Project "Kermit"

[DarkChild]

A couple of days before Christmas last year, I was struck with a series of unfortunate events...

To cut a long story short, my car got rear ended. Roads were slippery. The cars in front of me suddenly came to a halt and fortunately, I managed to stop in time. Unfortunately, the Persona behind me couldn't stop in time and couldn't avoid me.

Thankfully, the person behind has agreed to pay for the repairs. Damage has been contained to just the rear bumper and the fog light. I decided to try a different rear and not go for the same JCW bumper. Shall post some updates after I get that shit sorted out. Till then!

 

[Tom]

damn. anyway can't wait to see the new bumper.

i'll cheer you up with this:
02 MINI Cooper S - Sepang : CTA Time Attack event 15/01/12 - YouTube

 

[DarkChild]

The new rear bumper has been fitted and painted.... well, sort of. Because it was the festive seasons, and my painters didn't want to be keeping my car in their garage whilst everyone left for a weeks break, 'Kermit' paint job was a little rushed and returned to me for Chinese New Year.

The diffuser was accidentally painted Verde Ithaca. It will be painted matte black after the holidays. Bumper fitment is far from perfect. On both sides where the black plastic wheel arch trims meet the rear bumper, the gap and alignment is terrible! I hope the painters can do something about it. Other than that, just little touch-ups and probably a nice polish when everything is sorted. Oh, I need to weld my exhaust tips back too!

Also, I need to get this Alta 2% oversized lightened crank pulley intalled...

 

[Izso]

Tom, is that a dead bug or a chipped glass on your windscreen? Damn distracting la. LOL

DC : Why oversized? How is that supposed to help your acceleration etc?

 

[DarkChild]

Tom, is that a dead bug or a chipped glass on your windscreen? Damn distracting la. LOL

DC : Why oversized? How is that supposed to help your acceleration etc?

It's lightened. So there's reduced rotational mass, much like installing a lightened flywheel. Also, The over size crank pulley increases your boost levels at the same time.

Ex. If you have a 15% supercharger pulley on you MINI now, add a 2% over driven crank pulley and your 15% pulley will now act like a 17% pulley.

 

[Izso]

Forgot you guys had SCs. Right.. that makes sense.

 

[DarkChild]

Now that the festive season is finally over, "Kermit" can finally get some work done on it...

Car has been sent back to get the diffuser painted and some other miscellaneous stuff sorted.

I also managed to find this brand new wing/spoiler on ebay. The title says "Alta Performance Mini Cooper R53 Carbon Fiber Roof Spoiler" but upon closer inspection, I believe it's a JCW item! It was being let go for US $399.99 which I think is a steal now that this is a discontinued product.

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/1561/1003359a.jpg

Alas I was too late and someone had already purchased it. I got in touch with the seller anyway to see if they had anymore left but unfortunately, it was their only one. The buyer had 3 days to make payment and if no payment was received, they told me they'd contact me.

So, I thought I had missed a bargain but it turns out a week later, they shot me a message saying that the buyer flaked them and it was now back for sale. I snapped it up in an instant. All in all, I paid US $453.84 after the inclusion of shipping which is about RM1400 and if I'm not mistaken, it costs in a ball park range of RM3500 now because of it being discontinued.

It has already been shipped and now I wait patiently for its arrival.

 

[Ghomo_duck]

damit..let us know if you are up for an upgrade and wat to sell this one on discount..lol

 

[DarkChild]

There's another one in Aspen White for sale! USD $225 only. But it only ships to USA... http://www.ebay.com/itm/170779454531?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1156

 

[Tom]

JCW Wing looks really good on R53s get it fitted!

 

[DarkChild]

JCW Wing looks really good on R53s get it fitted!

Waiting for it to arrive!

 

[DarkChild]

The diffuser has been color coded black. I think it looks much better this way. The Alta 2% oversized lightened crank pulley intalled too. Haven't had a chance to drive it yet as there are still a couple of little things left to be done and it's still at the shops.

I've also managed to get my hands on a used M7 Carbon Fiber Front Splitter. Can't wait to put it on too...

 

[DarkChild]

Fog lights kept blowing out and collecting water... Got a set of these Projector Fog Lights and they're on their way too.

 

[Izso]

Hmm.. can I have your old busted fog lights?

 

[DarkChild]

Hmm.. can I have your old busted fog lights?

Err, what do you want them for?

 

[Izso]

retrofitting!

 

[DarkChild]

Kermit's back. Here's a better picture of the rear that had been painted black...

Fitted the M7 carbon fiber splitter. They didn't use the recommended mounting position for the rod links but it's fine.

The Alta 2% oversized lightened crank pulley was installed but I can't seem to feel much of a difference. Exhaust seems to be louder but that could just be me. I feel like the exhaust is too restrictive for the current setup now. I'll probably go custom a 2 1/2 inch system soon and quiet it down a little. Plus it's still missing a tail pipe.

Still waiting for the JCW carbon fiber Aero wing and the projector fog lights to get here...

 

[davidcnz]

lovely !!!! thumb up for u bro !

 

[sky_vspec]

DC, been following your Kermit progress. And now it's awesome looking. Makes me think twice on my sale. Good job!

 

[DarkChild]

retrofitting!

I've swapped the fog lights already. You can have my original housing if you want. ^_^