Did you determine what your struts and shocks are? Mention of "gold" had me thinking Ohlins, with their signature product color being anodized gold whereas Koni Sports, aka "yellows" are indeed painted yellow. If Ohlins, quite the pricey upgrade option - as are all their products. Shown below are my "yellows" at the time installing OEM JCW Sport Springs (standard only on 2006 GP1, otherwise part of a dealer-installed kit back then).

 

Honestly, I have no idea. I have some booklet for Koni which led me to believe that’s it. I Should have looked closer when I had the car on a lift and installed the new poly bushings.

I am currently refinishing some r98 wheels, powdered in matte black with machined lips and the barrel in dark silver to match the body color. I’m also reworking a pair of JCW front calipers. I got new pistons and gaskets/boots. Didnt need them but once I was stripping them to get them powder coated I figured they should get refreshed. I think I’ll do them in dark grey also, or maybe burgundy. I’m still on the fence.

This week I installed a new oem head unit since the old one was blown from the Mac, and a Bluetooth adapter. Having music and wireless connectivity is amazing. I put in a rennline phone mount at the same time, which sucked, so I got a clip in place of the magnet. In fairness, maybe my case is too thick or driving it too spirited but the phone doesn’t stay put.

Im most excited about the aero side skirts that get repainted next week. While I was at it, I bought an oem JCW carbon scoop and oem JCW car cover. I never see them come up for sale so I had to.

I plan on redoing the stripes next season with some PPF. I might be crazy but I think I need to redo my seats with some pepita inserts. I have a few months to think about it.

I told the family I adopted the car from she would be in good hands

 

Weren’t the old Koni FSDs kind of a gold color?

 

Yep, they were metallic gold.

 

yup, looks like those! They are pretty solid. I’d be ok with a 10-15 mm drop, but the roads are terrible where I live, I practically need a skid plate at stock height.

 

Yep thats the old ones before they updated to the red now. Thats for most all of the new FSDs are red.

 

I finally got around to fixing up my R98 wheels and picking up some spacers, but I’m waiting until spring to put them on.

I know black isn’t on trend, but I wanted to keep it classic and oem+ looking, so I went with a matte face in a light black, diamond cut lip and I did the barrel in body color. They came out pretty nicely! Should look great when it’s reassembled with some clean bolts and silver lugs.

Next to the shop are the JCW front calipers which I think I’ll also end up doing in body color, maybe with a custom JCW black decal.

 

Those look great!

 

Great find! I recently picked up a low mileage R53 JCW and it seems to have a few more quirks than yours!

 

I just got my 3D printed part in. I’m excited to see how it fits! I’ll just need a little hardware to screw down the Unichip. The rocker switches and light should fit in perfectly.

Just waiting for my side skirts to get painted and that’s the last mod before hibernation.
@ECS Tuning I’ll definitely be after you for the GP bumper trims next time I’m over the border.

After installing the powerflex front control arm rear bushings, there is still some play in the steering. Steering is tight, almost heavy, but there is a (very) little movement before it catches in either direction. I don’t love it, and definitely looking to drop the subframe again.

Also, my key fobs stopped working. The dealer tells me the keys arent being recognized and are showing a signal of all zeros so they can’t pair it. First they have seen this issue.

 

rims look clean. what paint did you use?

 

Thanks! I had them powder coated. The satin black is fam coating and the metallic grey is prismatic with a gloss clear over it to protect the diamond cut edges.

 

Well, this worked out well until it didnt….

Fit beautifully, shut the hood and seems like it was a little too tall, the screw next to the strut plate must have cracked it.

Im pretty sure a couple minor adjustments and it would work.

 

Aero side skirts installed. Much better but odd panel gap near the door jam. I’ll have to fish for some help. Carrying the color to the rocker panel makes it look so much cleaner.

 

I was cleaning my car to put it away today. I saw a little rust peeking out from behind the striker plate. FML these cars are like dating the prom queen.

At least my wheels for next year came out well. The project will resume in 5 or so months…

 

I wish I were back in California. With the exception of skiing, I hate winter. My SQ5 looks like a soccer mom car on winter rims and I have no one to play with.

 

Been a busy winter collecting parts. I’m excited to wake her up from hibernation and fit them all. I got the GP rear trims, new wheels and spacers, reconditioned JCW calipers with stainless steel lines, and revived the old folding oem arm rest. Picked up an oem carbon scoop and Orciari style carbon cowl scoops.

 

sounds like spring season will be entertaining

 

I finally took it out of storage. The battery needed a boost but otherwise feels great.

I had to change the tail light bulbs today. So many nice things about an analog car but could have used a warning light that my brake bulbs were burned out. I’m still planning to put the clear lights back in but I’m waiting on new gaskets.

I installed the new to me JCW hood scoop, we’ll see if I warm to the look. I’ve had one on all my Minis but I got used to it body color. Maybe a new set of darker racing stripes would help. I also donated a little blood fitting the cowl scoop. Didn't like the hardware it came with so I’m going to get some wing nuts so it’s easier to access.

Next weekend Im going to install the refinished JCW brakes, GP rear trim and refinished R98s. I salvaged on oem armrest that I disassembled and powdercoated.

Very excited to have a new season to play. More to come

 

All done. New bits installed, fresh oil change. It feels better even though there is more rotational mass. The stance is much improved with the spacers and Milltek exhaust finishes pretty flush with the end of the GP1 trim. Can’t say I’m unhappy with having a place to rest my arm either.

On to the next pieces. Working on the rock chip guards. I think a little more carbon fiber, and toying with the idea of changing out the stripes to the checkmate hood graphic in matte black to tie into the carbon scoop.

 

Beautiful car. Nice work.

 

Thank you! I have some friends with wild car collections, and it’s hard for me to explain why I enjoy this platform. It’s by no means a sound financial investment, but I’m not sure for the money sunk into this I’d get as many smiles per mile out of something else.

 

It looks great, as long as it puts a smile on your face ...

Motor On!

 

It looks great, as long as it puts a smile on your face ...

Motor On!


Oh, look a double post ... sorry.

 

no auto is a sound financial investment. they all go to zero if you drive them. if you dont drive them they can go up a little. nothing more than you would get on a cd or in bonds or whatever. no garage space needed