Edge
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Posts posted by Edge
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Umm, yeah.it gives me pretty much all the control of a straight up manual without any of the clutch hassle. Then again, my stint with full on manual transmission was a very brief one when I was learning to drive, and it certainly wasn't on a Mini. So I'm not exactly qualified to make a solid comparison between the two.
Opinions will definitely vary on this (mine does!), but the most important thing is that you like your car and the way it's equipped. If that's the case, it shouldn't (and doesn't) matter what other people think! :top:
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Welcome to our website, Lindsay! Nice MINI - I see that you have blacked out your chrome too. :top:
Consider becoming a full member - you get full access to our forums, a T-shirt, membership card and discount at all DC-region MINI dealerships and participating vendors!
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Great run! What happened to Richard (rrsperry)? He was the one in the black M3. Didn't see him since the stop at Exxon... :questionmark:
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For anyone coming from down south that would like to motor up together. Meet at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Hummer Rd and Little River Turnpike (7-ELEVEN (#10698) 4131 HUMMER RD ANNANDALE, Virginia 22003-2416) with plans to
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I might be mistaken, but I think the darkest blue yet offered on a MINI is Space Blue... however some people think Astro Black has a blue-ish tint to it.Darkest blue I've seen on a Mini (no idea what it's called). -
I don't begrudge your intent of informing everyone about your perspective on Nitrogen use in tires.
What bothered me was being labeled as gullible. I did the research too... and although there was plenty of grounds for skepticism, there was also enough ambiguity (and no downside, other than the money), that I considered it something I wanted in my car.
Is it critical? Is it crucial? Is it game-changing? No. Is it more important than the many other, more proven things you can do for your MINI (including self-education)? Nope.
However, boldly labeling anyone that has it as gullible is premature, short-sighted and quite frankly, rude. It's not as though anybody here (including me) has proclaimed that it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Skepticism is healthy, throwing veiled insults (however slight and harmless they may seem) is not. Your points against the value of Nitrogen use could still have been made equally well without saying "gullible", "P.T. Barnum" and "falling for the marketing wienies".
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Here are the Strut Tower Plates I used on my 05 Cooper S. I installed them because of the mushrooming that occurs on the strut towers if you hit any potholes. Here is the link for the Cravenspeed.
http://www.cravenspeed.com/index.php?productID=104
I am assuming the clubman also has this issue.
I went through a similar determination process earlier this year in wanting to do something to protect my shock towers, as they had started to mushroom. I wanted plates that went under the tower, both because they would stop the force before it gets to the tower, and also because I didn't want to buy something that interfered with or affected my strut brace.I see Craven has steel plates for under the tower. Now THAT makes sense.of course, a lot harder to install.
The Craven Speed Under Tower Indurators are fine, but I instead ended up buying the MINI-Madness Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates instead. Sure, they cost an extra $25, but they cover the entire surface of the shock tower, spreading the force wider, whereas the Craven Speed ones only appear to cover the shock tower mount. The MINI-Madness solution just seemed like a better design to me. I didn't care much about the red color or the strut tower covers (although the covers help to hide the red).
There was actually a really good discussion thread on NAM about this earlier this year. Worth looking at, if the above interests you. It doesn't seem that anyone makes an "under" design for the 2nd Gen MINIs yet, however.
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Daniel/D-Unit - have you price shopped with Morristown MINI? Just curious... their prices are almost always 20% under MSRP. I just wondered that they might be competitive with Classic MINI.
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If:If dry air is insufficient, then the sensor design is crap. ( like no thermal compensation). Air is 78% nitrogen. It is the moisture that is the problem, along with bad engineering and a slick way to extract $69 from gullible folks for a service that used to be free. Somebody say that race cars use it as they worry about 1/4 lb. and figured a way to make money. P.T. Barnum would be proud.- it lasts longer before needing a top-up, therefore keeping the tires at the correct pressure for longer... and increasing the life of the tires
- the tires stay at a more consistent pressure with temperature changes, therefore behaving more consistently in various weather and driving conditions
- refills are free (they are, I checked)
...then it isn't a question of "gullibility" and more a question of "is it worth it to me".
I know very well that normal air works fine. You're perfectly within your rights to tell me I am wasting my money, but that's a final determination only -I- am qualified to make. It's worth it to me. I've spent plenty of money on my MINI that many people would consider a total waste. Do I care? Nope. It's my MINI, so I'm going to do what I want with it. You do the same, as we all do. I'm not going to judge you or your decisions for your own MINI. That's your preference.
Yes, checking (and topping up) the tire pressure once a week or so will have the same effect of ensuring the pressure is kept consistent. You know what? I'm a busy guy, and I don't want to have to check it as often. That alone is worth the $69 to me.
Getting it free from someone like Jason (LV2CRNR) is only icing on the cake, if the option is there.
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If you didn't specifically pay your dealer to install the JCW suspension, then you don't have it. It isn't available as a factory option, only dealer-installed.Thanks so much Jeremy1026. I do NOT have the JCW suspension that I know of, and the window sticker makes no mention. This mod with an alignment that I'm sure is more enjoyable than factory setup, looks pretty sweet.For 2nd Gen MINIs, the JCW suspension includes new springs, new shocks, a new rear sway bar and a new front sway bar.
For 1st Gen MINIs, the JCW suspension only includes new springs & shocks... although if you install it on an R50 (Cooper, not Cooper S), then the rear sway bar needs to be installed too (same one that comes with the R53 Cooper S).
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No, Christina has a (2006) R53 JCW (1st Gen), just like I do.ChristinaDid you modify a 2009 JCW?
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No problem, Rich!Thanks, Edge.Sorry if I conveyed the wrong impression. Initially, I was just lost for a little bit til I got my bearings and realized what happened. Regarding the change, I liked the old set-up but I understand if it did not conform to your present needs. And I was just making an general observation regarding the hot tub forum I mentioned.
Again, good luck with the transition.
Rich
As for the transition, it's well and truly completed. DCMM has been on these forums exclusively since March 1st! The month of February was the "transition" month, when the new forums were up but we had not yet shut down the NAM-based forum.
Initially, we had the Events forum in the private area... but much internal member debate had us change course there, so it has been in the public area for quite some time now. The board is always willing to listen to the needs and concerns of the members. Healthy debate is always a good thing. Not everyone will agree on everything, but as long as every member's opinion is respected and considered, the board will try our best to figure out what is the best overall direction of the club. Of course, the board members can (and do change) over time, so I try to remind members that if you don't like the direction the club is going, and you don't feel your concerns are being fully accepted/considered, step up and run for the board! It's a democracy, not a dictatorship!
The old setup on NAM was great for a long time, but there are a number of factors that weighed into the 2008-2009 board's decision to move away from NAM. As someone who has been very active on NAM (including assisting in the management of it) and by proxy a "NAM supporter", I still agreed that it was time for DCMM to move out on our own, and for the most part, it has been a very successful transition. :top:
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Rich,
There are a number of reasons why we have gone semi-private (yep, semi-private... after all, you're reading this in a public area, right?). I won't go into those reasons here, but they have been discussed at length in the members area.
As for all of the threads on NAM, we were unable to move them here, because this is a completely separate, standalone forum that is not part of NAM. That's why all of the old DCMM threads on NAM are "archived" so we can still go look them up, and also why you had to "re-register" as you see it.
As for DCMM "committing suicide" by doing this, I think you are mistaken on that one. We still have a vibrant membership here - with forum activity every day. I'm sorry you feel so strongly about it, but DCMM is first and foremost about its members! Everyone is welcome to join though - we're not some kind of exclusive "clique" that picks and chooses who is welcome in the club.
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Hmm - I've always considered the "joey mod" to be too much of a risk to get right, but you've given me some hope. Have you ever thought about doing it as a (paid) service for your fellow MINI owners?Surprisingly, not hard at all. Separating the lens itself from the rest of the headlight took probably less than 10 minutes.
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You mean PMoA.WOW!, That's why I can't wait for MoA to open! :top:MoA = MINI of Annapolis
PMoA = Passport MINI of Alexandria
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That's probably it. Here in VA we have Smart Tag. They are compatible ever since they linked the systems, but it seems they administer them differently.Perhaps we have different policies in MD. When the battery died on my wife's EZ Pass, she just received a replacement. And now we can pick them up at the grocery store...
I wish I could claim originality... but I can't.I like the sunroof idea! :idea:
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If you don't have a sunroof, that's an excellent mod!
If you do have a sunroof, you can hide your EZ Pass in the rear sunroof. Works great! Out of sight, out of mind. I also covered mine in black electrical tape, to make it even more hidden. I wanted to paint it, but the sensor is still the property of VDOT, and when you return it (after the battery dies), they expect it back in original condition or they'll charge you a bunch for it! Found that out when I was visiting their offices and someone else tried to return theirs when it was covered in permanent marker (to black it out). They made the guy either pay for it, or take it home to clean it up. :laugh:
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Nice to hear you had excellent service. :top:Edge, I walked out for 140 for five windows and both sunroof windows and they too stand behind their work. I took my bike rack off to make it easier to get to the sunroof to fit & pre-shrink the film and next thing I knew, one of their guys had a buffer and he was cleaning up the area where the "feet" of the roof rack sits with no charge for that little trick. I was there when the opened on Saturday morning at 10 and I was on my way home by 11.Seems that Carlos is the better deal though. He does charge notably more for MINI owners who aren't members of DCMM - but that's not a problem for us!
I don't know if he'd tint the sunroof as well for the same price, but I suspect he would. I didn't need mine tinted because it's was already covered with vinyl.
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Yeah, that's for the left side convex one (listed on this RealOEM page). Personally I prefer the aspherical ones (here), but hey, whatever floats your boat!for 1st gen vehicles, the eurospec heated drivers side glass is:51167058059
available at pelican parts
for way less than i paid at a dealer
BTW you can probably get it cheaper at Morristown MINI. They have a standard 20% discount under MSRP, and Pelican Parts pretty much sells exactly at MSRP.
If the dealer you bought from was higher, they probably were pricing over MSRP. Happens at a lot of them (one in particular comes to mind... :stupid:)
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cmcveay - how much did they charge to tint your MINI?
Carlos at Solar Solutions only charges $100 to tint MINIs, for DCMM members only (at least, that's how much it was when he did mine within the last year). He also stands behind his work and will fix any problems that come up. I highly recommend him!
carman63 - I guarantee that Mike @ AC was talking about Solar Solutions. Carlos doesn't do vinyl, I think, but he (Carlos) has a vinyl guy that Mike has worked with before.
Mike & Carlos have done combined "tint & vinyl" install days a number of times in the past, where Mike actually flies out here and stays at a member's hose for a few days... and all of the installs are done at Solar Solutions.
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Unfortunately, I have to help a friend move house tomorrow (well, move apartment). In addition to that, I'm dogsitting from tonight through Sunday, so I have to juggle that as well.
I'd be there otherwise! I hope there's still a good turnout. :
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omg, I can post on this thread again...what'd you guys do?
Actually, we didn't "do" (orYou were having problems too? So were both Bev and I so we thought we insulted someone at the picnic! :laugh: -
You clearly have never ridden in (let alone driven) a Lotus Elise (or Exige).It was pulling up just as I left. Meh. Now if it was a Tesla... :top:You wouldn't be so blasé about it if you had! I have ridden i
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I had a great time at the picnic - it was wonderful to see so many of you there. My friend Becca (the potential new member who showed up at around 3:15pm after driving back down from PA) had a great time too - I think she'll be joining soon. :top:
Man
Interesting Finding
in Maintenance & Modifications
Posted · Edited by Edge
Better clarified
But that's me. I'm not going to judge you for your own decisions!
I have many friends who own automatics and I don't think any less of them for it (that would just be petty). As I indicated earlier - it doesn't matter what I think. Enjoy what you like.
Hopefully none of you will hold it against me for the "blasphemous" statement above (the non-MINI one). :angel: