5280driver.com http://www.5280driver.com ...when driving became passionate Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:09:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 WRR says Check Your Mini’s Oil http://www.5280driver.com/2010/03/05/wrr-says-check-your-minis-oil/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/03/05/wrr-says-check-your-minis-oil/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:08:36 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=963

The boys over at WhiteRoofRadio [iTunes Link] have been talking about this issue for a few months now.  These oil starved engines are really starting to become an issue.  I’ll do my part to spread the word.  CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL PEOPLE!

The video and their take after this jump.

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/03/05/wrr-says-check-your-minis-oil/feed/ 0 Instaling the NM CAI(Cold Air Intake) and Tie-Bar on the Clubman http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/21/instaling-the-nm-caicold-air-intake-and-tie-bar-on-the-clubman/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/21/instaling-the-nm-caicold-air-intake-and-tie-bar-on-the-clubman/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:43:16 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=957 Let’s start this off by telling your it was about 25 degrees in my garage when I started this. A fresh coat of snow blanketed my driveway. So first things first.

An hour before I was ready to get started I fired up the propane heater. A nice toasty garage is a must.

After that is was really as easy as following the instructions that NM Engineering supplies for you.  I have had a wonderful experience with NM.  I now run almost everything they make for the R55.

  • Suspension Coils
  • Rear End Links
  • Exhaust
  • CAI (Cold Air Intake)
  • Tie-Bar

I choose SPC Performance for my rear control arms.  My rear sway bar is the 26mm Hotchkis.  What would complete my “NM” Clubman is to sport their new Heat Shield and a Engine Torque Arm Insert.  I’m sure those items are coming some day.

As for the performance of the Tie-Bar and CAI; I’ll have to tell you in a few days when some of this snow melts.

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/21/instaling-the-nm-caicold-air-intake-and-tie-bar-on-the-clubman/feed/ 0 New Parts | NM Engineering…of course http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/15/new-parts-nm-engineering-of-course/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/15/new-parts-nm-engineering-of-course/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:02:51 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=952

New parts ordered today…I went with the Smurf Blue.  Should be here in a few days from Temecula, CA

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/15/new-parts-nm-engineering-of-course/feed/ 0 Clubman | Rotate and Swaybar Work http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/14/clubman-rotate-and-swaybar-work/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/14/clubman-rotate-and-swaybar-work/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:43:22 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=948 The Hankook snow tires have been on for about 32oo miles and yesterday I got the chance to rotate them.  While working this process I check the tire pressure.  Turned out the “tire monkeys” at Peerless tire set the tires at 28psi.  All along I thought the loss of grip was due to the sipping that Winter tires usually have…nope, just low tire pressure.  I put them back up to 38psi.

Rotating the tires gives me the opportunity to grease up the sway bar.  An aftermarket sway bar can causes quite a bit of noise if not installed properly.  I decided to go with the advice of my buddy Jon and get the Hotchkis 22mm bar.  It comes with greaseable bushings.  However that is not the only key in keeping it quite.  I use plumbers tape on the bar.  You know the white tape you put on the threads of a plumbing joint.  I wrap the bar in the area that comes in contact with the bushing.  Using marine grease in the bushing also helps.  That grease is designed for use in boating so it takes longer to break down in water.

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/14/clubman-rotate-and-swaybar-work/feed/ 0 Parking Class http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/04/parking-class/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/04/parking-class/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:04:17 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=945 I swear this guy always parks next to my Mini at the grocery store.

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/04/parking-class/feed/ 0 Very, Very Nice Ad | Porsche http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/very-very-nice-ad-porsche/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/very-very-nice-ad-porsche/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:43:06 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=942

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/very-very-nice-ad-porsche/feed/ 0 Minis in the Mountains 2010 http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/minis-in-the-mountains-2010/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/minis-in-the-mountains-2010/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:15:57 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=934 All the hype in the Mini community right now is centered around the upcoming even in Las Vegas called AMVIV.  It’s truly going to be an epic March in Vegas.  I am so looking forward to my first AMVIV.  After that event comes The Dragon, then MITMs.

This year the Mini In The Mountains (MITMS) team is mixing things up.  The venue has been changed to Winter Park Resort.  This venue is going to be incredible.  Monday night I saw some Summer time pictures of the resort.  The drive to get there is thrill on it’s own.  It’s 20 miles of tight hairpins.

Look for more information from the promotions team.  Oh yeah, I’ve been recruited for that team so you’ll see a ton of updates here.

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/02/03/minis-in-the-mountains-2010/feed/ 0 Mini Road Trip to Norway. Who’s in? http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/28/mini-road-trip-to-norway-whos-in/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/28/mini-road-trip-to-norway-whos-in/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:16:02 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=930 The 19 most complex and dangerous roads in the world

From the looks of this post,  the Clubman and I need to go Norway, and a few other places.

[via Waze]

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/28/mini-road-trip-to-norway-whos-in/feed/ 0 New Video…is up http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/14/new-video/ http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/14/new-video/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:35:57 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=909 With inspiration from a SEMA mate I am finally getting around to editing my GoPro HD videos from the drive back to Denver. Soon I’ll post the link to my ride through Glenwood Canyon.

UPDATE: Here it is  —>

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2010/01/14/new-video/feed/ 0 You Know You’re A Mini Owner If… http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/20/you-know-youre-a-mini-owner-if/ http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/20/you-know-youre-a-mini-owner-if/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:24:39 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/20/you-know-youre-a-mini-owner-if/ You know you’re a Mini owner if…you use your kid’s bathroom to wash floormats in the Winter time

Join the forum discussion on this post ]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/20/you-know-youre-a-mini-owner-if/feed/ 2 Car And iPhone Enthusiast On Your List This Year? | Here You Go http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/07/car-and-iphone-enthusiast-on-your-list-this-year-here-you-go/ http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/07/car-and-iphone-enthusiast-on-your-list-this-year-here-you-go/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:16:51 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=896 41BjIrlo9kL._AA280_31qLRqpPdRL._SL160_41ppzBewDTL._AA280_

Looking for the ultimate iPhone car for the car enthusiast on your list? I found it. It comes in Black, Red and Yellow.  No need to order me one.  I just ordered one in Black for myself.  You’ll need to think a little harder for a gift for local 5280driver blogger.

]]> http://www.5280driver.com/2009/12/07/car-and-iphone-enthusiast-on-your-list-this-year-here-you-go/feed/ 0 Post Turkey Day Run | Mini5280 http://www.5280driver.com/2009/11/29/post-turkey-day-run-mini5280/ http://www.5280driver.com/2009/11/29/post-turkey-day-run-mini5280/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:06:07 +0000 JohnJohn http://www.5280driver.com/?p=881 mini5280Stuffing ourselves has become a tradition…and so should be the Post Turkey Day Run with Mini5280.

Today Jacob, my oldest son, and I had the pleasure of running through Denver today with about 10-12 other Minis.  We started out at the old Detailer’s Paradise location on South Broadway.  The group started by working our way through some residential streets in the DU area.  Next was the Washington Park area, then by the Denver Zoo.  After working our way through Five Points and downtown Denver we headed for the final destination, Pasquini’s on South Broadway.

This was our first time attending this event.  The Mini5280.org crowd is always up for a good time, and today was no exception.

When they get posted, I will link some of the pictures that OTHER people took.  I left my camera battery on the charger. :(

DSC02865

[Thanks Teena for the pictures link]

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