R56 Production Week 40 Support Group!
#176
The car is incredible fun. I drove out of the dealership at 2pm with 27 miles on the odometer and thanks to the Portland-Seattle commute and then some, the odometer now reads 262 O.o
Some pics here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=120122
I just love the way it lights up when i unlock the car. I keep looking outside every 15mins :impatient - i need to get over this obsession![EEK!](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Some pics here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=120122
I just love the way it lights up when i unlock the car. I keep looking outside every 15mins :impatient - i need to get over this obsession
![EEK!](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
#177
#178
#180
![Frown](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#181
Also reading on how to do oil change and tire rotations on my own.
#182
The kit was pretty simple to do. Its a daunting task for sure, but once you really get into it its not that bad.
Its mostly a matter of finding the screws that hold the bumpers in place. The ones underneath the car are easy to find, but the ones that secure it to the quarter panels are the tough ones. They're hidden underneath the plastic trim.
The skirts are easy too. They're held on by two screws and a ton of clips that need to be broken off (the kit provides you with replacements). I found that using a dremel to cut the old tabs was the easiest way of removing them. Then the panels just snap on.
Tools that are really helpful include: a miniature wratchet with a ton of optional bits, a dremel and a flatheaded screwdriver. I didn't even need to use a jack to install it (although I haven't replaced 3 screws that attach the front bumper to the underside of the car yet.).
Its mostly a matter of finding the screws that hold the bumpers in place. The ones underneath the car are easy to find, but the ones that secure it to the quarter panels are the tough ones. They're hidden underneath the plastic trim.
The skirts are easy too. They're held on by two screws and a ton of clips that need to be broken off (the kit provides you with replacements). I found that using a dremel to cut the old tabs was the easiest way of removing them. Then the panels just snap on.
Tools that are really helpful include: a miniature wratchet with a ton of optional bits, a dremel and a flatheaded screwdriver. I didn't even need to use a jack to install it (although I haven't replaced 3 screws that attach the front bumper to the underside of the car yet.).
#183
A couple more shots i took today (he's a little dirty but he doesn't mind)
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8416/mini6us4.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8585/mini7bn6.jpg
[3008x2000 resolution - so umm big shots here]
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8416/mini6us4.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8585/mini7bn6.jpg
[3008x2000 resolution - so umm big shots here]
#185
#186
Hit the 500 mile mark today. Great day for a slow nice drive out today. I took the 522 to Bothell, took a wrong exit (thanks to dumb Google maps messing up the route) and stopped outside a house and asked for directions back to the freeway. She was very nice and told me how to get on the freeway and then said "I love your car". I smiled and thanked her and then finally reached my destination. When i left the destination a few hours later, i saw a chili-red MINI with a white top behind me
Good day to drive. (Then i made a fool of myself with my new passenger by stopping too close to a redlight and then having to crouch all the way to see the red
).
I stole the following route from night-driving.com - great for a drive past midnight![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...2135&z=12&om=1
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
![Mad](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
I stole the following route from night-driving.com - great for a drive past midnight
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...2135&z=12&om=1
#187
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
Funny thing happened when adding the car though, conversation went something like this...
Me: "I bought a car and will be picking on Friday, it's a MINI."
Agent: "That's nice, what's the make, is it Dodge, Chrysler..."
Me: "Umm, the make is MINI."
![Sly](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/sly.gif)
Agent: "Right, a MINI. But who is it under?"
Me: "MINI is the make. It's a division of BMW, but still, MINI is the make."
Agent: "Oh ok, I'll put MINI with BMW in brackets then."
Me: "... ... alright..."
![Roll](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/roll.gif)
#188
#189
It's State Farm and I'm sure the make MINI is on their drop down if I go on their website. It's just that I went through a broker instead of calling State Farm directly and that agent didn't know about it.
#190
Have a safe trip tomorrow
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
![Frown](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#192
Beautiful day indeed. We went out for a drive and i showed him his first sunset. I think he got a couple of microscopic chips in the windshield (very very small but i have good eyesight) and he's putting on a brave face for now.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/2058216449_6fb825f8b7_b.jpg)
#193
Finally!!
Been a loooong wait since I ordered it in August. Finally picked him up!! It's been such a wonderful day. Well, some of it was long and cold, but still great!
Woke up around 5am and get on bus to the train station. After around 30 mins of freezing bus waiting, 1 hour of bus + 3.5 hours of train, we finally see our MCS! The delivery was very smooth and I was really happy, thanks to Jarid whose been very patient and accomodating to me. Thank you!
Oh, and miniphatty, that picture you shot with a blue MINI on the right corner was indeed mine! Jarid confirmed after a second look. Great shot! That was my first sight of my MINI.
Could you possibly send me a large version of that pic?
Anyway, I'm not that good at story telling. I would just like to say I had a blast driving the car around Portland and can already tell I will have an even harder time for another 900 miles to finish break-in!
I did notice one thing though, my Xenon lights shoot really high up and it seems to light up every road sign in front of me. Does this sound normal or does it need alignment? It almost seems like I'm shining high beam but I triple checked that I don't have high beam on.
Here's a couple shots we took today at the delivery, didn't get a chance to take some good ones, will try to do so on the weekend.
![](http://hj0alw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p0lbQ4uUFA1PJbrVcAZMGZYwS1G-Q4VYq_aUkfYfEy1PQeci4L9E2KOVeIKbytcNAkewYzNljcNIB1TS_Krn1pA)
![](http://hj0alw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p0lbQ4uUFA1NmN4RQ5P3GgirldSFAYKUFRsSBD-5FFplOjuABejd5MaKgXmZP6A4L2bso4eb0NtUf2w_IV0p_dw)
Woke up around 5am and get on bus to the train station. After around 30 mins of freezing bus waiting, 1 hour of bus + 3.5 hours of train, we finally see our MCS! The delivery was very smooth and I was really happy, thanks to Jarid whose been very patient and accomodating to me. Thank you!
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
Oh, and miniphatty, that picture you shot with a blue MINI on the right corner was indeed mine! Jarid confirmed after a second look. Great shot! That was my first sight of my MINI.
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
Anyway, I'm not that good at story telling. I would just like to say I had a blast driving the car around Portland and can already tell I will have an even harder time for another 900 miles to finish break-in!
I did notice one thing though, my Xenon lights shoot really high up and it seems to light up every road sign in front of me. Does this sound normal or does it need alignment? It almost seems like I'm shining high beam but I triple checked that I don't have high beam on.
![Confused](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
Here's a couple shots we took today at the delivery, didn't get a chance to take some good ones, will try to do so on the weekend.
#194
#195
Congrats KXLight! Looks like you are the last of the week 40 NAMicans to get their baby. Here's the high res shot you asked for but your MINI is out of focus
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7026/mini3gl7.jpg
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7026/mini3gl7.jpg
#196
![tongue](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Congrats KXLight! Looks like you are the last of the week 40 NAMicans to get their baby. Here's the high res shot you asked for but your MINI is out of focus
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7026/mini3gl7.jpg
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7026/mini3gl7.jpg
#197
#198
Ah, i notice you had the plate drilled in
![Smilie](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
#199
What white wheels? All I see is grey...! Haha... One day of driving and it's all covered with brake dust! I'll really need to find a good easy way to clean them often. I do love the look though, so I'll have to work hard to keep it sparkling white to match the white top.
#200
I checked the Xenons today using jaridp's method. Unfortunately, it's shooting around my waist in 10 feet. And I'm 6', so that doesn't help either. Looks like it's shooting too high.
I did find another thread regarding this issue that says I can turn a plastic screw to adjust it, does anyone have experience with this? If not, I might have to bring it in to the dealership next Sat.
I did find another thread regarding this issue that says I can turn a plastic screw to adjust it, does anyone have experience with this? If not, I might have to bring it in to the dealership next Sat.