New Images on FLICKR

Multi Colour MINI Interior
Originally uploaded by EssentialMINI.co.uk

DO you FlickR? If so then you will find loads of dash lighting pics of customers cars that we have worked on. Plenty more R56 shots to follow soon too. Check out FLICKR regulary to see shots of all work behind the scenes too !

Si

R56MCS.com

Has your NEW MINI Cooper S R56 got a noisy engine from cold? Does it sound like a tractor? Then it looks like your not alone. R56MCS.com is a new register to collect data on what problems you have, if any problems have been resolved and more. Register today on the following link...

R56MCS.com

New Fuel Protest Threats...

Campaigners are secretly planning a number of fuel protests in a bid to stop further rises in petrol duty.

It is feared the country could see similar chaotic scenes to 2000, when motorists began panic-buying fuel.

A planned 2p increase in fuel duty is planned for October but campaigners have promised demonstrations across the country to create as much havoc as possible.

The demonstrations would coincide with a two-day strike being staged by workers at a major oil refinery in Scotland.

It is understood that 1,200 workers at the Ineos refinery will walk out on April 27 and 28 to protest over pensions.

If the campaigners go ahead with protests on the same day it is feared supplies could be crippled as early as Friday.

Last night, co-chairman of the People's Fuel Lobby, Mark Francis, said: ‘We are getting taxed to the hilt to pay for unnecessary spending by this government.

‘People will no doubt remember what happened in 2000.

‘We hope this protest, along with the planned strike, will be as big, if not bigger.

‘We fully expect motorists to fill their cars in advance and as more people fill up, the quicker the forecourts will run out.’

Info taken from PistonHeads.com

R56 Cooper S Power Modules

New from MTH Germany is the highly awaited performance module that will release that much needed extra power from your MINI Cooper S Turbo.

MINI Cooper S owners will expect the following gains,
BHP Increase: +30 bhp
Torque Increase: +45 nm

Unit Price: £750
Installation: £50

For more information, Email: EssentialMINI@hotmail.com

I want this Clubman!

Ok, Ok, yes its a photoshopped "lowered" MINI Clubman, but my god what a photoshop it is. So lets get things straight from the start. I like the MINI Clubman, yet i dont LOVE it (not yet anyway). I think in time it will grow on me just like the MINI R56 did when it was launched some time back. I like the quirky bits that make it what it is, the suicide doors that are on the wrong side, the huge rails that sweep the roof line, the interesting rear doors which could have come straight from a SMEG fridge, it all makes interesting viewing.

Now if I hear it called the MINI Hearse one more time I will just scream. Go out, have a proper look at the Clubman, give it a drive, show how it changes your life, infact drive any MINI and I bet they would buy one there and then.

Oh my look how I sound while typing this blog...looks like I do love it after all ! I best ring the local MINI Dealer and see if they do a Pepper White and Black version of the above pic...oh what dreams are made of. SW/EM

Stance Design Studio

Stance Design Studio, a really cool up and coming clothes company from my friend Andrew in the good `ol USA.

Upon viewing the website/shop I found probably the best looking tee`s for the NEW MINI in the world!

There are four designs to choose from. First of all a cool MINI design as you can see in the picture, the level of detail in the MINI is awesome. Secondly there is a Geometry inspired tee with suspension picture work behind, which is yet again another cool MINI drawing. We have the third tee which is more classic Mini inspired from the rally days of yester`year. Finally, the Pink Stance split rim design, again, fresh, new and looks wow!

"There are more designs to come" says Andrew, owner of Stance Design, and with me already buying all 4 of the tees listed (as they all look stunning) I shall be keeping a close eye out on what more comes from this new label.

http://www.stancedesign.com/

How we do it

Hey All,

First blogger post..woo hoo!

So what do we do? Well we can`t tell you everything but we can give you a little insight on how we do things here at EssentialMINI towers.

Basically, we change your orange lit interior items within your MINI, to colours that more suit you better...the tha FAB MINI owner that you are. We appreciate how MINI owners like cool funky products that stand out from the crowd...and were the guys to help out.

Its not as easy as push and twist bulbs from the old days. We have to use our soldering skills to remove the orange LEDs, little blocks of light we call them, and change to either RED, BLUE, WHITE, GREEN, RED or even PINK ! Not only that, but we can even mix the colours up to get rainbow effects or colour mixing for even weirder (if that`s a word) combinations. We`re also the first company also in the world to find out how to change the colour of the needles for both Gen 1 and the latest Gen 2 MINI. It all adds to how unique this service actually is. Were in high demand too, not just only in MINI world, but VW, Seat, Skoda and most recently Ferrari!

We get many emails saying that we have photoshopped our dash lighting. As mad as that sounds it`s not true. The only Photoshopping we make is to resize the pics to fit our website. All the pics you see are real customer`s cars, and to this day (and for the future) they`re all happy smiling people of course.

Well thats a little bit of info on who we are. We LOVE MINIs, and we know you do too, so hope to catch up with you all soon.

Simon @ Team EssentialMINI