What did you do to your mini today?
#5252
Under Bonnet Cowl Area Screen
Over the last few years adding various wiring components such as remote radar, remote alarm, additional lighting, air horns/relay and solenoids for the CRY02 injection, the areas where these wires are routed and components mounted looked way too cluttered.
Thought about covering them, but the pass side ABS system can get pretty darn hot, so I felt trapping the hot air there was not a good idea.
Alerternative was to use stainless steel mesh. Found some. Made templates of the cavity opening with brown wrapping paper from a roll then sharpee'd a rough outline onto the mesh.
Then proceeded to cut and form the edges with a pair of pliers bending it to a 90 degree angle to the face then re-attached the rubber trim so that the screen is tucked up under and inside the rubber channel area holding it in really tight.
Now that eye sore area inside the cowl is practically invisible as the eye tends to focus on the screen instead of what is undernieth.
Before adding.
Before painting.
Added an M7 logo to the mesh first. Then used Black Ceramic Caliper paint on the mesh. Removed the decal to reveal the bare stainless steel.
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER014.jpg?t=1325451041
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER015.jpg?t=1325450712
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER013.jpg?t=1325450841
Thought about covering them, but the pass side ABS system can get pretty darn hot, so I felt trapping the hot air there was not a good idea.
Alerternative was to use stainless steel mesh. Found some. Made templates of the cavity opening with brown wrapping paper from a roll then sharpee'd a rough outline onto the mesh.
Then proceeded to cut and form the edges with a pair of pliers bending it to a 90 degree angle to the face then re-attached the rubber trim so that the screen is tucked up under and inside the rubber channel area holding it in really tight.
Now that eye sore area inside the cowl is practically invisible as the eye tends to focus on the screen instead of what is undernieth.
Before adding.
Before painting.
Added an M7 logo to the mesh first. Then used Black Ceramic Caliper paint on the mesh. Removed the decal to reveal the bare stainless steel.
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER014.jpg?t=1325451041
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER015.jpg?t=1325450712
CRY02ANDREARBUMPER013.jpg?t=1325450841
#5255
#5260
1. Put a dab of lipstick on the access button.
2. Attach the cover and press where the button is to transfer the lipstick to the inside of the cover.
3. Remove cover and drill small pilot hole in center of where lipstick mark is. Drill from inside the cover against piece of wood. Hold it from moving.
4. Drill larger hole the same way. A quarter inch bit. You'll get a little ridge of plastic from the drilling. Cut around it carefully with exacto knife.
5. Use a dremel tool with a cone shaped grinding stone and carefully create the oval on each side of the round drilled hole.
5. Trim again with exacto knife then smooth edges with a small rat file.
That's it. Took me about an hour for both covers.
Clean chrome handles with supplied alcohol swab pull off red part of two face tape. Stick the cover on and press on cover where tape is.
Last edited by drsimmons; 01-02-2012 at 06:01 AM. Reason: more info
#5264
#5265
#5267
Thanks for the compliments!
#5268
Oooh boy!
Bought two cans of black plasti-dip for the scoop/chrome/gas cap
Poured SeaFoam in my crankcase (to clean out the 'synthetic blend' oil I put in on xmas day since I was a quart low and nothing was open!) before my oil change this week.
Ordered my American blackjack dash decal kit (2 weeks!)
Got a price quote to have my pulley/plugs/belt installed ($165!)
All in all, a productive mini morning!
Poured SeaFoam in my crankcase (to clean out the 'synthetic blend' oil I put in on xmas day since I was a quart low and nothing was open!) before my oil change this week.
Ordered my American blackjack dash decal kit (2 weeks!)
Got a price quote to have my pulley/plugs/belt installed ($165!)
All in all, a productive mini morning!
#5272
#5273
Went to SF-NJ-ALB & back for wheels
On Tuesday:
Flew from San Fran to Albany, NY to Pick up these Wheels/Tires, drove down to Jersey, flew back to San Fran, drove to Silicon Valley where I had my bro install them:
Baby is excited to see the 17s on the MINI.
What we wouldn't do for our MINIs
Flew from San Fran to Albany, NY to Pick up these Wheels/Tires, drove down to Jersey, flew back to San Fran, drove to Silicon Valley where I had my bro install them:
Baby is excited to see the 17s on the MINI.
What we wouldn't do for our MINIs
#5274