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It Was Never Meant To Be A Project - Project


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#1 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 08:45 PM

Having owned my mini for nearly 5 years now, i was thinking that the car has changed quite significantly since the day I bought it.

Having read everyones project threads I feel inspired to "document" my minis transformation albeit a little retrospectively, If i cant remenber anything, I am sure my bank statements will remind me icon_redface.gif . 

We bought our mini 4 or 5 summers ago from a good guy in Växjö (middle of Sweden). Lets say it was an exciting 350 km trip home to Malmö (south Sweden), as i had never driven on the "wrong" side of the road before (i am Scottish not Swedish). 

The mini was intended to be our daily car, but we soon started to fall in love with it, and used it as a "fun" car. I didnt really know much about cars, but owning a mini it has been a steep learning curve. 

I dont know why i wanted a mini from the start. I am Scottish so minis where quite familiar to me as a child. I have a vivid memory of getting wet feet in my mums mini when she drove through a puddle!!

So anyway.. we took ownership of a 1996 "silver bullet" edition. 400 made for the german market. It just preceded the MPI sports packs and shared some features. 

Here is the mini as I bought it on our first outing....

 

 

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My girlfriend pretending she can drive! DSCN0299.jpg

 

 

 

 
Struggling to navigate around Skåne...
 
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The car was almost an original "silver bullet" except for the wheels. 400 of these cars were made for the German market 

 

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#2 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 08:55 PM

Decided to fit some spots /fogs soon after I bought it, along with clear indicator lenses. I still havent used the fogs in anger.    DSC_0292.jpg[/URL]     Since it was intended as a daily driver, A set of winter tyres were needed,  miniforum1.jpg     OVER ARCHED OR WHAT.....at least someone enjoyed the tyres.    DSC_0086.jpg



#3 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 08:58 PM

Well the harsh Swedish winter took its inevitable toll on the silver bullet - 

 

 

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Not too bad though, caught it just in time. The mini went to get the rust seen to and a respray.


#4 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:05 PM

Respray done just before the Summer of 2010!
 
I then fitted a set of new rubber cones a set hilos , 
 
 
We then set of on our monster trip ----
 
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Spent about 3 weeks away. 
 
Took the opportunity while in England and had some things fitted to the mini! Visited a place in London to have some suspension bits added (lower arms adjustable tie bars etc) and visited minisport to have stage 1 kit fitted and burst on their rollers.-  73 ish BHP
 
Had a couple of breakdowns, had a short on the wiring loom, as we left the gaydon show, and spent 3 days extra in wonderful Leamington spa. 
 
Also had a an intermediate problem with a sticking throttle, (minisport fixed that for free)
 
Had the exhaust pop of the braket on the autobahn, the exhaust was red hot from the asphalt so had to poor cola over it to cool it. 
 
We made it home and on the way back managed this - 
 
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#5 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:07 PM

Had a good time at our first real mini show in Gaydon - 

 

 

 
 
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#6 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:08 PM

So home safe and sound started to fit some extras to the exterior - 
 
Over rider
corner bars
Bonnet straps
 
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I found a roof rack on Swedish ebay 40 quid, originally from a Volvo Amazon, spent some time polishing it and then added some wooden ribs stained the colour of my steering wheel - 
 
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And in use - DSC_0077.jpg
 
And the outcome - DSC_0079.jpg


#7 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:11 PM

We have always tried to be part of the mini /english classic scene here in Sweden.. We attended this treasure hunt..,at the time I had no idea what the instructions said. We finished near the bottom - DSC_0181.jpg



#8 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:12 PM

Fitted some new gaz lowered shocks. 

 

 

Then hit a rock which was lying in the middle of  of the road .... cracked a wheel and almost a sump!
 
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#9 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:15 PM

Car was fixed - THEN...........
 
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I crashed the car into the bloody garage door. 
 
 
New bonnet, the rest was fixable and the front end resprayed!
 
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I wish I could say that was the last time I crashed into my own garage that summer. Unfortunately it wasn't  :oops:. If you note the slope into the garage. One day I drove out of the garage, and forgot to put the hand brake on. I went to close the garage door and was quickly followed by my mini. I tried with all my strength to push it back up but I hadn't had my spinach that day. Well the mini crashed backwards into the garage. the door was well and truly bent back on itself, which probably slowed the car down, well that and the IKEA bookshelf it hit on its way in. Missed my mates classic triumph bonneville, he was safely storing in our garage.
 
NO pictures of this, as i couldn't face it. bought  a second hand door and had it painted.


#10 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:20 PM

Some minor jobs on the mini since then, radias arm repaired. Various SPI sensors replaced to fix the high emissions.
 
 
Oh and my xmas gift one year - 
 
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Was terrifying drillling holes into shiny wings, but i went for it!
 
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#11 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:24 PM

I began to get really tired of the 13x7 wheels. I wanted a more retro look. I decided on 10" wheels. ALthough as my wheel arches (bullet arches) are so wide, there arent any "mainstream" wheels which would fill them. 
 
I did find a set of wheels on one of the Japanese webshops. Genuine minilite 10X6 but with a Et -15. They are only sold in Japan. 
But I was lucky as minilite are casting these wheels at the time. 
 
The wheels - asdfghj.png
 
As i am changing to 10" wheels i need suitable brakes. I couldn't confirm whether or not minisports 7.9" calipers would work. So I went with a set of 7.5" 'cooper S' 4 pots - 
 
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#12 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:25 PM

Brakes now fitted!
 
And most importantly wheels are on!!!!!!
 
 
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#13 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:27 PM

SO decided I wanted a sort of "rally esq" look to the car. decides to find a retro looking "S" badge - 

 

 

 
 I managed to buy one from Swedish ebay arrived today---- looks good!
 
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Next time though I should check the size before i buy!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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#14 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:30 PM

Stone chip 

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So i ordered a new monte carlo windscreen heated screen, though the wrong screen turned up. Fitted it in the end...

 

 

 
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#15 minisilverbullet

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Posted 28 June 2013 - 09:31 PM

You may notice the windscreen is missing...I also fitted this . "invisibly" heated screen. See the tiny elements in the second picture 
 
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I still havent wired it up. 






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