Another Mini GP

[CarsOrBikes]

I can't imagine any EBC pad being better than OE, fwiw an alternative OE pad is the one from the 130i/330i BMW Performance brake.

[The1Driver]

MDifficult said:

The1Driver said:

Yeahhhhhh..... Not ready to spend 800 on discs just yet. Want to get a set of pole positions first!

I’ve been hunting for a pair of the correct Mini Works Recaro seats (the ones that are basically a Sportster CS with airbag etc, trimmed to match the GP2 interior) but they’re hen’s teeth rare / crazy expensive.

Even resorted to getting quotes to have Lohen’s Sportster CSs retrimmed to match the Mini Works ones but the cost is still crazy. That’s the problem with wanting it to look OE.

The1Driver said:

As standard the car comes with an electronic diff. It was whilst working on the car. Lohen spotted that a mechanical diff had been fitted. And that they were the ones who fitted it for the previous owner.

That’s an absolute result

Yeah going for that OE look isn't cheap.

This car has turn into a bit of a money pit.... Ive just slapped down a considerable sum of money for just one PP seat..... May get a second at a later date.

The last month has been very expensive.... I don't think I've thrown this much cash into a car before....... Well worth it though lol

[MDifficult]

The1Driver said:

The last month has been very expensive.... I don't think I've thrown this much cash into a car before....... Well worth it though lol

It'll be worth every penny! You should be proud to be using it.. the SORN number is slowly growing..

[The1Driver]

Had no idea there were so few in the UK.

minor update. Finally found someone to detail my car. Job will be done over the weekend. And I've also ordered a (yes... 1 ) pole position seat and the parts required for fitting!

[MDifficult]

The1Driver said:

Had no idea there were so few in the UK.

minor update. Finally found someone to detail my car. Job will be done over the weekend. And I've also ordered a (yes... 1 ) pole position seat and the parts required for fitting!

Yeah, UK was only allocated 200 cars (from the 2000 globally) but some countries didn't want all theirs so another 50 stayed in the UK. Pretty damn rare but clearly very few have been written off or exported so far. Interesting to watch how many are SORNed for the winter but back for the summer, and also how a few were SORNed from purchase, so there's clearly a dozen with almost zero mileage in storage somewhere.

I'm sure your detailer is experienced but he wants to be super-careful with the stickers on the GP - any tape will pull the gloss layer off them (so don't tape them up) and a DA will knacker them really easily. Probably not news though

[The1Driver]

First clean since collection.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Car looks well, they are fantastic to drive aren't they?

[The1Driver]

Yeah. I'm loving it!

Collected my pole position seat last night. Plan to fit tomorrow!

[Mike1990]

The Seats they should have put in as standard IMO.

[lestiq]

Glad you're loving the car OP, I"ve had mine for 2 1/2 years now and I've no plans on parting ways with it. I use mine everyday, just ticked over 37k miles.

I'm so curious about the diff, I take it you don't use GP mode ever as that might make for some interesting results??

[The1Driver]

I've not had much opportunity to drive it really hard in GP mode yet. Plan to do so at Llandow next year though. Also plan to do a driving course over at Millbrook!

Quick update - I was unable to remove the standard drivers seat over the weekend. The screws just wouldn't budge. So will be heading back to Lohen (for the third time in around a month and a half) to have them fit the seat for me.

Other than that. Everything seems fine....

Got a couple pics from Sundays SS

[The1Driver]

Finally got the Pole Position seat fitted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdfukcsFSs-/

Only problem now is that the seating position is too high for me. Working with lohen for a solution!

[MrC986]

The1Driver said:

Finally got the Pole Position seat fitted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdfukcsFSs-/

Only problem now is that the seating position is too high for me. Working with lohen for a solution!

Do they not do a side mount with more height adjustment I.e. more holes in the mounts to drop the height? - you might need to use a different side mount. Have you retained "runners" as well for moving the seat forwards etc.? I'm fortunate in that I've got Cobra Suzaka Pro seats in my R56 and you can get varying thicknesses of base cushion as well to aid adjustment (I'm 6ft 2 so not exactly short!) that are also mounted on runners. Hope you get it sorted as it must be v.frustrating.

[The1Driver]

So the current setup is as follows

OEM runnings

Recaro mount adaptors - this are too tall

Recaro seat side mounts

It's funny you mention Cobra. Lohen have suggested ditching the Recaro side mounts and adaptors. And mounting the car directly to the floor. Using the cobra side mounts.

Obviously this would mean I couldn't move the seat back and forth.... Don't think I mind that though.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Have you ran a car with buckets before? IMHO sliders are essential as I need to push the seat back to climb out comfortably and I’m not exactly a giant.

[Leins]

Been thinking of Poles for my GP1, so interested to see how you get on

[The1Driver]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Have you ran a car with buckets before? IMHO sliders are essential as I need to push the seat back to climb out comfortably and I’m not exactly a giant.

Yeah, first time.

I'm about 5'10. And as things currently stand. I can get in and out of the seat with no issues.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

The1Driver said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Have you ran a car with buckets before? IMHO sliders are essential as I need to push the seat back to climb out comfortably and I’m not exactly a giant.

Yeah, first time.

I'm about 5'10. And as things currently stand. I can get in and out of the seat with no issues.

Poles aren’t too bad I suppose as they are relatively shallow on the lower side compared to others, i just find as they’re so straight backed it makes an unnatural position to climb out.

I think I find the R26.R’s worse than the RS’ (which are Porsche’s version of a PP iirc).

From memory when I looked into it, isn’t there an e46 slider that can be altered to fit? There was an early owner who fitted them to his car back when they were new so might be worth looking for that thread on the GP forum.

[The1Driver]

I doubt I'll be able to find any further info on the GP forum. One of the partners of the site. Ran off with all the money and members details.... The site had to be re launched. I only found out when I attempted to log in a few months back!

Their Facebook sees more activity now. I've spoken with a few members. And non of them seem to have an issue with the hight.

[The1Driver]

Recently gave the mini a little workout on some of my favourite roads

https://youtu.be/doLCW48YnuE

Edited by The1Driver on Sunday 28th January 08:13