Agreed. I put ethanol-free in both my van and Audi and any small engines.

 

My project this morning was to complete what I started yesterday before halted (overseeing PDR work on my buddy's Checkmate JCW). So then, the used JCW airbox is now installed (fully open/deflapped with Amsoil cone filter). Work included R&R of the original "S" airbox bottom (reused same), altered "S" partition wall as well as the front intake tube as well as altered weatherseal gasket obtained along with that JCW airbox, JCW partition, ECU cover and unaltered weatherstripping. During removal, discovered the original intake tube drain tube (hangs down vertically) was broken and barely attached to that assembly. I checked eBay sellers used but then found a new one from a BMW dealer a better deal (13-72-1-491-748 Intake Duct 13709972 $44.68 + $5.62 shipping and no tax). So, I ordered that this morning and used a liberal amount of super glue to temporarily make the damaged part serviceable. All in place and buttoned-up now. All-in-all, much tidier!

Also showing what I took off, including original aftermarket CAI with K&N F025L6 cone filter, the donor JCW airbox bottom (not needed), altered "S" partition wall, altered ECU cover and altered weatherstripping. The CAI wall section and altered partition will go to the landfill, the altered ECU cover will be offered as part of the previously removed carbon fiber crossbar and the K&N filter (used less than 5k miles) offered for sale too. I googled P/N F025L6 plus checked K&N's website which indicates it's a discontinued item. If one of you is looking for that filter, PM me.

 

It looks a lot more polished without the CAI installed.

I think someone mentioned earlier that the strut brace was marketed for the R50 instead of the R53, but at first glance I wonder if it would even clear the battery hold down. It seems like it would be awfully close.

 

Agreed on finished appearance! Used JCW airboxes are relatively spendy with that assembly (top lid cover too) being NLA, however worth it to me to achieve true CAI while achieving that OEW-like appearance!

I just took a few pics and measurements which an R50/R52 justa owner could use to determine clearance to the battery box.With the crossbar mounts flat on my workbench, the shown aluminum spacer just clears with a whisker more at best. So, 8.5mm clearance to the mounting plane which could be replicated using a straightedge across top of the struts mounts. Still unknown if M2, Racing Dynamics or some other fabricator circa 2006, however a nice piece that just doesn't work for me without accepting previous compromises. Haven't figured out fair used resale value and don't have a suitable shipping box yet but anyone interested, PM me. I'll list it in Marketplace at some later date...

 

My buddy and I drove our cars 200+ miles today on a mini-MINI rally of sorts, from home base at 5k' elev over towards Camp Verde, north to Flagstaff and then back home via Lake Mary Road around 7.5k' elev and Hwy 87 south (through a pounding monsoon storm for extended time). Both cars ran great (**) and we had a ball. Mine now with a bit over 6.1k total and his 2006 Checkmate JCW now with 6.3k total miles. Took a few pics to share along the way...

(** Mine is running great but sadly, must go back to the MINI dealer again next month. The fuel gauge only reads 7/8 full when topped to the filler neck and took 100 miles+ to drop below that, at which point it seemed to correlate with my buddy's. Mine got 29.9 mpg and his just under 33 mpg - mostly on variety on mountain grades. MINI N Scottsdale is fully cooperating and in agreement to cover all labor and parts costs to correct. BTW, the shop foreman there is an R53 owner!

 

Both very good looking MINI's !

 

Sweet!

'Zona unicorn rally!

Thanks for the pics.

 

Keep this up and you’ll have 100k on them in no time...

This does take me back almost 20 years to when my wife bought her R50. You two are lucky to have such great finds.

 

And I've been putting E85 in my R53 for the last 9 years and 140.000km (~87.000 miles).

 

Okay? Ethanol is mostly a problem when it sits. It also doesn’t work so well in carbed engines. I’ve run gas with ethanol in my R50 for 16 years, but it gets driven.

 

As previously stated, seems unlikely mine had E85 in the tank(s) during long periods of "hibernation" - just old gas. Perhaps E85 changes chemical composition more quickly to something even more caustic, so agreed - either drive 'em regularly or add fuel stabilizer.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if your tank had E10 or E15 in it when it was stored, but if the previous owner was meticulous maybe not.

 

I installed ordered M7 strut tower plates (on sale $128.48 shipped with no tax to my zip Gen 1 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plate Kit) as my final choice between plates alone or plates with a crossbar. I like that these effectively "sandwich" the tower sheetmetal between Helix camber plates below and tower plates above with no clearance encroachment issues to the ECU cover or airbox plus no need to compress the underhood insulation padding above. M7 includes (6) nice machined acorn nuts for a finished appearance, however mine has M8x25 bolts threaded down into those Helix plates vs tophat studs protruding up into the engine bay as typical. So, I bought (12) M8 stainless fender washers and double-stacked those in each counterbored hole with those bolts torqued to 25 lb-ft. I suggested these and other alternative options to my buddy with the 2006 Checkmate JCW and he just ordered same plates for his own with objective of avoiding mushrooming from our lousy Arizona roads and highways.

 

Yup!
Installed those same M7 plates on my R53 as well as CS under tower plates. Love 'em. M7s' look nice and has saved my strut towers from deforming driving down the battered, beaten, over asphalted "repaired" (aka:"road moguls"), roads in my metro area.
As others have already stated: Your engine bay looks alot "cleaner" uncluttered as a result!

 

Thanks for that complement and those mentioning same previously! Agreed, cost vs benefit wins for these vs alternatives right now. Figured I post that link in case anyone else might be considering a set of tower plates. I bought mine a week ago (when closed for weekend), so M7 shipped promptly Monday morning via FedEx and I received them Friday. My buddy ordered his plates at same price today, so I suspect M7's sale will end soon.

 

Maybe I just haven’t paid attention to other wide shots, but that is one nice looking Mini, even if I can’t tell that it’s purple .

Any idea why your buddy’s checkmate only has the aero side skirts?

Also, I don’t think I would have noticed that you have bolts instead of studs if you hadn’t said anything. Interesting design. And I wonder why M7 changed the plate design (and maybe finish as well).

 

^^^ BEP looks blue in some lighting and very purple in others. Clearly now, not the most ordered color (by mainstream USA dealers), so fairly limited numbers and rare now. Seems a bit more common in the UK and Europe...

From what I understand, the entire Aero kit was either port of entry or dealer installed. IMO (and my buddy's too), the way that particular Checkmate was ordered with exterior/interior Chromeline options, the Aero F/R bumper covers wouldn't have played well with the chrome bits while the painted to match sill skirts do. I'm thinking it's just right...

Also, Helix adjustable camber plates (shown in earlier pic from R&R project before JCW Sport "reds" installed) are drilled/tapped to receive M8 bolts. M7's product page says their "redesign" improvement relates to fancy machined acorn nuts vs any changes to aluminum alloy or machined dimensions. Beyond that, I'm clueless...

 

The M7 plates look really good. I had decided to install those and then changed my mind and went with Cravenspeed. Can't remember why. The JCW airbox looks right at home too.

 

The Helix/M7 combo looks tough as nails! And your entire engine bay is becoming a thing of beauty

I have Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates on mine which are 3/16" steel (IIRC) and I bent both of them on what the city of New York refers to as roads. They more resemble military "live fire" zones to me lol. If I bend my camber plates again I may have to follow your lead and install the M7 plates.

 

Just now checked - those M7 strut plates are still on sale at $128.48 shipped. Pretty cheap reinforcement insurance!

 

That's really good to know.
I dropped $131/shpped back in January. I would've imagine the price would have skyrocketed exponentially....like everything else now-days.

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/53-510101/

We have them on sale for $113 now.

I have the ECS stp on both my MINIs,

Going to put some prototype ECS coilovers on my MINI soon.

 

Nice price on the M7s (even with sales tax)! Competition squeeze play, since ECS' prior web price on these was much higher?

Your mentioned ECS Strut Tower Plate Kit - Black was a serious contender, however the current $173.80 price + tax dissuaded...

BTW, I'm finding many more online retailers not collecting sales tax these days shipped to my destination, despite the Supreme Court's 17-494 South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. (06/21/2018) decision. Is ECS/Turner required to do so by the State of Ohio mandate or is that a discretionary business decision?

 

Regarding sales tax, I was surprised when I ordered from CocoMats that they didn't charge sales tax except for orders shipped to SC (where they are located), NC, and one or two other states as I recall.

 

^^^ Agreed! IMO being forced to collect sales tax from an out of state destination puts sellers at a disadvantage. No choice when buying from Amazon or eBay but then, shopping total shipped price comparisons steers me towards Amazon when prudent due to return policy if "not as advertised". I'm seeing more retailers (including OEM MINI parts dealers) not collecting sales tax to my destination, which seems to imply the Supreme Court ruling is being challenged (or simply ignored). I pay enough tax in my local jurisdiction, thus try to avoid that with online purchases.