Winter Prep

[AndyH]

As i'm not allowed to do sport for a couple of weeks i have decided to turn my attention towards preping the Mini for the winter months!

As most of the underneath is plastic tastic i'll be removing any dirt and grim from all nooks and crannys and protecting with a clear sprayable Waxoyl. The engine compartment will receive the same treatment and a good scrub in the process!

The paint will be getting 4 coats of my most durable wax to help fight against the salt and dirt build up.

So, starting tonight the front bumper will come off and be totally cleansed (maybe stonechips sorted)!

I'll fill the thread with pictures and how to's and the general progress of the car.

Thanks for looking,

Andy

[rix]

wow i should really think of doing something to help my mini through the winter....

[AndyH]

Stage 1:

Rear bumper and reverse light

I decided to start back to front, mainly because its easier! So with a bit of effort (2 hidden screws!) i whipped the rear bumper off and inspected what i needed to do.

Bumper on:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini001.jpg

Bumper off:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini002.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini007.jpg

Now for a while the stickers have been begining to peel off and generally annoy me. There was a build up of dirt that was sticking to the glue that needed sorting! So after heating the stickers and carefully removing them i had this mess!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini009.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini010.jpg

Out comes the AG Intensive Tar Remover! This stuff is leathal! Don't use it in enclosed spaces! Works a treat for glue residue though :)

After:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini012.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini013.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini014.jpg

Now i have a decision to make...what do i do with the bumper? Do i:


Leave as is
Get new Aero stickers
Get new honeycomb black stickers
Drill all holes where the aero stickers used to be and paint black
Cut off the backs and get mesh behind themAnswers on a postcard :-8

The bumper is still off the car ready for a chip repair and paint for the inside! My plan is to tidy up this mess:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini015.jpg

And paint it with grey primer then laquer. Yes there's no point but at least i'll know its tidy behind there lol

Then i turned my attention to the reversing light!

It came out looking like this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini018.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini023.jpg

Now looks like this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini024.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/AHartigan/Concours%20Prep/Mini027.jpg

I'm now preping the bumper for paint. Masking up the bits that need it and covering the outside part. This should be painted tomorrow and i'll post the results :d

I should have my E/B touch up pen by Friday for the chip repair so this will be done before Sunday!

The next items for attention are:


Exhaust tips
Exhaust back boxes (Mirror finish)
Exhaust pipes
Rear metal work (Mirror finish)
Heat shielding
Plastics and paintwork treated
Anything else thats left lolThis should be done by next week! I just need to pull my finger out!

Thanks for reading

Andy

[David_MCS]

Looking good Andy, excellent pictures also :d

[AndyH]

Cheers Dave!

I plan to document the whole process so i know exactly where i am at. I'll be putting together a spreadsheet of exactly what i spend as well!

Going to pick up all new arch trims on friday as well...they have that brand new look :)

[rix]

wow looks great so far

x

[AndyH]

Well...after lots of shouting and swearing i managed to get 1 exhaust tip off :( Found that my left hand side exhaust bracket has broken (snapped metal clamp) which is something i need sorting.

I've removed the under car battery cover and begun polishing that up...unfortunately its taken alot longer than first anticipated as the surface is quite badly tarnished. Been wet sanding with 240,600,800,1200,1500,2500 and 3000 grit papers to get a mirror finish. This should be complete by the end of the weekend.

Also finished masking up my bumper to begin spraying the back. Took 1 hour to mask up properly! So thats ready to go in my make shift spraying booth.

Off today to Coopers to pick up my Electric Blue touch up pen and begin tackling the chips. I'll also collect some Aero stickers to put back on the bumper to make it look OEM again.

Finally my S/C belt arrived today :) Top service from GTT as i ordered it Wednesday. All ready for my trip to 1320s now :)

Pictures to follow when i've finished :)

Andy

[AndyH]

Well...

After a hectic week i've had to put this on the back burner :( Still i should be alocating some time to it over the weekend and next week :)

So...i've had the belt fitted and the exhaust bracket sorted (top service by 1320s) Had an engine health check as well which revealed that the inlet valves on 2 and 4 were leaking slightly. Nothing to worry about at the moment but the sooner i get a new head the better ;)

I've also managed to get my hands on some matt black vynal (sp?) and a heat gun! The aim is to get the fog light inserts on the front bumper black. MINI charge £35 for this part! If it all comes good then i'll do it for free!

The battery tray was finished and machined! I didn't get the finish i wanted so will have to buy a new one. Not sure on what to do with the rear aero bumper now??? Mini Pirate do some stickers which make it look like the front honeycomb mesh...or do i go for standard???