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

[Derek1387]

Yeah, i hear ya. I wouldnt be doing anything crazy. I just cant stand the stock "audio" that is in these lol.

Looks like I may be painting the roof and the wheels a dark gun metal color to offset the Astro black/blue thing..... Kinda hard to explain, but i think its going to look awesome.

[Hagar46]

Love those Enkei's also. I'd get them if I had an S.

[Minidave]

A lot of people don't realize that even th the sway bar has three holes on each side, you don't have to set each side in the same hole, you can use all the way stiff on one and all the way soft on the other end, it will equal out to half way between.....

The stiffness is across the bar, from wheel to wheel, so any combination of holes will work. Both set to the shortest hole is the stiffest, both set to the furthest out hole is the softest, any combination in between will fine tune the stiffness.

[Derek1387]

Good to know!

Should I order the 25.5mm Hotchkis competition bar? Or just stick with the 22 or 19MM?

[Minidave]

22mm should be fine for a Justa.

If you look around, you might find one used, they're all the same - that is, they fit pretty much anything 1st gen and 2nd are the same too.

I have the bar I had on my 2003 Cooper S JCW on my 2nd gen Clubman, it originally came off a 2005 Justa Cabrio!!

[Zack]

Good to know!

Should I order the 25.5mm Hotchkis competition bar? Or just stick with the 22 or 19MM?

You can have the roof and mirrors vinyled gun metal cheaper than painting.
My swaybar is the competition 25.5 I believe, hollow. You should also order some new Moog end links as yours are probably worn out or could be worn out by now.

[Derek1387]

Yes, I already priced having them vinyl wrapped and they want $500. I would prefer paint, and the guy who is doing it is going to fix a few spots that need some work. And he is doing it cheap. He has painted several cover trucks and cars for several magazines and a close friend at that.

[s1-]

Late reply but like the wheels!

[Minidave]

Rather than dark grey, what about a chrome wrap?

[Derek1387]

Thanks S1!

Minidave, I am actually actively trying to blackout or color match the chrome. Not a huge chrome fan unless very subtle touches, or wheels only.

[Derek1387]

Getting ready to order my custom plates...

Thinking
Bite-Sz
Mini-Mi
Clwn-Cr

Any other suggestions?

[Zack]

Getting ready to order my custom plates...

Thinking
Bite-Sz
Mini-Mi
Clwn-Cr

Any other suggestions?

Well have you picked a name for your car yet? I named mine Oliver. Minidaves car is Max. My friends car is Yoshi. Counterfit_Mini's is Artemis.

[Derek1387]

I havent yet. I just cant seem to think of how to even name it.

I was thinking Bobo... which is how I came up with Clwn-Cr.... but I really have no idea. I havent had the car long enough for it to develop a "personality".

[Zack]

I havent yet. I just cant seem to think of how to even name it.

I was thinking Bobo... which is how I came up with Clwn-Cr.... but I really have no idea. I havent had the car long enough for it to develop a "personality".

I figured out pretty quick what names Oliver didn't like. In the end it was a fitting name. Especially considering the Opel Kadet named Oliver on Top Gear. Same color.

[Derek1387]

So I picked up a set of ARA AR1's with http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... ontact+SSR for the winter yesterday...and i ordered my custom plate
"BITE-SZ"
I am 6'4" 350

And my Enkei's are getting the Ventis V12's installed as we speak!

[Derek1387]

Enkei's installed....

Thoughts?

[IowaM1N1]

I like 'em.

[Hagar46]

You know I like them! They have been on my wish list for 10 years at Tirerack.com; just have not bought a newer MINI Cooper S to put them on.

[Derek1387]

Thanks guys! I think im going to keep em and then paint the roof the same color as the wheels. The Bronze is growing on me.

Now I gotta sell my spare ARA AR1's

[Minidave]

OK, I like that idea......go for it!

[Derek1387]

Just made my first trip to Baron Mini...

Wow...what a place that is. Picked up a JCW grill, shorty antenna, and two oil filters. I get free oil changes for buying the car, but i am sure they dont use OEM filters...

Almost wondering what the AR1's are going to look like on my car, thinking about installing them just to check em out.

[DIYAutoRepair]

Derek, it was nice to see the Mini in person, really like the Black color. I'm glad we could help with the tires, the runflats must have been a terrible ride.

I think a Red would be a good accent color for it.

When you're ready for some paint, come on back, we have a great paint and body guy.

[Zack]

Enkei's installed....

Thoughts?

Nice plate mount. Guess you didn't the one I was selling that you asked about, lol.

[Derek1387]

Derek, it was nice to see the Mini in person, really like the Black color. I'm glad we could help with the tires, the runflats must have been a terrible ride.

I think a Red would be a good accent color for it.

When you're ready for some paint, come on back, we have a great paint and body guy.

Had a blast down there! Thanks for the hospitality.

Got the torque mount bushing put on, and swapped wheels and tires around

Zach, picked this cravenspeed one up for $20 on NAM earlier this week. Couldn't turn it down.

[Derek1387]

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!