Ok - on/off topic /
On topic = I love my Mini (enough said )
Off topic = Well as i said earlier, I've become less enamored with Atlanta. Drivers here are pretty self centered and careless to say the least.
Q: Don't you just love it when drivers ride your ***/bully because you drive a Mini? I don't get it. They must have it in their deluded, dimwitted conscience that you're either a girl or a wimp because of it's size.

In reply to @deepgrey 's Atlanta experience;
Let me preface by saying, My Mini has never been in an accident/collision.
Today on the way to set/work, I/we encountered a reckless driver in a hurry, weaving through traffic. We were all driving responsibly but I was cut off by this guy 3 times. Each time almost clipping my right front fender. He was making no headway, lane shifting, driving like an ***, trying to get ahead of drivers doing the posted speed. Each time he nearly hit me, I alerted by honking my horn. I just made sure to stay back, Surely there was going to be an collision. We finally approached a red light behind a long line of cars. I was merging into the left turn lane, he cuts me off and proceeded to cut in front the first driver, stopped at the light in the through lane. We were now side by side at the light. I made the unfortunate mistake by giving him the "stink-eye" (no gesture - just the stink-eye). He casually sat there flipping me off with his left hand.
I didn't even bother responding to the gesture. This guy, then slowly proceeds raised his right hand...holding a fire arm pointing it upwards while continuing giving me the finger.
Just another typical day in the ATL

I'm happy to say; My Mini and I lived to see another day....
So, How was your day?

 

OMG but doesn’t really surprise me.

My commute involved going down Thornton RD and taking the exit to I-20 east. 2 mornings in a row this guy in a BMW with a temp tag cut me off at the entrance to the exit. The third morning I was ready and had all intentions of flooring my car and ramming him into the guard rail. As I get older I find it harder and harder to deal with stupid people. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that traffic anymore.

I now have to deal with people going back to Alabama doing 5 to 10 under the speed limit.

 

Sounds about right for Atlanta. Glad you're okay.

I could fill a thread with all the crazy things I saw in 15 years of living in Atlanta, ~10 of which were in Midtown.

When the bridge on 85 collapsed, my home and work were on opposite sides. If you want to be utterly infuriated by traffic every day because there was one lane in places (and later two) for traffic from 85 on both sides, that was it. The only bright spot was that I got the unique experience of driving south in the northbound lanes of 85 because I got caught maybe a quarter of a mile south of the fire when it happened. At the time I had borrowed my dad's Dakota to move some things, and I'm kind of glad I had the extra height to be able to see a bit better.

 

Yep - looks like a typical commute in Atlanta.... Any time of the day...Or night.

@deepgrey and @ChiefM - Thanks for expressing your concern.

I've lived all over the US (9 or 10 states). Never in my years, has ANYONE ever brandished a weapon in my presence in any kind of suggestive manner....Even when I was in Texas! (just poking fun).
I moved to L.A. in the mid/late 80's. It was about this time when shooting drivers on the metro highways became "fashionable"... If not - Just for "sport".
I really loved CA = the Pacific Palisades & Hollywood area. The vibe and the weather were awesome.Traffic was torture. I was fortunate enough to get a call/job offer to go work in Tampa, FL. This is when the Rodney King riots were flaring up.... Needless to say ; I was on the road, headed East, by sun down!

'Didn't care much for Tampa either...Now St.Pete/Clearwater are a different story....Although some of the drivers out there seem to be plagued with cognitive issues... I think it has to do with the sun... but hey - nobody's perfect (?)
(again, poking fun)

BTW: @deepgrey - Sorry to hear about the collisions...There's not much structural defense with these little cars. I hope you were ok and I applaud you for the repairs made to keep your R50 on the road!

 

I hope I wasn't too flippant with my brief comment about your safety, but I think I'm a bit jaded. I really am glad it didn't go any further than that. A friend of one of my friends was shot and killed during a road rage encounter years ago. I've never had anyone pull a gun on me, but I have seen it happen...

Things have gotten worse since the pandemic though. Everyone is a bit more on edge.

Now, on the subject of Minis, I thought I would take another pic of the interior for Chief. It's a bit different than it was years ago. The euro parcel shelf is nice, but the euro armrest is probably the best addition. Having a place for my right elbow is great.



One of these days I'm going to try removing the ugly airbag stickers on the sun visors. I've been saying that for probably ten years though...

 

+1 On the tray = love it as well!
++ 1 on the arm rest = A must have on my list.

Nope - 'didn't even remotely think you were being flippant.

 

Actually, I meant to write "shelf" - not tray.

BTW: I forgot to search, but does the center arm rest have storage underneath?

Thanks!

 

I didn't even notice that you said tray instead of shelf.

Yes, it has a flip top with storage underneath.

I know my interior is still dirty, but pics anyway.

 

Thanks for the pics!
I really want this arm rest ...
I did a quick search and found 2 variations(?). Does yours have vertical extending mounts that bolt to the seat rail - like this: MINI Cooper, Cooper S OEM Armrest with Storage ?
@$300 - However, I maybe looking at a total clutch replacement...so it may have to wait ($$).
BUT very nice indeed!

 

Yes, though I believe I have the older model. It wasn’t that expensive when I bought mine.

 

I just scored a center arm rest/console like the one you have ($150 /Ebay).
By the way... Is that an OBD plug I see there mounted in the center storage area??
If so... was it difficult to reroute?
Any tips on doing that?

 

It's just a little ELM327 wifi interface I have stashed there. It used to live on the parcel shelf that isn't in the car at the moment.

I do need to look for my OBDII extension cable though. I was doing some logging today, and the stock location isn't the easiest to reach.

 

Received this morning


Installed this afternoon

 

Oh interesting. You got the integrated armrest.

 

You all are making me really consider an arm rest, I go back and forth about it. The shelf on the drivers side is going to be a must do. I also saw an add on factory heated seat kit. I wonder how many cloth seats have the heated option?

 

Well I didn't know about the integrated option.
On closer inspection/comparison to yours (I like yours better), It appears they are a bit different.
The one I bought (pictured); has an annoying sliding armrest cover.The armrest cover also flips up revealing the storage container. It doesn't secure very well. It does have a tendency to slide backward when adjusting or lifting positions.
An easy fix - I have a couple of small earth magnets I will be installing tomorrow. I'll drill a couple of small holes in the upper and lower plastic inside lip area, to the diam of the magnets and recess them in.

I'll probably mix up some metallic anthracite to paint out the silver to match my interior...When I get around to refinishing & spraying my door ovals.
I like the armrest very much. Thanks for sharing your mods!

 

The armrest you have was introduced fairly late IIRC - I think maybe 2005 or 2006. They have a reputation for the exact problem you describe, which is one of the reasons I went with the euro armrest.

Heated seats came with the cold weather package, I believe.

 

Well, again you made a well informed choice.
Although I did see a video related to a different center armrest and (like you), they mentioned the model I have and the same issue = "look for another option".
For me, there were little options ( for an '04), I discovered that more effort is needed to find (good) parts for the pre facelift models. Not impossible. One just has to pay close attention.
Happy to say my magnet trick turned out nice and solved the aforementioned sliding issues
I should have taken pics but I was sidetracked/ Trying to figure out how to deal with my dashboard issue.

 

Completed a big project today; replaced a brake light bulb.

 

Got me beat, I cleaned the basement and did some honey do's but nothing on the car. My 5 year old son hounded me until we went thru all the Christmas totes, now I have more outside lights to hang.... but not today.

 

Hey Chief -
While at a Pull-A-Part this weekend. I just spotted an arm rest and I'm pretty sure, a shelf in an 06 R52 (vert)...Don't know if it would fit your R50...
I am uncertain as to the overall condition of the arm rest, but I did notice it's missing it's top cover (probably tossed somewhere in the cabin underneath a pile of interior bits.)
nevertheless the top pad/cover can be had on EBay if interested.
I'd really like to go back soon to confirm the shelf.
Will definitely let you know!

 

Nice. lol

 

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a stock spring and strut on an SPC camber plate and a Swift spring on a Koni Yellow with a Vorshlag camber plate, you need wonder no more.



This is from a few years ago. I think I have the measurements somewhere.

 

70-something degree weather. I could have worked on a vehicle, but I went riding instead. Gratuitous photo below.

I did discover that my right front marker light came unplugged at some point, so I'll have to fix that soon. Does anyone remember if those are accessible from behind the inner fender? I want to say they are, and I think I would rather do that than pull the bumper again.

 

the one on the wheel arch? Yes iirc