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Ghost
01-23-2008, 03:22 PM
Im going to keep a blog on how/what/where/when I do anything to this car. It will be usefull for me and some people in the future. Ill start with some stuff already posted on the mini forums and go from there. Happy Reading!:beard2:

Mini's Heater Core is Wasted!

I just recently purchased my Mini from an auction here in South Florida. I got t for a steal. Its a 2004 MCS with 40k miles.

I noticed when I got it that the driver side was wet under the peddals. The fluid would not evaporate. I thought it was a case of a spilled protectant bottle while cleaning to sell the vehicle. I also noticed that when I used the defrost, the windshield fogged up, and the glass would not clear, and sometimes would stay all day. Then a few days later I noticed a white fog comming from the vents with a weired smell.

I did some searching, and put 2+2 together and decided to feel around this morning under the plastic cover behind the center console. Low and behold, my hand was completely covered in Anti-freeze. Well I ordered my new core and mounting equipment from Classic today, and I will be making the repairs myself.

I have worked on many cars before, so this kind of work isnt new to me, but this car is different. I look at it completely different in the aspect that I really have huminized it. Kinda crazy.

I will be posting pics of my progress here. Im going to go ahead and remove the carpets and pre-install some goodies while im at it. Untill then!

Ghost
01-23-2008, 03:22 PM
Well today I finally got to taking apart the lower dash and plastic surround of the core. Its a piece of cake to get off. Once you have taken apart the two pillars, you will have a center Torx (30) that you will have to remove. Once this is done, you press the two tabs and pull down the center flap cover. Then you remove the lower left and right Torx (30) and pull the surrounding plastic off. These will expose the gold Torx (30) screws.

Once this is done, you will have to firmly pull the lower front part of the core cover plastic to undo the plastic tab. Dont pull the rest!!!! There are 3 gold torx screws.
1. lower front
2. lower rear (close to gas peddal)
3. Upper rear (top of gas peddal close to the firewall) You will have to feel around to get the screw driver seated correctly.

Once these bolts are off, then pull the whole piece forward slowly as not to break it. There it is the core!!! Ill have some pics in a few....

The 2 metal clamps can be undone with an allen key (dont do this untill you have drained the coolant!!) There are 2 Torx (30) gold in collor holding the core in place. The core will slide right out.

Ghost out!

Tengo
01-23-2008, 05:05 PM
good luck ghost!

jroc
01-23-2008, 05:46 PM
good luck!

edrive73
01-23-2008, 08:35 PM
Sweet!

Ghost
02-13-2008, 06:44 PM
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b368/ghostp5/Thanksgiving014.jpg
18" Arospeed Kino
Car looks awsome. I need to drop it badly thogh,lol

Alta Mini Performance/Perrin CAI installed. Supercharger whine is loud ass hell!:devil2:

Ektor
02-13-2008, 06:48 PM
very nice! you need suspension! make it your next priority :D

StreetUnitMike
02-13-2008, 07:12 PM
very nice! you need suspension! make it your next priority :D



That guy will have springs on his doorstep tomorrow...secret secret he thinks they'll be there Friday..

Ghost
02-13-2008, 08:21 PM
That guy will have springs on his doorstep tomorrow...secret secret he thinks they'll be there Friday..


HAHAHAHA!!!!:laugh3: awsome!

Ghost
02-14-2008, 08:39 AM
Anyone want to help with the install this weekend,lol!! JK.

Ghost
02-17-2008, 06:00 PM
Mini is low LOWERED!!!!!!! Thanks Street Unit!:cheers2:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b368/ghostp5/Thanksgiving016.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b368/ghostp5/Thanksgiving015.jpg

StreetUnitMike
02-17-2008, 10:53 PM
Drop looks nice! How was the install? Typical spring install?

2NR
02-17-2008, 11:57 PM
nice

Ghost
02-18-2008, 05:22 AM
Drop looks nice! How was the install? Typical spring install?

Wasnt bad at all. I had the rears done in 30 min. This car is kinda built like a kit car. Its all made to be replaced quickly.

*** Next install**** M7 Strut re-enforcement brace!!!! This is the ONLY strut tower brace on the market that features anti-mushrooming technology. A HUGE problem with lowered MINI's.


http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/images/stb.jpg

Ghost
02-18-2008, 07:20 PM
Well looks like something is giving up on me, and I think its ignition. I swear the people that had this car before didnt do any maintenance on this car. I think I still have the original spark plugs and coil pack. One of them is failing. It feels a little like clutch chatter, but by doing some tests, its definately ignition problems starting to loom. I guess Ill be upgrading soon. I needed to get some colder plugs anyway.

So, MSD coil pack, magnacore wires, and denso irridium plugs are def in my future.

edrive73
02-18-2008, 07:26 PM
You are a crazy man Ghost. Keep it up. :devil2:

Ghost
02-20-2008, 04:42 PM
M7 STB Is installed! Looks kick ass ( Ill take pics later). The fit and finish on this brace is 2nd to none. As I was tourqing it down, I could already see it fixing some of the minor mushrooming on the strut base.