Mini GP #0622... The ultimate daily?
Discussion
Love these GP's, such a special little hot hatch. Can't believe to prices now for mint examples, i did look at them a few years ago but wasn't brave enough for Two seat's as daft as it sounds 
Will keep an eye on this, liking to maintenance and refreshing your doing to it. Will this see a Track ? Apologies if you've already said.
Will keep an eye on this, liking to maintenance and refreshing your doing to it. Will this see a Track ? Apologies if you've already said.
Cheers mate. No I'm afraid you probably won't see it trackside anytime soon. Quite enjoying just using her daily at the mo.
It's a really cool little car and in such a short while, it's really got under my skin. I never really got the whole "Mini" thing, but this GP just makes you grin every time you see it.
It's a really cool little car and in such a short while, it's really got under my skin. I never really got the whole "Mini" thing, but this GP just makes you grin every time you see it.
Leins said:
Have you found most people don't believe it came as standard looking like that? I've had a few people ask me why I ditched the back seats - and as a tall one I usually tell them I couldn't fit with them in place 
Haha. Yeah, most people don't even know what it is. But those that do often say they have never seen one before. I does attract quite a few complements from people who just think it looks smart and say it looks different to other Minis.
I had her back at Hallmark yesterday for the front wishbones to be Polybushed. I haven't pushed it yet, but it does feel very direct and adware I say even more alert now.
MPoxon said:
I was wondering how long it would take before you started taking it apart!
Having seen this car in the flesh I can confirm it is fantastic example and in mint condition. I bet you will still miss the Clio though!
Hallmark is on my doorstep Matt, so I took her there when I bought it for a health check. She was indeed confirmed as mint as she looked except for 2 items. The tyres, and front wishbone bushes had perished due to age. Having seen this car in the flesh I can confirm it is fantastic example and in mint condition. I bet you will still miss the Clio though!
So I decided to Polybush the front and I have 4 brand new Michelin Pilot Supersports on the way.
I do 50 miles a day in mine with a mixture of county lanes, A & B roads. I drive what I consider to be normal for a petrolhead. So mostly that means I potter about but if the road is clear I occasionally open the taps to hear the supercharger wind up or may take a series of bends a bit swiftly.
Currently doing a solid 29.9mpg on Vpower.
My 182 on the exact same commute used to do 35mpg. So yeah its noticeably worse on fuel, but I forgive it that as its a special little car and isn't earth shattering to run.
Currently doing a solid 29.9mpg on Vpower.
My 182 on the exact same commute used to do 35mpg. So yeah its noticeably worse on fuel, but I forgive it that as its a special little car and isn't earth shattering to run.
High teens to low 20s must mean theyre driving like they stole it everywhere. Its quite well geared with lots of low down torque so you can short shift everywhere and still press on. I imagne that as many other owners are using a GP not as a dialy and just as a hoon wagon, therefore every time they drive it theyre giving it death so the low mpg as a result.
Maybe im getting old, as i dont feel the need to rag it everywhere or try and set a new record for getting to work?
I dont like work that much
Maybe im getting old, as i dont feel the need to rag it everywhere or try and set a new record for getting to work?
I dont like work that much
Okay so whats happened with #622 lately?
Firstly, something that was bugging me was that the GP came with the fixings for a boot luggage net, but no net?
I had one of these as standard in the old Clio and they really help, especially when there is no rear firewall to stop things rolling around. So done some digging and got a Genuine on of those, heres the part number if anyones intersted and wants one also.
Next was to get the wheels off to Pristine, so down to my local to get the Dunlop RF tyres removed as i had been kindly loaned some spare wheel/tyres to use in the meantime by a chap off the Mini GP Facebook page. Mega kind chap and im very appreciative.
Turns out you can get 4x 18" wheels and 4x18" tyres in a Mini. Lol.
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Next was to order the Genuine GP only mats for the car. These are one of those silly parts you can only order from BMW if you can prove you own a GP as they wont sell them to anyone else. Its nuts really as theyre identical to standard black mats, these just have the red stitching to match the OEM ret stitched Recaro trim. Bit sad really, but they all add to the feel.
On inspection at my local Mini specialist it was seen that the front lower arm bushes had perished due to age along with the tyres, so these were promptly booked in to be Polybushed. I know Polybushes are technically not a Genuine OEM part, however theyre an all win, no lose fit and forget item. No photos imafraid, however the Mini now has a nice tight front end and steering is very positive.
I attended the local Porsche Essex Summer BBQ like i do every year, whist there i got chatting to a chap who had some surplus JCW upgrades he was looking to get rid of. He offered me a genuine JCW strut brace for not a great deal of money. As this is a factory upgrade and removable, i figured it was passable upgrade.
However the brace comes with special turned nuts that are known to fail and are bloody expensive to replace (£8 each... i need 6!).
Upon investigating the nuts i found that they were an M8 thread inside a 10mm collar, this meant only 0.75mm wall thickness on the shoulder and it was obvious why they failed. One of the lads at work said he would machine me up some stronger fasteners, so he machined some heavy duty nuts for me, however this would not only make the fit a solid connection to the strut top, it would also remove the tolerance for fitment. So after an initial trial, it was clear that i could get 2x nuts on but the 3rd was out of alignment.
So we decided to press out the factory collar that was out of alignment and make a larger, stronger item so the brace could bolt up exactly to the top mount. This would have to be modified.
In the meantime i decided to give the GP a proper clean and polish, so it was a full day on a Sunday and she got the proper treatment:
Wash
Clay
Wash
DodoJuice Lime Prime paint cleaner
Clearkote Red Moose machine glaze
Poorboys EXP paint sealant
finished off with 2 coats of DodoJuice Purple Haze wax.
Finally she had a nice looking shine and i can just keep adding to the protection.
Then it was another check with the re machined top mounts for the strut brace. This now fits perfectly, so the nust have been taken to the local metal plater to be bright zinc coated as per OEM. Just waiting to get those back and the strut brace can go on.
Lastly the wheels came back from Pristine with 4x new Michelin Pilot Supersports on. Naturally the wheel arches got a clean before they went back on. I must say im very pleased with the job and the car finally drives beatufully on proper non RF tyres. Its smoother, quieter and corners like its on rails.
Firstly, something that was bugging me was that the GP came with the fixings for a boot luggage net, but no net?
I had one of these as standard in the old Clio and they really help, especially when there is no rear firewall to stop things rolling around. So done some digging and got a Genuine on of those, heres the part number if anyones intersted and wants one also.
Next was to get the wheels off to Pristine, so down to my local to get the Dunlop RF tyres removed as i had been kindly loaned some spare wheel/tyres to use in the meantime by a chap off the Mini GP Facebook page. Mega kind chap and im very appreciative.
Turns out you can get 4x 18" wheels and 4x18" tyres in a Mini. Lol.
[/URL]Next was to order the Genuine GP only mats for the car. These are one of those silly parts you can only order from BMW if you can prove you own a GP as they wont sell them to anyone else. Its nuts really as theyre identical to standard black mats, these just have the red stitching to match the OEM ret stitched Recaro trim. Bit sad really, but they all add to the feel.
On inspection at my local Mini specialist it was seen that the front lower arm bushes had perished due to age along with the tyres, so these were promptly booked in to be Polybushed. I know Polybushes are technically not a Genuine OEM part, however theyre an all win, no lose fit and forget item. No photos imafraid, however the Mini now has a nice tight front end and steering is very positive.
I attended the local Porsche Essex Summer BBQ like i do every year, whist there i got chatting to a chap who had some surplus JCW upgrades he was looking to get rid of. He offered me a genuine JCW strut brace for not a great deal of money. As this is a factory upgrade and removable, i figured it was passable upgrade.
However the brace comes with special turned nuts that are known to fail and are bloody expensive to replace (£8 each... i need 6!).
Upon investigating the nuts i found that they were an M8 thread inside a 10mm collar, this meant only 0.75mm wall thickness on the shoulder and it was obvious why they failed. One of the lads at work said he would machine me up some stronger fasteners, so he machined some heavy duty nuts for me, however this would not only make the fit a solid connection to the strut top, it would also remove the tolerance for fitment. So after an initial trial, it was clear that i could get 2x nuts on but the 3rd was out of alignment.
So we decided to press out the factory collar that was out of alignment and make a larger, stronger item so the brace could bolt up exactly to the top mount. This would have to be modified.
In the meantime i decided to give the GP a proper clean and polish, so it was a full day on a Sunday and she got the proper treatment:
Wash
Clay
Wash
DodoJuice Lime Prime paint cleaner
Clearkote Red Moose machine glaze
Poorboys EXP paint sealant
finished off with 2 coats of DodoJuice Purple Haze wax.
Finally she had a nice looking shine and i can just keep adding to the protection.
Then it was another check with the re machined top mounts for the strut brace. This now fits perfectly, so the nust have been taken to the local metal plater to be bright zinc coated as per OEM. Just waiting to get those back and the strut brace can go on.
Lastly the wheels came back from Pristine with 4x new Michelin Pilot Supersports on. Naturally the wheel arches got a clean before they went back on. I must say im very pleased with the job and the car finally drives beatufully on proper non RF tyres. Its smoother, quieter and corners like its on rails.
So ive been pretty busy lately,
Mainly that involved getting married and the GP has been getting better and better the more i drive it. I was however offered a cheap trackday at Snetterton so i thought sod it, its too good to pass up.
At that point i realised it would be rubbish on the Michelin Supersports that the car was on daily, so then i ended up ordering some new discs, pads, braidied hoses and fluid.
Brake bits yet to arrive, but in the meantime... some wheels and tyres happened too.
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Mainly that involved getting married and the GP has been getting better and better the more i drive it. I was however offered a cheap trackday at Snetterton so i thought sod it, its too good to pass up.
At that point i realised it would be rubbish on the Michelin Supersports that the car was on daily, so then i ended up ordering some new discs, pads, braidied hoses and fluid.
Brake bits yet to arrive, but in the meantime... some wheels and tyres happened too.
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Its my daily that im keeping standard
Nice try... like you I have my silly toy that I play with and I also have a 63 plate JCW which I'm keeping absolutely standard, apparently!
Yet I find myself looking at the Lohen site thinking... car really needs an LSD, and an intercooler and remap will see 50bhp... maybe suspension tweaks.
Slippery slop that us Essex boys tend to go down more than most
Congrats on your marriage BTW... I did that last year
Yet I find myself looking at the Lohen site thinking... car really needs an LSD, and an intercooler and remap will see 50bhp... maybe suspension tweaks.
Slippery slop that us Essex boys tend to go down more than most
Congrats on your marriage BTW... I did that last year
Good to see another Essex boy tying the knot! Many congratulations.
Good choice of a daily. The GP is probably the only mini I would ever consider. I like the tweaks you're doing and I'm very pleased you've had the diamond cut returned to all of those wheels - it would drive me spare knowing two were painted.
I look forward to your continuation of not modifying it. AP Racing brakes next?
Good choice of a daily. The GP is probably the only mini I would ever consider. I like the tweaks you're doing and I'm very pleased you've had the diamond cut returned to all of those wheels - it would drive me spare knowing two were painted.
I look forward to your continuation of not modifying it. AP Racing brakes next?
C7 JFW said:
Good to see another Essex boy tying the knot! Many congratulations.
Good choice of a daily. The GP is probably the only mini I would ever consider. I like the tweaks you're doing and I'm very pleased you've had the diamond cut returned to all of those wheels - it would drive me spare knowing two were painted.
I look forward to your continuation of not modifying it. AP Racing brakes next?
Lmao, ive actually ordered some sensible brakes, just a Brembo high carbon plain discs and some DS2500 pads. Although I am tempted with some quality coilovers and maybe swapping out the supercharger pulley for a 17% version.Good choice of a daily. The GP is probably the only mini I would ever consider. I like the tweaks you're doing and I'm very pleased you've had the diamond cut returned to all of those wheels - it would drive me spare knowing two were painted.
I look forward to your continuation of not modifying it. AP Racing brakes next?
The pulley is a very inexpensive upgrade and i am told should take it to approx. 235-240bhp area?
Whatever I swap will only be something that can easily be swapped back as I will retain all the OE parts.
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