Sir_Dave new toy - GP1379
Discussion
So yeah, 1st foray into mini's ( http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f273/sir_daves-win...) got me hooked, so i thought that instead of chucking endless money (that i probably wouldnt get back) at the MCS, id just buy a GP 
On the 10th August I picked up this little bad boy, proper review will come at a later date, but for now, I thought id just put up some pictures. Apologies, my camera skillz are weak, but at least I didn’t use the iPhone4 this time round!! Done over 2k miles in it around France in the past 2 weeks & well, its great to be back in a 'special' car!!
Outside - looks much better in person strangely, too much going on in pics i think ...
Inside - red stitching on the leather bits = lovely!
Mmmmm Carbon Fibre
Alloy R56 trailing arms & flat floor - to save weight/improve handling.
Back home - looking clean.
Reims Circuit - on route to the South of France.
Colour coded tent lol … bought way before the GP!!
Hope you like. Nothing really planned tbh, for now ...
On the 10th August I picked up this little bad boy, proper review will come at a later date, but for now, I thought id just put up some pictures. Apologies, my camera skillz are weak, but at least I didn’t use the iPhone4 this time round!! Done over 2k miles in it around France in the past 2 weeks & well, its great to be back in a 'special' car!!
Outside - looks much better in person strangely, too much going on in pics i think ...
Inside - red stitching on the leather bits = lovely!
Mmmmm Carbon Fibre
Alloy R56 trailing arms & flat floor - to save weight/improve handling.
Back home - looking clean.
Reims Circuit - on route to the South of France.
Colour coded tent lol … bought way before the GP!!
Hope you like. Nothing really planned tbh, for now ...
I like the Mini a lot, but I just don't like the little details they insist on, I think it's 'too much' and it looks a little tacky. Can't help but feel it would look a lot more mature and smart if it were just a little more subtle? Like all one colour or perhaps 2 colours that don't clash so much...
Either way, it's a cool car, if a little too glittery for me!
Either way, it's a cool car, if a little too glittery for me!
A fine choice Sir Dave; welcome to the club 
. We have similar taste in cars 
.
I moved from a Clio Trophy to a GP in June. I had 5 fantastic years in my Trophy, but the GP has proved everything I wanted in a replacement and more. The step up in torque was the most noticeable difference initially, though I need to spend more time on my favourite roads in north Wales, before I can speak with any confidence on the difference in handling characteristics.
I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I would be interested in your comparison of the two.
. We have similar taste in cars .I moved from a Clio Trophy to a GP in June. I had 5 fantastic years in my Trophy, but the GP has proved everything I wanted in a replacement and more. The step up in torque was the most noticeable difference initially, though I need to spend more time on my favourite roads in north Wales, before I can speak with any confidence on the difference in handling characteristics.
I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I would be interested in your comparison of the two.
So September was spent tinkering :thumbup1:
1st up, old floor mats (& their holes) were upsetting my eyes:
BMminiparts had some of the genuine GP ones for just under £50 (how much? For 2 mats lol), but they have the red stitching, so i got them bought:
Much better!!
Then Saturday was spent changing the N75 valve and battery on Sarah's TT, then doing the upper engine mount on the GP. Unfortunately, it had decided to spew its insides all over the engine bay whilst we were on holiday so needed replacing - the black gunk wont come off with just water/rag though, so any idea on what to get it off with?:
New mount from BMminiparts, circa £70 for genuine iirc, only took about 30 mins to fit:
Then yesterday i fitted a Parrot Mki9200 with MFSW interface & no holes bracket from newministuff:
The interface allows me to control the Parrot from the left hand controls on the steering wheel, so a little more OEM than having the controller stuck on the dash as well. This is my staple installation in all my cars, so whilst i did briefly think about an Alpine headunit with bluetooth, standard looking won through yet again
Next on the list? Well the engine mount didnt completely cure the clonking i get from the front right wheel over bumps, so need to work out what that is (probably the wishbone bushes, although could be due to a slightly torn top mount) and the timing chain tensioner has started rattling a little on startup. Think i'm going to just take a day off and get it up to 1320 for some pampering ...
1st up, old floor mats (& their holes) were upsetting my eyes:
BMminiparts had some of the genuine GP ones for just under £50 (how much? For 2 mats lol), but they have the red stitching, so i got them bought:
Much better!!
Then Saturday was spent changing the N75 valve and battery on Sarah's TT, then doing the upper engine mount on the GP. Unfortunately, it had decided to spew its insides all over the engine bay whilst we were on holiday so needed replacing - the black gunk wont come off with just water/rag though, so any idea on what to get it off with?:
New mount from BMminiparts, circa £70 for genuine iirc, only took about 30 mins to fit:
Then yesterday i fitted a Parrot Mki9200 with MFSW interface & no holes bracket from newministuff:
The interface allows me to control the Parrot from the left hand controls on the steering wheel, so a little more OEM than having the controller stuck on the dash as well. This is my staple installation in all my cars, so whilst i did briefly think about an Alpine headunit with bluetooth, standard looking won through yet again
Next on the list? Well the engine mount didnt completely cure the clonking i get from the front right wheel over bumps, so need to work out what that is (probably the wishbone bushes, although could be due to a slightly torn top mount) and the timing chain tensioner has started rattling a little on startup. Think i'm going to just take a day off and get it up to 1320 for some pampering ...
Edited by Sir_Dave on Wednesday 5th March 15:07
Went for a little drive with some Pistonheads guys back in October (prior to the Sunday Service at Rolls Royce) and was very very impressed with the car. Certainly didnt feel like anything needed modifying for road use that's for certain (well, maybe except the pads which wilted a little & the runflats are a little hard), but i was able to keep pace with some rather more powerful machinery ... not on the longer straights, but through da twisties innit (most of the route). Btw Escort Cosworths with straight cut boxes sound immense, GTR's spit nice flames, & 911 Turbo's are certainly quite mobile on the limit 
Got courtyard parking at RR as well which was nice, only FWD allowed in
So was it worth the extra money over the normal MCS? Imho, absolutely, its simply a better car in every way.
Got courtyard parking at RR as well which was nice, only FWD allowed in
So was it worth the extra money over the normal MCS? Imho, absolutely, its simply a better car in every way.
So November brought my first visit to the famed 1320 and Tom, Scott & Jack for a few odds & sods to be sorted out. Yes, i would rather do my own work on my cars, but a busy schedule and lack of suitable parking at my flat makes it a bit of a nightmare to do any proper work on the car these days. Especially when the subframe needs to come off lol. In addition, what 1320 dont know about mini's isnt worth knowing. Its pretty cool over there as well, bit like a mini graveyard lol ...
There are literally mini's growing out of the ground lol
And even Renault's
Another GP was also in for a de-cat (too loud even with the resonator lol)
So after much banter about Matt Faulks, TDF and Andy Cutler (isnt it amazing how ineptness crosses vehicle platforms) they got down to work and quickly stripped everything back for assessment - it developed some suspension rattles during our trip to France in August - to find out what the issue was.
Essentially the ball joints were knackered (so both were replaced), & the wishbone bushes were a little worn. As it was all apart, i thought it made sense to not only replace them with Superflex ones, but fit a Superflex steering rack bush as well. Then some new drop links & top mounts to finish it all off, no point only replacing some things, might as well do the lot right? The engine has also been making a nice rattling sound on startup as of late, so id sourced a new chain tensioner which was fitted along with an oil and filter change.
The result? No more rattles and a far better turn in/feel through the steering wheel. Money well spent.
Next up, tinkering ...
There are literally mini's growing out of the ground lol
And even Renault's
Another GP was also in for a de-cat (too loud even with the resonator lol)
So after much banter about Matt Faulks, TDF and Andy Cutler (isnt it amazing how ineptness crosses vehicle platforms) they got down to work and quickly stripped everything back for assessment - it developed some suspension rattles during our trip to France in August - to find out what the issue was.
Essentially the ball joints were knackered (so both were replaced), & the wishbone bushes were a little worn. As it was all apart, i thought it made sense to not only replace them with Superflex ones, but fit a Superflex steering rack bush as well. Then some new drop links & top mounts to finish it all off, no point only replacing some things, might as well do the lot right? The engine has also been making a nice rattling sound on startup as of late, so id sourced a new chain tensioner which was fitted along with an oil and filter change.
The result? No more rattles and a far better turn in/feel through the steering wheel. Money well spent.
Next up, tinkering ...
Steering wheel fitted in December - the guide made it look like a ridiculously fiddly time consuming job, but in reality, it was very easy
Turinis also turned up, need two tyres before i can sling them on as winters - the 18's were refurbed when i got the car so dont want them getting damaged by salt, etc. Look odd in this picture, but with some imagination, you get the idea:
I know the threads a bit TotalMini, but i dont see the point in going balls out & getting the Bilsteins now ive ordered an M135i.
Turinis also turned up, need two tyres before i can sling them on as winters - the 18's were refurbed when i got the car so dont want them getting damaged by salt, etc. Look odd in this picture, but with some imagination, you get the idea:
I know the threads a bit TotalMini, but i dont see the point in going balls out & getting the Bilsteins now ive ordered an M135i.
Tiger Tim said:
Looks nice Dave. I really enjoyed my MCS. Didn't have it for long but enjoyed it.
I wonder if you'll stack one billion miles on this like the Trophy
Mowgli
Cheers Paul, is a great car, loads of fun!! Not putting big miles on cars anymore now though, only live 6 miles from work (instead of 40) so have only done 8k in it since August. That includes the 2k road trip around France days after i bought it as well ...I wonder if you'll stack one billion miles on this like the Trophy
Mowgli
@Nikko 40691 - yes, sir_dave on Cliosport also!
Collected the new bus last Thursday, so best get the GP up for sale at some point ... probably
Totally different to the GP!!!
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