[Tifosi]

Ok, some history. I no longer work in the industry, but for 15 years I owned and ran a large tuning/racing shop/manufacturer for aftermarket parts for BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari. After that I ran large sales divisions for Cosworth, Magnaflow and K&N. So... I am kind of an aftermarket guy! lol Meaning, I cannot leave any car alone!

The MINI replaced an i3, which was great... but boring. This one is not boring, I love it. It is my daily to the office. Have a very custom e46 M3c (magazine and SEMA car) and a Q7 that was my daily. But at gas being over $4/g in the US at the moment, it just makes sense to drive electric. But that doesnt mean "drive boring!" I hate tesla and have have many BMW's, so MINI it was!

Here is the car as delivered last weekend:

2021 MINI SE Iconic, Moonwalk/Black, all the black trim possible from factory.

Today it was tinted:

Much better!

I have a long list of parts already ordered and will post updates with part #s and the best prices I find as I go!

I know not all want to play with or mod this little "appliance" - but it is in my blood and I cannot help myself!!! lol

 

[MiniFootPrint]

Welcome @Tifosi. That's quite the industry experience to be coming from!

What parts have you ordered so far and what are your short and long-term goals for the SE? Wouldn't mind knowing more about the E46 and Q7 either, especially the E46! Had a 330ci in black and absolutely loved it.

 

[Tifosi]

Yep, here is what is already on order:

• black front and rear light trims
• black grill surround (installed)
• Eibach springs
• Outmotoring Black beltline kit
  • Changed to ordering the OE trim as the vinyl failed already in the heat of Phoenix
• black alum valve stem caps (installed)
• carbon key fob to replace the huge round thing! (installed)
• Thule bike racks
• Smoked front and rear LED marker lights (replace the ones in the fenders)
• clear dynamic LED side turn signal
• Smoked rear lower fogs (installed)
• Black alum license plate frame (installed)

Here is what is next for sure:

• black out the chrome on the front and side E logo's (have not figured out how)

Here is what is "maybe":

• Black led taillights
• 18" wheels

I am sure there will be more, but that is the plan I have at the moment. =)

I will try to post pics this week, I have been waiting on some more parts.

The e46....where to start. It is a 2002 M3c that was converted to as much CSL-spec as possible. It was used for development for a bunch of parts (I used to own a performance tuning biz), was a magazine car and saw SEMA twice as a booth car. Its my baby!

This is an old picture that Vorsteiner used for their catalog. They used our e46's for all their development. I had three e46 M3's at one point (this one, a coupe and a race car). This is how it looked when it was at SEMA.

Not a great pic, but this is how it looks at the moment. It gets different wheels often. lol That is my 16 year old driving it. He used it to learn stick.

The Q7 is the family trip/boat/race trailer hauler.

Tune, Intake mods, Vorsteiner 22's, Racks. It will tow 7700lbs and it hauls ass!

Thanks
Brad

 

[GetOffYourGas]

Man, you have some incredible toys! Enjoy!

 

[WillMW]

Ok, some history. I no longer work in the industry, but for 15 years I owned and ran a large tuning/racing shop/manufacturer for aftermarket parts for BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari. After that I ran large sales divisions for Cosworth, Magnaflow and K&N. So... I am kind of an aftermarket guy! lol Meaning, I cannot leave any car alone!

The MINI replaced an i3, which was great... but boring. This one is not boring, I love it. It is my daily to the office. Have a very custom e46 M3c (magazine and SEMA car) and a Q7 that was my daily. But at gas being over $4/g in the US at the moment, it just makes sense to drive electric. But that doesnt mean "drive boring!" I hate tesla and have have many BMW's, so MINI it was!

Here is the car as delivered last weekend:
View attachment 132
2021 MINI SE Iconic, Moonwalk/Black, all the black trim possible from factory.

Today it was tinted:
View attachment 133
View attachment 134
Much better!

I have a long list of parts already ordered and will post updates with part #s and the best prices I find as I go!

I know not all want to play with or mod this little "appliance" - but it is in my blood and I cannot help myself!!! lol

All that blacked out trim is going to look great in contrast to the Moonwalk paint. Which set of Eibach springs did you order?

 

[Tifosi]

Man, you have some incredible toys! Enjoy!

Thanks. We do. I used to have some real toys, but that was another life! Here are a couple of my favorites ones! (yes, this is 2 different e30's)

Cannot find a better pic, but this was my e46 (before painting)

And this is one we have in process:

Its has a v8 from the e90 M3 and is getting buttoned up (eventually)

All that blacked out trim is going to look great in contrast to the Moonwalk paint. Which set of Eibach springs did you order?

Eibach E10-57-004-08-22 - designed for the Mini SE and TUV approved in Europe. Ordered from tunershop.

 

[WillMW]

Thanks. We do. I used to have some real toys, but that was another life! Here are a couple of my favorites ones! (yes, this is 2 different e30's)
View attachment 205
View attachment 208

Cannot find a better pic, but this was my e46 (before painting)
View attachment 209

And this is one we have in process:
View attachment 210
Its has a v8 from the e90 M3 and is getting buttoned up (eventually)


Eibach E10-57-004-08-22 - designed for the Mini SE and TUV approved in Europe. Ordered from tunershop.

Very cool thanks for that. I'm interested to hear how they fit and feel on your Mini. If they make a big difference I might look into getting them as well.

 

[Tifosi]

So... Some updates, pics will come soon once a few more things are installed! (click the links to see the best pricing I could find)

• Ordered, received and installed the Depo Smoked Rear Fogs
• Ordered, received and installed the Black Front Frill Surround
• Ordered, received and TRIED to install the Outmotring Beltline Kit - it failed and shrunk in the heat and overall was disappointing (I have installed vinyl on all my race cars and am fairly good at it), so....
• Ordered, waiting... OE Gloss Black Beltline Trim
• Ordered, received and installed the Carbon Union Jack Key Surround (to eliminate the big round blob)
• Ordered, received and installed the LEFANEV 40 Amp EV Charger Level 2

More parts incoming! Will post updates as they arrive and are installed with some pics.

The biggest decision was wheels, and I ordered 18x8 XXR 527's in Black

Super excited to see this move along!

 

[Tifosi]

I installed the Smoked Led Front & Rear Side Marker Lights last night, and loving them!

Front on and off:

Rear on and off:

Also got the Black Surround Installed (just waiting for the light rings - I hate waiting)

Progress ....

Thanks
Brad

 

[Tifosi]

Some more progress this weekend. Front and Rear Light Rings installed:

These actually came from Amazon. Best price I could find.
Carwoman Reaplacement Gloosy Black Matt Black Head & Rear Lamp Surround Trim Part For Mini Cooper F55 F56 F57 (Glossy Black)

Bad news/bad news:
Good: all the wheel tire parts are ordered (wheels, tires, TPMS with Black stems, Center bore adapters, center caps with Black/Grey Union Jack)
Bad: Wheel seller said (after they took my money and said they had been shipped) that it is a 6 week wait!

Arghhh

Thanks
Brad

 

[Tifosi]

Lowered and Racks on.

• Eibach Lowering Springs
• Thule Racks
• Yakima Bike racks

Wheels are still on back-order! Arghh!

 

[Tifosi]

Here are a couple quick pics with one of the bikes:

 

[Tifosi]

WooHoo! The new shoes are finally on the car:

The fitment is perfect. I am more than pleased!

Came out perfect IMHO!!!!

Thanks
Brad

 

[Tifosi]

Almost there! New taillights are installed.

 

[Gswrhjvbjku]

Why didn’t u get the coil over. I am taught that is the proper way to lower a car.

Lowered and Racks on.

• Eibach Lowering Springs
• Thule Racks
• Yakima Bike racks

View attachment 231
View attachment 230

Wheels are still on back-order! Arghh!

 

[Gswrhjvbjku]

Almost there! New taillights are installed.

View attachment 251

Looks badass. Too bad that the one that I ordered will be for my mom. Even if I do mod, most likely will just do a coil over to lower it.

 

[Tifosi]

The "proper" way is pretty vague. It depends on what you are doing with the car. It is generally better to lower a car with a matched set of dampers and springs (which is what I am sure you were told). That can be coil-overs or a mis-matched set that works well.

On this car, it is purely for aesthetics and I had to compromise with the wife as to how low. She drives it too - whoever goes further that day.

This car has coils and is the ride height I prefer:

If you are just lowering for your mom, springs is a good value purchase as she will not likely appreciate the handling improvement from the coil-over. Just a thought.

 

[Gswrhjvbjku]

Just checked with my shop. They can install springs for me. But how much harsher is the ride and how much does it roughen the other parts prematureLy.

Lowered and Racks on.

• Eibach Lowering Springs
• Thule Racks
• Yakima Bike racks

View attachment 231
View attachment 230

Wheels are still on back-order! Arghh!

 

[Tifosi]

You are not going to wear anything prematurely with lowering springs like these (you can wear the shocks out early with really low springs). The ride is about the same IMHO. It is a little stiffer, but the OE ride is pretty stiff. But I drive a lot of sports cars, so I am used to it. I think that the ride with springs v coil-overs will not be much different. The Coils will be a bit better as they are matched to each other.

 

[Jbrando2]

What was the drop you ended up with the Eibach springs in inches? They look to be around $300, and I would guess another $300 to install at a local shop?