rossv1

^
The blue strut bar.

Looks nice

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Ah, that's cool.

SamDoe1

Strut Tower Bar (or Brace)

Shoofin

Sooo I was originally going with these wheels...They are similar to the 19's I had on my Countryman, but the CM was a 19", these are 18". The CB and Bolt Pattern are different for both cars, so I couldn't use the 19's on the hardtop anyway. About a year or 2 after having them on my Countryman, they came out with another wheel, it was a split 5 spoke. I thought it looked real nice....but not nice enough for me to want to change them, when the lease on the CM was up soon. So I only had the option for the same mesh spoke wheel for the Hardtop, or a 5 spoke. I went with the mesh again because I thought it was a little nicer/classier than the 5 spoke. A week after I get the mesh spoke wheels, I mount the tires and TPMS sensors on it, and the fockers at NM release an 18" version of that same split 5 spoke wheel I fell in love with At this point, I still haven't mounted them on the car yet, and figured I could sell the mesh spoke wheels and order the split 5 spoke wheels. Like a fool, I ordered them.

These were the original mesh spoke wheels I bought, and I added the green center caps and wheel edge trim, it's going to match the lime green striping I'm planning on adding to the car.



...and these are the split 5 spoke wheels:


HOWEVER, the finish on the split 5 spoke wheels are a satin/matte finish, and a darker grey, whereas the mesh spoke is a gunmetal and gloss coated. The split 5 spoke looks so much more sinister/aggressive, suggesting I NEED to add some color to make it less aggressive looking. I'm getting very mixed comments on whether I should add the edge trim or not...what do you think? I was thinking so it doesn't look to be too much, I would just do the edge trim, and keep the OEM black MINI center cap instead of the green ones. I put the edge trim on, but it's not firmly in place, which is why it doesn't look perfectly round...just did it to show what it would look like:



So? What do you think? I think w/o the strip, it's too dull. Here's a pic of the car tonight, but it was getting dark, and it's a horrible pic, I'll take a better one tomorrow:

oonowindoo

The car looks like it is ready for the track.

00TL-P3.2

Really like the split 5s & think the green trim ring sets them off nicely.

Seen a few of the new Minis around here, think they look great (5Door too). Though, they're not so 'Mini' anymore.

SamDoe1

I'd leave it as is without the trim ring and keep the black center cap. I'm not a fan of the green colors on the wheels but that's just me.

If you must do something, I'd either get them refinished in gloss gunmetal or gloss silver to add some contrast.

What about getting one of the spokes trimmed in green?

Shoofin

Nah, would rather leave the finish as it is. I think once I add the lime green vinyl accents to the top and sides of the car, the wheel edge striping will tie together well. I think the green center cap is making it overkill, so I may just do the accent stripe and keep the OEM center cap. Aside from appearance, the wheel trim also helps protect the lip from curb damage. Not like I eat curbs every day, but it inevitably happens every so often. Plus I am a distributor of the product, so I should be supporting it too!

Better pics:

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Damn that looks good

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

Looks great without the green accents now. They might tie in better if you add the side and roof accents later.

I see you're running 205's... If only MINI would develop optional wider arches to fit more agressive wheels/tires. I've read it has become increasingly difficult to fit wide wheels under there. My 16x8's on 225/50/16 barely cleared the strut (mostly because the Bilstein has a cutout right where the tire is for added clearance), rubbed the inside of the arches off and just barely miss the bodywork behind the arch during full compression.

Shoofin

That's what I was thinking too. I'll add the trim once I add the color to the body.

As for tire sizing, I always prefer to stick to suggested/recommended sizes. The last time I tried to get daring, I was rubbing like a MF...so i'll take the safe way!

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

You wasted no time getting that thing looking great. Will you be blacking out the beltline, fuel door and front grille surround as well?

Yeah, it was definitely a gamble.. but after seeing my friends car on 16's with similar specs I was convinced I wanted to run the small wheel and beefy tire look. I haven't seen any other MINI's run RPF1's in the 16" size, everyone goes for the 17's or Konig knockoffs since they are the closest to OEM spec. I got my alignment done on stock wheels so I was more than thrilled when the Enkei's bolted right up and cleared everything with my desired camber settings from the get-go.

00TL-P3.2

^ I believe his fuel door & door handles are carbon now.

RPhilMan1

I think it looks great as it is now!

Shoofin

I have the CF fuel door and handle overlays, just didn't put it on yet.

Shoofin

The lime green wheel trim isn't permanently on...I pulled it off the other wheel I decided not to use, it still has some stick to it, but not enough to be permanent on a wheel. What do you think? I think just the trim, not the center cap, will work well once the lime green vinyl stripe effects are added to the car. I also added the aero wing, finally got around to getting it painted, but didn't realize the end caps (see top left corner of rear window in 3/4 car shot) that cover the bolts are not the same from the stock to aero wing. I just got one today from MINI parts, should have the other side on Monday.

00TL-P3.2

Like the wing, and think just the trim ring w/ stock center caps.

Looking great.

ttribe

Wheel trim?

Everything else?

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

What's that blue sticker looking thing on the rear side windows? I think I like that blue more than the green... blue would tie in the engine bay accents, too.

But I like it best without any accents. They make the car look too Tron-like.

oonowindoo

you planning to paint those fenders?

Shoofin

Logo of the company that (other than JCW stuff) I have all the mods from...I think the blue would be a little too dull against the very dark gray color of the car. I want a color that'll pop, which is why I chose lime green...also, wife said LG...so LG is it!

Shoofin

I'd love to, but they would be a pain to do. A lot of labor in getting that finish paint worthy. It's a grainy black plastic.

oonowindoo

Mini changed the materials on those fenders from previous Gens? i don't remember they were hard to paint before.

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

The green definitely pops more than the blue would.


MINI offered painted arches from the factory on R56's didn't they? It's no longer a factory option?

Shoofin

Only on the R56...Not sure about the 2010+ R56, but I recall that the aero kit option gave you painted arches. I had the Aero kit on my Clubman, it had painted bumpers, but the arches were black plastic....and also not so easy to paint.

RPhilMan1

It definitely stands out and looks different with the lime green trim.

But it's too flashy for my taste. I think it looks more mean and aggressive without it.

Marcelechka

Green trim =

Shoofin

Lime green accent/racing stripe over the car.

Shoofin

So apparently the BMW dealer never took my name off the M3 that I ordered...and BMW just pulled it out of the order bank, so my M3 is now in 112 status (On Order), I think it's going to jump into production in September...Anyone know people looking for an M3? It can still be modified....

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Or you can try to find people to buy your Mini...

Marcelechka

That'll look neat; although, I would tint / smoke the orange & red reflectors.

How's the feel of the F56 against the R53? From the R56 on, they've gotten larger in size and less attractive in appearance. I'm curious as to what the GP3 will look like?

SamDoe1

Time to sell/trade the Mini.

Shoofin

Not interested in the M3 anymore...maybe next time around. I'm still butthurt by the disappointment

On a positive note, here's a few pics I just took....Got aero wing end caps on, as well as the JCW side scuttle/markers, and removed badging and relocated JCW badge to the correct side, finished with the (real) CF door handle and fuel door overlay. I have the front grille, just waiting for the striping to be done before removing everything there, no point in removing it to put it back only to remove again once they wrap the chrome in black.

ttribe

I'm interested. Who's gonna pay for it?

00TL-P3.2

Looking great Shoof

You going to do the broken up stripe at the end like the Exige? Or just solid front to back? Centered or offset?

Shoofin

Not so excited about smoking lights that encourage me being more visible to cars around me.

I haven't driven an R53 in a long time, I remember liking it, but also telling myself how poor in quality it felt it was built. I had an R55, then R60, and now this. The quality of the R is crap compared to the F. Like night and day difference. Sure it's bigger, but it's better made (in my opinion), quieter, faster, and (with stock suspension) offers a much more forgiving ride. I don't miss the R60 at all. I would compare it to the "love" I had for the R55. As for the look, I agree, but like most things you don't like at first, the look grows on you. The one thing I never loved about the F56 is the long front overhang, and the fact that they made the hood so much longer/horizontal than the R5X, but understandably for UK pedestrian safety standards, and to fit the larger 2.0T engine...

Shoofin

Offset most likely. Was thinking about breaking it up like the Lotus, but not sure if there's enough surface on the boot for that to work. Still in the designing process of that...

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Looks great in those pictures!

Shoofin

Sorry, we don't take Hyun...errr... BMW trades

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)