I was successful in talking the wife and kids into heading up to Bandimere Speedway this morning for the 2010 Bug-In. My boys had never been to the speedway so it was a treat. We spent about 45 minutes watching the track, everything we saw was double digits but was still impressed with quite a few of the times.
The swap meet was cool. The wife summed that up perfect, “Nothing we can’t live without”.
Now it was off to the car show portion. We tripped over bugs and busses, but had to hunt down the Ghias. We saw 5-6, and only two verts. I think we’ll be driving her’s up next year.
Click on the picture below to see the rest of the photos.
When do we leave? I gotta bring my car though.
Gotthard Pass, Switzerland
Traveling north from Italy into Switzerland, you’ll come to Gotthard Pass, which you can cross on either the new, straightforward road, or the old roller coaster above. My money’s on the latter.
via [MatadorTrips]
This concept Ferrari by Sasha Selipanov is hot.
more pictures & info via [beautiful life]
About 1:oopm today I received a refund for my M7 Tuning Catch Can. They refunded me $126.65 of the $142.59 I paid them. As with most business done over the internet shipping is not refundable. In this case I think it was kind of a crappy move though. Read the whole story starting here.
I also received a phone call today around 5:00pm from M7 Tuning. I was driving back from camp with my son and was out of cell range so a voice mail message was left. It was from one of the owners. She wanted to personally apologize for the issue I had with my catch can. She said that most of the time they get it right but sometimes they don’t and would like the opportunity to make it right in the future.
It was a very nice gesture. Apology excepted.
According to the SinCityMiniClub AMVIV8 2011 will be in the month of May. Specifically May 19th-22nd. AMVIV7 was our first time to that event. We had a great time. AMVIV8 is now on the 5280driver calendar.
Hello fellow Miniacs and MINIacs!
I wanted to thank you all for your participation with our survey. Planning for AMVIV8 has begun and we are working to incorporate some of your suggestions into next year’s event.
We are still considering proposals for the venue for next year, so we’re not quite sure yet where we’ll end up. We have however decided on the dates and there is a change to what was released at AMVIV7.
The new dates for AMVIV8 are May 19 – May 22, 2011. We’re hoping to catch some better weather that weekend
Mark your calendars – We’ll see you there!!!
Jules – SCMC President
http://www.sincityminiclub.com
Happy Motoring!
Part 2
Today just confirmed my decision yesterday to never, ever, ever send money to M7 Tuning. In fact it will be mission too not only not send money to them, but never ever buy anything they make from anyone.
I arrived home after a few errands to see my replacement catch can waiting for me on the porch. A signature was required and since no one was going to be home I left my nice Fed-Ex guy a note. Telling him I was driving a girly ass convertible around and the part to fix my sweet car was in his hands. He left it, thanks dude.
My jubilation was followed by tear, tears of anger and rage. I opened the box and just like I said yesterday. They just drilled some crappy holes about 1/2″ below the holes that were done in error. I thought whatever…I’ve had it with driving this R52 around. So I head out to the garage and attach the mount.
WAIT, WHAT? WHAT THE F%&K DID THEY DO? They just re-drilled two of the mounting points for the bracket. You see, the can has four drilled holes, two sets of two, vertically. The mount uses two of the vertical sets of holes to mount the bracket. M7 decided to save some time and only re-drill two new sets of holes, not four. So which set of two holes do you think the R55/56 uses? YUP, THE TWO THEY DIDN’T DRILL OUT! OMG
<insert long rants about doing things right the first time, don’t cut corners, always fed-ex next day when you f something up, blah, blah blah>
So I just got off the the phone with M7. I told them I am sending everything back to them. I should include a nice healthy deuce in the box too, but I’m more mature than that, today.
So now off to the dealer to pay $125 for a new recirculation tube, attached to a sensor and another hose I don’t need.
Oh yeah, I called Chad yesterday and ate some crow. I’ll be ordering the BSH Catch Can online from him so he won’t feel the urge to rub it in a little more. BTW Chad, my t-shirt size is XXL, just wrap it around one of those nice pint glasses, A? 
Jim Peterson, friend of 5280driver, has posted a video on YouTube that will get you even more excited about the up coming Minis In The Mountains event. Well done Jim.
<link to Jim’s YouTube Channel>
So a few months ago, Marth 4th, I ordered Black Catch Can from M7 Tuning. This was for my 2009 R55. After ordering I was notified that the Black cans were on back ordered, but they could send me a billet one right away. Now understand, I’m not usually a engine matching kinda guy, but in this case the billet would just not look good. So I asked them to just send me a Black one when they got them in.
Fast forward to last week, 3 months after I originally ordered. They sent me an invoice and soon after a tracking number.
Fed-ex Ground does a f’in great job at delivering it. They supposedly rang my door at 7:30am two days in a row. The second day the main door was open, just the screen door was shut. I was obviously home, but they left a tag asking for a signature. #asshat That frustration was obviously not with M7, but continue reading
So I get my hands on this beautiful can. I mean it’s almost a piece of art, car art. I start installing things, cutting OEM hoses etc. Everything looks fine, I’m ready to mount it. I have the NM Engineering CAI. So I was planning on using the M7 recommend install location. On the rail between the headlamp and the coolant overflow bottle. I start fitting it. Everything looks fine until I reach under the can. It’s pressing the bottom of the can’s edge down on to a coolant hose. The well machined can has a fairly sharp edge. I started thinking, with engine vibrations and as hard it was pressing into the coolant hose I was concerned about wearing a hole in that hose over an extended period of time. I pulled it out.
I started looked at the mount and how it attached to the can. Comparing it to the images in the instructions, I realized that the mounting hole were machined too high up. Yes I used the correct holes, etc.
So since I have already cut my OEM oil recirculation home I started thinking about solutions.
- I looked for a new mounting location, NO,
- Maybe take the can apart and put the top on the bottom and bottom on the top, NO
- call M7
The last solution worked…, but continue reading
I call M7 and let them know what was going on. At first they assumed I was a f’in idot. They assumed I was trying to install the mount on the wrong holes, upside down, etc. They then began to wonder if the 1″ lower mounting height would really hurt all that much. That took some more discussion and even another photo sent to them. I also asked them if they could rush me out a new can with the center section reversed. Reversing the center section would not make the fit perfect, but it would raise it up enough to install it. They responded with a nah…that would make our logo on the side of the can appear upside down.
Monday 11:30am: I send all the pictures and hanging up the phone.
Monday 3:30pm: email from M7
Hello John,
Apparently there was an error made from our manufacturer with the threaded holes on the catch cans. We will have a replacement can sent out to you tomorrow with the proper holes in place, as well as, a return label enclosed to receive the original can back. Thank you for the pics and we will take care of this for you.
Kind regards,
Tuesday 3:35pm: email from me to M7:
Cool, I then I can get car back running tomorrow. I knew I should test fit it before cutting that hose. Thanks for the great customer service.
Tuesday 1:58pm: email from me to M7:
Matthew, was the new can sent today or will it arrive today? Hoping the later because my car if out of commission.
Tuesday 2:28pm: email from M7
It will ship out today. We had to take it back to our machinist so he could add the proper threaded holes to the unit. You will see an email with tracking info by the end of the day today.
Best regards,
Wednesday 11:27am: email from me to M7
Thanks Matthew. I didn’t receive tracking info yesterday. Not sure if that would have come from you.
So it looks like I may get a new can today…or I may not. The lack of response so far today probably means it wasn’t shipped yesterday. F’n great! Since my bride has our second car at the airport I’ve had to borrow a car to get the kids around today, and probably tomorrow. Just my luck they’ll send it ground. #asshats
Then when it does get here, it’ll probably be riddled with the 4 wrong mounting holes and 4 newly drilled mounting hole. Great $149+shipping for catch can with 6 unused holes machined in it, wonderful. That’ll look awesome! NO
Maybe I’ll just send everything back in their prepaid shipping label and just order this BSH Catch Can. Chad from Detroit Tuned told me at AMVIV to get this on in the first place. However I’ve already cut my damn OEM recirculation home. So I’d have to buy another one of those to make the BSH can work. #f mylife!
UPDATE:
Wednesday 3:35pm: email from M7
Hi John,
You should have gotten info from FedEx, but I went ahead and sent it from my end. You should have it in a few…
Kind regards,
The tracking shows it was sent last night. #thumbsup However it was sent 2day Saver, delivery by 4:40pm tomorrow! Since they knew my car was down, it was THIER issue, and the still sent it two day…No more of my money will be going to M7 Tuning. Done!
The real decision now is to even keep what they send me. I would bet money they just took another incorrect one off the shelf, drilled 4 new holes in it and are mailing me that crap. I’m really craving the BSH unit now. So called my local dealer to get a replacement recalculation hose. It must be lined with Liberace’s DNA because they want $125 for piece of hose. So if I go with the BSH it’s now gonna cost me $125 + $149. I should listened to Chad.
Check out Mini5280′s very own Kim Stone getting interviewed by Kurt on KNUS 1510. Are you thinking about registering? Better get it done before 6:37pm on July 25th.
Click here to listen to Kim’ Interview
In a recently released video Lexus is trying to change the way we judge our Super Cars. The video shows the new Lexus LFA’s “sound” busting a champagne glass. I’m not sure if the car would actually do this, but whatever. Lexus, just because you make a bunch of cool speakers on the same island as you make the new Lexus Super Car, does not mean you’re cool. Please don’t insult our love for good advertising because this totally misses the mark.
It takes me back to one of the first Porsche Cayenne ads I saw. The one where a guy is on his cordless phone and places it under the exhaust then starts it. He gives it a couple of rolls on the throttle then picks up the phone and says, cool huh? Porsche, well done. Lexus that is how you sell Super Cars. Selling us a car the same way you would sell us a home entertainment center is not going to make us think you’re cool. Your brand is still for old dudes with coin.
The greatest shirt company in the world is about to launch. Yeah, I know, I run the company but that just makes me biased, not a liar. It is going to be the “greatest thing since after market exhaust”.
“Hey that could be a t-shirt”. Do you ever find yourself saying that? If so, you have the chance to be famous…well famous amongst your peers. MotoringShirts is about to roll out. Why not roll out your shirt idea too? Head over here and follow the instructions. Fill out the form and attach your napkin sketch. If your idea is chosen, you get a shirt with your idea, in all it’s glory for free! Plus we’ll include another shirt from the shopping cart for free as our thanks.
Here is the best part. Your shirt, and only your shirt will have “Owners Club” on the left sleeve. Now you can slide that big beautiful shirt over your hairy back every morning and tell the world you made it. All your friends will stare in awe at your sheer genius. They will utter those words only a guy wearing it can appreciate. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Sunday the 1970 Karmann Ghia convertible successfully made a 4-hour round trip to and from Loveland, CO. I am officially calling this car road’able. Some of you may remember that this car met a firey end on its last trip to Loveland. Until Sunday my wife and I were very nervous about taking it too far from Castle Rock. So today I am officially calling it road’able. <no it’s not a real word>
Loveland gave privy to the Ghia’s first showing at a Euroberge GTG. My wife did not want to spend 4 hours in the sun so she drove the Mini Clubman as the chase vehicle.
I usually try and spend the holiday weekends around the house. After all, most everyone else is out cluttering up the camping spots, local pools and amusement parks. Don’t get me wrong sometimes I like crowds, but usually when I’m alone, not with the family. Keeping track of everyone, and keeping everyone happy can be a pain. Enough, enough or I won’t have anything to talk to my therapist about.
The 5280driver garage had a visitor this weekend. Todd Pearson, from WhiteRoofRadio, spent a few nights at our place in Castle Rock. Having Todd at our home for a few nights was a lot like having the President stay with us. His staff makes sure the visit is not leaked. We knew a few days in advance, but couldn’t say anything due to security concerns. After the WRR secret service combed the garage for explosives and “tested” ALL the white Oreo’s for flavor he was allowed on the premises.
Todd was in town for the opening of the newest Mini dealership in Colorado, Mini of Loveland. DB, the “talent” portion of the team, helped host the Grand Opening event on Friday night. The dealership put on a bash like I have never seen before. Understand people I spent 15 years in the car business. I know a good dealership party when I see one, this one was great.
The morning after the event Todd made his way down to Castle Rock. I have to tell you how dedicated I was to his visit. Folks…I postponed the pain and birth of a fairly large kidney stone just to see that he was comfortable. Let my dedication to visitors of this caliber not go unnoticed. In fact I am still holding out the birth until the end of this update.
After a quaint dinner, where I might add, everyone was served promptly with an evenly cooked meal, we enjoyed some conversation. The next morning the master began his work. Mini after Mini was hauled into the garage…he slaved away like a shoemaker, carving his craft. Ok, he really just stuck some sticky stuff on a few cars and drank a lot of my diet coke. Soon after he finished he dragged my wife kicking and screaming to The Coach store where he forced me to buy her something nice. At the liquor store that followed, he began educating my 11 year old on the finer points of whiskey…yeah he’s 11!
We finally got rid of the guy the next morning.
<removing tongue from cheek> Todd was a wonderful guest. It was a wonderful time with a great friend…and he confirmed we did get the smell out of the mattress we bought at the local police auction.
This poor fella has a BMW Z4, a busted iPad, and an upset wife.
“So I buy my wife a new iPad, and she’s REALLY digging it. It goes everywhere with her so she can read, take notes, show pics, etc etc etc.
We end up going out in the Z4 running errands. I’m about a foot taller than she is, so there’s obviously a huge difference in the seat adjustment between the two of us. When she drives with the seat forward, stuff falls off the ledge behind the seat, so she generally sets items behind the seat. (Yes, you see where this is going). That fateful Friday, it happened to be her purse & the iPad behind the seat.
We went out to eat, and she grabbed her purse but left the iPad. When we got out of the restaurant, she wanted me to drive since it was night and she can’t see as well. I unlocked the Z with my key and the seat made a Taco out of her nice new iPad…”
Here is a link to the forum and full size photos
