2003 MINI - Stancification in progress

[Puma]

Figured I'd post my MINI... It's a work in progress, but I should have some stance dialed in shortly. Lots of plans for the car, but stance is the #1 priority right now. New wheels are due today, so hopefully FedEx didn't damage these ones in transit (they're a replacement set for the ones they did damage).

How she sits right now. There's still room both front and rear to go down, but it's only 2.25" off the ground right now. I live in CO at the moment though, and given the ridiculous pothole/ road damage around here, I don't want to go down further yet...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/4073031599_afc4c16ff1_o.jpg

[Zack01GC]

Looks good, I like that color.

A while back, I wanted to buy a Mini in that color, paint the roof beige, and build some 16" BBS RS with matching beige centers. Didn't have the money, though.

[Puma]

Hmm... Hadn't thought of the beige roof. I wanted to do silver for a while, but I got over it. 16x9 and 16x9.5 RS are on the list eventually, but not just yet. Broke-college-student status here...

[Zack01GC]

I know how that is... college leaves me with no money for my car other than gas.

[Puma]

Thank God I get around 32+mpg... Any less and filling up with Premium would bankrupt me!

[Kielan]

Thank God I get around 32+mpg... Any less and filling up with Premium would bankrupt me!

Ughhhh I get 28 in my Integra it hurts my wallet soooo much.

[Puma]

Wheels came in yesterday. I've got an appointment to get them fitted Thursday.

[schroedin]

Looks like BMW Moreagrun, I dig.

[Puma]

I've always been a fan of that color on Bimmers. My step-dad's got a 540i wagon in a similar color (I can't be sure since the car is beat to hell. He doesn't know how to take care of cars...). It's a sick color. Ugh... Tomorrow can't come fast enough!

[Puma]

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6955/img2077z.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1228/img2086n.jpg

[Puma]

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/9910/img2092w.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4144/img2093ns.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5548/img2094j.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5341/img2095m.jpg

[JohnnyVillan]

YYYYEEEAAAAAHHHHH BUDDY

Now lower it as far as you can before you're layin on that tire.

[Puma]

I'm pretty much there in the back. I'm going back to the alignment shop tomorrow though. I'll be adding more camber front and rear so I can tuck a bit more tire up under there. I'm gonna stiffen the damping on all the coils, then a bit more low. Not a ton though. I'm less than 23" from ground to arch... Still I'm stoked now.

[JohnnyVillan]

Awww come on you can get it lower. My arches are about 22" off the ground and I'm lowering the front more tomorrow morning :)

I did have a hard time getting low when I first fitted my wheels because of all the rubbing but after a few good weeks of wearing away the arches, I had clearance.

It looks awesome though. I almost bought Keskins.

[Puma]

You're on 15's though! lol...

I'm getting some body work done in the next month or two to remove a lot of the plastic arch as well as the wheel well liner and some of the metal around the wheel well too. Once that's done, I'll have way more room to go down. I'm gonna wait to really slam it until I'm back in CA where the roads are good year round.

[Puma]

Lost this thread in the mix. Question for you all: is the MINI worthy of wearing a "StanceWorks" sticker yet?

Stuff's happened since the last post. Here's the latest update:

My passenger rear coil strut was sheared through two weeks ago, and I only just now had time to get it up and order the replacement bits. I've got new struts and bushings on the way, so the car should be sitting nice for a show I'm attending Sunday.

Also fabbed up a custom grille last weekend, although I'm not quite happy with the fit yet. Gotta figure out how to glue down or bolt down the chrome surround, a better way to keep the mesh in (using double sided stick tape - ghetto, I know...), and need to cut a new upper mesh piece as the first version isn't even close to fitting properly.

Lastly, I'm working on some custom center caps for the Keskins. I don't like the current ones - they look too "American Racing" style for me. I'm gonna mod some OEM MINI caps to fit. Should be cool when it's done.

All in all, I'm happy with where this is going.

How the car's sitting until the new struts come in:

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9663/0411101620a.jpg

The "ghetto grille." Good from far...

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7712/0410101624a.jpg

Far from good. Recutting the upper mesh this week.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2286/0410101616a.jpg


As always, comments, questions, suggestions, and constructive criticism is/are welcomed!

[Jedidiah]

I approve of the progress... Seems like you got some dialing in to do, and then you should be dominating the asphalt.. I got a soft spot for Coopers, so Im more then down. Get a sticker on there stat!

[Anti-Chrome]

looks good, i see your sticking with teal/white combo. ever think of coloring the centers?

[Puma]

Thanks gents!

I'm gonna drop the fronts a bit more after I get back to CA where the roads are a bit better (potholes here in CO will eat your car). I'd have to do some serious cutting and moulding to drop the rear more as I've rubbed through the fender liner to expose metal bits that'll shred my tires if I go down more.

Yeah, sticking with the teal/ white set up. I actually posted a while ago in the "Wheels" section here about recoloring the centers white, but the consensus was that removing the bolts on the new style KT1's is impossible and there's not a shop in town that'll tackle the hassle of masking off the centers with the tiny clearance between them and the bolts. I'm probably gonna just get some white plastidip, mask it off myself and go at it as a temporary solution. Once I'm back in So Cal, where tuning cars is more popular and I can find a shop, I'm gonna get the centers professionally painted/ powdercoated and shave the "Keskins" script off the spokes for a smooth, clean look. I'm not gonna try and make these look like OZ Futuras, but they'll deffo look better than they do now when I'm done.

[Burn535i]

that grill doesn't look like a bad start, but should look perfect when you touch it up. i think getting rid of all the chrome on the car would look amazing.well done so far though

[Puma]

Thanks bud. A few people have mentioned removing the chrome, but the whole "black-out" thing is completely played out in the MINI scene, and I also don't think it'd look right with the teal of the car and the white roof. The black grille and black headlights will probably be it for the chrome removal step.

Getting a few more stickers soon too. Gotta rep the new stance with some custom ones I designed. Also have some euro tails (red and white - none of this orange indicator business) on the way.

[mo diesil]

what rims are those? i like by the way very clean

[Average_Jerk]

looking good man

[Puma]

Thanks guys. I'm going for the clean look. I'll be shaving the bumpers some in the future to complete the look.

what rims are those?

Keskin KT1, 16x9 et25 all around, wrapped in 205/45/16 Falken 512s.

[Puma]

Got a call from the cops today asking if someone stole my wheel. Made me laugh...

Gonna cut the new grille tomorrow, as well as pull a wheel off to see if I can mask it alright.

[shipoopi]

kudos for doin the mini right.
and with a unique color to add.
got the fundamentals of stancin it right so i see good things in the future

[Puma]

Thanks bud. Got new bits on the way to drop her down some. Need to do some fender modification to make space to get lower. That'll probably come mid May. I gotta do a 1,000 mile road trip soon so I can go slammed as the roads aren't great. Shortly after I get to San Diego though...

[Puma]

Pictures from the CUSCC Car Show in Boulder, CO today. Thoughts?

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7236/picture2av.png

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5436/picture1kzj.png

[bonkey]

awesome.wish you were here.i would love to see it in real life!!
the only thing is that the front looks a little weird because of the black lights and chrome headlight rings?
but maybe that my opinion

[Puma]

I think it works since I did the black headlights and grille with chrome surround on both. I think? I mean, the black plastic trim, the dark tint on the windows... There's just enough black to make that work, and the chrome ties in the belt line, door handles, and polished lips on the wheels. I don't know what route I'd go if it doesn't. I feel like it works, but help me out here if I'm missing something.

[Puma]

Found another picture. Needs more low in front, I know. I'll drop it another inch once I'm back in CA.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1984/27788137077078439710855.jpg

[Puma]

New tails. Euro spec for the '04+ MINI.

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6729/0427101608a.jpg

[bonkey]

great ass i love it!!!

[bonkey]

I think it works since I did the black headlights and grille with chrome surround on both. I think? I mean, the black plastic trim, the dark tint on the windows... There's just enough black to make that work, and the chrome ties in the belt line, door handles, and polished lips on the wheels. I don't know what route I'd go if it doesn't. I feel like it works, but help me out here if I'm missing something.

how about bodycolor?nothing negative m8 i love it;)

[Puma]

Not taken as negative at all! I just like the chrome right now. I may change it later, but I'd have to photoshop it in body color before I actually go through with the change...

[Puma]

Cross-posted from the "Interior Appreciation Thread:"

Hey Puma I've been working on my MINIs interior for a while now. What you got planned?

Plans involve the following (complete list):

Upgrade sound system (currently have 10" sub to install, more to come later)
New headunit with iPod integration
Add interior lighting to footwells, door inserts (teal or orange)
Rear seat delete (black carpet)
Custom boot box (to make boot flush/ level with rear seat delete)
GP or custom made rear panels for rear seat delete
JCW (or other leather/ polished) shift and e-brake knobs
JCW steering wheel with integrated shift light (hotformini.de)
Aftermarket pedal cover kit
Reclining sport seats
- Options: Recaro Sport/ Sport Topline, Recaro Sportster CS, Isotta Tijuana, Isotta Daytona, Corbeau A4, Corbeau CR1, Corbeau LG1, Sparco Milano/ Milano Prestige, Sparco Torino. Seats would be re-covered if color not compatible with interior scheme
Harness bar
5-Point harnesses
Leather wrap dash and downtubes (black)
Replace gauge faces (black speedo, possibly yellow tach)
Replace gauge lighting (white numbers, orange needles)
Suede wrap interior pillars (black)
Suede wrap headliner (black)
Leather shift and e-brake boots (black)
Leather door and rear interior panels (black)
Paint door rings (gloss black)
Remove original carpet, replace with new carpet (black)
Leather or carbon fiber wrap center console (modification to console required)
Chrome rings: Speedometer, tach, door handles, shift boot
Arm rest (black leather pad, gloss black support)
Engine monitoring gauges (installed in driver-side A pillar)


So basically, I'm ripping out everything and recovering it with either black leather or black suede, painting the plastics (door rings, speaker covers, etc) gloss black, and replacing all grey carpet with black. At least that's the plan for now haha...

[Puma]

Stance update. Front is coming down another 1/2" before the end of the week. Rear is set. Ya dig?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4601105998_ae5bf230cf.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1243/4600483485_20ecfbed75.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/4600481171_2313cee4e7.jpg

[bonkey]

i love it man.wish we could do a duoshoot!!
and ehhh duhhh i dig!!:D
thats a big to do list man.looking forward to see more of your mini!!

[Puma]

So no updates, but it was a beautiful day last week and I found a new favorite shoot location. The photos are unedited except for a bit of the "Retouch" tool (camera lens was obscenely dirty - still didn't get rid of all the spots) and some minor level adjustment in iPhoto. I think my photography is improving?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4642510690_763d5f1892_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4642573168_708a9a0971_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4641956161_bfc76b87c5_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4641904753_3ec917761b_b.jpg

[Jedidiah]

Love this progression ... any thoughts on color matching the fender guards?

[M.Burroughs]

I <3 the color

[Puma]

Thanks guys! If I was to match the fender trim, I'd want to smooth it out and use some bondo to remove the seams with the body - something that'd cost more than it's worth at this point. It might happen eventually, but for now, I'm gonna leave it. The only other one I've seen with it matched isn't so great looking, so I'm a bit skeptical... We'll see though. Maybe a good photoshop could change my mind haha

[Puma]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4655741390_04b348bd25_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4655114399_f10d17fedd_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4652446400_507181ab05_b.jpg

[bonkey]

i think an aero skirt would make it optical wider and lower looking.
Love the progress on your puma:cool

[matt752]

This is very cool. I like

[Jenewein]

Hey I just saw this is for sale, how much are you asking?

[ChrisVRsix]

love the teal and white top, great photos especially the ones at the beach, car just suits the beach.

[Demoniac]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4642510690_763d5f1892_b.jpg

Epic!

[Jorge]

Old thread, but still a Mini done right.

[Rusty62]

Dude your Mini is super SICK! Always loved these little cars and yours makes me want to go and grab one up.

[Puma]

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I loved driving around the beach last summer - got so many looks from everyone. I was planning on doing a custom surf rack setup to toss some boards on top this summer, but unfortunately, as much as I love this car, it's time to move on. Need to pay for school first...

Asking $9k OBO. PM me if you wanna chat about it.

[Puma]

A couple photos I never posted on here. Again, car's for sale. Spread the word...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4664273658_7ff554d3f7_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4663844213_76ef3da77a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/4664276792_cdbb6a6e34_b.jpg

[Puma]

The MINI was pictured in PVW last month apparently. They're sending me a PDF of the page it was on later, which I'll post when I get it. I'm deffo gonna miss this car...

edit: Got it. Cool.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9906/screenshot20110303at659.png

[Puma]

Fun stuff yesterday with everyone at the Rotiform meet. Credits to go the photographers who took the snaps - not me!

Courtesy of Dub-Nation
http://imageshack.us/m/90/643/22671010150186131895822.jpg

Cardboard signs say "For Sale" and "Leave a message on the bumper!"
http://imageshack.us/m/851/6907/23038010150186136955822.jpg

Courtesy of AWFILMS
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/6550/23093210150176097906479.jpg

[daspanda]

ive always loved your mini ive been admiring it for a while over at the MU soooo sexy.... that exhaust and that wheel fitment just put it over the top

[a3 german]

lovely...

congratulations ;)

[Puma]

Thanks guys!

[gunning]

lovely motor mate, need to get a JCW or s bodykit on it though, trust me, it transforms the car!

[daspanda]

no the cooper body looks too clean

and you still selling it??... how often you in SD??

[.:hazard]

very nice mini, I looked into one before I got my audi... do you speak italian? I noticed your sig...

[gunning]

no the cooper body looks too clean

and you still selling it??... how often you in SD??

disagree the s or JCW kit is much cleaner and flows better with the bonnet and boot. it completely changed my one

[ilikestance]

love the color, and cars super clean good work =)

[DinanDave]

I loved your mini!!!