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Thread: My new MINI

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    25,448
    My Cars
    E46, S2000
    Officially checking in.

    2004 MINI Cooper S
    Electric Blue/White with Black interior
    Premium Package
    Sport Package
    Panoramic Roof
    6 speed

    I purchased the car two weeks ago from the original owner-- a woman in her 60s who bought the car cash in 2004 and proceeded to only drive it 34,000 miles I had to have it in short.

    The HK Amp was busted so I replaced the audio system in the car. It has:

    Kenwood Exelon KDC-X994 headunit
    MB Quart Discus line rear speakers
    Infiniti Kappa line front speakers
    Kenwood KAC-8405 amp
    Rockford Fosgate Punch 500.2 amp
    Rockford Fosgate P3SD412 shallow mount sub











    Last edited by SilverBeam; 06-10-2010 at 01:33 PM.

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    PTA, South Africa
    Posts
    437
    My Cars
    e46 328i
    Looks Great!
    TEIN SS Coilover/De-Cat Exhaust/Alpine CDA-9833R/Focal 6.5" Splits/Kicker 12"/JBL GT75.4

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St. Augustine
    Posts
    340
    My Cars
    91 318is alpine
    Hey congrats! I love the pic with the loading dock sign hahahahah. So wait your a female?



  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    Arizona
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    E46, S2000
    Last time I checked I was, yes.

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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St. Augustine
    Posts
    340
    My Cars
    91 318is alpine
    Really?! That is sick! I had always thought you were some older guy in his 40s because you are very knowledgeable, and come across as very mature. You definitely are one of the coolest girls, ever!! (I am not some internet troll who hasn't seen a live one in months...) Congrats, you are full of win!



  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    Arizona
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    E46, S2000
    Lol, it's not every day someone tells me they thought I was a 40 year old man

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St. Augustine
    Posts
    340
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    91 318is alpine
    Quote Originally Posted by SilverBeam View Post
    Lol, it's not every day someone tells me they thought I was a 40 year old man
    HAHA yeah I bet, but that is not what I meant. I meant no offense by that comment, you know what I mean I hope



  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Delta, BC, Canada
    Posts
    118
    My Cars
    2006 BMW 525i, 2005 MINI Cooper S
    That's a very nice looking car. Congratulations.

    ...and the photography is very good also.

    2006 525i, 2005 MINI Cooper S

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    C5 Zo6 Fk8 CTR
    Very nice car. Now you need a 15% pulley.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Baltimore
    Posts
    5,473
    My Cars
    E30
    Nice upgrade

    Those mouldings look pretty good, but you should check out Forever Black if you dont know about it already. It's black plastic dye/conditioner. Makes a huge difference on the black moulding minis.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Arizona
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    My Cars
    E46, S2000
    Thanks! I use Poorboy's Trim Restorer which I like. Unfortunately there is a pesky spot of polish on the back fender I'm having trouble getting off.

    As for a pully... I'm considering one. I need to do my research into modifications and I also need to give my bank account a rest. I've been hard on the MINI since I got it with three track days and I've been doing a lot of preventative maintenance as well. In the past month I've:

    replaced all four tires with non-run flats
    replaced the expansion tank (still need to do the thermostat)
    replaced the motor mount
    replaced battery
    replaced the front pads and rotors (today)
    oil change
    coolant flush
    brake flush
    filter change
    Oh and that whole system thinggy

    total cost: ~$2,000

    I want to do the thermostat and power steering fan still after that I'll have some piece of mind and can start to think about modifications. I really want some more low end power. I found that if I come out of a corner with anything less than 4000 RMP at the track I lose all my momentum, which really sucks if there is a car with more HP in front of you slowing you down, because then they don't want to let you pass. I also think some exhaust would sound nice and I need to make sure my new brakes have solved my stopping problems at the track, otherwise I'll have to look into brake cooling systems and stainless steel lines, which I might just do before my next track day anyways.
    Last edited by SilverBeam; 06-20-2010 at 12:40 AM.

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  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Atlanta,GA
    Posts
    132
    My Cars
    6 MINI's, 1 '95 318
    Definetly put the Pulley and a rear swaybar at the top of your list. Those will be the two biggest bang for the buck mods you can do. And that pulley will be the biggest help coming out of that corner at the track, but the swaybar will let you go through it faster.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Arizona
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    E46, S2000
    What are the differences between the 15, 16 and 17 percent pullies and what can I expect it to do to the reliability of the supercharger?

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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Porto, Porto, Portugal
    Posts
    25
    My Cars
    Mini Cooper
    Amazing car...I'm hoping one day i'll own one of those... I'm definitely a MINI lover!!! Still can't afford it...but my time will come

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    TX
    Posts
    1,634
    My Cars
    Rubicon, Cayman, 911 S
    I generally don't care for light blues, but that color looks stunning on the Cooper.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    McKean township Pennsylva
    Posts
    10,542
    My Cars
    1999 M3 , 1999 328is
    Fantastic looking car! My family is possibly looking at a yellow one with black stripes tomorrow.

    Does any one know if a normal BMW dealer will service a MINI? The closest MINI dealer is about 100 miles away.
    Current fleet:
    1999 BMW e36 M3
    1999 BMW e36 328is with rotary valve engine head
    1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
    1990 Jeep Comanche Eliminator
    1962 Austin Healey Sprite

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    Arizona
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    Quote Originally Posted by pizzaman09 View Post
    Fantastic looking car! My family is possibly looking at a yellow one with black stripes tomorrow.

    Does any one know if a normal BMW dealer will service a MINI? The closest MINI dealer is about 100 miles away.
    It differs from place to place, you should call and ask. If it isn't under warranty don't even bother with bringing it to a dealer though.

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  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    McKean township Pennsylva
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    Quote Originally Posted by SilverBeam View Post
    It differs from place to place, you should call and ask. If it isn't under warranty don't even bother with bringing it to a dealer though.
    Why not take it to a dealer out of warranty?
    Current fleet:
    1999 BMW e36 M3
    1999 BMW e36 328is with rotary valve engine head
    1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
    1990 Jeep Comanche Eliminator
    1962 Austin Healey Sprite

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Maryland
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    1,789
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    None
    Because it will cost you an


    Nice car though OP, although i'd want a vintage one. Have fun with it.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    E46, S2000
    Yeah, what he said. Around here the dealership charges $30 more an hour in labor over independent shops for the same quality work. In fact many indies are enthusiasts, they race the cars, they appreciate the cars, they live and breath the cars, where that kind of enthusiasm is often lacking from a dealership. Find a good, trustworthy mechanic and they can do pretty much anything a dealership could do at substantial savings.

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  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    McKean township Pennsylva
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    1999 M3 , 1999 328is
    This may sound strange to you all, but if there is one dealer in my town that wont rip you off and screw you over until there is nothing left, it is the BMW dealer. They are known for not ripping people off unlike every one else in town.

    There is also only one decent BMW Indy here. I use to go to him to service the Benz I owned but it was inconvenient with him flying to Germany every two weeks to visit his mother. I am happy with the BMW dealer for service, even if it is more expensive than an indy, they are quick, have amazing service, and they are only three miles from where I live.

    Also sorry for jacking your thread SilverBeam.
    Last edited by pizzaman09; 07-06-2010 at 05:28 PM.
    Current fleet:
    1999 BMW e36 M3
    1999 BMW e36 328is with rotary valve engine head
    1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
    1990 Jeep Comanche Eliminator
    1962 Austin Healey Sprite

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    859
    My Cars
    E31
    You'll enjoy it

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Nutley, NJ
    Posts
    50
    My Cars
    2013 535xi
    Excellent pictures!!! Are you semi pro - pro photographer also???

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
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    Arizona
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    E46, S2000
    Nah, just an amateur with a DSLR. Thanks

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  25. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
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    HI->RoK->Hot as Hell, AZ
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    too many, yet not enough
    Quote Originally Posted by pizzaman09 View Post
    Does any one know if a normal BMW dealer will service a MINI? The closest MINI dealer is about 100 miles away.
    according to a friend who's a master tech at the BMW dealer, BMW wants to keep all things separate, and while they can get away with doing simple stuff on MINI's (mostly t-stat's) all the major work stays with MINI techs. Your mileage may vary, so check with your service advisor at the BMW dealer and they can give you more info. That said, at this particular dealer BMW and MINI are on the same lot...so your BMW may not have some of the special tools for MINI's (assuming there are).


    OP - nice Cooper S! Has the non run flats made a lot of difference?

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