cmcveay

Interesting differences. I do agree with CarlB, the ride quality with the KW's is pretty darn nice. Now I'll just have to see if they have the longevity.

Here's the other link that I couldn't find. Very reasonable. http://www.pmgadgets.net/index_en.php

Will - That's exactly what I was going to say! The center posts annoyed me for a bit but once I removed the stoppers from the rear headrests, I found I have excellent visibility through the rear window! I have a somewhat unique perspective too since I moved from an R56 to the R55. If you want an obstructed view, jump in a Cabrio. I know one owner who will go out of the way to avoid situations that require visibility over the driver's right shoulder!

I should also mention that Waze is a battery and data hog since it's constantly downloading maps and the social networking info. Trapster doesn't seem to be as bad but I haven't used v5.0 very much. I haven't run Escort Live enough to know what kind of battery drain to expect. I should be running it more in the near future so I'll provide an update on that. There are several groups in Waze that can be useful. I'm also in the "Fairfax to DC" group and I get some great alerts in that so I can plan my commute. All to often, the GPS traffic and WTOP traffic fail to mention the fact that I-66 is a parking lot but those Wazers are all over it and I can take an alternate route to/from.

Just so eveyrone knows, there is a DCMM group in Waze so if you use the app, please join the group! Trapster is another app that can help with speed cameras and such but it doesn't have the social networking options offered by Waze. Trapster will also allow you to download known enforcement points (LEO's favorite hangouts) and other enforcement information to a variety of devices to include phones and automotive GPS's. Another app that has the potential to grow is the Escort Live app. Although it's produced and run by Escort (the makers of Escort radar detectors), they also have a database of redlight cameras. If you do use an Escort or Bel laboratories detector, you can tie it into the phone app and it will automatically report Ka and Laser detections from your detector. And, finally, if you use a Garmin GPS, they have a redlight and speed camera database that can be added to your GPS as custom POI's and your GPS will give you a discreet little "bing, bing" when you are approaching said intersection or camera. There's really no reason for getting snagged by one of those cameras, there are so many apps to let us know where they are...

Ahhh, yes, the great "barn door" discussion. The "feature" that has one door open all the way at the touch of a button (remote or door handle) is a sensitive topic for the Clubbie fans. Until about 2009 or 2010, the passenger side door only opened part of the way and it would stop. A gentle "nudge" and the door would open fully. As much as I like the way the newer doors work, I will admit that I have given myself anxiety attacks with it. As I'm walking out to the car, I have been known to push the button, knowing it'll be waiting for me with "open arms", only to arrive and find that the parking illiterate behind me can't fit his/her land barge into one spot and they must take most of mine as well. The barn door is open, a mere millimeters from the interloper's snout (or schnout as Ali would say it). The other options would be cool.

Your Roadster... We are starting to have too many variations.

Post that link when you get it Jono. The weather for Wednesday looks like there's going to be a strong front moving through. I think I'll try some lightning photography!

Never heard of it. Just don't hit things in the street.... Right Ricky?

I think I just shed a tear at the thought of that! With the amount of salt and grit that's put down on the roads here in the winter time, I consider it a capital offense to see someone write "Wash Me" on a car with their finger(s). I think the Kozak towels would be good for light dust that accumulates in the garage and all but once the slushies start, I'd have to put them away...

Do you mean cracks in the springs? I seriously doubt it - it might have happened on the old conestoga wagons but not in modern times. I had the Mach V springs on during "Snowmageddon" and drove almost every day of that winter with them and had no problems. The next two winters weren't as bad but I did have the NM springs and had no problems. Same with the struts, they are built for the conditions so it shouldn't be a problem.

Yep, I love my remote release. Have you ever used one of those fancy devices that trips the shutter for lightning strikes? http://www.aeophoto.com/ http://www.lightningtrigger.com/ There have been lots of opportunities for lightning photography over the past few weeks. If you think about making a "dedicated expedition to capture some of our afternoon/evening weather, I'd love to join in!

Chris - I forgot to mention this. We installed a set of Koni's yesterday and I got to see the parts that you were missing from those that you were given. In addition to the bushing sleeve, there were a couple of other small parts that you didn't get and not having made your struts totally ineffective.

Rich, A fundamental problem with a Spring/Strut swap is that the two pieces weren't engineered to work together. Each item was developed with it's own features that accomodate a wide variety of variables - each of them would be a compromise. NM or TSW or any other set of aftermarket springs are designed to work with every aftermarket strut on the market and the differences between them is pretty wide. Flip that around for the struts and the number of springs on the market makes it a challenge. Coilovers offer two advantages that the conventional strut/spring swap can't touch. The struts and springs in the coilover package are designed to work together so they work better together. The internals and externals of the strut are designed to work with the installed springs and they aren't a "vanilla" design. Coilovers offer adjustability once they are installed whereas a strut/spring swap is a "one size fits all" swap. One full turn on the adjusting collar of the KW's alters the ride height of the car about 1/16" of an inch and they offer a range of adjustablility that spans about 1.5". In my personal experience across two MINI's (R56 and R55), two different OEM suspension set ups, three different spring/strut combinations and a coilover system? If given the choice in my personal vehicle, it will always be CO's over spring/strut. Cost wise - a little shopping around, catching sales and using rebates, you can get the engineered suspension system for only a little more than the cost of the "hope it works well" options. Now for the devils advocate. The last suspension that I had in Archi (R56) was the NM RS Alpha springs and Bilstien HD struts. What a phenominal change in ride and handling over the previous attempts!

I got lucky with Merlin - Arrived in Baltimore on friday and delivered to PMoA the same day. We went to autocross in Lona's car on Saturday and while we were standing there in the rain, I got the call, he was ready to be picked up... Seconds became hours and hours became centuries! Welcome to the forums, I hope you get the call for a pick up soon and we do look forward to fawning over your new ride at an event soon!

Ya know what? I had a massive brain fart! Ewwwww! You are right Jono! Now I have to go back and figure out what I meant with that. Hey, I'm going to be at the Jefferson Memorial Friday evening at 6:30 for short wedding rehearsal. Since Lona is scheduled to fly back into Regan at about 11:00 p.m., I need a good reason to hang around down that way. If anyone would like to meet up and go do a night photo run trip on the mall, I'm game!

Chris, Give this place a try. http://www.motoringwerks.com/

Count me in for helping. I use the bulb setting with a wireless remote and I I want it to be extra, extra sharp, I do the mirror lock up there's no camera shake at all. I just read the post by Dale and your reply. Sorry but I had to chuckle at that just a little.

Chris - take a look at the KW's. I am impressed with their construction quality and the ride.

I don't want to alarm you but I just went to Todd's webpage and it looks like web maintenance is something else that he hasn't been doing lately. He was hosting his gallery page at Apple's "Mobile Me" and it officially went offline at the end of June. It wasn't a sudden thing, it's been advertised for about a year now. Todd's web presence is now down to a link to MINI badges, a dead link to a photo gallery and a link to White Roof Radio. I did find a blog that appears to be related to Todds Mods but it's not linked to from toddsmods.com so you have to get lucky and find it in the google search results. Good luck Ali, I hope this has a happy ending and Mark gets his scuttles back. In the meantime, we'll be installing that new suspension on Sunday morning! Max is gonna look really, really B.A. with his new stance!

My apologies. It read as though he should be excused.

I'm with Ali and Mark on this. Other vendors (not DCMM vendors, just vendors of products in the MINI community) have been taken to task publicly and driven out of business because of their lack of communication with the customers. I would suggest pinging Todd now because it's not yours or Marks fault that Todd has opted to leave work undone and hit the road. If you don't stay on it, then it must not be important. All you are looking for are a few words via email for an update. You could be reliving Jules Vern's 80 days around the world but there's still time in the day to at least peck out a couple of words on a smart phone if you value the reputation of your business.

Chris - those are awesome photo's! Would you be willing to organize an outing for those of us who are into photography? I think you'd be able to get a good crowd and it would be lots of fun! Ali and I went down to the mall about a year ago to do this and we had a great time.

Yeah, 2 1/2 months to hold a customers parts without at least responding in some way isn't an acceptable business practice.

Ali - I know that there are some who rave about Todd but the experience that you and Mark have had resembles my experience with him. In the months leading up to MOTD, I emailed him three times and I left a voice mail but I didn't get a response at all. This started as soon as it was announced that he'd be a vendor and I was ready to put stripes on Merlin. My suggestion would be to email and call Todd again and if there's no response within a reasonable amount of time, let Barry know and then consider reaching out to the BBB for that area. I don't believe in character assassination so I wouldn't take this to other forums but if this is the standard of achievement that's set, it's only fair to let other members of the community know. Good luck, please update this thread if you get any additional news.