New Mod: M7 Ultimate Grill

After several months without making a single entry, I finally have something new to blog about: I installed the M7 Ultimate Grill that had been sitting in my shed since August.

Here's the before:


Here's the after:

Originally purchased in August, the grill sat boxed up in my shed for several months since I was too busy playing soccer and sleeping on the weekends. I know -- poor excuses for not attending to my beloved MINI ...

The install process took me about two hours. I think for the more inclined grease monkey, it should only take around an hour, but since I am such a perfectionist (and newbie) I took my sweet time making sure the grill was installed right the first time.

The thing that took the longest was removing the front bumper skin. I searched the NAM message boards for a how-to on this mod, but came up with nothing. I ended up using an official MINI technical spec diagram to figure out what screws/bolts needed to be removed. I also looked at pictures of another MINI owner/blogger to see how the install process went for him.

Basically there are two #30 Torx bolts that get removed first. These are the easiest bolts to get to ... all the others require you get on your back and remove them from the underside of the bumper (5 in all).

After busting my knuckles and removing the two 8mm bolts that are below the headlamps in the wheel well area, I was ready to pull the bumper skin off ... wait a minute ... I forgot to disconnect the connectors for the headlamps, side indicators and fogs. Once all six of these connectors were unplugged, I was really ready to remove the bumper.

Above Photo: Inside of the bumper skin once it is removed. The orange connector goes to the side indicator light. The grey connector goes to the headlght.


I followed the included instructions with the grill to install it. They are very straight forward.

After I zip-tied the temperature sensor to the aluminum bumper strucure, I was ready to put the bumper skin back on. Putting it on was really easy.


Voila!

Road Trip!

My oldest sis and I will be driving the MINI down to the Outer Banks tomorrow morning for a week-long vacation (much needed).

Since she is a soon-to-be MINI owner (Dark Silver MCS), I think I'll let her get used to the MINI by driving it most of the way down to the beach ... plus, that gets me out of having to drive :)

I finally received the M7 Ultimate grill in the mail this past week. Unfortunately, since hurricane Ernesto decided to come, I haven't had a chance to install it. I guess that will have to wait until after vacation is over.

Photos of Latest Mods

Here are some photos of the chrome bits I installed last weekend ...

New Chrome Boot Handle

New Chrome Grill

New Chrome Toggle Ring Covers

Coming soon: M7 Ultimate Lower Grill

Chrome Bits Installation

I received several chrome pieces last week to install on the MINI.

It took me 40 minutes to install the OEM chrome grill since I was worried about cracking the chrome surround on the existing trim. After deciding to use a little force, I finally got the three slat grill on there. The fourth slat is still in it's original packaging as I decided to wait until I received the M7 Ulitmate lower grill before installing it. Both pieces require that I remove the bumper, so i decided to wait until I had the M7 part in hand before performing minor surgery.

The chrome toggle switch ring covers went on in about two minutes. They are just peel 'n stick pieces of plastic.

The chrome boot handle trim piece went on fairly easy as well. I made sure to wash the car before I installed this peel 'n stick piece.

I'll have pictures of everything in an upcoming post.

New Parts to Install

I bought some new bits to install on the car:

- MINI Chrome OEM Grill
- Chrome Boot Handle
- M7 Ultimate Grill

I'll post pictures and links to product ordering info when I get a chance later on. It's late and time for bed.

Off to Get the Dent Repaired ...

I took G8RMNI to the autobody shop to get repairs done. The shop seemed kinda seedy, so hopefully everything will turn out fine. USAA recommended them, so I trust USAA ...

I ended up renting a Mazda 6 while the repairs are being done. It sucks.

I feel like I am loafing down the road, the pick-up/pull is pathetic, the riding position is uncomfortable, the engine sounds tinny, and the upholstery is like sitting on industrial carpet.

I want my MINI back!

The Mazda 6 does have one cool feature though: The key fob is impressive-looking. The key itself feels cheap though; a laser-cut key would have upped the quality-feel factor.

By the way, the temp before I dropped off my car at the auto body shop read 100 degrees. Yowsa!

Dent Status

I was contacted today by a claims rep at USAA to go over the damage on G8RMNI.

It looks like I'll be taking him to Craftsmen Auto Body in Sterling. My neighbor -- who owns a MINI as well -- recommends Craftsmen, as he has heard several good things about them from Porsche, Bimmer and Audi owners.

I hope they will be able to fit me in soon.

Dent. Goddammit.

Backing out of a parking space at work today I traded paint with a the cement footer of a security light.

Shit.

I was livid.

Pissed.

I'll have to call the dealership tomorrow to see how much to fix it, who they recommend to do bodywork, etc ...

On the plus side, something good may come out of this clusterfuck: It's an excuse to buy and install the aero kit, pictured below.

Prospective MINI Buyers, Read On

I got an e-mail from my sister who currently is stationed in Germany. She and her husband are thinking about buying a MINI and had some questions. Her e-mail is below, followed by my response.

... We will need a second car and he wants to get a MINI. We may buy used (2004 or 2005) if we can find a good one. However, I also want to research new and compare total costs. They have a military sales program here to sell new ones and pay your shipping back to the states. BUT, I want to compare and see if they're really a good deal when compared with buying in the U.S.

So, could you tell me which dealer you bought from in NoVA? I'll do some pricing at the MINI Web site and then get some quotes from your dealer and perhaps one in Tidewater. Also, if you don't mind sharing and you recall -- it would be great to know what you paid for yours -- basically, what was your base price and then for any options - (I assume you got the sports pkg, etc.)

Thanks!

Here's my response:

A MINI will be a pretty cool purchase.

There are some key differences between the US spec'd MINIs and the European versions. Namely, you can only get MINIs in the US in two different engine formats: Cooper (115 hp) or Cooper S (Supercharged 168 hp for 2005 model, 163 hp for 2004 model).

In Europe there are four different engine versions: MINI One (90 hp), MINI One D (88 hp), MINI Cooper (115 hp) and MINI Cooper S (Supercharged 168 hp for 2005 model, 163 hp for 2004 model). If you are going to bring the car to the states I'd recommend getting either a Cooper or a Cooper S. The MINI One and One D are severely underpowered, and it will be harder to get reasonable service at a MINI dealership/authorized mechanic.

I bought the Cooper S (which I imagine you both will want to buy after test driving it since it blows the doors off of the Cooper for just a few thousand more). The 2005 model is almost exactly the same as my 2006, minus a few under-the-bonnet improvements that will pretty much go unnoticed.

The manual 6-speed transmission on the S model is TONS of fun. So I highly recommend it. If you are looking for an automatic tranny, you'll have to get a 2005 or 2006 model since the automatic transmission wasn't introduced on the S model until '05.

I've test-driven a 2005 with the automatic transmission and it was fun to drive. It has an optional "sport" mode that allows you to shift gears from two paddles on the steering wheel, kind like a Formula 1 racer.

The numbers ...

MINIs in the US have an extremely high resale value. Basically, if I sold my '06 a year from now with 15,000 miles on it, I could expect to get just $1,000 less than I paid for it. The high resale value is a result of the car being in high demand. Also, since the car is so customizable, most people opt to not buy one off of the dealer lot and order one from the factory (like I did).

As a result of the demand being so high, there is no negotiating at the dealership on the price. I know this sounds crazy, but I haven't heard of anyone getting one for under MSRP (in fact, when they were first introduced in the US in 2002, dealers were adding a "market value" charge to the car ... sometimes in excess of 5,000 bucks!)

The price that you come up with after you configure a car on the MINI Web site is the price you should expect to pay for a new MINI at the dealership in the US. You may be able to get a slight discount if you buy from a dealership that is affiliated with a local MINI club, but usually discounts only apply to accessories.

I bought my car from MINI of Sterling. The other two dealerships that are somewhat near me are MINI of Townsend, MD and MINI of Richmond, VA. They all have the same prices as a result of the car being in high demand.

Since the MINI is in high-demand, there is absolutely no pressure from the salesperson. If you have some questions or just want to shoot the breeze about MINIs I highly recommend speaking to my Motoring Advisor, Jeff Wannall (jeff@miniofsterling.com). He's laid back and is very prompt in checking his e-mail (except on Fridays and Sundays since those are his days off).

I read on a MINI enthusiast blog that the 2007 model versions will be built in September. The 2007 versions of the car will look almost unchanged from the outside, but will look drastically different in the inside (I actually think they look pretty lame, so I am glad I got an '06!). If you opt to buy new, I suggest getting your order in very soon.

Where did I find out this information? How do I know what the 2007 version will look like? Read on ...

http://www.motoringfile.com Awesome blog with tons of useful news on the MINI.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com I have been a member of this U.S. message board community for over a year. It is awesome! There is tons of advice on buying used vs. new, things to look out for, tips and tricks. I highly recommend becoming a member (free) and lurking around. My screen name is G8RMNI (of course!)

http://www.mini2.com I am also a member of this European message board community (same screen name as above). This community is directed towards owners on your side of the pond, so it is a good resource for people who own a Euro spec'd car.

About my car:

2006 MINI Cooper S

Space Blue with Pure Silver Roof, Mirrors and Bonnet U-Stripe

Premium Package
Automatic Air Conditioning
Dual Pane Panoramic Sunroof
On-Board Computer
3-Spoke Steering Wheel w/Cruise & Multifunction

Sport Package
Dynamic Stability Control
Front Fog Lamps
Xenon Headlamps w/Power Wash
17" Web-spoke Alloy Wheels
Run-Flat Performance Tires

Cold Weather Package
Heated Front Seats
Heated Side Mirrors & Washer Jets

Factory Installed Extras

"Seven" Piano Black Interior Trim
Chrome Interior
Rear Fog Light
Armrest

I paid $27,300 plus tax, tags, etc.

Full spec list is here: http://home.comcast.net/~ryan.morris/MINI/profile.html

OK, that's my thesis on MINIs.

Fun Photos

I came across this cool tool which pulls photos from your AIM Page and turns them into embeddable Flash ... scratching your head? Just click a photo.

Cool, huh?

Water Spots on my Zaino Job!

Yesterday, I ran out of gas on the way back from soccer practice. I called the MINI roadside assistance, and two hours and 20 minutes later, a guy showed up on the 14th Street bridge to fill my car up with a few gallons of gas.

Some gas ran down the side of G8RMNI, so I made sure to wash off the rear quarter panel when I got home ... this is how the water spots formed:

Apprently, since my hose had been sitting in the 90 degree heat all week, it developed some sort of calcium problem -- which found it's way to my car. Basically, I thought I was just hosing off the gas ... in actuallity, I was adding water spots all over the car as the water droplets dried in the sun.

As a result, I had to wash my car today with the Zaino car wash soap. It took about 20 minutes to give the car a good scrubbing.

Next time I decide to hose down G8RMNI I will have to remember to let the water run for at least two minutes before spraying the finish.

Jump in My Car

Okay, this has to be the worst "car inspired" song ever.

Hassel-horrible ...

Lamborghini: It Could Pants G8RMNI

Saw this car as i was driving through Georgetown in DC the other day. I'm pretty sure it would blow the doors off of any MINI ...

Zaino Party: How-to

Yesterday I Zaino'd G8RMNI. It takes forever, but the results are well worth it.

There are several steps to follow in order to complete the Zaino process.

1. Wash the car with Dawn liquid dish detergent. The boys at Zaino recommend using Dawn due to it's high alkaline content. The akaline is responsible for stripping any wax, grease and residue from the finish of the car.

2. Claybar your ride. A claybar is able to remove contaminates from the surface of the paint -- i.e. tree sap, tar, water spots, bug guts and any other thing that may be on your paint. Zaino recommends pouring one capful of Zaino carwash detergent for every 24 ounces of water. I poured the ingredients into a spray bottle and shook it up for 30 seconds. After making the soapy concoction I began to spray dow a 2'x3' area and then rub the claybar back and forth over the area. Once I claybar'd the area, I sprayed the soap solution on it again, and then wiped the suds down with a dry cotton towel. No water spots appear ... at all!

You can claybar anything and everything on the car, just make sure to use plenty of lubricating soap solution. I claybar'd the windows to remove water stains. Works like a charm!

3. Wash your ride with Zaino carwash detergent. This removes all of the clay residue and the soapy solution that you had previously wiped off with the cotton towel.

4. Zaino your ride. I used the ZFX wax system made by Zaino. In order to make a fresh batch of the the ZFX soution add 10 drops of activator (blue stuff in the tiny vial) to a two ounce bottle supplied with the kit. Next, top off the bottle with the Z2 car polish. Put the cap on the bottle and shake it for two minutes.

Wipe the car down either all at once or section by section using a cotton towel or one of the cotton applicator pads Zaino includes in the kit.

Zaino recommends only using a dime-size of wax at a time, but I thought it was easier to use a quarter-size at a time. Make sure to wipe back and forth, not in a circular motion, Daniel-san.



5. Get your buff on. Wait 30-minutes, then wipe down the whole thing with a cotton towel and buff the hell out of it. Your car's paint will turn into a mirror.

You can keep waxing and buffing as much as you want. I only had time to do one coat of wax, but the results were amazing.


It's hard to tell in this photo, but there is a layer of the Zaino wax on the car. As you let it sit and cure, the wax will begin to haze.

The result of buffing is a mirrored shine. Yummy.

New Mods: Window Tint & AVIC-N3 Hack

In the past two days I have added more mods to G8RMNI.

Window Tint
After work yesterday, I took G8RMNI to LA Tint in Sterling, VA to get the back side windows tinted. I went with the 38% Ultimate Series tint.

LA Tint exclusively installs Formula One tint. There were three different levels to choose from, all offering different benefits. I ended up going with the mid-priced option which utilizes a "metalized base for optimum reflectivity and heat rejection" ... whatever that means.

Bottom line: the car looks awesome. I'll post a photo soon.

Pioneer AVIC-N3 Headunit Hack
When I was at Circuit City a few weeks ago to buy a Sirius tuner, I had a short conversation with the car audio salesman. He told me about an easy hack which allows full operation of the menus of the AVIC-N3 headunit while the parking brake is not engaged.

Previously, I had to stop the car and pull the e-brake up if I wanted to enter a new address while in navigation mode. I also had to do this if I wanted to check my stocks and sports scores. I guess Pioneer received a bunch of complaints with previous units (AVIC-N2, N1), because now they make it really easy to get around this annoying safety feature -- if you are willing to void your warranty.

After I got home from Circuit City, I jumped online and Googled the hack. Here's a link to the forum I found which discusses the hack (amongst other cool stuff to do to the headunit).

Now, here's the hack:

1. Pull out the headunit from the dash and flip it over.
a. On an '06 MINI, there are two screws on each column that will need to be removed.
b. Pull the columns down and to the outsides of the car. You will be able to see the four screws which secure the headunit in the dash.
c. Unscrew the four screws, then pull the headunit out.
d. Flip the headunit over.

2. Remove the four tiny screws on the face plate of the headunit.
a. You will need to slide the sleeve to the rear of the headunit.

3. Remove the silver sticker that is on the bottom of the unit. Congratulations. You have voided your warranty.

4. Now that the sticker is removed, you will see a black switch. With a small (really small) bladed screwdriver, slide the little switch to the left.

5. Next, you'll need to ground the light green parking brake wire to a negative wire on the car. I found a run of the wire near my iPod adpator and spliced it into the black wire of the adaptor.

6. Put the headunit back into the dash and screw everything back together.

7. Reset the headunit (make sure the Nav DVD is loaded).

Congratulations, you can now watch a DVD while driving (don't crash). You can also take full control of all of the Nav menus while under way.

Window Tint and AIM Pages

I just booked an appointment with LA Tint in Sterling, VA. According to the posts I read on the NAM message boards they do a good job.

So, it looks like on the 6th G8RMNI will finally get his rear windows tinted. Sweet.

Did I mention G8RMNI now has his own AIM Page? MySpace sucks, AIM Pages are where it's at.

Maybe It's Time for G8RMNI to Get a Tan

Something else I've been wanting to add to G8RMNI are tinted windows. I had tinted windows in my last car and I think they really make a car stand out in a subtle way. (oxymoron?)

I learned some things about what windows to not get tinted on a car when I took my '94 Honda Accord in for tinting back in my college days at UF. A word to the wise: don't get the back windscreen tinted.

Since there are window defroster wires on the rear windscreen, the tinting folks recommend you not use the rear defroster; ever.

If that wasn't enough to annoy me as I drove in a blizzard during the middle of January when I moved back up to Virginia, the rear windscreen gets so dark at night, that it is hard to tell what is going on behind your car in the rearview mirror.

So, I guess I'll be getting just the back side windows tinted. I want something fairly dark that enhances the appearance of the car.

I Googled window tint shops near my office and it looks like there is a reputable one about a mile away from my cubicle. Hopefully they'll be able to take care of G8RMNI tomorrow or Thursday before I head out of town for the Fourth of July weekend.

Satellite Radio x2

Ever since I bought G8RMNI I’ve had to go without Sirius satellite radio. I know the stock stereo is Sirius-ready, but if you’ve read my past installation entries, you’ll note that I removed the stock system a day after I took delivery of the car.

In my old car (a 1994 Honda Accord) I had a Sirius One plug-and-play unit that my ex-girlfriend had given to me for Christmas. I listened to Howard Stern on it the day he first went live on satellite and I have been missing his hilarious bits ever since I sold the car.

1994 Honda Accord

I kept the Sirius One unit, but never had plans to install it in G8RMNI since I wanted everything fully integrated in my new car. As a result, I put the unit up for auction on eBay. You can bid on it here.

Since the AVIC-N3 has the ability to play a Sirius feed (with limited functions), it was just a matter of time before I bought a tuner and figured out how to integrate it into my system.

On Saturday I bought a direct connect unit(SIR-PNR2) from Best Buy and began to install it. The install should have taken fifteen minutes, but I blew a fuse and had to wait until the next morning to get some replacement fuses.

Long story short:

I hid the tuner behind the front passenger floor carpet, next to the XM tuner and iPod adaptor. The IP Bus from the Sirius tuner connects to an input on the iPod adaptor. I replaced the stock 2-amp fuse that came with the tuner with a 15-amp fuse (since I had blown this same fuse yesterday when I failed to make sure the car was ‘off’ before I cut some wires). I then spliced the power wires (yellow and black) from the tuner to the iPod adpator’s yellow and black wires. I also replaced the iPod adaptor’s fuse with a 15-amp fuse so that the load would be manageable.

I mounted the Sirius antenna on the dash with some Velcro next to the GPS and XM antennas.

It works great. Now I have Sirius and XM in my car and all of the wires are hidden away. Check out my video to see the two tuners in action.