What did you do to your mini today?
#926
#927
Got antsy since the one ball earlier in the day, so I seafoamed her, then headed out to 3 different auto parts stores looking for some clamp on tips. Finally found some that I liked, but realized trying to put them on that there is a metal tab connecting the two pipes. Grrr...
Decided to get her (Charlize) washed, and then went to Kragen and put together a new H/CAI for $50. Not as spiffy as the $250 one, but since the K&N isn't CARB exempt anyways, why pay extra? Throttle response is improved over the stock airbox with drop in K&N, and I can hear the sound of the SC a lot better. Totally worth the $50 in my opinion. I'm going to remove the box completely and re-plumb the intake hose that goes from the throttle body to the filter, and mount the little power cables somewhere.
I haven't noticed any real increase in exhaust note except when letting off the gas...definitely some glasspack action going on now. Tail lights shipped today, and I contacted the seller about the $20 difference. Waiting to see how that turns out...
I ran into a fellow mini-er at dinner, he had a newer non-S model that was all stock because of the warranty. My cheap-o intake made me feel better somehow since I wasn't rolling in a stock mini anymore!
Tomorrow I hope to get the tips put on, and I'll get some pics up. I will probably get the magnaflow eventually, but new tips and the one-ball should hold me over.
Decided to get her (Charlize) washed, and then went to Kragen and put together a new H/CAI for $50. Not as spiffy as the $250 one, but since the K&N isn't CARB exempt anyways, why pay extra? Throttle response is improved over the stock airbox with drop in K&N, and I can hear the sound of the SC a lot better. Totally worth the $50 in my opinion. I'm going to remove the box completely and re-plumb the intake hose that goes from the throttle body to the filter, and mount the little power cables somewhere.
I haven't noticed any real increase in exhaust note except when letting off the gas...definitely some glasspack action going on now. Tail lights shipped today, and I contacted the seller about the $20 difference. Waiting to see how that turns out...
I ran into a fellow mini-er at dinner, he had a newer non-S model that was all stock because of the warranty. My cheap-o intake made me feel better somehow since I wasn't rolling in a stock mini anymore!
Tomorrow I hope to get the tips put on, and I'll get some pics up. I will probably get the magnaflow eventually, but new tips and the one-ball should hold me over.
#928
Newish tires...shitty ones with good tread from my old rims...still have traction issues. Can't wait for the new rims (16.2lbs) and wider/stickier rubbers (225 star specs)
Looks on shop guys' faces when they saw the mini...sad
Same guys...def a diff look when I came back to pick up the car...there were 2mi extra on my trip. I think someone cleaned the driver seat too
Looks on shop guys' faces when they saw the mini...sad
Same guys...def a diff look when I came back to pick up the car...there were 2mi extra on my trip. I think someone cleaned the driver seat too
#929
M7 Aero Splitter.
Had to dremel out an area for the OEM Center 10mm bolt, and M7's Aero Directions for the installation are actually for the OEM S Bumper....specifically the placement of the front bolts which have the rubber washers is much different than in the directions.
Other than that all went well, took my time and came out perfect. Lots of measuring, measuring again, drilling holes, loc-tite on bolts ect.
Have not taken to the road yet, but I get a sense there should be much better handling / steering at....highway speeds.
Splitter006.jpg?t=1283968859
Splitter2GoodPic.jpg?t=1283982101
Had to dremel out an area for the OEM Center 10mm bolt, and M7's Aero Directions for the installation are actually for the OEM S Bumper....specifically the placement of the front bolts which have the rubber washers is much different than in the directions.
Other than that all went well, took my time and came out perfect. Lots of measuring, measuring again, drilling holes, loc-tite on bolts ect.
Have not taken to the road yet, but I get a sense there should be much better handling / steering at....highway speeds.
Splitter006.jpg?t=1283968859
Splitter2GoodPic.jpg?t=1283982101
Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; 09-08-2010 at 02:44 PM.
#931
M7 Aero Splitter.
Had to dremel out an area for the OEM Center 10mm bolt, and M7's Aero Directions for the installation are actually for the OEM S Bumper....specifically the placement of the front bolts which have the rubber washers is much different than in the directions.
Other than that all went well, took my time and came out perfect. Lots of measuring, measuring again, drilling holes, loc-tite on bolts ect.
Have not taken to the road yet, but I get a sense there should be much better handling / steering at....highway speeds.
Had to dremel out an area for the OEM Center 10mm bolt, and M7's Aero Directions for the installation are actually for the OEM S Bumper....specifically the placement of the front bolts which have the rubber washers is much different than in the directions.
Other than that all went well, took my time and came out perfect. Lots of measuring, measuring again, drilling holes, loc-tite on bolts ect.
Have not taken to the road yet, but I get a sense there should be much better handling / steering at....highway speeds.
#934
can't say that "I" did anything, but i did just pick my car up from the dealer after having a ton of stuff fixed . coolant reservoir replaced, both front side front struts rubber mounts replaced, fixed inop driver-side window motor & replaced oil pan gasket. sigh...
looks like i need to grab that bentley manual soon!
looks like i need to grab that bentley manual soon!
#935
#936
Thanks D-W.
I think I am gonna leave her this way for a while Replaced all wearable parts in last two years, and upgraded all parts I could to 05/06 except the tranny. Basically turning back the odometer....which will have 100,000 miles this week Thanks to the mods I have done, and lots of help from our club mechanic in Worcester, it runs and drives even better than a brand new 03'.
It's a keeper
I think I am gonna leave her this way for a while Replaced all wearable parts in last two years, and upgraded all parts I could to 05/06 except the tranny. Basically turning back the odometer....which will have 100,000 miles this week Thanks to the mods I have done, and lots of help from our club mechanic in Worcester, it runs and drives even better than a brand new 03'.
It's a keeper
#937
I guess we can just be thankful she wasn't going faster than she was. It's easy to remove these rear bumpers if you need to take a peek. I do mine on the ground. No lift or jacks/stands needed.
Good luck tomorrow.
Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; 09-08-2010 at 04:19 PM.
#938
#940
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
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Thanks D-W.
I think I am gonna leave her this way for a while Replaced all wearable parts in last two years, and upgraded all parts I could to 05/06 except the tranny. Basically turning back the odometer....which will have 100,000 miles this week Thanks to the mods I have done, and lots of help from our club mechanic in Worcester, it runs and drives even better than a brand new 03'.
It's a keeper
I think I am gonna leave her this way for a while Replaced all wearable parts in last two years, and upgraded all parts I could to 05/06 except the tranny. Basically turning back the odometer....which will have 100,000 miles this week Thanks to the mods I have done, and lots of help from our club mechanic in Worcester, it runs and drives even better than a brand new 03'.
It's a keeper
#941
#942
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
A Classic has already assumed the Dot position. But the more MINIs we get, the more likely we are to take just one, big picture! Instead of individual pics of the letters that have to be photo shopped together to spell nemini.
#943
Me? They be stock no black paint. Used some of my club mechanic's Greasy Shine on it. I came close to pulling the trigger painting them DS, but as I eventually removed all the chrome, car looks much less busy now - dark silver and black with only few rather obscure red accents inside and outside the car.
#945
Today I tried to fit new clamp on tips to the factory exhaust. It didn't work because there's a support welded to the exhaust and my sawzall blade was too short to reach it without jacking up the car. Instead, I refined my new intake by adding a small street elbow into the stock intake tube and clamping it all together. It's probably not as efficient and straight flowing as a $200 kit, but it's got to be better than the stock box with the FILTHY K&N drop in I had.
I went to Lowe's and got the door panel plugs for $2.50, and I replaced the cabin filter (also friggin' NASTY by the way, TOTALLY worth the $12 for the cheap replacement and the 5 minutes it took). Then I took it for a test drive with my incredible on video mode. Kinda hard to hold the phone, steer and shift, but I took a bunch of videos and sound clips. I don't know where to put them up, but it would help for those on the fence about the one-ball.
One word to describe the intake and one-ball? Awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEt_SqmT34
Here's some pics of the intake system I'm using. Filter $25, chrome tube $11, reducer $8, street elbow $2, hose clamp $1.50
[edit] I remembered the cheap mods thread, and had some time tonight so I created some rear seat pull straps out of some webbing and 550 cord, and cut up my old sun shade so it'll fit in the moonroof. It's got skulls on it! I started after midnight though, so I guess it should be another post.
I went to Lowe's and got the door panel plugs for $2.50, and I replaced the cabin filter (also friggin' NASTY by the way, TOTALLY worth the $12 for the cheap replacement and the 5 minutes it took). Then I took it for a test drive with my incredible on video mode. Kinda hard to hold the phone, steer and shift, but I took a bunch of videos and sound clips. I don't know where to put them up, but it would help for those on the fence about the one-ball.
One word to describe the intake and one-ball? Awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEt_SqmT34
Here's some pics of the intake system I'm using. Filter $25, chrome tube $11, reducer $8, street elbow $2, hose clamp $1.50
[edit] I remembered the cheap mods thread, and had some time tonight so I created some rear seat pull straps out of some webbing and 550 cord, and cut up my old sun shade so it'll fit in the moonroof. It's got skulls on it! I started after midnight though, so I guess it should be another post.
Last edited by Nick5811; 09-09-2010 at 02:15 AM.
#946
Me? They be stock no black paint. Used some of my club mechanic's Greasy Shine on it. I came close to pulling the trigger painting them DS, but as I eventually removed all the chrome, car looks much less busy now - dark silver and black with only few rather obscure red accents inside and outside the car.
I meant the vented piece the scuttled mount to...not sure what mini guys call em if they aren't fenders
#947
And sig. pic >/
Last edited by Dwight Walhood; 09-08-2010 at 08:32 PM.
#948
#950
I was talking about his vented version of this part: