Thank you! I'm really happy with the results, although my blackout needs to be redone properly, the plasti-dip is just a temporary fix. I really wish I could run without a front plate, but I just don't need the hassle if I get pulled over. Besides, with that double sided tape, it's never coming off now!

They're Yokohama S.Drives, 205/50/16. I really like them, stiff sidewalls and good grip. Great in the rain

 

That looks great, it really pulls it all together! I'm not usually a fan of the blacked out headlight rings, but the white really works with the stripes

 

I was just thinking today what would a dark car look like with black stripes. Cool.

 

...yep, I also did the blackout originally with plasti-dip,

...looks pretty good for the minimal time & $, but its rough texture sometimes picked up lint from my microfiber towels,

..and when washing the car it would get weird water spots/discolored areas if it wasn't dried immediatly!!

...so I recently went ahead and sanded down my light rings & grill surrounds, and painted them with duplicolor black bumper paint!

..sounds weird maybe, ...but this stuff has a nice flat/satin black with smooth texture...looks & feels much better than the p-dip.

..since its for bumpers, its supposed to be somewhat flexible and resistant to chipping and stuff, ...time will tell. ....I'd still like to eventually wrap with vinyl though....
J

 

Threw a fresh battery, tools and rain X in the ''trunk'' and picked up my new car, a '63 Ford ranchero, with a new 302'' !

 

Went to Get the Lyle treatment today... Big Thanks to Vinyl Styles.

 

Looks great Eclipse

 

+1 Looks great man!

 

Installed the Craven Speed Platypus License Plate Holder this afternoon.

 

Busy day today..

First I installed the Cravenspeed CAI. Must honestly say: you suck Cravenspeed. The CAI-box is about 1/2 inch to long. At some point I had help from another Mini enthusiast, which I needed for the stupid, stupid designed box.. Had to really force it in between the brake-cylinder and the engine-mount. I'm not a bad mechanic, I know my way around an engine, had to redo the bolting on the whole box, bolt the ECU in with the bolts the exacte opposite of the instructions. And still it wouldn't fit. Took me over three hours, but eventually I won!

Then took off the original R53 exhaust, left the cat, but stripped everything behind it. Bolted on a brand-new fully RVS PlayMini and all rubbers. Went like a charm exept from breaking a bolt whilst removing the old exhaust. Lining the exhaust-tips up was a little work, but we finished the install in about 40-45 minutes.

After that, drove it for about 15 miles to get the engine nice and warm, actually hit 130 in the odometer (No that's not actually legal here either )

Then the fun-part: put it on the dyno for a custom tune. 193HP with 225Nm (166 ft-lb if I'm not mistaken)

So: added lots of whine with the CAI, lots of growl with the PlayMini and some HP's with the tune.

Haven't added a pulley, might do it in the future, but for now this is quite enough

 

Installed a power outlet for my GPS. put it under dash far left on drivers side. I wanted power to my GPS even when motor was shut off. The one that comes on the vehicle as standard does not have power when the motor is shut down.Easy project, just ran wire from battery to power outlet,installed a fuse in line. Ran a ground back to battery and it was ready to go.

 

We drove to a MINI dealership to test drive a 2011 Cooper S. MA wanted me to order a 2012 JCW that day for full MSRP - no discounts at all. No thanks!

 

Went to meet Clint today and picked up a AFE dry filter just to hold me off for the Dos Cai.
Thanks Clint

Sorry I didn't get any pics of the filter but you all know how it looks and I just wanted it installed ASAP.

 

Installed the the cravenspeed short shift kit and let me just say the instructions SUCK!!! I have done a SSK before and it took about an hour or two but noooooo not today! It took all day. Just very unclear instructions but the end product is awesome. Notchy tight shifting. Wow super cool. Side note the stock shift **** doesn't look very good with the craven speed shift cover. But whatever. Anyways I'll
Post pics later

 

Drove down to Duck, N.C. for a week of vacation/relaxation.

This is the view going through the tunnel near Virginia Beach. Awesome!

 

Replaced my in-cabin air filter at 12000 miles, was starting to smell little funky.



If you have 2007+, it is different than some youtube videos portray, just pry the two tabs facing you downward, there are NO tabs in the back. (I used a phillips head)



Old filter:


New filter in place:

 

Awesome!! Have a place in Corolla. I have thought of going a little south to Duck, but now that the bridge project that will connect to Corolla has been passed, I will wait it out. I NEED an OBX lobotomy, and soon. Cooler of fizzy oats, shore fishing, and some much needed r&r.

 

Mid-summer detail complete...

 

received and installed my sheepskin vest covers. i don't really like the look but I hate how the leatherette are during the warmer and more humid months.

 

Car Looks Great gothmdoc!!!
That old filter looks nasty.

 

Rotated my tires yesterday and while I was at it I cleaned 26,000 miles of brake dust off the inside of the rims. I didn't know they were painted white. I thought they were brake dust black.

Detailed the exterior today. Washed it, clay barred it, 2 coats of wax. Used Groits vinyl and rubber dressing on all the trim. Cleaned and the waxed the wheels and dressed the tires. Cleaned the glass inside and out. And finally vacuumed the interior. Still need to clean the interior but after 2.5 hours I'd had enough. I'll get to the interior tomorrow.

 

Planning on washing the MINI today but I did save $200 by lowering the car with a buddy yesterday with NM RS springs and H&R's 5mm spacers. Loving the look.

 

Joined NorthAmericanMotoring website after 2 yrs of loving my '09 black S MINI.....ordered a car cover to protect this "fun machine"

 

pics please!!! sounds nice! i finished washing watson after yesterdays SSK install ordered a different shift **** because i think the stock one now looks kind of goofy but here it is...

 

Replaced the air filter - was nasty, not sure how it was breathing!
Replaced the cabin air filter - not as nasty.
Replaced the dipstick with a new OEM from Moss Mini - assume it was the original and after reading so many posts about broken sticks, better safe than sorry.
Very nice service from Moss Mini, thank you!