Redid some of the plasti dip I had done before. Put my all season floor mats in the car. And tried putting some headlight film on the car. Keyword on the try part. Got the top of the headlight just fine it was the bottom that was being a pita. Ill go at it tomorrow or sunday again. Got my Alta intake today too. Need to install that bad boy as well.

 

Wow that is a sweet steering wheel and I love the overlays. Looks like it is really well made. Very nice!!! (I need to find a drooling emoticon!)

 

No they dont.

 

Hmm... I got my car around the same time (3/31/12) with 96k on the clock and its now at about 115k. Maybe I should lay off the joyrides...

 

Get it tuned?

Intakes might give 1-3 HP
SC pullies depending on size give between 8-15 HP on a honest dyno
Catback exhaust systems dont give hardly any power
A good header might give up to 7-8 HP
All the other little bolt ons you will see dont eaqual anythng for the most part.

Now if you have a internally stock R53, add the pulley, intake and exhaust with a header, a good tune could get you an adtional 15-20 HP on top of the little increases the parts will free up by themselves.

Cam's, head's, and pistons, along with S/C swaps are where you will find the big power in an R53.

 

After you did all of that, did you ever get it remapped?

Take it in to a place that has a dyno and get the ecm remapped.

 

Removed front bumper and repainted everything behind it black. Where the paint was chipping you could see it thru the grill. Bugged the crap outta me.

Before:


After:



Also painted the intercooler black so that was all you see thru the scoop.

Before:


After:



Final product:

 

Got sone new prima products to clean up to ol boy today

 

Turns out she didn't need new brake pads :/ Took off the wheels, checked all 4, and they're fine. Granted, the rears are halfway done, but with the way I drive, they'll last a long time. Returned the new ones and am now $84 richer lol. I do need to fill up the tires though, as it seems I have neglected them :( Stupid me.

 

Had the new wheels and tires mounted yesterday, today washed and detailed.



Also had a JCW CAI put in. Great sound and brings out the 15% pulley a bit more.

I'm lucky enough to live near a kick *** BMW/MINI shop.

They found my spark plugs were a bit loose and had yellow tips. Previous owner must have used bad off brand gas and/or octane booster. Replaced with Brisk plugs.

 

+1
Digging those new wheels.

 

Well, I temporarily re-mounted the intercooler scoop bits into the bonnet to check the look with the new RED paint with fresh eyes and daylight. I'm leaving it RED and not candy-coating it for now. If I change my mind, I can always add it later.... Looks cool, IMHO. Pixs to follow, after I get a little more work done on the chips and scratches on the nose and I'm at the next stopping point in the process....

Today was, otherwise, a complete wash for actually *doing* anything. Slept late, and the weather sucked today (cold, cloudy off and on, windy). Got the 800 and 1000 grit wet-or-dry paper I needed to go after the scratches that wouldn't buff out. A little work with that, then the 1500 I already had, and it'll shine up like glass. Then I just need to bring up the chips to a little over level, shave 'em back down smooth, and buff 'em shiny, and the nose will look as pretty as new. Eventually I need to get a compressor, a paint gun, and some paint, and re-shoot the whole bonnet, though.

C ya,
Dutch

 

Gave it a good scrubbing and waxing. Drove up to Walmart to pick up some cake supplies for my wife. As I'm back in the automotive section, who do I run into?

That's my boy with Dennis Anderson (Grave Digger).

 

swapped my sport leatherette seats with someone for jcw cloth sport seats.

 

Pixs, as promised earlier....



Inside of bonnet scoop painted RED....

You can see the little rock chips highlighted by the buffing compound left in them. Next step is to wax-strip the paint, fill in all the little chips a little above level, sand 'em, and buff again.

Long term goal is to remove the bonnet and re-shoot it with the correct color. Apparently the previous owner or the dealer re-shot the nose with the wrong shade of green. It's pretty close in direct light, but goes horribly wrong when the light angle changes....

C ya,
Dutch

 

--

 

My MINI had a shoe change today. Winter tires have been put on.

 

I got my title in the mail today. Atleast I am no longer paying for a car that don't run.

 

--

 

Now you can put that monthly payment in the new engine fund.

C ya,
Dutch

 

2013 Mini Chili Red/White Roof with stripes.....Heated seats....nothing fancy but she makes me smile.

 

Put a couple decals on the back window. Also installed a Alta CAI. Got more goodies in the mail for her.

 

 

Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that the Doors cranked loudly on the stereo completely drowns out the backup sensors. Now I am looking for a new bumber cover for our 2008 Cooper S convertible. It has the red tail light integrated into the bottom of it and is Pepper White.

 

Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that the Doors cranked loudly on the stereo completely drowns out the backup sensors. Now I am looking for a new bumper cover for our 2008 Cooper S convertible. It has the red tail light integrated into the bottom of it and is Pepper White.