Hi from tweedbean

Hi all, after discovering this site by accident, I thought I would pop up and say hi. Im James, currently living in Balsall Common. I've always had a soft spot for a japanese coupe/convertible but always seem to end up with a MINI. I currently drive a MINI Clubman JCW, which I've not had long.

First MINI - Dark Silver Cooper S 2004

Modfied for looks and power, ended up with 260bhp.

When I bought it:

The day I brought it by tweedbean , on Flickr

Look 1

MINI by tweedbean , on Flickr

The best my r53 looked by tweedbean , on Flickr

5708585662_358f9d649c_o by tweedbean , on Flickr

Look 2

P1030454 by tweedbean , on Flickr

I really liked this shot for some reason by tweedbean , on Flickr

GTT strut brace fitted, picture also shows my carbon fibre M7 air diverter by tweedbean , on Flickr


It had a great spec:

- 2004 Facelift R53 MINI Cooper S
- Magazine featured

Engine:

- Thumper TPR1 Peformance Head
- GP Intercooler
- DaveF CAI
- Milltek Catback Exhaust
- Janspeed Manifold with decat pipe
- KMT 17% Pulley
- Newman Cam
- 450cc Porsche Injectors
- GTT Oil Catch Can
- P-Torque Custom Remap
- SFS Snoot boots

Performance:

- 260 BHP
- 215+ lb/ft Torque

Gearbox:

- Six speed manual
- KMT Carbon Clutch
- Retro fitted MINI LSD

Suspension:

- GTT Upper Strut Brace
- OMP lower strut brace
- Cabrio braces in Purple
- GTT Rear Strut brace
- Meister R Coilovers
- Lower SPC Rear Control Arms
- Polybushed rear upper control arms in red
- Superflex Polybushes for the engine mounts, gearbox mounts, rear control arms
and steering rack

Brakes:

- Front Custom R56 4 pot Brembos in Black with gold brembo decal
- Front Drilled and grooved front discs
- R56 Cooper S Brake lines
- Rear Cooper S brakes in black
- MOTUL RBF600 Racing Brake Fluid

Wheels and tyres:

- Road Use: Custom 17” Purple BBS RZ's 17x7 et37
- Road Tyres: Toyo Proxes T1 R's 205 45 17
- Track Wheels: Custom 17” Black BBS RZ's 17x7 et37
- Track tyres R888's 205 45 17

Interior:

- Orranje Performance GP Style Seat Delete Panels in matt black
- Sparco Milano's Full Leather Seat
- GP Rear seat delete kit in matt black
- Black Sparco Harnesses for track use
- Black Alcantara Roof liner with satin black fixture and fittings
- RKDE Black Alcantara downtubes with silver stitch
- RKDE Black Alcantara gear stick gaiter with silver stitch
- RKDE Black Alcantara handbrake gaiter with silver stitch
- De-chromed interior with black gauge/cupholder rings
- JCW Carbon fibre gearknob
- JCW Carbon fibre handbrake grip
- Front Speakers - Focal 165V 6.5" Components + tweeters.
- Rear Speakers - Focal 690CA 6x9's
- 10" Kenwood subwoofer
- Auto Acoustics Stealth Box
- Kenwood amp for subwoofer
- Pioneer AVH-P5000DVD motorised DVD screen with Bluetooth and iPod integration
- 30gb ipod video + 30gb iphone 3GS connected to the DVD player
- Scanguage 2

Exterior:

- Orranje Performance Rear Bumper GP Style Inserts -Black
- Orranje Performance GP Style Spoiler
- Orranje Performance Brake Ducts
- Orranje Performance GP Style Rear bumper trim
- Front Aero Bumper
- Aero Sideskirts
- Joey modded headlights - All black
- Colour Coded Aero Grills
- Colour Coded Headlight Rings
- Black side vents
- Black Wing Mirror Caps
- Black De-locked door handles
- Colour Coded Custom Cooper Petrol Cap
- Rear Road Legal Pressed Metal Number Plates from Dubmeister
- Offset front numberplate on a custom removable mount
- De-badged rear end
- Rear Wiper Delete
- Entire exterior de-chromed including gloss black belt line and rear lights

Look 3 - before being traded in

The last picture of my R53 Cooper S before being tradeded in by tweedbean , on Flickr

Second MINI fJCW - Owned for 2 months before getting the qashqai

My car at Curborough Sprint Track by tweedbean , on Flickr

Panic buy - Nissan Qashqai 2.0 Tekna 2011

Long story, but short version is baby + partner who cant drive = big car

Front corner by tweedbean , on Flickr[/QUOTE]

Then after coming to me senses I changed to my latest car:

My current car: MINI Clubman JCW 210bhp

Side on by tweedbean , on Flickr

Bottom Corner by tweedbean , on Flickr

Untitled by tweedbean , on Flickr

Untitled by tweedbean , on Flickr

Welcome, love that blue.

Welcome buddy smart motor

tweedbean wrote:

Welcome along, mate that mini is fucking awesome nice spec & i want those seats , my mrs has a 11plate cooper s & i want to fit some coilovers & new wheels, induction kit, exhaust & ic but she wont let me evr tho she drives mine & love how it pulls & hands, maybe on day she give in.

The clubman looks nice but not quick got the same unnique factor but still a nice motor, any plans to tweak it?

sonicvanman wrote: Welcome along, mate that mini is f**king awesome nice spec & i want those seats , my mrs has a 11plate cooper s & i want to fit some coilovers & new wheels, induction kit, exhaust & ic but she wont let me evr tho she drives mine & love how it pulls & hands, maybe on day she give in.

The clubman looks nice but not quick got the same unnique factor but still a nice motor, any plans to tweak it?

Thanks I loved those seats, but the ones in the Clubman are even better. I had the fitted as they were never offered from the factory in the Clubman, only available in the hatchback.

The Clubman JCW is 210bhp 0-60 around 6.5 secs from the factory and weighs less than my old dark silver mini due to the alloys used in construction. They normally dyno stock at 220-230bhp in standard form as MINI are very conservative with their figures. With just a remap, downpipe and remap, this will easily be around 270bhp

Future plans include coilovers, control arms, droplinks and polybushes all round. Followed by a larger intercooler, sports cat and downpipe, CAI and remap. The JCW exhaust, JCW brembo brakes and airbox are up to the job so these will stay. Different wheels aswell as lots of external and internal tweeks. Lots of alcantara on the dash, gaiters etc.

Very nice motors mate and welcome to the site

Welcome to wm u had some nice motors love the mini x

wwelcome to the site
Love the minis really tempted by one for our next car. Are they fun to drive and whats ghe tax like?

Welcome, loving the minis