JCW Ready to Go Home

JCW at rest in Las Vegas. On the drive home I noticed that the ECU had adapted to the new components well. The car was very smooth and the "power" note had changed. The sound was less "tuner" and more "high performance." There was also less exhaust burble but it thankfully had not disappeared.

Mazda 6 Rental Vehicle

The Mazda 6 got me through the days without my JCW. I was pleasantly surprised by the Mazda and found it to be a nice vehicle.

AMVIV More 4

AMVIV More 3

AMVIV More 2

More AMVIV

AMVIV...finally

I had a chance today to look at the cars and visit vendor booths at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas. Bittersweet while my car is in the shop but I came, I saw, and I got the t-shirt. Well, there's always next year!

Disaster In Las Vegas!

Well, just outside Victorville on the way to Las Vegas for AMVIV I began to have serious problems with the electrical system. Basically every major electrical system failed including the headlights... at night... in the desert. Yikes! Desert MINI in Las Vegas found that a bolt had come loose in the starter motor probably caused by "the last person with access to that part of the engine."
Oops.
Nevertheless, Desert MINI will fix the car under warranty and MINI will reimburse all my incidental and consequential expenses related to this problem since the car won't be ready until Tuesday and because the incident occurred more than 100 miles from home. My AMVIV has been cut short but what a great dealer and company! The picture above shows the car at Desert MINI waiting for a new starter.

Steve With Old Supercharger

Steve with the original JCW supercharger.

Inspecting the Assembly

Lots Of Things to Reconnect

Steering Rack, Drivetrain, and Brakes

Major under-body work completed. Note driveshaft in middle of the picture.

Starting to Look Like a Car Again

Junior, Steve, and Carlos connect the steering column assembly to the suspension and brakes.

Steering Rack Installation

Junior lifts the steering rack up into position.

Putting the Engine Back Together

Drivetrain mated with the engine. The tolerances are very tight and it took awhile to get the two together. Eventually Manny, Steve, and Junior, working together, were able to get it done. Junior labeled my car officially the hardest/longest drivetrain to engine job!

Service Bay

Indi Blue a popular color at Steve's Auto Clinic

Clutch Disc Installation

Junior starts to put the clutch back together.

The Flywheel

Old Parts

Stock "open" or straight-through differential at left and heavy dual-mass stock flywheel at right.

Drivetrain

Quaife limited slip differential is inside the case. The round opening just to the left of the large main round opening houses the Quaife and is connected here to the driveshaft.