GBMINI#2

Got the call today that my MCS was ready for pickup! Drove to the dealership and handed over my “old” MINI. All the exterior “textured black” bodywork (wheel arches, bumper edges) had been painted body color, and the side skirts had been replaced with body colored ones from the aero kit (with a mock “air duct”); the car looks perfect all in blue!

The interior was just how I wanted it; the Lapis Blue was complemented with the matching gear shift lever; the european shelf had been installed and the full six switch toggle panel (although the rear fogs do not work at the moment). Of course the new steering wheel and metal pedals were there too!

A funny thing happened while we were going through the pickup – we were visited (thanks to the owner for letting me take this pic!):

Driving the car home was strange … enough different from my MC to be disconcerting. But we got home safe and uneventfully, being very gentle with the engine (for now). Dark when I got home, so no good pics till tomorrow – just this not-so-good one:

I was called because the car had arrived at the dealership! My salesman (Joel Mesiti) had taken some pictures of it being delivered:

First view of GBMINI#2 at dealership

I drove down to get the service guys started on changing the car:

• I wanted to have the textured black trim of the bumpers and wheel arches smoothed and painted body color … it is a pain when it gets wax on, and I think it clashes with the deep blue of the car;
• I wanted the toggle switch panel replaced with a UK sourced six switch panel (US cars have the rear fog light switch missing);
• I wanted the european parcel shelf installed under the steering wheel;
• I wanted the body color front grille replaced with the MC chrome grille … looks better with Indi Blue.

My car was brought straight in and work began: