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Officialy done with Mini's in a good way/Toms 06 JCW Restoration
So yesterday marked the day I will not buy another Mini. (Unless someone has a broken GP1 for sub 10k) Yesterday I went and brought home a 06 factory installed JCW kit with a bunch of oem carbonfiber goodies. Little beat up especially comsetically but car runs like it just left the factory. It has its flaws and thats why I named it restoration and not build. I already have a built race car so no point of having a second money pit. Drove the car 30 miles home, no hicups, no weird sounds and over 30 mpg all they way home in city suburbs driving. (Best ill get out of the others is like 25 mpg on the highway). It desperatel needs a paint correction and a new Tailgate which I have already sorted out with my friend Adrian at Willmek Auto Parts (If you need used parts for Mini's, go search him up on facebook). With about 140k miles on the clock, im going to do the supercharger service and a bunch of while your in their stuff too. The car also has green coolant in it so that gotta go to. 100% getting lowered with either lowering springs or coilovers. I also bought this car because it completes the Italian job movie. (Apart from the Black R52). I'm happy to see where this goes and will keep everyone updated on the journey. I'll taking some better photos of it today and share it with you guys.
Yes this one was on facebook. What sold me were the cup holder and shifter rings. I going out and taking some pictures of it today. Will update with some more photos tonight.
As promised some better photo's. NAM doesn't like that the quality of them is too good as they were shot from my camera so these are the only ones I can upload. The car has Carbon Fiber (Scoop, Boot Handle, Shifter Ring, Cup Holder Ring, Gear ****, Ebrake Handle) and Union Jack Mirrors. Tomorrow I'm ordering a whole pallet of parts for all of the Mini's. The only issue with this one is boot is dented so I'll just be purchasing a good used one.
Installed some new hood struts because I like having a head and because ill be opening the hood often and having it open for the supercharger service next month.
So today was a day full of progress. Started off the day with a 200 mile roadtrip around northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin to gather some parts. Picked up a set of OZ racing Ultraleggara wheels with tires and a set of rev9 coilovers. One thing I didn't see was that the locking collor was absolutely destroyed and the threads were also destroyed. If anyone has a front strut or even a front pair that they would like to sell, please pm me. I also ordered some lights from amazon. I got some Union Jack taillights, led side markers, led front halo's and turn signals, and side turn signals. It totally transformed the car and the only things left is the rear tailgate and the mechanical restoration. The car also needs some tint badly, can't be fish bowling out here. Will get some better photos tomorrow because I ran out of sunlight but the car looks way better. The lighter wheels also make the car much faster.
So yesterday marked the day I will not buy another Mini. (Unless someone has a broken GP1 for sub 10k) Yesterday I went and brought home a 06 factory installed JCW kit with a bunch of oem carbonfiber goodies. Little beat up especially comsetically but car runs like it just left the factory. It has its flaws and thats why I named it restoration and not build. I already have a built race car so no point of having a second money pit. Drove the car 30 miles home, no hicups, no weird sounds and over 30 mpg all they way home in city suburbs driving. (Best ill get out of the others is like 25 mpg on the highway). It desperatel needs a paint correction and a new Tailgate which I have already sorted out with my friend Adrian at Willmek Auto Parts (If you need used parts for Mini's, go search him up on facebook). With about 140k miles on the clock, im going to do the supercharger service and a bunch of while your in their stuff too. The car also has green coolant in it so that gotta go to. 100% getting lowered with either lowering springs or coilovers. I also bought this car because it completes the Italian job movie. (Apart from the Black R52). I'm happy to see where this goes and will keep everyone updated on the journey. I'll taking some better photos of it today and share it with you guys.
awesome find !
may I ask how much you paid and some interior pics..
funny how when we were chatting id mentioned that being MY FAVORITE factory color... awesome score.
seems we've had a few gems pop up lately in our area..
Thanks Adam, I don't want to disclose the price but its around twice as much that you paid for the aero car. I'll text you some interior pics because nam won't let me upload them. I was able to go out yesterday and get some photos of it to my pepper white car that just received some black wheels (Rep R90's because I though they were real). Sunsets are truly getting more and more beautiful so I can't wait for summer and just cruising in the Mini's. The tailgate has been ordered and should be arriving sometime next week, with that I bought a JCW intake because this one has an unknown carbon look one.
Thanks Adam, I don't want to disclose the price but its around twice as much that you paid for the aero car. I'll text you some interior pics because nam won't let me upload them. I was able to go out yesterday and get some photos of it to my pepper white car that just received some black wheels (Rep R90's because I though they were real). Sunsets are truly getting more and more beautiful so I can't wait for summer and just cruising in the Mini's. The tailgate has been ordered and should be arriving sometime next week, with that I bought a JCW intake because this one has an unknown carbon look one.
awesome !
We Illinois and Wisconsin Boys need to set a meet n greet this summer.. imo it would be sweet to meet up and do a track day , lol if someone doesn't wanna run their car hard ille bring BOTH mine and someone can rock my aero around for all I care..
though I've been getting snubbed in my aero , I constantly get thumbs up in my Grey mini from any car guys and all minis but lol when i give em a wave while in my aero all I get back is a snub..lol last guy in his modded v6 charger ( 😝🤪😝 even snubbed me.. A V6 , 4DOOR , SLUG...
I think people think it's all bark with no bite...though that charger gt learned...
So we got another snowstorm here in the midwest and hopefully this is the last one but I took the opportunity and took some photos during it. it didn't want to drive the car far because of the salt so I took it around my neighborhood where we actually have a few good photo spots. It also shows of those led side markers and night and I think they are a must for any R53. They make the car look brand new. I have some Halo's for the from but I'm waiting on a front fog light so I don't have the take the bumper off multiple times. Like said earlier, hatch should be here anytime next week and so should the JCW Intake. A question though? Should I go with an OE Maple filter from FCP Euro or the Alta reusable one. FCP has lifetime replacement and I would like to keep the car as oem+ as possible but I mean, it's just an air filter.
So we got another snowstorm here in the midwest and hopefully this is the last one but I took the opportunity and took some photos during it. it didn't want to drive the car far because of the salt so I took it around my neighborhood where we actually have a few good photo spots.
Brave (and beautiful shots). Mine won't leave the garage until we get a good rain, I've had too many cars ruined by salt. I did use the brief window of dryness to shuffle the garage and get the JCW uncovered and up on the lift for clutch replacement. Seeing it for the first time in 4+ months really made me excited for spring.
Brave (and beautiful shots). Mine won't leave the garage until we get a good rain, I've had too many cars ruined by salt. I did use the brief window of dryness to shuffle the garage and get the JCW uncovered and up on the lift for clutch replacement. Seeing it for the first time in 4+ months really made me excited for spring.
I try to drive it as little as possible with the snow and salt but the car currently sits outside because of the storage situation. (5 cars in a 2 car garage) Next year it will 100% be stored inside but from what I saw when I changed out the tires, the car has a little bit of surface rust (Formally a Wisconsin Car since 2017) so I'm guessing it was stored inside for most of its life.
So we got another snowstorm here in the midwest and hopefully this is the last one but I took the opportunity and took some photos during it. it didn't want to drive the car far because of the salt so I took it around my neighborhood where we actually have a few good photo spots. It also shows of those led side markers and night and I think they are a must for any R53. They make the car look brand new. I have some Halo's for the from but I'm waiting on a front fog light so I don't have the take the bumper off multiple times. Like said earlier, hatch should be here anytime next week and so should the JCW Intake. A question though? Should I go with an OE Maple filter from FCP Euro or the Alta reusable one. FCP has lifetime replacement and I would like to keep the car as oem+ as possible but I mean, it's just an air filter.
I like it. Where did you order? How to remove side lights? Did you have to remove wheels? Thanks!
So they were ordered on Amazon, just search for Mini Cooper r53 led lights and all the lights that I currently have installed are there. You do have to unclip some of the fender liner so I would recommend removing the wheels but you could turn the front wheels inward and only remove the back. Their held on by these nuts that are to say it nicely, *****. I just flip them around and push them on and they hold better then spinning them on. Personally I like the smoked side markers because they match with the plastic trim but you could also get clears. I have linked the front Halo's, side markers and also the Union Jack lights below. I know you can get this stuff cheaper but nothings better then free next day shipping.
Vinstar makes most of that stuff. Their name is on the lens most of the time. I talk to them direct to make new things for MINI. Most places just rebox/resell.
Those taillights are going away soon and they updated the design, we got a couple left then they are nla. Looks like other places still have the old stock and killing the price. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-helix-parts/v-Mini/
I remember when they first came out under helix/depo.
Vinstar makes most of that stuff. Their name is on the lens most of the time. I talk to them direct to make new things for MINI. Most places just rebox/resell.
Those taillights are going away soon and they updated the design, we got a couple left then they are nla. Looks like other places still have the old stock and killing the price. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-helix-parts/v-Mini/
I remember when they first came out under helix/depo.
I dislike the new design and that's why I bought those specific ones. The had the Union Jacks when they were still not available here from the UK and I love the design. These new ones don't look like the OEM ones that Mini produces. Looks like I'm buying two more pairs for each of the cars.
Yea, its more like the F56 design. . I like my old school euro amber valeo/MINI taillights, like on my Hot orange convertible above. The new red/red dont have that clear section on them below.
My factory LCI Black lines taillights I have on my R58 JCW are now NLA. :( Might sell those and do the new UJ on it when they land. Those are updated also.
Got in the garage yesterday and took off the front bumper. Had to work fast because its a full week of tests before spring break. Got the Halo's on and also the LED foglights on too. Haven't driven the car out of the garage but the led ones are so much better.
even snubbed me.. A V6 , 4DOOR , SLUG...
Most places just rebox/resell. 
