thanks, now to get a set of JCW 18" rims

 

Finally scheduled an appointment to see where my oil leak is at. About to go out and raise my rear coilovers...already did the fronts by hand but couldnt budge the rears.

 

Just replaced a sticky caliper and got some new pads and rotors for the rear.

 

Fabricated and installed a custom strut tower brace. Unfortunately, may have to wait till spring to track the car to see improvement. Ordered silicone elbow and alum. tubing to replace the noisemaker inlet section.

 

You are welcome. 18" JCW indeed.

 

Didn't get to chime in over the weekend. I changed the oil. Switched from Castrol Edge 0w-40 to Royal Purple 5w-30. We'll see how it goes.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-stripes.html



They are for the R56 R57 R58 R59, But its grahic , so follow the center line of the door and they should fit, the section front the door gap to the arch might need a little trim.

 

Collected a set of Rotator 101 wheels, to be fitted with winter tyres in the next week.

Just got to decide whether to go with Nokian WR D3, Dunlop Winter Response 2 (both fitted by Mini in European winter wheel sets), Conti TS810 S or Pirelli Snowcontrol S3. I've had great experience with Nokian on another car, so tempted to go for those. Dunlops are a few bucks cheaper each, the rest even stevens. Tyre tests say they are all top tyres, so probably wonlt make much difference

 

Today I fixed back my wheels after a full restoration. They look like new now!

 

just ordered my tires. Went for Dunlop Winter Sport 3D in the slightly larger 185/65/15 which is a better radius match to the summer 195/55/16 than Minis recommended 175/65/15.

The WS3D are proven winter tires in Europe, always top rated in tests 2010-12, and whilst there may be slightly better tyres now, at £56 (under $90) each fitted I couldn't turn them down.

Just hoping for a nice cold winter now

 

I found a used Rogue exhaust system on CL for $125, so I put that and my snow tires on this past weekend

 

And a great change indeed! Looks very nice *thumbsup*

 

Installed the blackout belt line kit from Outmotoring today. Definite improvement in the overall look of the car on the outside. Now I just need the carbon fiber door handle covers and it'll be perfect!

Also put in some checkered cup holder inserts. Sounds small but it adds quite a bit of pizzazz inside. Last, matching door pull covers

 

Repaired a couple of small rim marks in a set of R101s, winter tires going on them Monday..









Not 100% perfect but the last one would have needed a lot more sanding and paint to get it much better, I'm happy enough.

Two coats of Finish Kare 1000p paste wax inside and out. Loaded up ready for tire fitting..

 

What did you fill the gouge with?

 

Its an epoxy filler made by UK company Belzona (industrial products, not body repair type products).

 

And today added some new Mini decals to the centre caps. Tires tomorrow :-D

 

Installed Alta license plate frame in the back, ATI dual gauge pods and m7 air diverter plate

 

Helix SSK + NM Engineering shift cover.

Took way longer than expected (6 hours), due to a stubborn shift linkage and a difficult V-band clamp on the downpipe.

Now that I've done that once and found a few tricks to dealing with the shift linkage and V-band clamp, I could easily do it in 2 hours or less.

 

Winter tires fitted this morning - 20 minutes in and out, great job and wheels now all ready to swap over this Sunday - bring on the cold

 

Bought aftermarket LED replacements for the fog lights and DRL. Wouldn't you know it the Fog light sets off the computer. DRLs worked fine and man what a change - white/bright light.

Subsequently ordered an adapter for the canbus to maybe make the fog lights work. Update: installed the adapter and it gets dangerously hot and would melt the wheel well plastic or possible damage the wiring if the resistor heat sink was to touch it. Removed the LED/Resistor combo and replaced with stock light bulb pending receipt of PIAA replacement.

Did a search for LED headlights (H4) canbus compatible and ordered a SONY 3030 replacement. When they come in I will confirm functionality and report. Will also take a picture of the DRLs and Headlight/Foglight with the new replacements bulbs so you can see the difference.

I will also report where I obtained all the lights. This is on a 2014 MCS Hatch.

 

Picked up the Christmas tree this weekend

 

Installed Philips VisionPlus headlights, replaced a cracked B-pillar exterior trim piece, and changed the oil on the fiancee's Cooper.

It's been a productive 2 days of garage time.

 

Yesterday: Brought home a 55" TV in the Cooper. Yes, inside it!!

 

Pics or it didn't happen lolz