R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Dorky cheapskate modification

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  #301  
Old 08-05-2009, 04:52 PM
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keepin tabs on this one
 
  #302  
Old 08-05-2009, 06:32 PM
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Yes! Keep 'em coming! I'll be doing the door plugs soon.

Subscribed!
 
  #303  
Old 08-05-2009, 09:23 PM
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rear bumper mod

Well, I found out that a NASCAR Truck Team is based out of where I live, so I went there the other day inquiring about the stainless steel mesh that they use for the grills in the race trucks, stating that I need to make a screen for my hood scoop and radiator to keep the bugs out of the fins. The guy gave me a 4'x4' section of the stuff, I did the front and had left over and in seeing someone's post on shaving down the rear grills I thought that I would do this instead. All you have to do is remove the rear bumper cover, pop out the grills, cut the mesh to size and do some snipping of it so that it will lock in place on the factory tabs and viola, mesh grills.

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  #304  
Old 08-06-2009, 06:53 AM
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Nice job! Do you have any pictures of the front of the car?
 
  #305  
Old 08-06-2009, 08:10 AM
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Caption for your picture (noting reflection):
"Daddy, why are you always taking pictures of your car?"


(we've all heard some variation of that statement...)
 
  #306  
Old 08-06-2009, 12:35 PM
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Caption for your picture (noting reflection):
"Daddy, why are you always taking pictures of your car?"


(we've all heard some variation of that statement...)
yeah all my friends ask me why i take so many pictures of my car.
(None of them have a MINI, they don't undersantd
 
  #307  
Old 08-08-2009, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by thecigarman
The suggestion was Penetrol, a paint treatment additive used to assist in the smooth and even application of oil based paints. A pint can costs about 10 bucks and will just about last about forever if used with a cloth on the black trim on a car. (About 1/4 of a can will do the whole roof of a Jeep). My friend used it on his fiberglass boat that was badly oxidized and one teatment lasted a whole season.
Is this the stuff?

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Picked up some at Home Depot today - right around $10 for the quart (946ml)
 
  #308  
Old 08-29-2009, 08:50 PM
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i used to HATE my 3 slat grill. i was lusting over the M7 tuning set.
After doing this... i like it better than any other grill option.



cheaper and easier to do, too.
 
  #309  
Old 08-29-2009, 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by jbell
i used to HATE my 3 slat grill. i was lusting over the M7 tuning set.
After doing this... i like it better than any other grill option.



cheaper and easier to do, too.
Great Job - Nice!
 
  #310  
Old 08-29-2009, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by lancesr

LOOKS GREAT! well...it could look better. You need to either remove the longhorn or saw the horns off. Then it would be amazing!
 
  #311  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:23 AM
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see below
 
  #312  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by lancesr
Well, I found out that a NASCAR Truck Team is based out of where I live, so I went there the other day inquiring about the stainless steel mesh that they use for the grills in the race trucks, stating that I need to make a screen for my hood scoop and radiator to keep the bugs out of the fins. The guy gave me a 4'x4' section of the stuff, I did the front and had left over and in seeing someone's post on shaving down the rear grills I thought that I would do this instead. All you have to do is remove the rear bumper cover, pop out the grills, cut the mesh to size and do some snipping of it so that it will lock in place on the factory tabs and viola, mesh grills.

Ive been looking at this picture for a while. I dont see why this looks good. Its uneven and looks like it was something sort of stuffed in there by hand, despite the removal and reinstallation work involved. Does it look good to those who think so simply because its emulating a NASCAR detail? Im not being mean here, I just dont understand. Or is simply just a difference of opinion?
 

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  #313  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:27 AM
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Ummm......interesting (?)
 
  #314  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by erickvonzipper
Ive been looking at this picture for a while. I dont see why this looks good. Its uneven and looks like it was something sort of stuffed in there by hand, despite the removal and reinstallation work involved. Does it look good to those who think so simply because its emulating a NASCAR detail? Im not being mean here, I just dont understand. Or is simply just a difference of opinion?

I think it's straight, but the shadows behind it are making it look funny.
 
  #315  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by erickvonzipper
Ive been looking at this picture for a while. I dont see why this looks good. Its uneven and looks like it was something sort of stuffed in there by hand, despite the removal and reinstallation work involved. Does it look good to those who think so simply because its emulating a NASCAR detail? Im not being mean here, I just dont understand. Or is simply just a difference of opinion?
the mesh is actually straight, the lines run horizontal and vertical and the pic does make it look rather hack, do not know why that is, my only logical answer is that you are seeing the heat shield thru the mesh and the left muffler as well so that is making it look "wavy" in the shot. the center piece was a little harder to do and at the edges is not perfectly straight.
 
  #316  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by AggieMini11
LOOKS GREAT! well...it could look better. You need to either remove the longhorn or saw the horns off. Then it would be amazing!
only a fellow Texan would say that! Since I reside in Ohio, no one here knows what an AGGIE is!

everyone here is buckeye this and buckeye that, so i wear the Texas Longhorns badge with pride knowing that ANY Texas team is better than some ohio one
 
  #317  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jbell
i used to HATE my 3 slat grill. i was lusting over the M7 tuning set.
After doing this... i like it better than any other grill option.



cheaper and easier to do, too.
I'm not a big fan of the whole carbon fiber thing, but that looks really good. Well done!
 
  #318  
Old 08-30-2009, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by lancesr
only a fellow Texan would say that! Since I reside in Ohio, no one here knows what an AGGIE is!

everyone here is buckeye this and buckeye that, so i wear the Texas Longhorns badge with pride knowing that ANY Texas team is better than some ohio one
Does that mean if you are sent an Aggie emblem you would replace the longhorn?
 
  #319  
Old 08-31-2009, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by mom2jmg
Does that mean if you are sent an Aggie emblem you would replace the longhorn?
now while i am Texan by the grace of God (6th generation), and i show that on everything (still have Texas DL, ohio cops hate that), and an Aggie emblem is better than anything ohio, i would have to ADD that to the already Longhorn emblem that is currently present on the Cooper. If you want a funny story, my uncle graduated Texas A&M at the top of his class when it was still a male only school, he now owns one of Bevo's sons! But the ohioians would not have the same angst for the Aggies (gig 'em) as they do for the Longhorns, plus I went to UT as well......
 
  #320  
Old 08-31-2009, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by lancesr
the mesh is actually straight, the lines run horizontal and vertical and the pic does make it look rather hack, do not know why that is, my only logical answer is that you are seeing the heat shield thru the mesh and the left muffler as well so that is making it look "wavy" in the shot. the center piece was a little harder to do and at the edges is not perfectly straight.
I guess, then, that a live 'walk-around' would be in order, as the picture doesnt do it justice.
 
  #321  
Old 08-31-2009, 08:18 PM
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you are more than welcome to come to sandusky, ohio and do that walk around

something else is that i made the mesh not truly flat with the bumper back but more of a rounded coming out so that is adding to the effect, heck i might just paint it black and the whole thing will change.
 
  #322  
Old 09-01-2009, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by lancesr
now while i am Texan by the grace of God (6th generation), and i show that on everything (still have Texas DL, ohio cops hate that), and an Aggie emblem is better than anything ohio, i would have to ADD that to the already Longhorn emblem that is currently present on the Cooper. If you want a funny story, my uncle graduated Texas A&M at the top of his class when it was still a male only school, he now owns one of Bevo's sons! But the ohioians would not have the same angst for the Aggies (gig 'em) as they do for the Longhorns, plus I went to UT as well......
Guess you can keep the longhorn since you are a teasip. Both are good schools, I just bleed maroon.

BTW I like the screen
 
  #323  
Old 09-02-2009, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by lancesr
now while i am Texan by the grace of God (6th generation), and i show that on everything (still have Texas DL, ohio cops hate that), and an Aggie emblem is better than anything ohio, i would have to ADD that to the already Longhorn emblem that is currently present on the Cooper. If you want a funny story, my uncle graduated Texas A&M at the top of his class when it was still a male only school, he now owns one of Bevo's sons! But the ohioians would not have the same angst for the Aggies (gig 'em) as they do for the Longhorns, plus I went to UT as well......
If you would like, PM me your address and the next time im out and about, Ill get some Aggie things for your boot. I need to go get books soon so ill be around lots of maroon!
 
  #324  
Old 09-03-2009, 06:01 AM
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That sounds like a deal! I will put it on the wife's maroon & white Flex!!!

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  #325  
Old 09-03-2009, 12:43 PM
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She needs bonnet stripes and an "S" decal - or are those reserved for the new turbo model? It's a Ford, you an use contact paper...
 


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