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.

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?

next update

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.

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.

Flat Blacking these was my goal.  Pulled out some rattle can, satin flat back I had sitting on the shelf.  A few clankity clanks of the can and I was done.  Laying down a couple of layers took no time at all.  After letting them dry I was not “in love” with the flat black.  Finger prints all over them.

Deciding to lay a layer of clear coat on them was tough.  However, they turned out great. They are pretty close to the same color as my arches and other plastic pieces.

Here are some pictures.  They’re going to look stunning with my Winter rims.  eh?

I am beginning to think that putting an extra $200 worth of TPMS thingys on my Clubman’s Winter rims and tires is a huge waste of money.  After all aren’t they going to come on every morning anyway?  I may skip them.

Tonight I found myself needing a light in the rear of the Clubman.  Winter is coming and 5:oopm will be as dark as 2:00am.  I want to put a small light removable light in,  However something rolling around in the back is a no go for me.  I decided to pick up one of these.

• JCW front bumper
• de-striped front and rear
• a larger clear bra on the hood
• the front bumper ‘s paint is now fully clear bar’ed
• no front plate and no holes in the bumper
• JCW honeycomb style grill

I’ll post some picture in the morning when the light is better.

EDIT: pictures…  but not good ones

2008-2009 S Model K&N 33-2936 Panel Air Filter

Don’t forget my DDM Race Intake is for sale.

Upper and Lower S Model Grills: $100 <link to picture>

Front Bumper in Astro Black: $250, slight damage, needs wet sand, primer, and paint <link to picture>

I know quite a few of you have been waiting for my review on the new Clubman exhaust that was recently released from NM Engineering.  Please be patient the Pavement Gator incident has push my testing back a week or so.  I can assure you that the exhaust is excellent.  The sound is deep but not too loud.  It’s perfect.

More to come on that next week.