[sikamini]

Hi:

Since I did not find a Finnish tread, I thought I would start one. I am a Finn living in Texas and waiting on my MINI. Tell us about your MINIs. Happy motoring!

Juha/sikamini

[sikamini]

Okay, I'll go first.
I am waiting on a 2009 MINI JCW. I placed the order early June, it should be in production in August, and I should have delivery in late September. The spec is as follows:

2009 MINI JCW, MY/MY, convenience package, cold weather package, premium package, sport suspension, 17" crown spoke wheels, alarm, parking distance control, rear for lamp, navigation system, JCW strut brace, JCW Aero kit, JCW sport suspension, JCW Carbon fiber rear diffuser, driving lamps, and mud flaps front and rear.

I know out of 27 views there had to be at least one Finn, maybe even a Finn wannabe - don't be shy.

[KPKalle]

I don't want to discourage you using MINI2 but you'll probably find them here W W W . M I N I 2 - F I N N . C O M although they do visit us from time to time

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by KPKalle (original)

I don't want to discourage you using MINI2 but you'll probably find them here W W W . M I N I 2 - F I N N . C O M although they do visit us from time to time

Yes, I know about the site. I do want to have a discussion with all MINI enthusiasts, including, the Swedes, Brits, and everyone. My intention was to try to draw out the Finns in the community. From my experience, I lived in Helsinki for 10 years they tend to be a bit shy.

About the site you mentioned, I do not know what kind of system they run there, but I established an account and logged in several times and then later received an access denial message. I never posted any messages - just read posts in Finnish. I thought it would be a good way to keep in touch with my Finnish and see what the Finns think about their MINIs. Is the site for just people in Finland ?

I usually read the MINI2 forum, a couple of US forums, and a Texas Mini forum.

P.S. Thank you KPKalle, you're now a Finn.

[ToniM]

Hello, here's one Finn.

Have been driving a 2003 Cooper S for almost a year now and loving every moment
Some specs:
Lohen stage 1 kit + milltek catback exhaust
KW variante 2 coilovers, kelleners edition
18" ASA AR-1 wheels (painted in white) + pirelli p zero nero 215/35/18 tyres
H&R stabilizators (front &rear)
Pagid yellow brage pads (front)
Steel braided brake hoses
Motul RBF600 brake fluids
Tinted windows
Ice-link + I-pod

Here's some pics:

muuriaisniemi.1g.fi

Photos

And some with winter wheels: http://www.muuriaisniemi.1g.fi/kuvat...ni/Photoshoot/

-toni

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by ToniM (original)

Hello, here's one Finn.

Have been driving a 2003 Cooper S for almost a year now and loving every moment
Some specs:
Lohen stage 1 kit + milltek catback exhaust
KW variante 2 coilovers, kelleners edition
18" ASA AR-1 wheels (painted in white) + pirelli p zero nero 215/35/18 tyres
H&R stabilizators (front &rear)
Pagid yellow brage pads (front)
Steel braided brake hoses
Motul RBF600 brake fluids
Tinted windows
Ice-link + I-pod

Here's some pics:

muuriaisniemi.1g.fi

Photos

And some with winter wheels: http://www.muuriaisniemi.1g.fi/kuvat...ni/Photoshoot/

-toni

Hi Toni:

Loved the pics. Nice shots of your MINI. I noticed they were at a construction site. Architect, artist, contractor or engineer? Photographer? You don't need to answer just curious.

I am still waiting on my MINI. It should be here in Texas in September. I'll post some pics then.

Nice to see at least one Finn respond. Are you a racing enthusiast?

Juha/sikamini

[ToniM]

Hi Juha,

Thanks

That construction site was just next to where I washed my car... Taking pics is just a hobby, as is track driving.
Good luck and patience with waiting your MINI

-toni

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by ToniM (original)

Hi Juha,

Thanks

That construction site was just next to where I washed my car... Taking pics is just a hobby, as is track driving.
Good luck and patience with waiting your MINI

-toni

Toni:
Your photo's are very good, you have a good eye. These forums keep my mind off the wait. How is the Lohen stage 1upgrade - what kind of performance increase did you get? Are you planning any other mods? What's required to track in Finland? This wait is making me hyper, I am on week 8 with a projected 7 more. Probably said that before too.

Juha/sikamini

[ToniM]

Quote: Originally Posted by sikamini (original)

Toni:
Your photo's are very good, you have a good eye. These forums keep my mind off the wait. How is the Lohen stage 1upgrade - what kind of performance increase did you get? Are you planning any other mods? What's required to track in Finland? This wait is making me hyper, I am on week 8 with a projected 7 more. Probably said that before too.

Juha/sikamini

Nice if you like the photos
Lohen claims it gives about 210 bhp without the exhaust so I guess it gives now something like 215 bhp.
You can read about it from the article written by the previous owner: Taking it to the next level | Carfreaks.net

Brakes are not good for serious or even semiserious track driving so mayby some bigger disks with 4 pot calibers to front could be the next mod.

There aren't any requirements for tracking in Finland.

4 more weeks and I'm off to Nurburgring for 2,5 weeks Unfortunately MINI is not going...

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by ToniM (original)

Lohen claims it gives about 210 bhp without the exhaust so I guess it gives now something like 215 bhp. You can read about it from the article written by the previous owner: Taking it to the next level | Carfreaks.net Brakes are not good for serious or even semiserious track driving so mayby some bigger disks with 4 pot calibers to front could be the next mod. There aren't any requirements for tracking in Finland. 4 more weeks and I'm off to Nurburgring for 2,5 weeks Unfortunately MINI is not going...

Nice article. Are you going to be doing the future mods yourself? The brakes and rotors would probably be something you could probably do easily in a weekend. Would you change the rotors to drilled or slotted? So how much does it cost to track in Finland? I noticed the previous owner had work done in Vantaa, I have some relatives in Vantaa and Espoo. Nice area close to everything. What am I saying, there is not any not nice areas in Finland, just depends what you want. Have fun at Nurburgring, take pics and post some! Are you going to just watch the racing?

I did want to find out more about MINI enthusiasts in Finland. even found a site and logged in, registered and so on. Never got to make even a single post, someone banned me, oh well. I thought maybe I could practice my Finnish, which is passable, but not great. I digress, back to the topic.

Let me know how your mods turn out and post some pics of the process!

[ToniM]

Quote: Originally Posted by sikamini (original)

Nice article. Are you going to be doing the future mods yourself? The brakes and rotors would probably be something you could probably do easily in a weekend. Would you change the rotors to drilled or slotted? So how much does it cost to track in Finland? I noticed the previous owner had work done in Vantaa, I have some relatives in Vantaa and Espoo. Nice area close to everything. What am I saying, there is not any not nice areas in Finland, just depends what you want. Have fun at Nurburgring, take pics and post some! Are you going to just watch the racing?

I did want to find out more about MINI enthusiasts in Finland. even found a site and logged in, registered and so on. Never got to make even a single post, someone banned me, oh well. I thought maybe I could practice my Finnish, which is passable, but not great. I digress, back to the topic.

Let me know how your mods turn out and post some pics of the process!

I will most likely have those brakes done somewhere if I decide to buy them.
It doesn't really matter if they are drilled or slotted (other than that drilled ones may crack easier from hole to hole). More important is what sort of pads you are using. Even the pads that come with e.g Brembo kits are not hard enough. Brands like Pagid (yellow) or Carbopad are the ones to use when driving hard.

We usually rent finnish tracks for our own use for 3-4 hours at once. It's that way a little bit more expensive than to drive at organized sessions but we are willing to pay a bit extra to have less cars at the track and this way we know that everyone at track knows what they are doing.
Track rent here is about 150 - 250 euros per hour.

We are going to Ring with several cars and yes... we will drive as much as possible Mostly I will be taking pics and passenger laps. Here are some of the pics I took at Ring during our last trip: Photos

Well you haven't lost that much with the finnish MINI site... it's pretty quiet there

[sikamini]

I liked the green MINI, it's got the same areo that I ordered, minus the rear spoiler. I think the hourly rates in Texas are similar, but in dollars, so it's probably a bit cheaper here. I was thinking, I would go check out the track here with the local club, after I learn to drive the MINI.

Great cars in your pics, do you go every year?

[tcbw]

hei there, I thought I'd join the thread, as I'm a Brit living in Finland - does that count?

I have a 2006 dark silver/black MCS, with no aftermarket treatment whatsover, on Italian plates [an Italian Job!] (I'm in the process of importing); it's a thrill but a bit harsh on the Helsinki cobbles with the 17's. Would love to hear about your experience in winter, with studded/friction tyres. My other car's all wheel drive so not an issue.

[Fin]

Hello

[bubblegoose]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Hello

pmsl

[ToniM]

Hi tcbw, if you haven't driven in "real" winter conditions before I recommend studded one's.
I've been driving in Helsinki with friction tyres for the past 6 winters without any big problems.

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by tcbw (original)

hei there, I thought I'd join the thread, as I'm a Brit living in Finland - does that count?

I have a 2006 dark silver/black MCS, with no aftermarket treatment whatsover, on Italian plates [an Italian Job!] (I'm in the process of importing); it's a thrill but a bit harsh on the Helsinki cobbles with the 17's. Would love to hear about your experience in winter, with studded/friction tyres. My other car's all wheel drive so not an issue.

Welcome! Since, I am in Texas, it would probably be better if you listen to ToniM on the winter conditions.

[sikamini]

Tcbw, how long have you been in Finland? I hear it's been cool this summer. Are you a permanent resident of Finland or temporary? Not that it matters. Finlands a beautiful place to be. I miss the summers the most, but I liked the winters also. Have you joined one of the MINI clubs yet? Share some of your experiences with us.

[sikamini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Hello

Hello Fin Finn!

[sikamini]

Our little MINI was born Monday August 4th, woohoo!! Currently at Southampton waiting to board a ship. There are two ships scheduled to dock and depart Southampton (08/08), hopefully there will be a small spot for a Texas bound MINI.