Hello, my name is Cliff and I bought a brand new Mini Cooper S on March 28, 2009.

It is pepper white with the 6-speed manual transmission, Premium package (sunroof, multi-function steering wheel, auto AC), Sport package (dynamic traction control, HIDs, white turn signals, 17" wheels), limited slip differential, and iPod adapter.

This is my first new car purchase but I've driven a 1996 300ZX 2+2 since 2001 and have put on 86,000 miles. It is a 3.0L V6 twin turbo (although it was an NA originally) and I know the vehicle inside and out mechanically and electronically. I am a fearless weekend mechanic and have done regular maintenance (oil changes, timing belt changes), engine swaps and engine rebuilds (B18C1, SR20DET, VG30DETT), and modifications (suspensions, intakes, exhausts). I can do almost everything with my collection of tools: air compressor, hydraulic press, drill press, belt sander, sawzall, cherry picker, etc. I've done extensive work with Civics, Integras, Camrys, WRXs and STis, many Z32s, a 240Z, a 1972 Datsun Roadster, an Eclipse, a Sequoia, 4Runner, Tacoma. I've done some minor work on an old Audi A4, Mustang, Jetta, BMW 740 and other cars.

Most of my automotive work has been on Japanese cars but I'm definitely not a ricer. I appreciate beauty and the simple things. I'm against gaudy carbon fiber and giant wings but I do believe that your car is your car and you can do whatever you want to it. Just don't get mad when you get made fun of and people ask you to trade your car for a Civic (this happens a lot on my Z forum when people bastardize their cars).

I graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a BS in electrical engineering and computer engineering which has helped me to understand complex systems like those in a car. I currently work as a software engineer but hope to get back into hardware.

I've been an active member of TwinTurbo.net since 2001 and it's where I gained most of my knowledge about the Z32. I hope that being a member of North American Motoring can provide me with the same type of knowledge for the R56.

Although I just bought the car, I think I know all the performance parts I eventually want to get, but because of the new-car warranty these parts won't go in for another 3 years or less depending on my self-restraint. Most likely less. In the meantime, I hope to learn more about the car, what can be done, what still needs to be done, and hopefully help develop the community.


That's me in the car and that's my girlfriend, Jessica. I hope to get some Enkei RPF-01s to replace the stock wheels in the next couple of months. Yeah, my girlfriend and I are small, barely taller than the Mini. My small size helps me navigate in, around, and under the cars that I work on.

Here's something I did with the 300ZX that I hope to do with the MINI and my subsequent fill-ups at the gas station:

miles per dollar


miles per gallon


odometer (I averaged 38 miles a day for the last year)


price per gallon


price per mile


Some pictures of the Z





I'm going to miss daily driving the Z but the MINI is fun and great on gas and I already love driving it.

Thanks for looking!

 

Congrats buddy! I'm a new mini owner myself.. although mines pretty basic it sure is a fun little nugget to drive around in! Want to sell me your stock rims and tires, I'm in the hollywood area

 

welcome and congrats....

 

Quick get the straight jacket we have a MINI statistician!

jk, congrats on the new MINI, hope you have fun!

 

Maybe I am the only one, but I didnt see any pics. Did others?

 

i no see pics , but welcome to the mini world

 

Sorry about that, we had a power outage where I live and thus my web server went down. Everything should be back up now.

Thanks everyone!


Congrats to you, too. I'm planning on just buying the new wheels and transferring over the tires from the stock ones. I can sell you just the stock wheels if you like.

 

Nice car.
I picked up a new MCS a week and a half ago, and mounted Enkei RS+M wheels over the weekend. Quality looking wheels, my first experience with Enkei.
Can I ask a favour? Can you have a look at the underside of the gearbox to confirm the part number for the limited slip differential?
It has been reported to be 23007573131, which is confirmed by realOEM.com, but my LSD ordered car came with the part number 23007568719. Trying to check if they recently changed part numbers for the LSD equipped gearbox, mine was a February '09 build.
TIA, and enjoy the car!

 

Welcome to NAM!

I like the charts for your 300Z. I have to say, you have the most-consistent "miles driven per day" figures of anyone I've ever known. Do you not take road trips, or do you have another car for that?

 

Congrats on the purchase and the wheels! Where'd you pick up the Enkies? I bought the wheels and tires on the Z from TireRack.com and thinking I will go with them for the Enkeis also.

I'll try to drive the MINI up on ramps today to see what number I have.

 

Welcome to NAM. I'm sure their are some vendors out there dancing in the streets waiting for your orders to come in. I'm impressed with your abilities as a mechanic. Hope you have many trouble free and many new adventures along the way.

 

that is a sick Z. Cant wait to see the progress on the Mini

this made me lol. You wont wait at all. trust me.

 

I haven't gone on a road trip in a while. I used to take the Z up to Northern California to visit friends at UC Berkeley. The last few road trips have been in other people's cars. So the Z has mostly seen my commute to work (20 miles one-way).

 

Yeah, I know I won't wait 3 years but I still have the Z and there's still a couple of things left to do with it. The mod bug is ridiculous. What's great is that performance parts for the Mini are much more affordable than parts for the Z32.

 

Nice Z Cliff, welcome to the club

 

I have the same part number as yours:


Here are some quick pics of my driveway and garage:






This Eclipse is my friends project car. We've been re-building the motor for a year now. We're not too fond of Mitsubishi's engineering.


I've got two VG30 short blocks on the floor and a 6-bolt 4G63 on the engine stand.




The very cramped engine bay of the Z.

Yeah, everything is a mess in the garage. The last couple of months have been pretty hectic for me.

 

Wow, I would miss that 300zx too! I've owned an 89 240sx, a 2002 350z and a 35th Anniversary 2005 350z, they were great cars. Hope you enjoy your new Mini as much if not more than your 300zx! I want a 370Z

 

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words and welcome.

Wow, that was a nice set of Nissan's you've had. I would have gotten a 370Z instead of a Mini if not for the ugly front bumper and headlights. I'll wait for the 370ZX or 380Z or whatever the next iteration will be. Naw, I'll wait for that 2.0L turbo AWD Mini (note: I made all that up). I'm already enjoying the Mini. I just filled up for the first time and got 29.451 mpg on the last tank.

 

aloha, apudapus, from a fellow pepper white owner!

just wanted to drop a reminder that you consider joining the peerage of the pepper whites....

from the big grin on your girlfriend's face at the dealership, it looks like she'll be happy to spend time with you in the MINI. i know my sweetie and i now go for long drives instead of heading to the movies or other outings as part of date night!

(ps...good things come in small packages...i should know. i think i look over the roof of domina only if i'm wearing one of my higher high heeled shoes, and i pull the seat aaaaaaaall the way forward in order to press the clutch in sufficiently!)

 

Welcome to NAM! Im planning on getting the exact same wheels (RPF1) as you are for my MINI!

 

Thanks, now I gotta decide on a good number since all of the ones I want are already taken.

Yeah, I've been finding plenty of excuses just to drive.

You go girl with your stick-shift driving self! If there's anything I've learned from working on cars, it's that stick-shifts rule. Bringing down and fixing a real manual transmission is 1000x easier than doing the same on a slush-box.

 

Thanks! Sweet! Any tips on tire sizes? Do 215/45/17 really fit without rubbing? I need to do more searching and reading...

 

Yep, bought the Enkeis and RE-01R Bridgestones from Tire Rack, the usual great service.
Thanks for checking the differential part number, wonder if that is a switch from February '09 production onwards?