655 replies to this topic

[charie t]

I had the most boring looking Mini on the stand I did wonder if anyone would recognise the AAA though. Should have said hi if I was around at the time!

It depends on your idea of what boring is. Standard unmolested cars are getting rarer

[minimaxie]

Hey, Sheldon looks great too! The wheels are quite straight forward to swap over. You need to disconnect the battery for half an hour before starting, then remove the two torx bolts holding the air bag on. After that it's unplug the horn and undo the bolt holding the wheel to the column. My cream one was getting really scruffy too. Nige has the late type one with the cream at the top and bottom rather than sides which is such a better idea as they won't get so mucky then!

The TF ones are the same fitment but are a slightly different shape i think.

ah thanks James, he's nowhere near as nice as Flo though but hes getting there. Oh thats good then, was thinking it was going to be a right pita! excellent thanks James, might have to give this a go when I get my hands on one. You should see mine, theres nearly no cream left on the wheel, I was thinking about getting professional leather paint for it, but I think this would be easier. Yeah I think they personally looked neater at the top anyway

Oh okay, might just stick to the Mini one then. I've seen someone on the MG forum make his steering wheel Tiptronic so he can control the stereo through it, looks really cool but I dont have near enough knowledge (or guts to cut up the loom!) to tackle it.

Great project by the way, love reading this, especially how you're keeping Flo in such standard and neat condition

[bcjames]

I had the most boring looking Mini on the stand I did wonder if anyone would recognise the AAA though. Should have said hi if I was around at the time!

It depends on your idea of what boring is. Standard unmolested cars are getting rarer

That's true. I like having a standard car. Everyone walks past it but it takes a bit of effort to keep it as it is.

Hey, Sheldon looks great too! The wheels are quite straight forward to swap over. You need to disconnect the battery for half an hour before starting, then remove the two torx bolts holding the air bag on. After that it's unplug the horn and undo the bolt holding the wheel to the column. My cream one was getting really scruffy too. Nige has the late type one with the cream at the top and bottom rather than sides which is such a better idea as they won't get so mucky then!

The TF ones are the same fitment but are a slightly different shape i think.

ah thanks James, he's nowhere near as nice as Flo though but hes getting there. Oh thats good then, was thinking it was going to be a right pita! excellent thanks James, might have to give this a go when I get my hands on one. You should see mine, theres nearly no cream left on the wheel, I was thinking about getting professional leather paint for it, but I think this would be easier. Yeah I think they personally looked neater at the top anyway

Oh okay, might just stick to the Mini one then. I've seen someone on the MG forum make his steering wheel Tiptronic so he can control the stereo through it, looks really cool but I dont have near enough knowledge (or guts to cut up the loom!) to tackle it.

Great project by the way, love reading this, especially how you're keeping Flo in such standard and neat condition

The difference with an MG wheel is tiny. Where the cross bar is, the bit with the two horn buttons on, it kind of 'droops' more than the mini one. Have a google to see two pics side by side and you'll see it, but I've seen a few Minis with TF wheels in and unless they've kept the tiptronic buttons its hardly noticeable. I also know of a chap who retrims steering wheels if you fancied going down that route.

[minimaxie]

Yeah Ive noticed the slight differences between them, hardly noticeable unless like you say you put them together lol. Have you noticed aswell that some of the Coopers have the blacked out Cooper logo like this: http://www.i-firme.f...noir_cooper.jpg and even some Cooper MPi's have just the "Mini" logo on the steering wheel like this lol http://www.i-firme.f...lack_green_.jpg

Ah cool, I cant imagine its cheap though, having it refurbed?

Edited by minimaxie, 16 August 2012 - 12:34 PM.

[bcjames]

My car originally had the blacked out, or embossed, logo. I think the early cars did. I replaced it with a later foil type Cooper logo, then I think later still all cars ended up with the green Mini foil one. I may be wrong, but I think that's how they went. I think the refurb place charged £90 for a bmw wheel.

Off to get new tyres fitted now. At last!

[minimaxie]

ah okay I thought they just randomly put different style logos on oh thats no too bad at all thought it would be more than that.

Edited by minimaxie, 16 August 2012 - 01:17 PM.

[bcjames]

Woo I'll be able to drive in the rain again

New Yokos at a bargain price.



New tyres! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

And tracked to 1/16th toe out. Drives very nicely.



Mini has tracking done by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[richand26mhz]

nice thread, i believe my cooper started life exactly the same as yours, the previous owner fitted a sports pack. My beige wheel is also dirty and worn. looking at the MG steering wheel also,

[richand26mhz]

also wondering if these would fit an mpi mini, http://www.ebay.co.u...13#ht_746wt_810

cheers

[charie t]

also wondering if these would fit an mpi mini,

yes, straight swap

[HafMan]

Just been reading every page lol
Fantastic mini you got their!
I have a 97' too in tahiti blue.
Have you manage to fit the block yet?
I also think my gearbox is on its way out and funnily enough one of my rings

Keep up the good work

[bcjames]

also wondering if these would fit an mpi mini, http://www.ebay.co.u...13#ht_746wt_810

cheers

They do indeed fit straight on.

Hafman, thank you! No the block is still sat in its crate on the workbench. One day!

[bcjames]

Well I've raised the drivers front suspension so they car is sat more evenly on all corners now. I guess that one just settled extra quickly given it's location. I'm also getting wheel wobble so need to pop back to the tyre place for a rebalance I think!

I love this, I don't loose all my shopping on the way home now!



Boot liner by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

This isn't so good though.



Roof corner by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I think I need one of these next!



Untitled by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[bcjames]

I feel really bad using the car as a daily now. It spent a couple of years under my ownserhip being lovingly used only on sunny days, but now it's facing a winter of commuting. Constantly dirty.



Mini! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Interior full of work paperwork and rubbish



Messy interior by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

So if I have some spare time this week, I really must clean her, change the oil, and touch up a huge stone chip in the wheel arch just behind the front wheel. The paint must have been coming off under the waxoyl, and the knock took the 4 inch square bit off. All clean underneath thankfully.

After seeing a few other Minis this weekend, and an 'interesting' drive home in a friends Mini, I really do love mine

Little present from the weekends adventure. Im worried I'm getting too many stickers now



Goodwood sticker by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[miniman retford]

Your adding stickers just as i'm thinking about taking all mine off Beryl