better !!!
One was broken and the other was competely gone. Now I need an interior rear view mirror with auto tilt, a front Mini badge and paint the scoop because the clear coat is peeling.
No work on either of the Mini's this weekend. I mixed, laid and smoothed out 14 bags of 80lb cement for my wife yesterday. I installed a new gutter on my mom-in-law's house today. I need another weekend to get over this weekend. I ordered some new hood stripes for the Cabrio and the 2 wind screen brackets that are broken.
I bought a new scanner off the Matco tool truck today. I have not really messed with it but it does a ton of stuff. Bi-directional, wireless, live data, coding.
No work on either of the Minis this weekend. I put my Escalade in front end service mode on Friday ..
I dropped the front diff and oil pan. Installed a new pick tube O-ring and pan gasket. Getting everything in the suspension replaced, new shocks all the way around. New brakes and rotors, inner and outer tie rod ends, upper and lower control arms, wheel bearings, I mean I am replacing everything.
The Cadillac referb is done, the dent from the mom in-law wreck is fixed. I pulled the interior and pressure washed the carpet and reinstalled it. The complete suspension and brake system has been replaced. New injectors, coils, plugs and wires. It is totally ready for vacation now. It now looks, drives and runs like brand new. Now that that is completed, I can get back to my Mini's.
I picked a 5 speed for the R50 this weekend from a fellow member. I'm going to replace all the seals in it before I put it in the car. I'm going to replace the rear main seal while I'm in there.
Welcome back from Caddyland. I bet the Escalade isn't as much fun as you Minis.
It is good to be back.
It has been a 2 1/2-year journey getting it back to like new condition. The previous owners we not very proactive in repairs or service. The Mini's are a lot more fun to drive on a daily basis but for vacations the Escalade can't be beat.
I have a few repairs/ services I need to complete. I need to change the oil and filter on my wife's Mercedes. I also need to replace the knock sensors on my wife's Hummer H2. I am going to change the trans/clutch in the R50, a good service and supercharger service on the R52. That should be everything knock on wood.
I added a factory Bluetooth module so I can have handsfree calling in the Caddy. I also replaced a few coolant hoses and did a flush and fresh refill of the coolant. I still need to install the module for the heated/ cooled seats and the front differential bushings I replaced 2 years ago are worn out. I should have all that done today and then it's officially ready for vacation.
I guess the R50 was mad at me for letting it sit at my mom in-law's house for 2 weeks. Driving it home the other day it developed a miss fire. A fresh set of OEM plugs, wires and a new coil fixed it. The Tach quit working a few weeks ago so I replaced it and thats working again. I'm not going to do the transmission swap until we are back from vacation. Too many irons in the fire right now.
I ended up buying another 2007 Escalde only this is a non streached Limo with only 49, thousand miles. Did some quick maintenance to it and drove it to Florida for our vacation. Being delivered The back passenger compartment. 34 inch TV with Roku, the wife and son were very comfortable.
I have been collecting parts, oil, etc so I can do the transmission swap this weekend in the R50. I have been driving it once a month to keep everything lubed up but not a regualr basis since the twirling sound from the transmission is slowly but surely getting louder. Driving it Wednesday to suck down the AC system and then get it ready for the new transmission.
Once that is done I can do the service and repair work to the Cabrio.
When my R50's Midlands was dying it made a very straight cut gear race car sounds. I thought it sounded cool even though I knew that it was the gearbox dying.
I think I have everything I need to do the transmission swap and new clutch; I am going to start working on it as soon as the sun comes up. It has made that funny gear noise since I bought it but it was really low but now it's steadily getting louder. It's going to be strange not to hear that sound anymore.
I stopped before I got started. The transmission I bought is a post facelift 5 speed and everything is different than the one in the R50. Looks like I need a new mount, slave cylinder and line, etc, etc. I am installing a new passenger side CV in the hopes that it is the noise but I doubt it. The dust shield is very loose and flopping around on the one in the car.
