Ouch! Cracked Strut Mount!

While at AMVIV it was discovered that my poor MINI has fallen victim to the much discussed "Cracked Strut Mount and Strut Tower Mushroom". No- not a delectible Mediterranean dish fried over an open-flame, but a plague like design "issue" in the front-end suspension. (You can read the never ending thread on NAM here, here, and here- yeah- i told you!)

One thing I noticed in my research however, is a lack of photos of the fairly obvious symptoms. Fortunately, I have a digital camera!*

Here is (not a very good shot of) a non-mushrooming strut tower. Note it's "flatness"

Here is my other (passenger-side) strut tower, with mushroom syndrome. Note where the VIN is- that should be flat. But it is not.


Here is where the plot thickens- a severe example of a cracked strut mount ("shock mount"/"bearing something or other").
Here is that same shot with the crack marked off. Ouch!

*(super hi-res versions available here (strut mount) and here (strut tower).)


The MINI is in the shop as I write this- getting the strut mount issues repaired. Now, how do I convince them to take a 4x4 and a sledge hammer to pound the mushroom'd tower, flat? more news as it develops- now back to you in the studio!

Live from Amsterdam, it's...

OMG! I can't believe it! I've only just heard!

Our friends at White Roof Radio and MotoringFile did a pretty good job and creating a buzz over the weekend, with their teaser announcement of "something big" to be let loose on Monday. Guessing and rumors and speculation ensued.

So of course, the first thing I did this morning (well, not the "first") was download a special episode of White Roof Radio, and my guess was confirmed as correct! Da boyz have managed to secure a deal as the official Podcast of MINI United 2007?!?! Wh-wha what?!? Can you say "jealous as all heck!"

Okay, so *if* you have no idea what I'm talking about, you must check these links:

White Roof Radio | MotoringFile | MINI United 2007

I'll be tuning in and being all excited and jealous at the same time. Anyone wanna sponsor me a trip? I'll follow you around with a camcorder and camera , schlep your luggage, and pimp your goodies, where a green hat- whatever! I'm serious! Hey- Just puttin' it out there...

MINI Marketing

The MINI Marketing team (a.k.a. whomever they've hired this time 'round) always manages to keep the brand fresh and "hip" with their just-say-no approach to standard marketing techniques.

A Russian website has a few of my favorites, along with what i presume to be "user-created-content"- all in one place! I'd love to say more about the site, only, I don't know what the site is saying!

See more at: ddesign.nnm.ru/reklama_mini

Shown above: One of my all-time favorite MINI billboards

Fireballed Racing SeminarBQ!

Last week I went to Fireball Tim/Fireballed Racing's First Annual "SeminarBQ/Car Show" (Get it? A Seminar and BBQ!)

I had a lot of fun, met some new friends (and old ones) got to see some really nice cars, (I mean really nice!) I learned a few things too! And of course, took plenty of photos!

The Fireballed! Studio Shop

Fireball Tim, The Legend- in the flesh!

There were many classic and exotic cars including this Spyder-something-or-other

One of FBT's Limited Edition MINIs

The line for the grub! (ed. note: apparently they had twice the attendance as expected!)
Click here for more photos!*


(The official flyer):

FIREBALLED! STUDIO SHOP
18900 Hawthorne Blvd
Torrance, Ca. 90504
310 921 6000

www.fireballtim.com
www.fireballed.com
www.cartv.com

*I'm currently editing the video as well! Stay tuned!

Lookie What I Got!: Escort Passport 8500 X50

Not like I need it (grin), but Uncle Sam saw fit to give me a tax refund suitable of a new toy/gadget (or two?). The Escort Passport 8500 X50 has been on my list for awhile. The "out of the box" experience:

The front of the box

The back of the box

The fancy "leather" case. (Actually, it's pretty nice.)

Ooooh...

Ahhhh....

The device

The money-shot

I don't have a personal review yet, but here's the official PR speak:


"The Passport 8500 X50's new "V-Tuned" radar receiver provides extreme detection range on all police radar; conventional and "instant-on" radar, including the new POP mode radar threat, X-Band, and up to 50% more range than the original Passport 8500 on the all-important K and Ka bands. Digital signal processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms." --www.escortradar.com

Features

• 360-degree radar and laser detection
• Advanced digital signal processing
• AutoSensitivity mode automatically reduces false alarms
• EZ-Programming allows instant customization
• Selectable POP mode radar detection
• 3 High-resolution meter modes
• Ultra-bright matrix display with 280 LEDs
• Brilliant blue or high-intensity red display
• Multiple high-performance laser sensors
• Built-in earphone jack
• Mute & AutoMute
• Completely immune to the VG-2 "detector-detector"
• One year limited warranty
• 2 year extended service plan available
• Free 30 day test drive (applies to factory direct orders only)

www.escortradar.com

Maisto MINI Model

Looking for something completely unrelated, I ventured into the local hobby shop and found this!

I'm not a "collector", just an occasion impulse shopper! *smile*

Car Electronic Device Hard Wire

Our friend Molly from NAM and fiascofarm.com posted a great writeup on hard-wiring an electric device into your MINI vehicle!




Gee... now why would I need to know this info?!?! *wink*

Thanks Molly! :b: