R56 prospective MCS buyer: convince me
#102
I can't believe I have had my MINI since the first of June and still wash it almost every week - by hand - and I have not done this to a car in a billion years. I really enjoy the MINI now even more than I did when I first got it. You will be glad you pulled the trigger.....
I'm just not sure if it's because I enjoy the car so much or because it's so small, I can wash it in minutes....
Doesn't matter, I enjoy doing it.
Mark
#103
Tried to slip the LSD into my order, but was informed this morning that it's too late, already in production (which I assume probably means already scheduled, I can't imagine it's actually being built within 24 hours of ordering). That's ok, I'll be fine.
Might reconsider my wheel choice and go with the RGR's. Over 2 lbs lighter than LM's, and a fair bit cheaper too. Still forged and gorgeous. Will probably go with Pilot Exaltos for rubber, based on reviews and test scores at Tire Rack. Not a bad price too.
Might reconsider my wheel choice and go with the RGR's. Over 2 lbs lighter than LM's, and a fair bit cheaper too. Still forged and gorgeous. Will probably go with Pilot Exaltos for rubber, based on reviews and test scores at Tire Rack. Not a bad price too.
#106
Well well well, here we are. My car has arrived and I'm picking it up in the morning. I'll try to get some pics up right away.
I agonized over what wheels to go with. For stockers I stuck with S-winders, since I knew they were coming right off (and I kinda like the looks of them). First I was going to go BBS LM, despite the angina-inducing price. Then I thought about RGR's, with their slightly lighter weight and lighter cost. Then I was ready to go RGF (which I had a set of 15's of on my now-departed Scirocco), but with them only coming in 16's, I couldn't do it. So I'm back full circle to LM's. The fact that Tire Rack doesn't have the RGR's in stock helped make the decision. For tires, it's Pilot PE2's.
Now I'll have to deal with the suspension sooner than later. Based on a ton of research, I think the best solution for me and my needs/desires are Koni FSDs and H&R Sport springs. I'll deal with that in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for everyone's input as I struggled to pull the trigger. It was equally difficult to settle on exactly what to order, given the myriad of options, colors, upholsteries, etc. The final result is in my sig. "Film at 11" (errrr, tomorrow afternoon some time).
I agonized over what wheels to go with. For stockers I stuck with S-winders, since I knew they were coming right off (and I kinda like the looks of them). First I was going to go BBS LM, despite the angina-inducing price. Then I thought about RGR's, with their slightly lighter weight and lighter cost. Then I was ready to go RGF (which I had a set of 15's of on my now-departed Scirocco), but with them only coming in 16's, I couldn't do it. So I'm back full circle to LM's. The fact that Tire Rack doesn't have the RGR's in stock helped make the decision. For tires, it's Pilot PE2's.
Now I'll have to deal with the suspension sooner than later. Based on a ton of research, I think the best solution for me and my needs/desires are Koni FSDs and H&R Sport springs. I'll deal with that in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for everyone's input as I struggled to pull the trigger. It was equally difficult to settle on exactly what to order, given the myriad of options, colors, upholsteries, etc. The final result is in my sig. "Film at 11" (errrr, tomorrow afternoon some time).
#107
#108
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
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This was a cool post to read through, Kevin. Glad to hear you're about settle into our insanity! I don't have the car experience that you do and ordered my MINI a year and a half ago for very different reasons, but I'm floored over how this little car has added a whole new dimension to my life. Big events and little runs go on all the time and the people - well, you got to see it through this post.
I wish I could have seen this earlier and worked you over on the sunroof... I know you have the heat to deal with, but there's nothing like tipping them both up on a cool night with the street lights flashing in from above. Like you really need to hear this NOW! Maybe your next MINI!!!
Get some pics in your gallery when you get it home! Enjoy!
I wish I could have seen this earlier and worked you over on the sunroof... I know you have the heat to deal with, but there's nothing like tipping them both up on a cool night with the street lights flashing in from above. Like you really need to hear this NOW! Maybe your next MINI!!!
Get some pics in your gallery when you get it home! Enjoy!
#110
As for the sunroof, if I were still living in California, it would be essential. But I'm outside of Phoenix now, and while the roof would be nice for a good portion of the year, it would be hell to have during the summer. Heat and dust out here also influenced my decision to go PW including the roof (though I love the color anyways). Happy to save the cost, the weight reduction up high, the extra headroom, and less complexity. No regrets on leaving it off.. other than if I could still be out in California living around the corner from the beach, then I could have had a sunroof and an ocean.
My only regrets are ordering sports suspension, when I've now decided that I want to lose the wheel gap right away. And not going LSD, which I tried to do the following morning after ordering, only to be too late. Not a huge deal as I'll probably never autocross or track the car, but still would be good to have, especially considering it's about to become extinct.
OC, I'm quite familiar with NM, being a VW guy for a couple of decades. I'm sure you probably know that NM is Aaron Neumann of Neuspeed. Not sure who their spring OEM is nowadays, but for ages it was H&R. If you bought Neuspeed springs, they were simply H&R's with Neuspeed's logo. Later on they changed to some German company called Gruber. That was a good decade ago. I've used H&R stuff for ages so I'll stick with what has served me well. I'm sure whatever Aaron is selling is good stuff, too. I'm a little surprised their Mini portfolio is still so small.. it's a good market and they should dive in deeper. Maybe they intend to over time.
#112
Drumroll.........
Here are some quick pics with bad sun angles, I'll get some better ones in the next few days. But you'll get the general idea. The car is FANTASTIC! My build came out awesome. The car thusfar seems flawless, including one of the best paint jobs I've seen in years.. much better than my last 2 BMW paint jobs. Virtually no orange peel, just smooooooooooth....
Here are some quick pics with bad sun angles, I'll get some better ones in the next few days. But you'll get the general idea. The car is FANTASTIC! My build came out awesome. The car thusfar seems flawless, including one of the best paint jobs I've seen in years.. much better than my last 2 BMW paint jobs. Virtually no orange peel, just smooooooooooth....
#118
The wheels were ordered this morning and everything is in stock at Tire Rack in Indiana, so I hope to have them about a week from today. After I slap 'em on, I'll decide how "urgent" it is to lower the car. If it looks like it's sitting too high, then the springs/shocks will be swapped right away.
#119
My wheels have arrived.. BBS LM (or the "Let's Motor" edition, as I call them). Next (and hopefully last!) will be suspension.. NM springs + Koni FSD.
More pics in my gallery, and also here...
http://gallery.mac.com/kevin.l.collins#100197
More pics in my gallery, and also here...
http://gallery.mac.com/kevin.l.collins#100197
#122
#124
Update: the car is now tinted and clear bra'd, waxed and primped. For suspension, I ordered an H&R Touring Cup Kit while Alta was doing a special for $600 for the holidays. It will go on next week. In the meantime, there are a bunch of new pics here, in case anyone's interested in seeing its progress...
http://gallery.mac.com/kevin.l.collins#100197
http://gallery.mac.com/kevin.l.collins#100197
#125
Looks great!!! Thanks for the nav screen shots. I've never really seen all that it can do. Glad I didn't see this before I ordered mine or I may have dropped another two grand on my MINI.
I am also considering the coco mats. Had them for years in Fiat Spider convertibles. I have the black carpeted mats in the MINI and they show footprints the first time someone sits in it.
So KevinC, hope that you feel that those of us that participated in trying to convince you did not lead you astray.
I am also considering the coco mats. Had them for years in Fiat Spider convertibles. I have the black carpeted mats in the MINI and they show footprints the first time someone sits in it.
So KevinC, hope that you feel that those of us that participated in trying to convince you did not lead you astray.