GPMINI’s window specification sticker

Posted on by Ian C.

I was asked today why GPMINI’s rear windows weren’t tinted … good question! So Joe suggested that I check the “window sticker” specification sheet:

 

Tinted rear windows aren’t listed – but they’re also not listed for GBMINI#3 so that doesn’t prove much.

Interestingly though, there are some other quirks of the GP specification:


I wonder where passengers 3 and 4 are supposed to sit?!

And, it’s claimed that the GP is pre-wired for CD changer but many owners have tried but failed to find the wiring; it must be really well hidden!

Finally, although not really an error, whoever edited the GP specific document must have run out of space – they listed DSC in the “engineering and safety features” section, but overwrote the “flat tire monitor” option which appears in the same place on normal MINI lists (hopefully they didn’t omit the actual flat tire monitor function!)

With errors like these, it’s no wonder we were wrongly told that the GP was pre-wired for the alarm … the GP drives wonderfully and looks fabulous, but it’s complete list of features & specifications are hard to find 🙂

(and we’re still waiting to discover if and how a factory alarm can be installed into a GP … are you listening, Mr. Stracco?)

Amherst Pulley Party

Posted on by Ian C.

I wanted to visit todays pulley party in Amherst, NH to say “hi” and to show off GPMINI 😉
It happened that Margaret & I had to go to Milford, NH this morning – and it turned out that we were just a couple of miles from the party MINIs, so it all worked out well!

I got to say “hi” to lots of MINI people I’ve met before – Joe, Pat, Pat, Pete, Pete, Jim, Jason, Richard, Rick, Jock (I hope I got everyone!) – and I also met a few new people, including Sheena & Robert. I saw Pats new MINI (congrats Pat!), and Jims not-so-new-but-still-looks-like-new MINI (see NIIICE from a few years back):

Joe & Jim both told me about this new “ICE” polish from Turtle Wax, which they say is perfect for the MINI since it leaves no residue on the black wheel arches! Jim coated part of GPMINI, including half a wheel arch – and considering there was no pre-washing and I’d just driven 70 miles in rain, it looks pretty good … it also feels amazing, a really smooth finish on the paintwork:

I’ll be buying some of this soon – and hopefully Josh will also buy and report on it as a follow-up to his recent wheel arch trim test 🙂

Oh – and I let Joe drive GPMINI – he’s one of the best people I know to give me a good comparison report, and he was VERY impressed … his first comment when he got back was to wonder if the tires weren’t runflats, because they ride so smooth!

GP touch-up paint

Posted on by Ian C.

A GP owner recently tried to get touch-up paint and couldn’t – I checked with MINI of Peabody and the touch-up paint is back-ordered …

Today I visited my friend Julian at Sublime Restorations; he’s been wanting to see the GP since I got it, but when he saw it, the paint chips from driving MINI Takes The States bothered him!
Julian checked his paint match computers and found paint code A64 listed, so mixed a few ounces of paint – which was a perfect match for the GP of course! So he tidied up a few of the biggest stone chips while I was there …

I’ll probably send GPMINI over to Sublime Restorations for a few days, to have all the chips sorted, and a “clear bra” installed – I’m not keen on them, but I trust Julian to do a good install job!

Meanwhile, if anyone needs touch-up paint, see if your local bodyshop can mix it for you – or call Julian to see what he’ll charge to ship some to you …

And while I was waiting, I got to enjoy the new Sublime Restorations seating!