My 2021 MINI SE .... the project has started....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tifosi
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Tifosi said:
Thanks. Nope, don't care about weight. I have faster and lighter cars for the weekend and or track. This is my daily commuter and its plenty quick for that purpose.

This car stock looks like every other MINI - I have spent 20+ years (prior life) in the auto aftermarket and every car I have ever owned has been customized. I cannot leave them alone. lol. I want it to be unique and reflect my style.


I was going to go black, but on the moonwalk, the slight different gray actually looks good to me with the black surround. So I am going to leave it. Vinyl wont hold up here in the heat (it shrinks) and paint will chip way too easily (been down that road with others cars). If you dont live where its "surface of the sun" hot like I do, then Vinyl is a good solution!

Thanks
brad
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Fair. For me, the SE is both my daily commuter and my fun car. My money is tied up in a different toy (namely a hole in the water, surrounded by fiberglass, into which I pour my time and money). It's fun to see what others have done to their cars, though!
 
Yea, I would not have made the gray decision either! lol But I also cannot understand why anyone uses chrome anything!
 
GetOffYourGas said:
Fair. For me, the SE is both my daily commuter and my fun car. My money is tied up in a different toy (namely a hole in the water, surrounded by fiberglass, into which I pour my time and money). It's fun to see what others have done to their cars, though!
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Totally get it. I have one of those too. lol

My 4 wheel fun toys include this (to be finished soon)....
IMG_1876.webp
 
I installed the Smoked Led Front & Rear Side Marker Lights last night, and loving them!

Front on and off:
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Rear on and off:
img_0487-jpg.72918

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Also got the Black Surround Installed (just waiting for the light rings - I hate waiting)
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Progress ....

Thanks
Brad
 
Tifosi said:
They really make the car look the way the designers intended IMHO.
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That's what I said about the designers not including the fake hood scoop from the MINI Cooper S on any of the design studies, concept cars, pre-production prototypes, or the MINI E. For 2 years I've maintained my seldom-viewed 10-second online slide show protesting Marketing's decision to require the scoop (in vain, I offered $1500 to get a non-S hood), but I appear to be the only member of my particular minority group.
 
I went back and watched Mini’s 2022 reveal video where they talked about the design. Those garish side markers were conspicuously absent from the ‘show models’ on the stage.
 
insightman said:
That's what I said about the designers not including the fake hood scoop from the MINI Cooper S on any of the design studies, concept cars, pre-production prototypes, or the MINI E. For 2 years I've maintained my seldom-viewed 10-second online slide show protesting Marketing's decision to require the scoop (in vain, I offered $1500 to get a non-S hood), but I appear to be the only member of my particular minority group.
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I have to say I like the scoop. It is a Mini Cooper s after all!
 
Tifosi said:
I have to say I like the scoop. It is a Mini Cooper s after all!
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Hood scoops were invented to provide air to an internal combustion engine, so the ornamental scoop makes a little sense on BMW's MINI Cooper S. Other than the hood scoop, MINI designers observed the form-follows-function dictum.

John Cooper's cars didn't have a hood scoop. (Oh, how I wish there were 5-bolt, 17" Minilite wheels!)

upload_2021-4-2_21-17-1.webp
 
tr6tevens said:
You should be able to order 17” Superlite wheels with the correct bolt spacing, hub and offset. https://vintagewheelsus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=508

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
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Thank you! Those Superlites do look just like Minilites, which is good, but they don't make a 17" x 7" version (8" & 9.5" widths only). Also, they don't appear to offer an F56-compatible offset. As much as I love the look, I'm sort of glad they don't make wheels to fit my SE because ~$400/wheel is beyond my budget.
 
For me, I already have 17's - I want bigger! lol :D 17" looks too small to me on this car.

Some more progress this weekend. Front and Rear Light Rings installed:

IMG_0502.webp IMG_0505.webpIMG_0504.webp IMG_0503.webp

These actually came from Amazon. Best price I could find.
Carwoman Reaplacement Gloosy Black Matt Black Head & Rear Lamp Surround Trim Part For Mini Cooper F55 F56 F57 (Glossy Black)

Bad news/bad news:
Good: all the wheel tire parts are ordered (wheels, tires, TPMS with Black stems, Center bore adapters, center caps with Black/Grey Union Jack)
Bad: Wheel seller said (after they took my money and said they had been shipped) that it is a 6 week wait!

Arghhh

Thanks
Brad
 
The black waist-line/beltline trim really makes a huge difference. Why doesn't the MINI designer who added all the other Piano Black trim elements to the Iconic understand that?
 
insightman said:
The black waist-line/beltline trim really makes a huge difference. Why doesn't the MINI designer who added all the other Piano Black trim elements to the Iconic understand that?
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It really makes no sense to me. They went 90% of the way to where most 'black out' owners want to go. But I'll evaluate that later after I put some quality miles on the car. My car is still technically "vaporware" until it hits land (hopefully April 10th).
 
Totally agree! I just installed the OE beltline kit last night, took 30 minutes. Much better than the vinyl/tape wrapped silver trim!
 
Looks great! Once I wrap my grille I will be deciding if I black out or tint the rear taillights. This has been great to see parts and such.
 
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