Sold m3 and bought a Mini Cooper S

[graveshaker]

Got it thanks glnr13. I had no idea the entire scuttle disassembles.




Now I have to give some love to the miata. Please let us have an early spring dear God.

[glnr13]

Small hands, pop the hood (or bonnet if you wanna dork out MINI style lol) reach behind it and push the forward end of the scuttle out. Put your other hand on the outside to hold it or catch it so it doesn't drop on the ground.

Another option instead of painting/plastidipping is swapping to the r50/cooper scuttles.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[graveshaker]

pop out the scuttles and plastidip them black. they can be completely disassembled too so they don't have any weird drip marks. there's also a way to remove the chrome in the tail housings but that requires a little more work (oven, slowly popping them apart, etc.)

Is there a trick to popping out the scuttles on gen 1? I tried but it felt like it was going to break. I saw avideo of someone doing it on a r56 but mine is different.

[glnr13]

pop out the scuttles and plastidip them black. they can be completely disassembled too so they don't have any weird drip marks. there's also a way to remove the chrome in the tail housings but that requires a little more work (oven, slowly popping them apart, etc.)

[graveshaker]

Check this bad boy out for sale in my area:

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/5361584712.html

Wish I had the space/budget

That's a nice mini but I honestly believe the JCW package is an over priced option. My cooper s has as much hp or maybe more with just exhaust, CIA, plugs, coil and reduction pulley. You can find a cooper s for far less and do your own upgrades.

Here is an example of one that already has the pulley reduction.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/5353316632.html

[wannaBMthree]

Check this bad boy out for sale in my area:

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/5361584712.html

Wish I had the space/budget

[rcsoundn1]

I guess that's how the stripes are designed
I can always add a little plasti-dip now that attention is drawn to it lol. Now I can't stop looking at it.

Thats exactly what I mean. Almost all factory decal kits on cars are like this. Its how I can usually tell if its an out of the box kit, or an aftermarket stip guy kit.

[mjimport]

I got the 25mm bar. I would have probably got a smaller adjustable bar, but I found this 25mm from a forum member for a great deal. They are one of the most popular bars available so you can always resale quickly if you sell the car.

I'm not a good resource for suspension as I typically go with cheap setups and don't spend much time "dialing in". I did notice that they seem to be sensitive to ambient temperature, I've had to readjust after big swings in ambient temp.
I also found that they can be a little bouncy if set to middle setting or softer, so I usually run on stiff settings. I am on Tein springs which have about 1.2" drop, not sure how much the spring affects bounce...

[graveshaker]

love the Cooper, I've had two. I also blacked out the roof and most trim as it definitely makes it a little more masculine.

Rear sway bar should be the first mod anyone does when getting a mini (even before the pulley). It seriously changes the car so much. I have a Hsport adjustable bar, pulley, CAI, Koni adjustables, and outran my friends on the Tail of the dragon ( lotus Elise, fiesta ST Cobb tuned).

This settles it, I'm getting one for sure. I heard good things about them. What size did you go with? I'm leaning toward the 22mm. Ireland engineering has a hollow one but I'm not a fan of the welded ends. I much rather have a one piece constructed one. How do you like the koni adjustable? Mine are koni fsd or something like that, not bad but the rebound is not great.

[mjimport]

love the Cooper, I've had two. I also blacked out the roof and most trim as it definitely makes it a little more masculine.

Rear sway bar should be the first mod anyone does when getting a mini (even before the pulley). It seriously changes the car so much. I have a Hsport adjustable bar, pulley, CAI, Koni adjustables, and outran my friends on the Tail of the dragon ( lotus Elise, fiesta ST Cobb tuned).

[Stanley Rockafella]

wow, didn't know that.

#themoreyouknow

[graveshaker]

the supercharger gets different oil?


Sorry but 100k miles b/t oil changes?!?!?!
:o

The Eaton supercharger uses a lifelong oil same oil used on GM cars equipped with Eaton supchargers. Only thing after 100,000 or so miles the oil could potentially dry or leak out. Mine was a little low. Piece of mine is knowing that it now has clean fresh oil. And will be good for well over 100,000 miles.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Sooo I tackled the supercharger oil change job. It honestly isn't that bad.

I won't have to worry about the oil for another 100,000 or so miles. There are a few O rings and gaskets that I'm replacing while I'm at it so I honestly shouldn't need to go this deep any time soon.

the supercharger gets different oil?


Sorry but 100k miles b/t oil changes?!?!?!
:o

[Northern]

These are the only new mini that I actually like. Past this they all get weird and extra bloated, I don't understand the appeal at all.

[graveshaker]

Sooo I tackled the supercharger oil change job. It honestly isn't that bad. To do most maintenance on the mini cooper you have to put the car into what's called front service mode. This is taking the front bumper off and depending on what needs servicing the radiator may need to come off. Doing this the first time surprisingly took me just under an hour. After that the supercharger was off in another 40 minutes.
I won't have to worry about the oil for another 100,000 or so miles. There are a few O rings and gaskets that I'm replacing while I'm at it so I honestly shouldn't need to go this deep any time soon.

I installed my Ireland engineering exhaust and along with the supercharger reduction pulley and other mods she pulls as strong as my m3. So far I do not miss my m3, the mini handles so well and can power out of corners like crazy.