What did you do to your Mini today?

[1975_mini]

Had some free time this afternoon, and decided to swap in the new helix intercooler. It took about 3 hours, used only hand tools (really need to invest in a Milwaukee 3/8” power ratchet) and went pretty smooth. 

It does require taking off the front bumper and crash bar. You can see how small the OEM one in the photo below is compared to the helix in the previous post. 

I forgot to take a photo of the helix install before reinstalling the bumper, but you can see it fills the entire lower grille. 

[MELO-R56]

What's next? A tune? Downpipe? FLAMES!!!??? Curious what the initial idea was behind the FMIC upgrade? I know it helps with engine temps thus resulting in better performance on hotter days, but is there any other gain without a tune to go with it?

-STEVE

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

4 minutes ago, MELO-R56 said:

What's next? A tune? Downpipe? FLAMES!!!???

-STEVE

Funny you ask, Tigger is losing his flames! He got rear-ended and I decided to go for a full repaint while he's in being repaired. I am not planning to add the flames back. He will just be a pure beautiful orange

[1975_mini]

1 hour ago, MELO-R56 said:

What's next? A tune? Downpipe? FLAMES!!!??? Curious what the initial idea was behind the FMIC upgrade? I know it helps with engine temps thus resulting in better performance on hotter days, but is there any other gain without a tune to go with it?

-STEVE

Right now it just lets it breath better, get the biggest restriction out of the line. I'll give you an update from the butt dyno after a few weeks. Getting all the pieces in place for a tune, nothing crazy just a stage one at the moment (it is an N14 and I want to keep the parts in the motor). I'll consider a down pipe down the road, but emission testing means making sure I do plenty of research and do things right to prevent codes.

As for flames I would need to mount a 50lbs wing with sheet metal screws first to unlock all the power of BBQ mode.

[MELO-R56]

Where will you get it tuned? Manic seems to be less and less used these days, Mario Plaza seems to be the go to. Grey Goose mentioned he got his f56 JCW tuned at GT Peace. Wonder if they tune the R model Gen2's?

[SneakyBaron]

4 minutes ago, MELO-R56 said:

Where will you get it tuned? Manic seems to be less and less used these days, Mario Plaza seems to be the go to. Grey Goose mentioned he got his f56 JCW tuned at GT Peace. Wonder if they tune the R model Gen2's?

They do gen 2s. They have a customer with an r58 they have done a lot of work on, that isn't me 

[1975_mini]

50 minutes ago, MELO-R56 said:

Where will you get it tuned? Manic seems to be less and less used these days, Mario Plaza seems to be the go to. Grey Goose mentioned he got his f56 JCW tuned at GT Peace. Wonder if they tune the R model Gen2's?

I have to look into what tunes GTPeace works with

Mario loads RPM, Detroit Tuned has recently become the second RPM vendor in the US.

Right now leaning towards have Chad (Detroit Tuned) load a stage 1 at the dragon.

[1975_mini]

Well good new I was able to get that photo of the new intercooler so folks can see the difference. Bad news it was because I was rushing Saturday night and forgot to put the brake duct connectors so off with the bumper again. practice makes perfect. 

[Coopah]

I cracked my hood scoop when I took it off to add my bonnet stripe, so I picked up a black, notched scoop from Out Motoring and put it on last weekend.

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

That looks great

[SneakyBaron]

Swapped out the bottom part of the steering wheel since it was peeling.

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

Amelia is getting her first summer tires this week, I ordered some Bridgestones

[GreenCactus]

5 hours ago, TGGRRR (Ali) said:

Amelia is getting her first summer tires this week, I ordered some Bridgestones

Ugh. Gretchen’s summers are in storage in PA. I’m stuck driving on snow tires until this is over or I get fed up and buy all seasons. At least I’m not really driving anywhere. 

[1975_mini]

On 4/5/2020 at 12:24 PM, SneakyBaron said:

Swapped out the bottom part of the steering wheel since it was peeling.

You show a guy how to pop off one door card and next thing you know we is just taking off all sorts of trim. lol

On 11/3/2019 at 4:53 PM, Coopah said:

I cracked my hood scoop when I took it off to add my bonnet stripe, so I picked up a black, notched scoop from Out Motoring and put it on last weekend.

"Accidentally" breaking a part so you a justify an upgrade, I like what you did there.

[Coopah]

8 hours ago, 1975_mini said:

"Accidentally" breaking a part so you a justify an upgrade, I like what you did there.

Don't tell my wife.  I may use a similar tactic to get my black rims.

[SneakyBaron]

Got these two JCW embossed Recaro seats in today from a junk yard in RI. Will hopefully be swapping them in this weekend.

Only issues is the base plastic on drivers side is cracked a little, and the other needs the loop reattached.

Pretty darn good for $450 including shipping!

[Mother nature]

We replaced the belt (AGAIN)  Added a new thermostat to try and fix the issue of little to no heat inside the car. Any others that have suggestions on what could be wrong welcomed!!  Thank you, 

Peace and kindness always, Mother Nature 

[1975_mini]

Well I finally got around to replacing the suspension on Watson. It was a much bigger PITA then switching out coil overs on the modern MINI. 

It took about 8 hours spread over a fewer days, a few detours along the way included removing the gas tank in the boot to access the top strut bolt and disconnecting brake lines in the front to remove the radius pins in the upper control arms.

you can see in the photos that the rubber cones (springs) had compressed more than an inch and the struts did not really resist or rebound. So all new cones, adjustable trumpets to adjustable ride height and weight balance, and bilstein struts all around.