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What did you do to your mini today?

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  #5701  
Old 02-07-2012, 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by gds194
Love the fact that BLACK was not involve! Should make more Motoring brain cells ponder the use of COLOR! So many cars,,, So many colors...
I agree 100%. The color you chose works well with the PW, and has some nice dynamic light/dark going on with the light at different angles, going from subtle and subdued to *wow* depending on the light....

C ya,
Dutch
 
  #5702  
Old 02-07-2012, 08:44 PM
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when summer rolls around i think im going to tackle this... i have been thinking of doing a bronze
 
  #5703  
Old 02-08-2012, 03:56 PM
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Today I removed the Powerflex motor mount bushing inserts that I installed on Sunday. They work like advertised, really reduces torque steer, but on my 08 MCSa, there was just too much vibration at idle and when pushing the car a bit. For my daily driver, it wasn't worth the trade-off. From what I have read, automatics tend to be more sensitive. That, or maybe I am just past that stage in my life..... For guys with manual cars or those that are more performance oriented than me, it seems like a significant performance upgrade for not much $$.

I will keep them, since it is only about 15 minutes to install, and I will try them in the future to see if my opinion changes.

Mike
 
  #5704  
Old 02-08-2012, 04:50 PM
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Ordered some EBC greenstuff pads ($90) and Centric brake rotors ($4.00 each!!) for the front. I'm hoping to put them and the brass caliper bushings on this Friday/Saturday before going on a trip up the coast...that is, if the company I ordered them from doesn't cancel my order when they realize the price they are advertising it at is so low.

I'm gonna swing by Mini to get a couple of them rotor set screws in the morning, and then I should be in business.

I also got a PLX Kiwi Wifi device at Fry's yesterday. It works a lot better than the GoPoint GL1 cable that I had before. The kiwi has a lot more sensors or pid things or whatever compared to the other one, and the connection (even though its WIFI) is more stable than the GL1. Plus, I was already into the app $50 and without an interface since I sent the GL1 back to amazon.

Finally, I sent another email to cooper flags regarding my order placed Dec. 14th. Still no word from them other than the initial order received email. Two more days to call me back, then I'll have to figure out how to get my money back and where to have the decal made instead.
 
  #5705  
Old 02-08-2012, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by DICKS GARAGE R53
Tell me about it! I had to put my gun budget on hold until I can get a new motor. This is the first year since I turned 18 that I wont be buying a new firearm with my tax return. Its a crying shame.
Haha! I just impulse bought a p380 with my refund. :p
 
  #5706  
Old 02-08-2012, 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick5811
Haha! I just impulse bought a p380 with my refund. :p
That's too funny. I haven't done my taxes yet, but if I end up getting a decent return this year, I was planning on buying either a FNX FNP-45 Tactical, or possibly another M1 Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
 
  #5707  
Old 02-08-2012, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by mbwicz
Today I removed the Powerflex motor mount bushing inserts that I installed on Sunday. They work like advertised, really reduces torque steer, but on my 08 MCSa, there was just too much vibration at idle and when pushing the car a bit. For my daily driver, it wasn't worth the trade-off. From what I have read, automatics tend to be more sensitive. That, or maybe I am just past that stage in my life..... For guys with manual cars or those that are more performance oriented than me, it seems like a significant performance upgrade for not much $$.

I will keep them, since it is only about 15 minutes to install, and I will try them in the future to see if my opinion changes.

Mike
When I did the tranny mount, my dash shook like I was running a 81' VW diesel engine under the bonnet !

My first impressions were exactly like yours. It took about 600+ miles for the NVH to go away. They eventually work themselves in. I think their web site may even mention something to that effect but I didn't know it at the time...
 
  #5708  
Old 02-08-2012, 07:18 PM
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Took the Mini in to the dealership for rear pads, and recall issuses. All completed in a couple of hours, at no cost. Had a pretty good day.
 
  #5709  
Old 02-09-2012, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by corin.mcblide

Very nice. Way to think outside the box.
 
  #5710  
Old 02-09-2012, 07:37 PM
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I added some blue LED accent lighting behind my front grill. Trying to decided if I should leave it, or remove it. One part of me thinks it looks pretty neat at night...the other part of me thinks it looks pretty "ricer" .

What do you think?

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  #5711  
Old 02-09-2012, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by IQRaceworks
One part of me thinks it looks pretty neat at night...the other part of me thinks it looks pretty "ricer" .

What do you think?
I’m 100% with you on that. FWIW, I only see ricers around here with accent lighting. But, schatzy62 has done some LED lighting on his Clubman. I haven’t seen it at night, but the ones he has on his boot handles have to look good.
 
  #5712  
Old 02-09-2012, 08:55 PM
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i vote a bit ricey and a cop may give you trouble for having blue lights
 
  #5713  
Old 02-10-2012, 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted by corin.mcblide
i vote a bit ricey and a cop may give you trouble for having blue lights
+1 on both counts. I got pulled over by a motors cop when my rear license plate lamp was too blue (hyper-white, the package said). As a professional courtesy I got a warning instead of a strip search on the side of the road, as is the usual practice around here...
 
  #5714  
Old 02-10-2012, 03:43 AM
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Go with LED strips or something else thats more "current".
 
  #5715  
Old 02-10-2012, 04:51 AM
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Originally Posted by mini coop
Go with LED strips or something else thats more "current".
That's what they are...LED strips.

Good point about the cops hassling me for the blue lighting. I decided to pull them off last night.....the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of something a 16yr old kid with his first car would do
 
  #5716  
Old 02-10-2012, 05:52 PM
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Plasti-dipped my tow hook red for the front and installed new rotors and ebc pads and brass bushings. Much nicer!
 
  #5717  
Old 02-10-2012, 07:56 PM
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Washed, waxed, and detailed the Mini for our Rally this Sunday.
 
  #5718  
Old 02-10-2012, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by drsimmons
Washed, waxed, and detailed the Mini for our Rally this Sunday.
You are clearly not expecting a "wintry mix" like us. Ehhh, who can complain, really - it's been waaaaay mild up here.

Mental gymnastics for me - new PIAA wiper blades went on tonight. I'm not going to have a chance to clean the windshield like they command, but hey, they're wiper blades.

Watching The Italian Job - love that little red Classic!
 
  #5719  
Old 02-10-2012, 08:41 PM
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Left work early to get a new passenger side axle installed. The inner CV boot had split and the joint flung all the grease out, and it was starting to clunk when I took off or downshifted.

No more clunk.

A lot less torque steer too on a hard take-off.

Drove home from the mechanic's place with windows down and jacket on the passenger seat, as it was 78 here today.

Parked Nudnik in the driveway so I could sweep the garage, then proceeded to splatter him with hose water while washing down the patio and driveway, which I do a couple times a year to get rid of some of the dust. I guess I'll be going to the car wash tomorrow....

C ya,
Dutch
 

Last edited by joe_bfstplk; 02-10-2012 at 09:57 PM. Reason: to correct a glaring grammatical error....
  #5720  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:00 PM
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I put my snow tires on for the second time this winter. Having them on and it being 66 degrees in NJ last week seems like a bad idea, but impending snow in the forecast made me reconsider.
 
  #5721  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Ive's Mini
I put my snow tires on for the second time this winter. Having them on and it being 66 degrees in NJ last week seems like a bad idea, but impending snow in the forecast made me reconsider.
Wow, 66 degrees back home?

What part of Jersey? I grew up near Lakehurst, and there's a road in Brick that's named after my grandfather's uncle....

C ya,
Dutch
 
  #5722  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:14 PM
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I sat in it and gave it a big smile. I love that car!!!
 
  #5723  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:25 PM
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I'm in Tewksbury, right off of exit 24 on rt 78. It was in the 40s today and we are supposed to get snow tonight, but yes it was a very odd 66 degrees and all I could think of was my snow tires melting

Originally Posted by joe_bfstplk
Wow, 66 degrees back home?

What part of Jersey? I grew up near Lakehurst, and there's a road in Brick that's named after my grandfather's uncle....

C ya,
Dutch
 
  #5724  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Ive's Mini
I'm in Tewksbury, right off of exit 24 on rt 78. It was in the 40s today and we are supposed to get snow tonight, but yes it was a very odd 66 degrees and all I could think of was my snow tires melting
Tomorrow you may get a chance to play around in the snow
 
  #5725  
Old 02-10-2012, 09:30 PM
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I know, I hope it is enough for the kids to play in it. It is rare to get snow that is just right for snowmen. We shall see.
 


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