5280driver

Our Odyssey is up on Cars.com.  Check it out.  Here is a list of the main features.

• 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L
• 40,160 miles
• V6 (ECO model, 3 cyl shut down at highway speeds saving fuel)
• Honda Navigation System
• Honda DVD rear entertainment center
• automatic dual sliding doors
• leather
• moonroof
• class IV tow package, transmission cooler (3500lbs)
• power set, windows, locks, etc

The vehcile is absolutly beautiful.  Never been in a accident.  Here is a free CarFax report.  We are the orginal owners and it was bought right here in Colorado.  All service records can be obtained.  If you have to drive a minvan…this is the one to drive.

Mileage: 36140 | Gallons: 13.48 | Price: $3.99 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 35800 | Gallons: 13.03 | Price: $3.95 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 35456 | Gallons: 5.8 | Price: $4.01 | 91 Octane

I totally want this deck for my Mini Cooper. Anyone installed it?

Has 3.5″ DVD screen a video out and is ready for XM/Sirrus and HD.  Ooo La La

Mileage: 35304 | Gallons: 12.56 | Price $4.02 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 35015 | Gallons: 11.94 | Price: 3.87 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 34713 | Gallons: 13.47 | Price: 3.71 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 34368 | Gallons: 13.79 | Price: $3.69 | 91 Octane

My mom came up to our house today with her band new baby. A 2006 Mini Cooper Convertable. Nice job mom!

[pictures link]

Mileage: 34039 | Gallons: 13.39 | Price: $3.63 | 91 Octane

We needed a cargo box for an upcoming family trip.  We found one on sale yesterday.  The cargo box is going on the Honda Odyssey, not the Cooper.  However we found it on sale while driving the Cooper.  

I enjoyed the looks I got while driving it around yesterday.

Mileage: 33694 | Gallons: 14.2 | Price $3.61 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 33344 | Gallons: 13.03 | Price: $3.73 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 33021 | Gallons: 13.73 | Price: $3.69 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 32,669 | Gallons: 12.51 | Price: $3.39 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 32,582 | FastTrax | Royal Purple 5w 30: 5 quarts | 

Mileage: 32,043 | Gallons: 13.43 | Price: $3.49 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 31,685 | Gallons: 14.03 | Price: $3.39 | 91 Octane

Anyone get had yesterday?

I sure did. My boss and I are rolling down the interstate about 65 mph. We roll up on this guy. I whip out the camera phone to snap a picture of this dingdong…

As we pass I snap the photo. I then start pumping my index finger up and down…like “yo, your Carmel, triple shot, skinny, no foam is on the roof.” He then holds a small sign…says “April Fools”.

I wish I had thought of that!

Mileage: 31,336 | Gallons: 13.41 | Price: $3.25 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 31,227 | Front, Driver’s side wheel speed sensor replaced.

Great tips in this thing, well worth the full watch.

Mileage: 31016 | Gallons: 13.92 | Price: $3.31 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 30653 | Gallons: 13.25 | Price: $3.28 | 91 Octane

I am experiencing loss in fuel economy after installing a CAI.  What gives?

Mileage: 30307 | Gallons: 12.93 | Price: $3.26 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 30180 | Location: Discount Tire | Price: $235.00 each

Two new Pirelli Eufori Run Flats. Tires were put on the front. The two rear tires were inspected and only have about 6,000 miles on them. Received tire warranty on all 4 tires. Lifetime rotation and balance on each tire.

Mileage: 30008 | Gallons: 13.44 | Price: $3.33 | 91 Octane

The UPS man showed up with some more goodies.

It was the PIAA 540 install kit for the 2002 to 2006 Mini Cooper. My Cooper has Xenon headlamps. These lamps can cause some snow blindness while driving during a quickly falling snow storm. In the past I have successfully use my fog lamps w/o the headlamps to navigate. This kit will give me one more option.

The kit comes with instructions that can be described as…decent, to put it kindly. The light brackets fit my Cooper perfectly. No issues with mounting the hardware, lamps or even running the wire. All went well and without any troubles.

Tips:

1. When drilling and mounting the top screw of the light brackets. Remove the two access panels. These access panels are there to give access to the nuts that hold on the ram are duct. This will make it much easier to fish some of the mounting hardware.
2. Run the light wiring towards the drivers side. There is a nice ground that can be used just beyond the washer fluid filling area.
3. The open area next to the master cylinder makes for a nice area to zip tie unused wire.
4. The master cylinder area also makes a nice launch pad through the fire wall. It is also a way to get to the battery connection.

Purchase Link $249.99

Here are some pictures

I picked up some “new-to-me” S lites from a good friend a few weeks ago. Thanks Grant! Even though they were a bright yellow I took them off his hands. The price was right, or should I say the lack of a price was right. Did I say thanks Grant already?

On my way home this evening I pick them up from a powder coater. I had driven by the shop hunders of times and never stopped. I sure am glad I did stopped this time. The place is called Roadrunner Powder Coating and Fabrication. Dan and his staff are great. Didn’t even blink and eye at such a small job. Most of the stuff they were working on…I could have parked my Mini inside of. They are huge operation.

At $50 a rim to strip and re-coat I couldn’t pass it up.

Here is the final product.

$239.99 | Buy it here

AFE Cold Air intake installed in a 2006 Mini Cooper S

Pretty happy with this. Install went very smooth. I try to always test fit everything prior, it seems to make the actual install quicker.

It’s a great value. Watch my fuel log to see if I am getting any better mileage. Hit the comments on the top right of this post if you have any questions.

Here are some pictures

Mileage: 29676 | Gallons: 12.82 | Price: $3.15 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 29326 | Gallons: 13.65 | Price: $3.05 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 28,987 | Gallons: 12.6 | Price: $3.04 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 28,654 | Gallons: 13.5 | Price: $3.33 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 28,650 | FastTrax | Mobil1 Synthetic 5w 30: 5 quarts |

My used Mini came no front license plate holder. Colorado requires I run a front plate so my search for an option was on.

First I looked into the “holeless” option offered by a Vendor on the NAM site. Hit the link, this option is really great, but I already have the holes for the stock one in my bumper. As a looked at pictures of this option It looked as if it might restrict a little air flow. It may even block some of the light give off by the factory fog lights. I would love to be able to put a new bumper on it, but that’s not financially feasible right now. I understand the hole can be filled and the color touched up, but I have never been really good and that sort of thing. I hold things like this to a pretty high standard, sometimes standards that I, personally, can’t reach.

The second option was to find the stock plate holder, like the one that came on my Mini new. Not my first choice, but the best given the circumstances.

I stopped at Ralph Schomp Mini today to pick one up. $90+ later I had my stock holder. I picked up a Badge holder for the grill also.

Shelly at Schomp is just absolutely wonderful.

Mileage: 28319 | Gallons: 13.97 | Price: 3.13 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 27964 | Gallons: 14.27 | Price: 3.01 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 27616 | Gallons: 13.9 | Price: 2.97 | 91 Octane

As with anything I get interested in, I head out and pick up a URL or two. This time I already had 5280driver.com. I was planning to use it for something else, but never got around to it.

Today I picked up a few URLs to go with my new found Mini Cooper love.

• www.miniroad.com
• www.spinmini.com

Not sure what I’m going to use them for yet. Tossing around the idea of buying a vinyl sticker cutter and making some stickers. I have been thinking about that for years. I have some good ideas for the Mini audience. More to come on that idea in the next few weeks.

I sure am happy with my Twitter/MyMileMarker base Fuel log. It’s super easy and free. MyMileMarker gives you reports on all your vehicles. All you have to do is after a fill up, SMS text the fill-up information to your account.

The first step is to head over to Twitter and set-u an account. Twitter is a SMS based social network. Those who link to you get all the “public” SMS text messages you send to Twitter.

Twitter also allows you to send messages directly to other Twitter members, you don’t even have to know their cell number. MyMileMarker uses this direct message technique to keep track of your fuel log.

After setting up your Twitter account then head over to MyMileMarker and set up an account, then head back over to Twitter and link with the Twitter account MYMM.

Now all you have to do it send a SMS to 40404. it should be in the following format (d mymm 27,262 11.9 2.93) meaning this (d mymm mileage gallons price)

Here is an example of the logs I review online.

Ah Yes my first real “Mini Event”

Ralph Schomp Mini in Englewood Colorado hosted a Clubman unveiling this afternoon. I had been to the dealership a few times already, but never with such fan fair. They rolled out the red carpet for us, literally. No…they really had a red carpet.

I arrived around 11:30. Really just to check out the spread. I was starving and wanted to know if I needed to grab something before the noon unveiling. When I arrived Schomp was laying out a array of “Club” sandwiches. Knowing the food was there…I decided not to stuff my face until after the noon showing.

Pictures of the Clubman have been all over the forums and even some other blog reviews have been posted already. The actual viewing was less climactic because of this. Still nice to see one up close and in person though.

Mileage: 27,262 | Gallons: 11.9 | Price: 2.93 | 91 Octane

My Thule Aero Style Roof Rack install went well this evening. I spent the my lunch hour searching for the correct “Fit Kit” for the Mini Cooper. The load range is 110 lbs according to Thule, but I wouldn’t have a problem loading up to 200lbs IMHO.

The install took about 2 hours to complete, including a test drive.

While I was test fitting it I pushed the bars forward. The faring was touching the edge of the windshield. Since the bars are to be 24″ apart, it made the install look out of sync. I chose to move it back a bit.

The next addition will be some ski mounts. We are taking a trip up to the ski condo in a few weeks and will need those attachments.

The Rapid Aero load bars are great for someone who needs to pull off miscellaneous attachments at a moments notice. With the system you just need to remove the end caps to pull off attachments. No longer will I have to pull the foot mounts off the car to remove the ski or bike mounts. I believe each attachment comes with a locking end cap for security.

Thule part numbers for this install are:

1. 400XTR Aero Foot pack [attachment feet]
2. 2145 Fit Kit [finger brackets and rubber scuff pads]
3. RB47 Rapid Aero Load Bars
4. LOCK [locks]
5. 871 [38" fairing]

Mileage: 26,960 | Gallons: 13.68 | Price: 3.13 | 91 Octane

I just ordered a CAI for the Cooper. I decided to go with a model from AFE. This model provides an enclosed box for keeping the temps low. It also looks like it can be easily moded to except left over scoop air also. The photo is somewhat deceiving. The steel plate moves over the top of the filter to create an enclosure.

Some of you may know, I own an only off-road parts supply and manufacturing company. Some of my suppliers also supply parts for Mini Cooper and and Cooper S models. I will be posting links to my BIGoffroad site. The shopping cart is already built there and can be used easily. Please support me by using links to these products.

Cooper S products via BIGoffroad

Mileage: 26,601 | Gallons: 12.79 | Price: 2.89 | 91 Octane

Castle Rock | I-25 | Colorado Blvd | Speer | Lodo Area | Colfax | York | Speer | Downing | Evans | I-25 | Castle Rock

The Cooper got it’s first official wash and vacuum today. The boys helped me. They hung up the mats and dropped in the quarters. Trevor become quite the critic by pointing out all the spots I missed.

I installed the DICE Silverline iPod connector this evening. I purchased it from European Auto Source for $149. There are probably less expensive options but I wanted to have the iPod connector and an audio in jack. This option also allows the song’s title, artist and song to be displayed on the radio screen.

The install was pretty simple. A little searching on the NAM forums will get you the info you need. I use an iPhone and chose to not “Lock” the device controls. I have some mounts coming form ProClip USA that will make the input device easy to reach. The DICE interface works decent. However I use Playlists a lot and it does not really display the info like using the device. So I chose to control it off the input device instead.

Mileage: 26,281 | Gallons: 13.72 | Price: 2.94 | 91 Octane

Mileage: 25968 | Ralph Schomp Mini | 5w 30: 5 quarts |

If you reviewed the picture of the Mini when I bought it you’ll see it had a horrible sticker in the back. It wasn’t really my style. The sticker was placed between the reflective tint job and the glass. Which meant the tint has to come off.

After my dealer visit I took it down to John’s Sunroofs. Darrell and his shop has tinted every one of my vehicles. I am trusting the Mini to the best in the business.

The reflective tint is illegal here in Colorado so if I want that sticker removed from the rear I will have to re-tint the whole car. I added a clear bra to the hood and inside the door handles.

Scheduled service for this morning at 8am. Turns out the original owner purchased the extended maintenance package for this Mini. Maybe it already comes with that, not sure. Either way it cost me nothing. Oil change, 25,000 mile inspection. They said my Mini was in tip top shape.

Mileage: 25,919 | Gallons: 11.8 | Price: 3.16 | 91 Octane

First fill with 91 Octane. Read on the forums I should be using 91.

Mileage: 25,641 | Gallons: 10.41 | Price: 2.78 | 85 Octane

Home | Crowfoot Valley | Main(Parker) | Parker Rd. | Highway 86 | Home

We brought home a 2006 Mini Cooper today. It has Dark Silver, Sport Package.

The Jeep Commander had such lousy gas mileage. I expect to double the 16mpg the Commander got with this. Here is a link to the images. I pulled them off the dealers site.

Picked it up for $20,000 less what the Commander was worth.