Today I took GBMINI back to MINI Peabody to get the SES light solved; as suspected it was a return of the spurious fault P0136 and hopefully the software update will eliminate the issue.
While I was there I also had GBMINI properly “spa cleaned”; MINI Peabody charges a reasonable $129 and the results were stunning when I picked up the car this evening (shame it was raining so hard on the way home!)
I am so pleased with the results 🙂
I know I can do my own thing with Zaino but here I did nothing (except hand over a credit card) and got fabulous results – GBMINI looks brand new again! Actually it was particularly nice of MINI Peabody to park the car in the delivery area, keeping it out of the rain, because I never had a true delivery with pics, so now these pics can substitute!
One other thing that I had done today was to switch the tailights from the USA all-red version to the European red/yellow version:
Gabe recently switched his to clear/white but I don’t like that look too much; but when following the links to MikeyTheMINIs NewMINIstuff web site I found that he also sells the (European) stock ’05 taillights, which have a yellow flasher in place of the red one that USA cars have …
So I ordered some, they came quickly, and now they are installed … little differences that make each MINI unique 😉
M&I / GBMINI 
The yellow in the tailights is so much better than all red. What all does MOP do for the $129? I hope it’s a *lot* more than the quick wash after getting service completed.
I too prefer the yellow, I’ve always found it easier to see/distinguish especially with the sun behind you, shining on the tail end of the car in front of you.
Did you sign up for the JCW kit for the Auto? I saw that its availability was finally “officially” announced.
Yes the euro lights look so much better.
As you may know I did the same on my last car and it makes for a surprising improvement.
Now I have to wonder though, why in the world would you pay for spa treatment when it will be raining for the next three days? I know we’re all a little crazy 🙂
Give it a while before applying more zaino till their meguire’s wax wears off, or else it will wear off with it.
Jared, my opinion of the $129 is money well spent.
Chris, the JCW for MCSa has not been officially announced by MINI USA; only the John Cooper Works garage said it will be …
Josh, when I booked the car in, it was not going to rain – but anyway British Invasion is this weekend and I had no time to clean the car, so someone had to do it 😉
Do you know how the Spa treatment interacts with the Zaino you applied? Your car looks great, and I am tempted to take mine in to MINI of Princeton for the Spa Rx. I had to have black on black…
Do you know exactly what is done during the Spa Rx, and what products are used? Have fun this weekend, with your spot on crotch rocket!
Ha…..those taillights a such an improvement over the crappy all red ones, still not as nice as the originals!
What was the waxing agent used? It’s almost too shiny.
Ian, okay. What do they do though?
Hey I just noticed that you have the words supercharged above MINI COOPER S. Is that something new? Or is that another Ian special?
Jared,
I returned to MoP today to thank Bill for the great finish that helped me win First 🙂
He described using some fancy washing liquid, then buffing, and finishing with a Mequiars polish – I think he mentioned “yellow” so perhaps this one