Newbie in St Joe! (New questions 3/23/13)

[Zack]

Put the ASA wheels on. Wow. What a difference.


Going to spray the roof gunmetal gray this weekend. Also spent 2 hours buffing the car last night. What a difference. Looks like a brand new car now!

I think your car is a very dark blue and the roof is black. Under the lighting that is what it looks like.

[Derek1387]

Car is back in action, thanks to Isaac at Baron Mini!

And it is now in the paint booth!

And... Alta 22MM rear sway bar has been ordered as well.

[Derek1387]

OK-so I freed up about $900 bucks to put into the car.

I am thinking a few different options, and would like some opinions-
Brakes-drilled/slotted and EBC pads all around
Suspension: Konis? With some springs?
OR- Stereo-get my double din put in, with some components and a single sub.

I dont see me getting a ton of track time, except for when the club goes. BUT, I drive the car like i stole it every time i jump in. Now, again, this is the best handling car I have ever driven, so I dont even see how it could get better!

Let me know what you think KC!

[Minidave]

For street driving and the occasional track day, you won't get any benefit from bigger brakes, the stock brakes are fine.

I hear the Koni's make the car ride nicely......but I've never driven them.

A good rear bar is a worthy investment.

Can't comment on the radio, I never even turn mine on.

Your smartest perfomance buy is to save up your cash and buy a S!

[Derek1387]

Ha! I love Boris...
I already have a 22mm Alta on the way. Got it Nib for $170 shipped

[IowaM1N1]

Koni FSD is a popular strut upgrade.

[Derek1387]

Anybody here lower theirs ? I am thinking about getting some NM springs, but reading horror stories about vibration and then having to replace axles quickly.

[Zack]

Anybody here lower theirs ? I am thinking about getting some NM springs, but reading horror stories about vibration and then having to replace axles quickly.

I had a friend who installed lowering springs on his Mini a while ago, but one of them snapped in half so he removed them.

[s1-]

Anybody here lower theirs ? I am thinking about getting some NM springs, but reading horror stories about vibration and then having to replace axles quickly.

The stock suspension is built to handle the stock springs, so putting lowering springs on it does increase the risk of ruining other parts of the suspension. I've been considering putting springs on my car but have not come across anybody who ruined their axles from just lowering springs. More than anything you will wear the shock out faster. I have seen people post that they wish they upgraded their shock when they installed the new springs.

[Minidave]

If you go too low you can damage the axles, they were made to operate in a certain arc and length, changing that (by lowering the car) causes wear and excessive angles under certain circumstances - many people have experienced vibration and failed axles after lowering their cars. However, I think the key to it is in how much you lower it, a couple cm is no biggy, a couple of inches is....

As with anything else, moderation is the key.

I don't know why the shocks would care, as long as you didn't remove the bumpstops and haven't been bottoming them out. However, if you lower it too much, you will need a shorter shock, so you don't bottom them out.

[Derek1387]

Yeah, im looking at closing the fender gap with NM springs... 1.2" drop

[DA MINI]

Had NM springs on my R56. Loved them. They do warn you to cut the bumpstops in half.

[Sspreso]

Cross drilled and slotted is more for looks than performance. Fine if that looks are your goal.
Suspension...its easy to go too far and end up with a ride your not happy with.
Stereo...if you spend lots of time in the car its a worthy upgrade.

Its your car, so do what will give you the most smiles per mile.

[Derek1387]

Well, decided to go with my stereo

Put my Alpine W404 double din in, with Hertz High Energy 165XL 6.5 components up front, with High Energy 6x9s in the back, and a single 10" Hertz High Energy subwoofer in a custom enclosure in back, with an amp rack underneath the box for my Audison SRX5 5 channel amplifier.

When the Alpine ICS-X7HD double Din comes out, that will replace the W404.

As well, my Alta 22MM sway bar will be here tomorrow!

[Derek1387]

Finally got my audio setup done.

[Minidave]

Wow, that's one of the cleanest installs I've seen, did it replace the back seat?

Will the amp get enough cooling covered up like that?

[Derek1387]

Yes, we took out the backseat and fabbed a bracket for the whole system to sit in it.

It also has two 140mm computer fans underneath it to keep it cool.

And thanks. Wanted to make it as "factory looking" as possible. And it sounds good to boot!

[Derek1387]

Ordered some TSW lowering springs too, lowers the front 1", and the rear 3/4", and is a linear spring. Pretty excited.

[Counterfit_Mini]

That audio setup looks awesome!