My daily driver

[AndySimpson]

It came time for us to change our daily driver.
Our Mini had 100,000 miles on it and had been put on to a classic car policy.

We had a fling with a 3.0 S-Type Jaguar, it was fun but a bit of a boat[img:20:20]http://www.miniresource.com/forums/html/emoticons/laugh.gif[/img]

We thought about ordering a Clubman so took a run down to the local MINI dealer.

We decided that we were to impatient to wait 5/6 months for the launch of the Clubman so changed our mind to the hatch.

We asked the dealer for a run in their R56 S but one of the salesmen had gone home in it

So they gave us the keys to a Checkmate R53 and said it would give us an idea of the performance.

We were immediately hooked on the Supercharger whine so again our minds were changed and the search was on for an R53.

Edwina wanted Electric Blue, I wanted an aerokit and we both wanted as new and low miles as possible.
We thought our search would take ages, but a few days later we spotted one that ticked all the boxes in The Country Garages MINI dealer.

So on 28th July 2007 we collect it

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_NewMINI004.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_NewMINI001.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

Typical me I can't leave things alone

I had the spot lamp covers fitted before I left the dealers and the fog lamp surrounds and Mini pirate rear aero decals were fitted shortly after

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_bumper.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_partsjuly004.jpg[/img]

The MINI stayed this way for 3 or four months but I wasn't sure on the white Bullet alloys, plus they showed every pick of dirt.
So I managed to pick up a set of R95

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minicooperwheels.jpg[/img]

I sold the white MINI Bullets and had some £s burning a hole in my pocket, German eBay provided me with a JCW spoiler

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minispoiler005.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minispoiler001.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

I bought some de-chroming tape from Outmotoring, it was a simple job to apply it to the waistline.

I also picked up a bargain JCW strutbrace and thought while I was brightening up the engine bay I may as well colour code the intercooler cover.

I also bought a Milltek cat back and a JCW airfilter housing, the later from the USA as it was substantially cheaper

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_dechrome005.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_dechrome001.jpg[/img]


I picked up a few more bargains in the form of Forge Motorsport alloy caps for under the bonnet.



[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibling003.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibling002.jpg[/img]

I really shouldn't look on eBay but I did and ended up with some JCW carbon fibre mirror caps and bonnet scoop to match the rear spoiler


[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibling005.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibling004.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

For most sensible folks that would have been plenty, but I'm not sensible

A fellow MINI2er let me have a lok at his JCW steering wheel, I really wish he hadn't cause I really wanted one then
While at the dealers I picked up an accessory brochure bad mistake cause I ended up buying some leather down tubes

[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0176.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_200408MINI2033.jpg[/img]

I had decided to expand the de-chrome theme from the waistline to the tail lights, so bought a spare set and cut them up

My Wife just shakes her head now when I do these things

[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0140.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0138.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

Obviously with the carbon fibre on the outside I had to add it to the steering wheel spokes, gear knob & handbrake.
While I was swapping these it would have seemed rude not to add the leather cup holder rings, gear stick rings etc

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_jcwinterior.jpg[/img]

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_miniintheforestmay2008.jpg[/img]

During the Summer we had a driving holiday to England and down to the Channel islands.

I turns out the MINI factory was on our way and they had our names down for a tour [img:35:20]http://www.miniresource.com/forums/html/emoticons/whistling2.gif[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_July08oxfordjerseylondon002.jpg[/img]


Corbiere light house in Jersey, well its behind the MINI and in that fog somewhere

[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0220.jpg[/img]

On our way back to Liverpool to catch the ferry we had time to spare and stopped in a nice village, it turns out Lohen are based there and they had us booked in[img:35:20]http://www.miniresource.com/forums/html/emoticons/whistling2.gif[/img]
This holiday was full of coincidences

So that was a new pulley, plugs, ITG airfilter and intercooler then

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_underbonnetlohen001.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

Continuing the de-chroming theme I had a bash at the MINI winged badges.
I also fitted a set of German style number plates I had from my old Golf
[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0286.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0285.jpg[/img]

I converted the red "S" on the bootlid and side repeater housings to black and added a "Supercharged" badge
[IMG:160:107]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_eibachSept002.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

So that was me finished until I found another bargain that I couldn't resist [img:35:25]http://www.miniresource.com/forums/html/emoticons/helpsmilie.gif[/img]

I had always loved BBS rims and had spotted a set of BBS RCs on a Hyper Blue MINI and thought they looked great

[IMG:160:106]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0343.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:106]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_IMG_0351.jpg[/img]

Its had to beat a bit of road dirt so I added some of that[img:32:24]http://www.miniresource.com/forums/html/emoticons/racer.gif[/img]

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_reallyDirtyMINI001.jpg[/img]


My most recent addition to the money pit is a matt black number plate recess
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibum002.jpg[/img]

[MiniMpi]

Andy....i'm drooling!!!
Well wear, i've seen the car in Modern MINI before. Gorgeous colour too.

[AndySimpson]

Andy....i'm drooling!!!
Well wear, i've seen the car in Modern MINI before. Gorgeous colour too.

Thanks

Latest additions are

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_miniunderbonnet001.jpg[/img]

M7 carbonfibre airdiverter
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_miniunderbonnet002.jpg[/img]

& some extra braces
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_miniunderbonnet004.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_miniunderbonnet003.jpg[/img]

[MiniMpi]

Oh they are braces from the convertible yeah?
Any better with them?

[AndySimpson]

Oh they are braces from the convertible yeah?
Any better with them?

Thats exactly what they are

Not sure on what benefit they give yet, I haven't really had a chance to test them. Hope to over the weekend

[Sportspack-Mark]

Looks good Andy

Very nice

[AndySimpson]

I ordered some customer gauge faces in black and white, instead of the factory silver.
I had to pull the gauges apart and change the colour of the needles

It was scarey at the start, but looking back it wasn't to difficult

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_MINInewdials003.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_MINInewdials001.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

When I got the BBS wheels, Darren from MLNI kindly photoshopped them to black & anthracite for me.
I finally took the plunge, though instead of anthracite they have an almost bronze effect.
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_BBS2009003.jpg[/img]

The chrome centre cap just looks wrong now

[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_BBS2009002.jpg[/img]


I liked this look, but I wanted the centre caps on, so...
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_april2009ardsrun8.jpg[/img]

..I had the alloy dish painted to match, but left the nut chrome
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibbscentre002.jpg[/img]

I'm happy with them now
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minibbscentre.jpg[/img]

[AndySimpson]

I then changed the dash & door trims for black with anthracite, instead of the alloy effect with silver.

I think they go better with the gauges, carbon and leather
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minidash001.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minidash.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Andysimpson/th_minidash002.jpg[/img]

I really think I have an addiction