What did you do to your mini today?
04-22-2014, 09:48 PM
Haha, this is an entirely different discussion, but if you are really interested in buying one someday PM me and we can talk about some things.
The biggest thing is that 308's are the current "poor man's Ferrari" even though that is changing a bit as they have gained a bit of value over the last few years, now I would say the Mondial T is the new budget king. But with it being a "budget Ferrari" you occasionally get "budget" owners that just want the experience of owning a Ferrari but can't really afford to treat it correctly. You can do 100% of the maintenance yourself, but that can hurt the value. How much of a money pit is all depends on three things, the condition of the car when you buy it, how much you drive it, and how much of a stickler you are for pushing the boundaries of "regular" servicing.
There's much more to it, but that's the basics. They are great, fun cars, and a great way to enter into the Ferrari sports car world. You don't have to go broke to keep it running well as long as you don't drive it 10,000+ miles a year.
The biggest thing is that 308's are the current "poor man's Ferrari" even though that is changing a bit as they have gained a bit of value over the last few years, now I would say the Mondial T is the new budget king. But with it being a "budget Ferrari" you occasionally get "budget" owners that just want the experience of owning a Ferrari but can't really afford to treat it correctly. You can do 100% of the maintenance yourself, but that can hurt the value. How much of a money pit is all depends on three things, the condition of the car when you buy it, how much you drive it, and how much of a stickler you are for pushing the boundaries of "regular" servicing.
There's much more to it, but that's the basics. They are great, fun cars, and a great way to enter into the Ferrari sports car world. You don't have to go broke to keep it running well as long as you don't drive it 10,000+ miles a year.
EDIT: It's funny you mention poor man's Ferrari, because I happen to love not only the 308, but also the poor man's Porsche, the 914. Guess I'm a stickler for poor man's cars.
04-22-2014, 11:25 PM
04-23-2014, 05:25 PM
Did a few things to her in the past day or so.
Installed new spark plugs... the old ones looked pretty destroyed.
Redid the mirror caps in plasti dip and glossifier. 3 coats of each. I think it looks better than it did before. Still need to redo my hood scoop though. Ran out of plasti dip and glossifier.
I had broken the rear emblem when I tried taking it off to plasti dip. So I got a new one but somehow the one I got doesnt match the one on the front hahaha. So Ill need to get one for the front so they match. Painted it black.
Checked the oil
I have been getting a lot of squealing coming from my brakes and then the brake light came on to. So I finally checked my brakes to see how much meat they had on them. They still looked pretty good... checked to see if the pad wear sensor was still in there and sure enough it wasnt. Reinstalled that... checked the rear sensor and it was pretty mangled... like cut in half hahaha. So that'll need replaced. But hey... at least I dont need new brakes I guess haha.
Discovered a loud rattle whenever I start the car...drive the car...downshift... its really loud when I turn... and even when I rev the car sometimes. I recently had a new exhaust clamp installed but checked that to see if it had gotten loose... but its as tight as can be on there. When I downshift as soon as I take it out of gear the rattle is gone. Its pretty loud when I start out driving and especially when I turn. Any ideas on what that could be? Nothing is caught in the wheel either.
I also installed a new sticker. Thats about it.
Installed new spark plugs... the old ones looked pretty destroyed.
Redid the mirror caps in plasti dip and glossifier. 3 coats of each. I think it looks better than it did before. Still need to redo my hood scoop though. Ran out of plasti dip and glossifier.
I had broken the rear emblem when I tried taking it off to plasti dip. So I got a new one but somehow the one I got doesnt match the one on the front hahaha. So Ill need to get one for the front so they match. Painted it black.
Checked the oil
I have been getting a lot of squealing coming from my brakes and then the brake light came on to. So I finally checked my brakes to see how much meat they had on them. They still looked pretty good... checked to see if the pad wear sensor was still in there and sure enough it wasnt. Reinstalled that... checked the rear sensor and it was pretty mangled... like cut in half hahaha. So that'll need replaced. But hey... at least I dont need new brakes I guess haha.
Discovered a loud rattle whenever I start the car...drive the car...downshift... its really loud when I turn... and even when I rev the car sometimes. I recently had a new exhaust clamp installed but checked that to see if it had gotten loose... but its as tight as can be on there. When I downshift as soon as I take it out of gear the rattle is gone. Its pretty loud when I start out driving and especially when I turn. Any ideas on what that could be? Nothing is caught in the wheel either.
I also installed a new sticker. Thats about it.
04-23-2014, 07:28 PM
Re-Finished and Cleaned R90/BBS Wheels
So I got a set of R90/BBS Wheels finally (I bought a parts car and it had them on it). The Center finish was not bad, but the lip had WICKED oxidation and light curb rash.
So I order the BBS wrench to take them apart, and I re-finished the lip:
Order of operations:
So I order the BBS wrench to take them apart, and I re-finished the lip:
Order of operations:
- Take out all the bolts
- Knock the center out
- Strip the Clear Coat off (this takes more than one application)
- File Down the Curb Rash and Blend
- 240 Grit the oxidation off
- 380 Grit the oxidation off
- 600 Grit the oxidation off
- 1500 Grit the oxidation off
- 2000 Grit the oxidation off
- Flitz the brushed finish back to protect and clean/polish.
- Put bolts back and torque to spec
- Install JCW Center Caps & MINI Valve Stem Caps that have been sitting on the desk for 6 moths
04-23-2014, 08:13 PM
So I got a set of R90/BBS Wheels finally (I bought a parts car and it had them on it). The Center finish was not bad, but the lip had WICKED oxidation and light curb rash.
So I order the BBS wrench to take them apart, and I re-finished the lip:
Order of operations:
So I order the BBS wrench to take them apart, and I re-finished the lip:
Order of operations:
- Take out all the bolts
- Knock the center out
- Strip the Clear Coat off (this takes more than one application)
- File Down the Curb Rash and Blend
- 240 Grit the oxidation off
- 380 Grit the oxidation off
- 600 Grit the oxidation off
- 1500 Grit the oxidation off
- 2000 Grit the oxidation off
- Flitz the brushed finish back to protect and clean/polish.
- Put bolts back and torque to spec
- Install JCW Center Caps & MINI Valve Stem Caps that have been sitting on the desk for 6 moths
04-23-2014, 09:19 PM
04-24-2014, 02:04 AM
6th Gear
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04-24-2014, 11:05 AM
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04-25-2014, 03:17 AM
5th Gear
04-25-2014, 04:06 AM
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04-25-2014, 09:56 AM
Btw, I noticed you have the blacked out mirror caps, and what also looks like blacked out beltline trim around the car, the side vent towards the front, and of course the black front grill. As a BRG/W owner myself, I dig that look, and makes me wonder what I should do with my current white mirror caps, beltline trim, and side vent. Already have the front grill done.
Guess I'm looking for a more aggressive look these days.
04-25-2014, 10:36 AM
Thanks to the others that like them as well. Fun project now that it's finished, was a PITA during though. Phase two of "project makeover" is maybe getting finished this weekend...
04-25-2014, 03:15 PM
installed my splitter today......had this thing sitting around for several months....finally had the time and weather to put her on.
i actually couldnt get my bumper off to bolt it on, so i had to use 14x #10 self-tapping screws backed with fender washers.........and the splitter suppport is aircraft cable rated to 500lbs tied into the crash bar.....
......i think itll hold.....
i actually couldnt get my bumper off to bolt it on, so i had to use 14x #10 self-tapping screws backed with fender washers.........and the splitter suppport is aircraft cable rated to 500lbs tied into the crash bar.....
......i think itll hold.....
