Ohhh yes. I am right there with you. Freeway on-ramps are my favorite place to speed up!

 

I took 3rd gear all the way to 70 mph, pop it in 4th and forget about 5th!

 

Most freeway on-ramps that I encounter anymore are so long and straight that you're up to speed long before entering the highway. I guess they're designed that way to give tractor-trailers and Priuses (Prii?) plenty of room to accelerate, but they're no fun at all in the MINI.

 

There's one I can think of which is the beginning of PCH or Pacific Coast Highway popular here in California, that on-ramp is about 1 mile long and I find myself at speeds of 90 mph before the merge lane. I have tons of time to slow down and join those going the speed limit.

 

A funny story. I know I married the right woman when we were in my car approaching the exit to our house. It's a great sharp right and then a left to a short straight to the light. Normally I take this exit all out as I had every inch memorized. But 1 day we were coming home and at the exit I just for whatever reason didn't take it hard BUT I had noticed that my wife braced her left leg and grabbed the door handle in a nonchalant way. I asked her at the light why she braced. Her answer not upset in any way. Oh honey I just thought you were gonna go for the apex's I love her for that. lol.

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First mod to the GFs Cooper (day 2 of ownership) - swapped the stock headlight bulbs for Osram Night Breaker Unlimited items - a slight improvement (as expeced given the poor reflector design).

 

Just installed the clear bra from Laminx on my Clubman. It fit good and was not too much trouble to install. I did get more bubbles on the first piece than I had hoped. Just had to send a little more time to use a needle to pop them. The other pieces went on much better.

 

Haha that's great! My husband just swears as I laugh like a maniac

 

I replaced my tie rod assemblies, picked up tires and got an alignment. I noticed that the sway bar links were shot. ECS sent me a new set and I swapped them all out this morning. R53 is very quiet now, no more klunking at the front right and rear left.

 

Day 5 of ownership, and looking like its been on a wet muddy rally stage it was time for some TLC..

snowfoamed, washed, dried, given a quick polish with Meguiars 205, topped with Rejex, and then a layer of Zymol Ital wax for a little added protection (and great water beading ). Wheels waxed with FinishKare 1000p high temperature paste wax. Exterior plastics with Gtechniq C4.

Glass got some GTechniq G4 nanopolish followed by G1 and G2.

Seats and mats treated to Gyeon FabricCoat and Gyeon LeatherCoat

Treated the fuel tank to some 98 Octane to keep it happy

And yes, its pouring with rain now - typical !

 

Gave it a bath and now it's all nice and sparkly.

 

You know when I first bought the GTechniq products for my MCS I spent $130 to treat the black vinyl trim around the car, but after it rained it all washed off. I found a gold mine as far as treating black vinyl trim, Meguiar's Ultimate Black Trim Sponge restorer lasts for several weeks. Penetrol is used by many Jeep owners that go off road a lot and great for sailboats as well. It lats 9-12 months. It's nice and sunny here in CA, I'm about to turn on the AC.

 

The way the white paint was peeking through the grilles was driving me crazy so I took them both off and painted it black behind them. If you buy the jcw style grills for your r53 you should do this before you put them on and save yourself the work.

Before



After

 

Washed, waxed, shined and I'm waiting on new front & back wiper blades. Such a beautiful afternoon to admire and tell myself just what a sweet little car I have. We're ready for what ever the winter storms bring in.

 

I just ordered the Aero Wiper Blade Conversion Kit from ECS Tuning, I spent some serious money there. Currently my MCS is getting added layers of clear coat, I guess you could say it's getting manicure.

1. Aero Wiper Blade Conversion Kit
2. Wheel Arch Molding x4
3. Bentley Manual
4. Front Door Seals x2
5. Side Skirt Right/Left
6. A - Pillar Black Trim Cover R/L
7. Gasket For A Pillars R/L
8. Master Trim/Moulding Tool Kit

 

 

Added matte black sport stripes today! Also plasti dipped my black brake ducts to red to test whether I'd want to order the OEM chili red ones (opinions?). The previous owner added the "Cooper" badge above the JCW badge for some bizarre reason so I also took the badge off today as well. The nasty adhesive has since been removed!

 

Very nice I prefer the matte black trim pieces to the factory black glossy trim pieces, I always like stripes on any hood. I'm thinking about doing this to my Dark Gray metallic paint with tinted windows to top off the black look. I noticed the black tail pipes as well.

Looks excellent!

 

Thanks! Since my hood scoop is glossy black, I decided to do matte stripes to kind of offset that. Tint is on my list for the spring I originally wanted a deep metallic gray that's semi transparent but the shop I went to didn't sell that color anymore.

You should do the stripes!

 

Remove inlet muffler and installed the splitter I made. Next is the shock tower strut brace.

 

Preparation seems to be key for the success of most of the Gtechniq products. A thoroughly cleaning and then an IPA wipe down hopefully means the C4 will last a few months. Most black trim products last a few weeks if you're lucky in the wet UK weather, majority just appear to be oily or silicon products.

 

That's why I ordered brand new wheel arch moldings, I may still treat them with the Meguiar's Ultimate Black Trim restorer to keep then from fading in the first place.

 

I'm tellin' ya, Kiwi black shoe dye. Apply carefully, wipe off excess, use blue painter's tape if you've got a shaky hand. Lasts months, costs $3.49.

 

Well, I get my Mini S back all to myself! Son bought a Miata over the weekend. I thought a good choice for an 18 year old with a small budget and income pretty much from the old man! Now we can autocross each other in different rides!
I need wiper blades!! Tell me what y'all like to get?

 

Awesome. Thanks