R60 What did you do to your Countryman TODAY?
#2652
Or Superman MINI.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#2653
#2655
I'm in West Michigan, 20 miles from Lake Michigan and we have been getting hammered w snow so I just added new winter wheels & tires
Firestone just released their Winterforce II's so I thought I'd try them. Only $90/ea and so far they are performing just as well as my Blizzaks did AND at almost half the price!
Not much road noise at all and much smoother than the run flats! lol
Instead of steel wheels, I paid $10 more each and got some Focal Alloy wheels from tire rack.
Loving the performance and the look so far!
Firestone just released their Winterforce II's so I thought I'd try them. Only $90/ea and so far they are performing just as well as my Blizzaks did AND at almost half the price!
Not much road noise at all and much smoother than the run flats! lol
Instead of steel wheels, I paid $10 more each and got some Focal Alloy wheels from tire rack.
Loving the performance and the look so far!
those look mean as **** man, are they 205/55/17?
they look bigger
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BlakeC (05-03-2018)
#2657
Im dropping the scuttle surrounds off at a body shop to paint match to the roof- going White and painting the inserts red- surprised I cant fiind a red inseert anywhere. can find pink, green, orange, union jack, black jack, blue- but no RED!!!!!!!! Absurd i tell you, absurd.
oh hey BlakeC------- Im from the UP, so i gotta give you a bit of a hard time,,,,,, TROLL!!!!! lol.you call that snow..... thats a dusting. lol
oh hey BlakeC------- Im from the UP, so i gotta give you a bit of a hard time,,,,,, TROLL!!!!! lol.you call that snow..... thats a dusting. lol
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BlakeC (05-03-2018)
#2658
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
This past Wednesday my wife came home from work a little shaken and said she hit a gnarly pothole on the freeway. Inspected it and found one front wheel to maaaybe have a small flat on the backside. Still drove fine, so not a huge deal.
Then Thursday I hit my bookmarked Craigslist wheel/tire search and boom... a set of nearly new Drag Dr37s with 225/55/17 Blizzaks. $250. Sold. Bolted right up. Perfect centerbore and all. Not my favorite wheel on a CMS, but the et42 helps. Might just be the Blizzaks looking like truck tires.
Some unflattering garage pics....
However, the ride is FANTASTIC. Screw runflats. I forgot just how crappy they are.
Then Thursday I hit my bookmarked Craigslist wheel/tire search and boom... a set of nearly new Drag Dr37s with 225/55/17 Blizzaks. $250. Sold. Bolted right up. Perfect centerbore and all. Not my favorite wheel on a CMS, but the et42 helps. Might just be the Blizzaks looking like truck tires.
Some unflattering garage pics....
However, the ride is FANTASTIC. Screw runflats. I forgot just how crappy they are.
#2659
Great you got those, get ready for the winter blast here in ohio, my studded snow tires are ready. Be careful of non-snow tire cars on the road.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
The following users liked this post:
iwashmycar (01-12-2018)
#2660
This past Wednesday my wife came home from work a little shaken and said she hit a gnarly pothole on the freeway. Inspected it and found one front wheel to maaaybe have a small flat on the backside. Still drove fine, so not a huge deal.
Then Thursday I hit my bookmarked Craigslist wheel/tire search and boom... a set of nearly new Drag Dr37s with 225/55/17 Blizzaks. $250. Sold. Bolted right up. Perfect centerbore and all. Not my favorite wheel on a CMS, but the et42 helps. Might just be the Blizzaks looking like truck tires.
Some unflattering garage pics....
[IMG]https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-j5owks2l_94340931c7b7990df38a7989c255b1fb6211da07. jpg[IMG]
[IMG]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-ajkue14l_71919c10da0ed7bf8b3c209b9807bbf59af6180a. jpg[IMG]
[IMG]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-dvbgky8l_457f83e929fc405e65a75b9528844e1ac958305b. jpg[IMG]
However, the ride is FANTASTIC. Screw runflats. I forgot just how crappy they are.
Then Thursday I hit my bookmarked Craigslist wheel/tire search and boom... a set of nearly new Drag Dr37s with 225/55/17 Blizzaks. $250. Sold. Bolted right up. Perfect centerbore and all. Not my favorite wheel on a CMS, but the et42 helps. Might just be the Blizzaks looking like truck tires.
Some unflattering garage pics....
[IMG]https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-j5owks2l_94340931c7b7990df38a7989c255b1fb6211da07. jpg[IMG]
[IMG]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-ajkue14l_71919c10da0ed7bf8b3c209b9807bbf59af6180a. jpg[IMG]
[IMG]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.northamericanmotoring.com-vbulletin/480x640/80-dvbgky8l_457f83e929fc405e65a75b9528844e1ac958305b. jpg[IMG]
However, the ride is FANTASTIC. Screw runflats. I forgot just how crappy they are.
I run 225/55 Firestone Indy 500 Summer Tires on the OEM 17’s and they are beefy. I might drop to 225/50r17 to match the OEM diameter
#2661
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
That’s a great find and sweet deal. However the 225/55 on the 17’s are big. If you want to match the OEM stock diameter then drop to 225/50
I run 225/55 Firestone Indy 500 Summer Tires on the OEM 17’s and they are beefy. I might drop to 225/50r17 to match the OEM diameter
I run 225/55 Firestone Indy 500 Summer Tires on the OEM 17’s and they are beefy. I might drop to 225/50r17 to match the OEM diameter
#2664
#2665
New wheels & tires
Finally got around to installing my APEX Race wheels, studs, 5mm spacers and Firestone tires. I also installed VIP Custom Parts rear control arms. I'm now waiting for the coilovers to arrive. Once those arrive i'll also be installing the M7 25mm rear sway bar and replacing all bushings (available to purchase) with PowerFlex race bushing. we'll see when the coilovers go on, but as of right now there is no rubbing. I may put up to 12mm spacers all around, it will depend how much room we can make with shavings the inside fenders and without going too extreme with the camber (no more than -2.5).
I'll also be vinyl wrapping the car in matte black with matte bronze accents to match my coffee company's branding.
A note on the current height: the car came with the OE sport suspension, so the isn't typical of any MINI stock. The car has raised over time since I have dropped a little over 250 lbs of sprung weight off the car.
Wheel specs:
17x8.5" et40 wheels, 17 lbs each
---> Added 5mm spacers all around, new et is 35 (sits same distance away from strut as stock 18x7.5 wheels)
245/45-17 Firehawk Indy 500 tires, 25 lbs each
---> About 0.3 inches shorter in height compared to the stock 225/45-18 tires
Weight savings from stock: 30 lbs (rotational mass)
Tires
How the car looked before...
How the car looks now.
A few other angles.
Front left
Front left
Front left
Rear left
Rear left
Rear left
Acceleration has definitely improved and the added traction has really woken up the AWD system around turns. Need more power now!
I'll also be vinyl wrapping the car in matte black with matte bronze accents to match my coffee company's branding.
A note on the current height: the car came with the OE sport suspension, so the isn't typical of any MINI stock. The car has raised over time since I have dropped a little over 250 lbs of sprung weight off the car.
Wheel specs:
17x8.5" et40 wheels, 17 lbs each
---> Added 5mm spacers all around, new et is 35 (sits same distance away from strut as stock 18x7.5 wheels)
245/45-17 Firehawk Indy 500 tires, 25 lbs each
---> About 0.3 inches shorter in height compared to the stock 225/45-18 tires
Weight savings from stock: 30 lbs (rotational mass)
Tires
How the car looked before...
How the car looks now.
A few other angles.
Front left
Front left
Front left
Rear left
Rear left
Rear left
Acceleration has definitely improved and the added traction has really woken up the AWD system around turns. Need more power now!
Last edited by AWD_Rally; 01-20-2018 at 07:31 AM.
#2667
#2668
Matte black wrapping is complete. Still need to install the coilovers so that when my company's side logo is put on, it's level.
Looking into painting the headlights gold, to match logo color. As we as the handles, and possibly the side marker surround.
If anyone has any suggestions, specifically a place to go to in the OC, CA to get the headlights done and the other part painted, I'm all ears! Anyways, here's what it looks like now.
Looking into painting the headlights gold, to match logo color. As we as the handles, and possibly the side marker surround.
If anyone has any suggestions, specifically a place to go to in the OC, CA to get the headlights done and the other part painted, I'm all ears! Anyways, here's what it looks like now.
#2670
The Countryman looks amazing in matte black! The coilovers will definitely help with the look. You definitely need more low on to bring her down to the right height. Would the company that wrapped the vehicle not wrap the other items in gold? I know you mentioned painting them, but it sounds like this is going to primarily be used for a company vehicle, so wrapping them might be a better option. I think wrapping anything that is or was chrome in gold would look great. The grill and emblems and handles and also I would say the side scuttles and the mirror caps might also be a nice touch to wrap gold to continue with the accents.
#2671
Doing the Headlight/Tail light Trims, the Grill Trim, the Brake ducts and the Side Scuttles in gold would definitely pop.
If the parts are Chrome you are better off wrapping, its difficult to keep paint from chipping and flaking off the chrome. Unless you strip the chrome off first which is a costly endeavor
If it’s plastic, a good scuff and self etching primer would keep the color coat on and a couple of layers of clear would keep it safe.
I did the Brake ducts which were plastic and they have held up for a couple of years now, but the chrome grill trim needs a coat almost monthly
If the parts are Chrome you are better off wrapping, its difficult to keep paint from chipping and flaking off the chrome. Unless you strip the chrome off first which is a costly endeavor
If it’s plastic, a good scuff and self etching primer would keep the color coat on and a couple of layers of clear would keep it safe.
I did the Brake ducts which were plastic and they have held up for a couple of years now, but the chrome grill trim needs a coat almost monthly
#2672
The Countryman looks amazing in matte black! The coilovers will definitely help with the look. You definitely need more low on to bring her down to the right height. Would the company that wrapped the vehicle not wrap the other items in gold? I know you mentioned painting them, but it sounds like this is going to primarily be used for a company vehicle, so wrapping them might be a better option. I think wrapping anything that is or was chrome in gold would look great. The grill and emblems and handles and also I would say the side scuttles and the mirror caps might also be a nice touch to wrap gold to continue with the accents.
Doing the Headlight/Tail light Trims, the Grill Trim, the Brake ducts and the Side Scuttles in gold would definitely pop.
If the parts are Chrome you are better off wrapping, its difficult to keep paint from chipping and flaking off the chrome. Unless you strip the chrome off first which is a costly endeavor
If it’s plastic, a good scuff and self etching primer would keep the color coat on and a couple of layers of clear would keep it safe.
I did the Brake ducts which were plastic and they have held up for a couple of years now, but the chrome grill trim needs a coat almost monthly
If the parts are Chrome you are better off wrapping, its difficult to keep paint from chipping and flaking off the chrome. Unless you strip the chrome off first which is a costly endeavor
If it’s plastic, a good scuff and self etching primer would keep the color coat on and a couple of layers of clear would keep it safe.
I did the Brake ducts which were plastic and they have held up for a couple of years now, but the chrome grill trim needs a coat almost monthly
Living in Orange County, I know I have a lot of options, so that's nice. it's just time consuming to look for places since I'm also busy growing my business.
#2673
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
Vinyl will stick to them. I had Lyles Vinyl Styles do my grille surround and light surrounds on my R56. Was fine for years, then I sold the car.
This guy can wrap anything
https://www.vinylstyles.com/
This guy can wrap anything
https://www.vinylstyles.com/
Last edited by iwashmycar; 01-30-2018 at 01:14 PM.
#2674
Vinyl will stick to them. I had Lyles Vinyl Styles do my grille surround and light surrounds on my R56. Was fine for years, then I sold the car.
This guy can wrap anything
https://www.vinylstyles.com/
This guy can wrap anything
https://www.vinylstyles.com/
Nice. That sounds like a possibility, thank you.
They're all the way up in San Francisco, did you ship your parts to them?
#2675
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
Maybe ask if you might get a discount if you ship him the already wrapped black ones. He could probably just sell them black if they are quality.
He did my grille surround and head/taillight rings