Mini GP #0622... The ultimate daily?
Discussion
Evening gents,
Well, my beloved Clio 182 has gone to a new home and my new daily is a 27k mile Mini GP, number 622 of 2000 ever made.
I'm in Essex and no stranger to modified cars, but a new guy to Minis. I'm a 31 year old prototype engine development engineer, my history is Cosworths and Subarus. My Impreza I have at the moment has been with me for 10 years now and is currently being converted to WRC S8 spec.
My daily for the last 4.5 years has been a Renaultsport Clio 182 of which I've absolutely loved. Cracking handling and gutsy little motor. Owned her since she was 8k miles old and just sold her yesterday week to the very first viewer.
After much searching thoughout the country and looking at some absolute s
te examples. I found a 27k mile minter in Norwich, 2 owners from new and 100% factory standard with full BMW service history.
After a little clean
The 182
Many of you know my project Impreza
The Impreza, all 573bhp/520lbsft of it.
Currently how the Impreza looks. :roll:
Well, my beloved Clio 182 has gone to a new home and my new daily is a 27k mile Mini GP, number 622 of 2000 ever made.
I'm in Essex and no stranger to modified cars, but a new guy to Minis. I'm a 31 year old prototype engine development engineer, my history is Cosworths and Subarus. My Impreza I have at the moment has been with me for 10 years now and is currently being converted to WRC S8 spec.
My daily for the last 4.5 years has been a Renaultsport Clio 182 of which I've absolutely loved. Cracking handling and gutsy little motor. Owned her since she was 8k miles old and just sold her yesterday week to the very first viewer.
After much searching thoughout the country and looking at some absolute s
te examples. I found a 27k mile minter in Norwich, 2 owners from new and 100% factory standard with full BMW service history. - 622 will be my daily, but by no means left uncared for. #622 is positively luxury compared to what my Impreza will be when it comes back and rebuilt. I wanted a bonkers, fun and special car, and these are rock solid on their money and a truly unique and special car. I've never even seen another on the road.
After a little clean
The 182
Many of you know my project Impreza
- ProjectWRCS8
The Impreza, all 573bhp/520lbsft of it.
Currently how the Impreza looks. :roll:
Okay so, 3 weeks in and actually quite falling in love with the gutsy little GP.
As this is my daily, it's staying as OEM as possible or OEM plus. One of the first things I always do when buying a new car is put a set of clean plates on it and ditch all the tatty dealer marked stuff. So some new plates were ordered up from a friend, and decided to put her build number on the bottom just as a little extra to the car.
She obviously had to wear her obligatory Pistonheads sticker on the rear glass too
Now she has only done 27k miles at a snails pace but that doesn't mean she's perfect, so I started compiling a short list of jobs just to make her as good as poss.
Firstly was the knackered engine mount which was causing a very slight tap on transmission take up. So a call to my local BMW/Mini specialist to order a new genuine one. If this one dies shortly then I'll reluctantly go with a Vibratechnics, but for now I want to stay OEM with anything that can be seen like that.
Dead mount
Out with the old, in with the new. Honest,y took longer to jack the car up than it did to can ge the mount. Lol
New Genuine BMWMini mount in.
As she's my daily, one of the few changes I always make is fitting an Alpine head unit. I've had loads of these, they're bombproof, sound great and easy to use. This syncs with my iPhone and streams all my music as well as have a built in Parrot kit. So in that went.
Obviously the OEM one is safely tucked away for install another day.
As I cleaned the car I found the fasteners on the rear wing and mirrors were rusty. So these got swapped for some stainless items as they're on the outside of the car and can be occasionally seen.
Under the wing
On the door mirrors.
In this time I had also decided that it was worth while booking the car in with Mark at Hallmark for him to give it a health check. I'm a mechanic myself but this is my first mini and thought it worthwhile of 30 min labour charge for them to give the car a once over.
I'm pleased to say they said it was one of the nicest they had ever seen. Even with all 4 jacking point covers haha. Which I'm told are always missing.
Her only faults being perished wishbone bushes and tyres. As said, she's 9 years old and the rear tyres are the originals she left the factory with. These were already on the list to replace.
The car is booked in to have the front bushes done next week. I've also found that 2 of the wheels have been refinished, all be it quite subtlety done. They have been painted silver instead of diamond cut for some reason.
So even though they are immaculate, I am going to get them refinished properly before fitting the new tyres.
Look carefully and you can see the rim is painted.
The other side of the rim is still diamond cut.
So these will be going to Rimfurbish as soon as I can sort some loan wheels from somewhere.
Also on the radar are to replace these dash panels as they have some marks on them. Anyone have a mint one to sell and can the tachometer bezel be changed?
Other than that, I've just waxed it up for the summer and so far enjoying this special little car.
As this is my daily, it's staying as OEM as possible or OEM plus. One of the first things I always do when buying a new car is put a set of clean plates on it and ditch all the tatty dealer marked stuff. So some new plates were ordered up from a friend, and decided to put her build number on the bottom just as a little extra to the car.
She obviously had to wear her obligatory Pistonheads sticker on the rear glass too
Now she has only done 27k miles at a snails pace but that doesn't mean she's perfect, so I started compiling a short list of jobs just to make her as good as poss.
Firstly was the knackered engine mount which was causing a very slight tap on transmission take up. So a call to my local BMW/Mini specialist to order a new genuine one. If this one dies shortly then I'll reluctantly go with a Vibratechnics, but for now I want to stay OEM with anything that can be seen like that.
Dead mount
Out with the old, in with the new. Honest,y took longer to jack the car up than it did to can ge the mount. Lol
New Genuine BMWMini mount in.
As she's my daily, one of the few changes I always make is fitting an Alpine head unit. I've had loads of these, they're bombproof, sound great and easy to use. This syncs with my iPhone and streams all my music as well as have a built in Parrot kit. So in that went.
Obviously the OEM one is safely tucked away for install another day.
As I cleaned the car I found the fasteners on the rear wing and mirrors were rusty. So these got swapped for some stainless items as they're on the outside of the car and can be occasionally seen.
Under the wing
On the door mirrors.
In this time I had also decided that it was worth while booking the car in with Mark at Hallmark for him to give it a health check. I'm a mechanic myself but this is my first mini and thought it worthwhile of 30 min labour charge for them to give the car a once over.
I'm pleased to say they said it was one of the nicest they had ever seen. Even with all 4 jacking point covers haha. Which I'm told are always missing.
Her only faults being perished wishbone bushes and tyres. As said, she's 9 years old and the rear tyres are the originals she left the factory with. These were already on the list to replace.
The car is booked in to have the front bushes done next week. I've also found that 2 of the wheels have been refinished, all be it quite subtlety done. They have been painted silver instead of diamond cut for some reason.
So even though they are immaculate, I am going to get them refinished properly before fitting the new tyres.
Look carefully and you can see the rim is painted.
The other side of the rim is still diamond cut.
So these will be going to Rimfurbish as soon as I can sort some loan wheels from somewhere.
Also on the radar are to replace these dash panels as they have some marks on them. Anyone have a mint one to sell and can the tachometer bezel be changed?
Other than that, I've just waxed it up for the summer and so far enjoying this special little car.
It's a comedy car really, but every time I look at it, I can't help but smile.
That's what this car is about, grins. I haven't even driven it fast yet as I don't trust the tyres. But you don't have to. Every time the charger whines up and the flap open in the special JCW air box. It's all just sounds so mega.
It's just so urgent everywhere.
And above all that, it's cool.... Really cool
That's what this car is about, grins. I haven't even driven it fast yet as I don't trust the tyres. But you don't have to. Every time the charger whines up and the flap open in the special JCW air box. It's all just sounds so mega.
It's just so urgent everywhere.
And above all that, it's cool.... Really cool
Brand new dash centre piece gone in tonight to replaced the marked item. I've also got a tachometer bezel on order too.
New dash piece looks lovely.
sorry for the cak photos. The light was fading and oddly it makes the dash look a different colour. In the flesh it looks the same, weird??
Also managed to secure a set of genuine JCW R53 mats today so they're on route too.
New dash piece looks lovely.
sorry for the cak photos. The light was fading and oddly it makes the dash look a different colour. In the flesh it looks the same, weird??Also managed to secure a set of genuine JCW R53 mats today so they're on route too.
Carlos24 said:
I seriously considered one of these before I got my WR1 such a cool little car and just the right amount of difference from the normal JCW so that people in the know notice.
Love those wheels as well!
Also your Impreza is the most completely awesome car project that I have ever seen,
Thanks very much Carlos. Love those wheels as well!
Also your Impreza is the most completely awesome car project that I have ever seen,
The Impreza isn't a 5 minute job. I must admit I'm really enjoying the GP. It's very unique and apart from the ones I viewed when attempting to purchase one, I've never seen another on the road. I had never driven one before going to buy one, I just really fancied one based on its reviews and spec.
Hopefully I can run it for a few years and come sale time, it shouldn't have lost a great deal.
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