Someone Else's Problem: '06 Mini Cooper S - Induction noise on wheels

Actually had the filter since May, but empty tank and time to work on the car have not aligned before.
Tank was almost empty but filter housing has a nice 750ml waiting for you no matter what you do.
Plus the fuel line has no check valve so you also have to deal with everything from the fuel rail back coming your way once you unplug it...


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Good old fuel bukkake.
 
Just completed the first repair that actually cost me some money...
Car needed a new clutch + flywheel. Clutch started to slip in higher gears, the dual mass flywheel was rattling, plus throwout bearing made pitiful noises as well.
Had several independent workshops quote the job and because I didn't want to dump a ton of money into the car and then went with the cheapest one. Never been to that particular shop before, but they were really nice, with good service and diagnosed and fixed a crank main seal failure at no extra cost (except 20EUR for the seal itself) while they were in there. I was considering ditching the dual mass flywheel for something lighter, but with the oem spec parts I get 2 years of warranty, so I stuck with those.
Car is much more enjoyable now that I don't have to baby the clutch. Hope nothing else expensive comes up, but it feel really healthy now.
 
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Over the Christmas break, I've done another set of really neat upgrades to the car:

1. New battery. After sitting a couple of days over the holiday break car was hard to start. I checked and found the battery to be the original one from 2006, note the stamping on the terminal
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Put a 55EUR Varta in it and now all is well.
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2. The fake carbon hood scoop was falling apart, a replacement was ~50EUR, so I decided to try plastidip. Of course I managed to break off 3 of the 4 tabs holding it in place taking it off the car... So first step was to reglue those:
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Then after generous amounts of brake cleaner:
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I think it turned out alright, with more and better prep it could be improved, but I can't be bothered:
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3. Another electrics upgrade: bought a light module of a forum member. I was watching these for a while but couldn't justify the 150EUR they are asking for it new. Got a smashing deal on a used one so I went for it. It piggy backs onto the BCM (body control module) and enables functions like coming home / leaving home, comfort indicators (tip once, it indicates 3 times), daytime driving lights (via the fogs) and cornering lights (also via the fogs). No pics of the install, I was to busy cursing while dealing with hard and sharp plastic interior bits...
Here's the result:


4. New shift know: the old one was falling to bits...
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Old one comes right off, just pull:
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Replaced it with a knock off, was not willig to pay BMW ~75EUR for an oem one. Looks exactly the same for 62EUR less:
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Car is getting a new timing chain tensioner next monday. It started the rattles on cold starts, so that will be adresses ASAP.
I'll do it with the help of a fellow mini enthusiast. He alreday has the sacred modified socket needed to get the cap off without taking the engine out of the car. He's also done it on his car before, so I hope we will be ok.

In other news: I ordered a new car that will very likeley replace the mini in July. Again it will be something VERY different from the current car ;-)
 
Timing chain tension job was done in good neighborhood :p

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The job went pretty smoothly. 30min job if you know what you're doing. Also replaced the threaded insert sealing the tensioner, as it's almost impossible to loosen it without damaging the hex nut...

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Somewhere down there is where it's at. You can't see anything during the whole procedure...

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Old and new parts

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Had a coworker 3d print me some intake parts. That'll most likely be the last project on this car. It will go up for sale in June/July when the replacement is ready for pickup.
 
Timing chain tension job was done in good neighborhood :p

View attachment 3557023

The job went pretty smoothly. 30min job if you know what you're doing. Also replaced the threaded insert sealing the tensioner, as it's almost impossible to loosen it without damaging the hex nut...

View attachment 3557024

Somewhere down there is where it's at. You can't see anything during the whole procedure...

View attachment 3557025

Old and new parts

View attachment 3557026

Had a coworker 3d print me some intake parts. That'll most likely be the last project on this car. It will go up for sale in June/July when the replacement is ready for pickup.

hmm, where have I seen this before? ?
 
Intake upgrade done as well. I keep saying this, but this is most likely the last mod on this car. This is all very well thought out. The filter mat gets replaced by a K&N, just like the JCW has stock. It also adds an additional intake on the back of the airbox, that let's say improves the cabin noise situation :D

Fitment of the 3d printed parts was great:
2020-03-18 10.28.37.jpg2020-03-18 12.27.08.jpg

Modified firewall to support extra air intake opening, stock hole on top, new one below
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Started ripping into the air box
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Fitting the secret snorkel
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New filter installed
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All back together in the car, can you spot the mod?
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