MDifficult’s E82 1M Coupe & Ariel Atom 3
Discussion
MrTouring said:
Enjoyed chasing you into the rising sun this morning! Pops, crackles and bangs spurting out the backside of the little mini!
Was a cracking run-out if not a little slippery 
Love that shot - that’s two pieces of genuine rocking-horse s
te in one picture! (Plus, a big rusty can of actual s
te) steve-5snwi said:
You can get them trimmed, some have alcantara at the top and leather at the bottom or just leather or just alcantara, i'm tempted to wrap mine in alcantara but then i think alcantara with a blue stitch to match the handbrake and gearstick. (LG trimming did mine)
Cheers. If it bugs me now I might look into it. Hopefully it won’t! NeilAndHisMini said:
Always enjoy reading your updates, especially about the GP.
I recently acquired an Akrapovic downpipe for mine, and am awaiting a suitable opportunity to have it fitted. Took a group from my club (Surrey New MINI) to Mulgari for a little tour on Saturday morning, and to say we came away impressed would be an understatement, so it will probably be going back there to be done. Will have to consider the Powerflex engine mount as well.
And agree with you about the ICON 02 MINIs, first F series MINI I actually want.
Cheers Neil, really glad you enjoy it. I recently acquired an Akrapovic downpipe for mine, and am awaiting a suitable opportunity to have it fitted. Took a group from my club (Surrey New MINI) to Mulgari for a little tour on Saturday morning, and to say we came away impressed would be an understatement, so it will probably be going back there to be done. Will have to consider the Powerflex engine mount as well.
And agree with you about the ICON 02 MINIs, first F series MINI I actually want.
Can't recommend Mulgari enough - there's something about a group of guys who're constantly surrounded by the best the supercar/exotic-track-car world can offer but are so obsessed about the fun of driving that they also love Minis! Make sure you do the engine mount - it really is good.
Jimbo NW said:
Looks a great photo spot! I see you are based in Reading is it local?
MrTouring won't thank me for giving it away but it's the back of the Uni campus off Wilderness road. His photography skills make a lot more of it than it is in reality!If you've any other good suggestions yourself, we're always looking for more around the area.
rallyeS2 said:
I think I may have had a passenger ride in your Exige round Oulton park. I was there with my 106 Rallye... not sure if it was during your ownership or the previous owners...
Fantastic collection past and present! (Micra excluded!)
Cheers,Fantastic collection past and present! (Micra excluded!)
Sadly, I think it must have been the previous owner, I never took it to Oulton. The guy I sold it to shipped it out to Belgium although it may have come back at some point. Was an amazing car - used to go into the garage and take the cover off just to stare at it!
Two small things of note,
Firstly, my GP passed a small milestone the other morning... 33,333 miles! Please tell me I'm not the only person who takes pictures of this stuff?
Secondly, talking about the downpipe and showing pictures is all well and good but why not let you all hear it? Here goes...
(Trust me, you'll want to turn your volume up!)
https://youtu.be/c2Hkj08Piq0
Firstly, my GP passed a small milestone the other morning... 33,333 miles! Please tell me I'm not the only person who takes pictures of this stuff?
Secondly, talking about the downpipe and showing pictures is all well and good but why not let you all hear it? Here goes...
(Trust me, you'll want to turn your volume up!)
https://youtu.be/c2Hkj08Piq0
that'd be addictive!Mike1990 said:
That sounds lovely! Never get bored of that noise.
Yours must be one the highest mileage GP’s out there ? Kudos to enjoying it
Cheers, there definitely seems to be three types out there (on the rare occasions they come up for sale). There’s those that have been ‘dailies’ so have 60k or so, those that are barely used ‘investments’ with 10k or less and then the weekend cars like mine. They seem to be between 25 and 40k. Yours must be one the highest mileage GP’s out there ? Kudos to enjoying it
Too many miles on mine to get top money, but if I keep it down to <5k a year I’m pretty confident it’ll keep its value. If the next GP (GP3?) isn’t a manual then I think values will increase steadily. Fingers crossed!
Aftershox said:
Interested to hear your thoughts on the engine mount? Which one did you go for in the end and what differences are there?
I am toying with the idea of getting an engine mount or something hopefully to give slightly better throttle response.
Loving my GP, it's nearly on 22k miles now and purely my weekend car
If there is ever a GP2 meet around surrey/M25 let me know!
Hey, I am toying with the idea of getting an engine mount or something hopefully to give slightly better throttle response.
Loving my GP, it's nearly on 22k miles now and purely my weekend car
If there is ever a GP2 meet around surrey/M25 let me know!
I went with the Polybush insert (the big yellow one that goes into the big end of the lower mount to firm it up). Didn’t bother with the little one in the lower mount, nor either of the upper mounts. Supposedly they’re a step too far.
I’ve done about 200 miles on the car and it feels great. Throttle and gear shift feel more connected, but it also makes the clutch more sensitive, especially when pulling away from a standstill. I think that the clutch is probably more immediate because the lower mount now has much less slack - so you’ve got to be a smidge more delicate. Not a problem (unless you’re some kind of ham-footed ape), but something to be aware of.
So far, would definitely recommend, especially since it’s cheap as chips and a doddle to undo if you don’t like it
Not come across any GP specific meet ups but if any come up, I’d certainly attemp to be there!
Edited by MDifficult on Thursday 11th January 19:16
NeilAndHisMini said:
I'd be up for a Surrey/M25 GP2 meet, perhaps I should try to arrange something? My friends from Reading might be persuaded to bring theirs, though it only comes out on dry days.
Also ordered the big yellow engine mount bush after your earlier post. Looking forward to getting it fitted.
Hey Neil, sounds great! Let me know how you get on on both counts?Also ordered the big yellow engine mount bush after your earlier post. Looking forward to getting it fitted.
TBH, mine’s a bit of a ‘fairweather’ car at the moment but that more just trying to avoid having to clean the dried salt off two cars every five minutes.
Time for a small update,
M5
Well, the inevitable big service is just around the corner with the big blue one hitting the big six-o.
With the iDrive showing less than 2k miles until the service is due, I've started stockpiling some of the bits I'll need as and when great deals come up. One such deal was an outstanding offer from a BMW main dealer on all four discs, all four sets of pads, wear sensors etc.
First lesson I learned was.. don't be out when the courier tries to deliver. Not only did I have to go all the way to the depot to pick them up, but I also nearly threw my back out carrying them (in one go) from the depot to the car. What seemed 'really very heavy' as I stepped away from the counter rapidly became 'unbelievably, astonishingly heavy' about halfway to the car. I've never been so grateful for the ability to open the bootlid just by waving a foot. If I'd put them down, I'd have needed 5 minutes rest before picking them up again!
Second lesson is that anything that looks big on the car, looks HUGE in your living room. These damn brake discs are massive:
Okay, so they don't actually look that big without something for scale. I looked everywhere for some custard, but I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some Sainsbury's ratatouille. That's a full size can. See? MASSIVE:
Not just big, but bloody heavy. The rears (according to my trusty luggage scale) are 10kg each, and the fronts are a faintly ridiculous 14kg each. No wonder I nearly broke my spine carrying them all plus the pads in one go.
I've still got 9 litres of oil plus filter to arrive, then it's time to book the car in. Oh wait... I need four new tyres too
GP
Not been using it much as the weather's been absolutely foul. Took it out today to take child #3 to a few play parks but the long sit in the garage plus a few short stop-start journeys left me sat in the kind of carpark where you wouldn't leave your car over night.... with a flat battery. Being the rocket scientist I am, I'd forgotten to keep it on the trickle charger while it had been sat in the garage for the last few weeks.
Hopefully it was just my stupidity and not a borked battery - I could really do without needing to buy a new one. Fingers crossed the (now attached) trickle charger can bring it back to life.
How did I get the Mini restarted with a flat battery you ask? I paid a quick call to MrTouring who very kindly showed up and gave me a jump. For anyone who's ever had a Mini R56, they're bloody touchy things with a flat battery (all sorts of flashing dash lights, wipers going randomly, odd clicks from the CD player etc) but after a few minutes and a jolly good rev from the big 5 litre V10 Roadside Support Wagon and it wheezed itself into life.
Cheers Matt, you're a total lifesaver
M5
Well, the inevitable big service is just around the corner with the big blue one hitting the big six-o.
With the iDrive showing less than 2k miles until the service is due, I've started stockpiling some of the bits I'll need as and when great deals come up. One such deal was an outstanding offer from a BMW main dealer on all four discs, all four sets of pads, wear sensors etc.
First lesson I learned was.. don't be out when the courier tries to deliver. Not only did I have to go all the way to the depot to pick them up, but I also nearly threw my back out carrying them (in one go) from the depot to the car. What seemed 'really very heavy' as I stepped away from the counter rapidly became 'unbelievably, astonishingly heavy' about halfway to the car. I've never been so grateful for the ability to open the bootlid just by waving a foot. If I'd put them down, I'd have needed 5 minutes rest before picking them up again!
Second lesson is that anything that looks big on the car, looks HUGE in your living room. These damn brake discs are massive:
Okay, so they don't actually look that big without something for scale. I looked everywhere for some custard, but I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some Sainsbury's ratatouille. That's a full size can. See? MASSIVE:
Not just big, but bloody heavy. The rears (according to my trusty luggage scale) are 10kg each, and the fronts are a faintly ridiculous 14kg each. No wonder I nearly broke my spine carrying them all plus the pads in one go.
I've still got 9 litres of oil plus filter to arrive, then it's time to book the car in. Oh wait... I need four new tyres too
GP
Not been using it much as the weather's been absolutely foul. Took it out today to take child #3 to a few play parks but the long sit in the garage plus a few short stop-start journeys left me sat in the kind of carpark where you wouldn't leave your car over night.... with a flat battery. Being the rocket scientist I am, I'd forgotten to keep it on the trickle charger while it had been sat in the garage for the last few weeks.
Hopefully it was just my stupidity and not a borked battery - I could really do without needing to buy a new one. Fingers crossed the (now attached) trickle charger can bring it back to life.
How did I get the Mini restarted with a flat battery you ask? I paid a quick call to MrTouring who very kindly showed up and gave me a jump. For anyone who's ever had a Mini R56, they're bloody touchy things with a flat battery (all sorts of flashing dash lights, wipers going randomly, odd clicks from the CD player etc) but after a few minutes and a jolly good rev from the big 5 litre V10 Roadside Support Wagon and it wheezed itself into life.
Cheers Matt, you're a total lifesaver
lestiq said:
Hey M! Hope you're enjoying your motors still, cheeky question but can you remember what diameter the rear bush set you got was? Mine are definitely starting to go and I want to go down the powerflex route as you have. Did you manage to have a meet up with some other GPs yet? I'm down for a meet sometime, I'm based down south too, I've only ever seen one down here, a rare sight indeed.
Hey, no not managed to meet any others yet - probably best left for the summer. I’ve actually seen two on the roads recently but was in the M5 at the time. On the bushes, I think there’s only two purple options from powerflex. There’s the caster adjusted ones, or these (which are on mine):
https://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-series/product-de...
steve-5snwi said:
My Mini might be due a battery soon, sadly its an AGM and bloody expensive. BMW have changed all the prices on parts, well service parts and things like discs and pads are nearly as cheap as euro car parts. Also have a look at the BMW website, a full service on a mini cooper s is £227, the plugs alone are £50 ...
Sadly, it’s been on the trickle charger for 24h and barely a sausage so I’m pretty sure it’s had it. Not sure whether it’s AGM or not, but doesn’t say it on the battery and as it’s not got stop/start I’m hoping it’s not. Doesn’t look like it has the IBS either so I’ve got my fingers crossed for a relatively cheap replacement. As for servicing, I managed to get a good deal on the XL service pack when I bought it so no issues on that front. Wish the M5 had one
lestiq said:
Thanks M, I think when spring has sprung we should try and get a few together for a run around. I'll have brand new brakes, tyres and bushes by then, I'm really excited for this eternal winter to end!
Me too - seems like it’s been all money and little fun for the last few months! steve-5snwi said:
If you haven't got stop start then thats £180 saved
That’s what I’m hoping I understand AGM batteries should be very obvious and there’s nothing on this battery that suggests it is, but it’s the original battery so hopefully good news.Will find out one way or the other tomorrow.
Mini have confirmed the good news - it's a non-AGM battery and so a low-cost replacement.
Since I'm heading to the parts department tomorrow, I've decided to treat the GP to new trim pieces as the clips on my existing one are all snapped and broken (highlighted in the pic below). Typical Mini engineering genius decided to put the flexible/snappable clips on the larger, more expensive cowl part, rather than the small, super-cheap removable cover...
In all these years of car ownership, this is the first time I've ever replaced a battery myself. Found a good guide online which makes it look a doddle so can't wait to get my hands (a little bit) dirty. Assuming I don't cock it up and burn my hands and face off in a huge acid explosion, I'll be sure to update the thread
Since I'm heading to the parts department tomorrow, I've decided to treat the GP to new trim pieces as the clips on my existing one are all snapped and broken (highlighted in the pic below). Typical Mini engineering genius decided to put the flexible/snappable clips on the larger, more expensive cowl part, rather than the small, super-cheap removable cover...
In all these years of car ownership, this is the first time I've ever replaced a battery myself. Found a good guide online which makes it look a doddle so can't wait to get my hands (a little bit) dirty. Assuming I don't cock it up and burn my hands and face off in a huge acid explosion, I'll be sure to update the thread
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