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MINI Magnetic Badges

Archive for March 2006

Interior Light Kit Install PDF

MotoringFile Sections: DIY Mar 31st, 2006 18 Comments

It wouldn’t be a Friday without some official MINI DIY from MotoringFile. So with that we present you the official install guide to MINI’s new interior light kit. This new accessory fits just under the toggle switches and lights up the storage area and front cup holders for better visability. The rumor is that it may also double as a flux capacitor.

[ Interior Light Kit Install Guide ] Official MINI PDF

White Roof Radio Podcast #47

MotoringFile Sections: Podcast Mar 31st, 2006 No Comments

miniLive from Vegas under the Webb Motorsports tent! Todd, db and Michael do a little show from AMVIV III followed by a short recap of the weekend. Oh yea, it’s a long one too, for you, the lover of the long shows. Oh yea, Gabe no longer has the crown of JCW. I have officially given it to Todd!

Shownotes | Subscribe | WRR on iTunes

Out Motoring

MotoringFile Grille Badges

MotoringFile Sections: New Product, Site News Mar 30th, 2006 100 Comments

[Updated] A fixture of classic Minis (and many English cars from days gone by) was the grille badge. Whether is was the Union Jack or just a simple sign of local club affiliation, they were ways to put a personal stamp on your car and great opportunity to tip your cap to other like-minded enthusiasts.

To carry on this tradition, MINI USA has brought out a grille badge holder (part #: 51 13 0 406 752) for the current car that allows for the use of magnetic badges. At an MSRP of $25 it’s a great way to personalize your car and add a bit of heritage. And magnetic badges are inexpensive and easy to swap out depending on your mood. However the badge holder is not only buried in the back of the latest accessories catalog (with no part number) but also is not offered with any actual badges. Apparently that’s up to all individual MINI owners to do.

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MINI Vacation in Vegas: Photos!

MotoringFile Sections: Events Mar 29th, 2006 21 Comments

Now that MINI Vacation in Vegas has wrapped, it’s time to make sure what happened in Vegas, doesn’t stay in Vegas. Or in other words… let’s see some pics!

[ Flickr.com Groups: AMVIV ] Flickr

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Prestige MINI

Autoweek Feature Two MINI Tuners

MotoringFile Sections: In the Press Mar 29th, 2006 5 Comments

This week’s Autoweek has feature stories on both Fireball Tim Lawrence and his shop FTR and MINI tuner M7. Congrats to both for getting coverage on a national scale. You can read the articles below:

[ Sport Compact Tuners: M7 ] Autoweek

[ Sport Compact Tuners: Fireball MINI ] Autoweek

NA MINI Championship in Las Vegas

MotoringFile Sections: Motorsports Mar 28th, 2006 17 Comments

The first-ever race event of the new North American MINI Cooper Championship was held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 21. The event, scheduled as part of the activities at the “MINI Vacation in Vegas” club event, officially kicks off the long-anticipated racing series that is being organized by Phil Wicks Racing and features six events to be held during this first inaugural season.

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Minspeed.net

MotoringFile Interview: Tony Nuzzo

MotoringFile Sections: Motorsports Mar 28th, 2006 12 Comments

Tony Nuzzo lives a life many of us could only dream of. But what’s it actually like to run and drive in a first class MINI racing team? Recently we had a chance to ask Tony that very question along with few others about the team, the car, and where to start when taking our daily driver to the track.

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The 2007 MCS Hits the Highway

MotoringFile Sections: R56 Mar 27th, 2006 70 Comments

With the debut of the 2007 MINI just months away, BMW engineers are busy putting the finishing touches on the final production version of the car. And that means more photos and less camouflage. This latest series of photos comes courtesy of AGSL and were taken on a French highway just days ago. (You can click on each photo for a larger look)

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Knauz MINI

MINI Extends Warranty for Airbag Issues

MotoringFile Sections: Official News, Recalls/Campaigns Mar 26th, 2006 25 Comments

MINI USA is extending the warranty for specific air bag warning lamp issues on some MINIs sold in the US. This will surely come as a welcome surprise to anyone who has been greeted by the dreaded glowing airbag light over the years. Here’s an excerpt from the letter just sent out by MINI USA:

“We have found and repaired cases in which a wiring harness connector for the side air bag and safety-belt pretensioner as partially loosened. When this occurred, the increase in electrical resistance causes a red airbag warning lamp to light up.”

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MotoringFile Sponsor Shout-outs

MotoringFile Sections: Site News Mar 26th, 2006 No Comments

Time for some thanks to the folks that make MotoringFile possible. We’d also like to welcome a few new sponsors to the fold: MINI of Manhattan and Detailing Concepts. Both will be fixtures around MotoringFile for some time so be sure to check them out!

Here’s the full list of companies that sponsor and support MotoringFile. As always, if you would like to support the site, check out our sponsors!

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More Accolades for MINI’s Resale Value

MotoringFile Sections: In the Press Mar 26th, 2006 9 Comments

In their latest article on the topic, MSNBC probably does the best job I’ve seen explaining the success of the MINI in terms of resale value. Here’s an excerpt:

BMW’s ownership of Mini buoys the residual value of Cooper. After all, BMW won ALG’s highest overall ranking for value retention among luxury-car manufacturers in 2006. By association, some of the German carmaker’s desirability and its reputation for quality transfer to Mini. But Mini Cooper’s idiosyncrasy also helps the car hold value. Small yet accommodating, cosmopolitan and oozing with retro-chic, Cooper is unlike any other vehicle. If you fancy one, you can’t substitute another marque the way a Honda Accord shopper might swing for a Toyota Camry if he or she doesn’t find an Accord that fits. You must own a Mini Cooper alone to appropriate the playful image of sophisticated independence it imparts.

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MF Reader Review:JCW MCS/TVR T350/350Z

MotoringFile Sections: Reviews Mar 25th, 2006 23 Comments

mini

Another interesting combo in this week’s second MotoringFile reader review. Mark Hendrie puts his JCW Cooper S against his TVR T350 and Nissan 350zx. I think this effectively trumps my M3 vs the MCS review from a few years back! You can read Mark’s entire review below:

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Official Starter Button Retrofit

MotoringFile Sections: DIY Mar 24th, 2006 32 Comments

Another DIY Friday here at MotoringFile. This week we’re featuring a pretty slick piece of kit that mimics the newer BMW and the upcoming MINI systems that use a button to start/stop the engine. It makes a little less sense in the current MINI with the standard key system, but anytime you can add a big round button that says “start”, we say go for it.

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Edmunds Compares the MCc & Beetle Conv.

MotoringFile Sections: In the Press Mar 24th, 2006 13 Comments

Here’s an excerpt from the article that says it all:

The tachometers tell this story. Although positioned directly ahead of the driver, as it should be, the Beetle’s rev counter is teeny tiny and placed in an overly crowded pod with a much larger speedometer and a similarly sized gas gauge. The Mini’s tach, on the other hand, is the size of a compact disc and sits solo on the Cooper’s steering column, much like hot rodders have always done on their 1932 Fords.

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Civic and GTI Beat the JCW MCS in R&T

MotoringFile Sections: In the Press Mar 23rd, 2006 71 Comments

Now, before everyone goes and fires up those nasty emails to the R&T editors let’s take a clear look at this. Having tested both the Civic Si and VW GTI recently I can completely understand R&T scoring both cars ahead of the JCW MCS. Both cars have less quirks, are more versatile due to being larger, and have a more mainstream appeal. All things I alluded to in my reviews of the cars.

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Previous Select MF Features

2007
MINI Officially Updates Line-up for 2008
New Models & Production Locations Confirmed
MotoringFile's MINI United Coverage
2007 JCW Kit Officially Announced
MINI's Top Secret Colorado Project
2009 Factory JCW MCS (Stage II)
More MINI Variants Officially Confirmed
MINI Clubman Official Photos and Specs
R56 Pedestrian Crash Analysis
Future JCW Vehicles Revealed
MINI USA's Motorby Pilot Program
MINI Clubman Update & Sketch
BMW To Re-Brand JCW
2007 MINI MotoringFile Q&A
MINI One and MINI Cooper D Now Official
2007 MINI Reader Reviews
2007 MINI USA Pricing and Options
MINI Unveils the Sidewalk

2006
MF Design Analysis: 2007 MINI
2007 JCW Accessories Revealed
MINI Names the R55: The Clubman 2007 MINI In Detail (Part 2 / Part 3)
2007 MINI Official Photos (Part 2 / Part 3)
2007 MINI Drops Weight
Official 2007 MINI UK PDFs
2007 Nav Includes iDrive-Like Controller
2007 US Market Options Packages
Hey Stracco: The Interview
Let's Plan: MINI Clubs & MTTS
MINI's Official R56 Preview Photos
MINI's Official R56 Preview
Next Generation MINI Revealed (#2)
'07 MC & MCS Spotted in Death Valley
2007 MINI Color List (US Market)
'07 MINI Gets More Power/Less Weight
MF Review: MINIs on the Dragon
MINI USA Releases JCW GP Pricing
JCW Cooper S Long Term Review
Seven New Colors for 2007
MINI Release Info on Next Gen Engines
Chicago Autoshow Gallery
JCW GP at Geneva (final release info)
2006 JCW Product Info
MINI Concept Detroit - In Detail
MINI Sourced Triump Still Years Away
US Connection for MINI's new Roadster
First MINI Now Triumph?
More News on the MINI Triumph Concept

2005
Behind the Wheel of the 2007 MINI
MINI Concept Tokyo - In Detail
MINI Concept Frankfurt - In Detail
Driven: The Nürburgring Nordschleife
MINI Wins at Targe Newfoundland
2006 JCW Accessories
US Market Color Changes for 2006
Getrag's All Wheel Drive MINI In Depth
BMW/MINI to Buy JCW?
Official 2006 MINIUSA Pricing
Special Editions/Package for 2006
Checkmate Options Package (USA)
JCW Direct From to the Factory in '06
Tips on How to Sell Your MINI
2006 Model Year Timeline
MINI's 2006 Color Changes
Next Generation MINI Revealed
Official MINI Armrest Revealed
MotoringFile Review: MCS Auto

2004
Details on the MCS Limited Slip Dif
MotoringFile 2004 Holiday Gift Guide
Getrag Tests All-Wheel Drive MINI
Q&A on the OutMotoring ARC Armrest
2005 Chicago Auto Show / Gallery
MINI USA's JCW GP Delivery Program
2005 MINI Changes
The Cabrio In Depth / Gallery
Special Edition MC40 / Gallery
MINI Plant Tour Review
Hood Rub Service Bulletin
2004 Chicago Auto Show / Gallery

2003
MINI Accessory Additions for 2004
CVT Paddles Retrofit
2005 MINI Spotted
Rear Fogs Almost Here
New Prince Engine Caught Testing
MINI Releases Hood Rub Bulletin
MINI_Motion Launched
MINI Conquers Snow and Ice
MINI One D Announced
MINI Named North American Car of the Year
Otto's MINI
Black Wow

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MF Club Mappr mini
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MotoringFile Buyers Guides

R50 ('02-'06 MC) Buyers Guide
R53 ('02-'06 MCS) Buyers Guide

MotoringFile Reviews

Auto Reviews:
'08 MINI Clubman
Comparison: '08 BMW 135i
'06 R53 MCS vs '07 R56 MCS
'07 R56 JCW (Stage 1)
'07 MINI Cooper S Long Term
'07 BMW Z4 M Coupe
'07 MINI Cooper & Cooper S
Audio: '07 MC/MCS at the Track
'06 JCW GP Long term
Reader Review: JCW GP
'06 JCW Cooper S Long Term
Comparison: '06 Lotus Elise
Comparison: '06 Mazda MX5
Comparison: '06 UK Focus ST
Comparison: '06 Civic Si
Comparison: '04 TVR T350
Comparison: '06 Nissan 350z
Comparison: '06 VW GTI w/DSG
Podcast: Cooper S Auto
Podcast: BMW 325i
Podcast: JCW MC Soundkit
'04 JCW MINI Cooper Tuning Kit
'05 MCS: One Month Review
'05 MCS Auto
'05 JCW S 1st Drive
'05 MINI Cooper
'05 MCS Conv. Long Term
'05 MINI Cooper S
'05 MCS Cabrio 1st Drive
'04 JCW MCS First Drive
'04 MC w/JCW Tuning Kit
BMW M3 SMG Vs. MCS
'04 MINI Cooper CVT
'02 MCS 3 year Review
Autocrossing the MINI Range

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Performance Accessories:
R56 JCW Suspension (Track)
R56 JCW Suspension (Street)
R53 Craven Speed Short Shifter
R53 M7 Understrut System
Kumho Ecsta SPT Tires
R53 M7 Strut Tower Plates
R53 JCW Alcantara Wheel
R53 JCW Brake Kit
R53 Webb 15% Pulley
R53 Helix MCSa 15% Pulley
R53 H-Sport 19mm Sway Bar
R53 MCS Supersprint Exhaust
Podcast: R53 MCS SS Exhaust
R53 JCW Cold Air Intake
Reader Rev.: R53 JCW Brakes
R50 Supersprint Exhaust
R50 Remus Exhaust
R50 Promini Intake
R50 Remus Dual Exhaust
Schroth Harness System
R50 CVT Steering Wheel Paddles

Exterior Accessories:
Miniature's Receiver Hitch
OEM White Tail Lights

Lifestyle Accessories:
MINI_Motion Watch
MINI_Motion Driving Shoe

Audio:
MINI Digital SoundModul
ICE-Link Plus iPod Adapter
Official BMW/iPod adapter
ICE-Link iPod Adapter
Kenwood iPod Interface
Alpine iPod Interface
Harman Kardon Stereo

Interior Accessories:
JCW Alcantara Steering Wheel JCW Leather Dash
MCAW Auto Up Circuit
MINI Rear Camera
MINI Rear Saddle (official)
MINI Rear Cargo Storage Case
Official MINI Rear Saddle Bag
2004 MINI Armrest Reviewed
Mymini Knee Pad
MINI Bluetooth Kit
MINI Video Input
Aftermarket Bluetooth Integration
Ian Cull Auto-up Circuit
Universal Mobile Phone Holder

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MINI Model Number Cheat Sheet:

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Coupe
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Coupe
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe
R57: One/MC/MCS Convt.
R60: MINI SUV