[Chip]

Just wondering if anyone can help with the following.

I noted from a post in this forum by dundeered who has had a JCW grille fitted to his MC that he suggested it came as a 3 piece kit.

Assuming this means the 3 pieces are 1. The bonnet mounted surround, 2, the bumper mounted surround and 3 the grille section, does anyone know if it is possible to just fit the grille section on the MC so leaving the OEM chrome surround parts making the front of an MC look similar to a MCS. Just curious as I prefer the MCS style grille but know that it is a different shape to the MC grille.

Feel free to tell me i'm stupid for thinking such a thought (but please be polite if you do ). Maybe I should just get a set of driving lamps instead

[MartinSSZ]

The R56 driving lamps require a new grille anyway

[dundeered]

you may be correct on this as far as i can see . there is a mesh grill for r56 on a well known auction site , buy it and give it a try think it would work.
just realised this is all based on a r56 model.

[Chip]

Well.I've managed to do it.........I wanted a Cooper S style grille for my Cooper and here is it

[lab-monkey]

Looks good Chip where did you get it from in the end ?

[Paul]

Interesting. Was it a straight swap or was any tinkering required?

[Chip]

The Grille was bought from my local MINI parts department. I took a bit of a chance and ordered the centre section of the Cooper Works kit grille. I figured that the gloss black surrounds of the Works Kit grille would be the same mould as the standard chrome parts and that the centre section of the grille would just swop straight over. Thankfully I was right.

The grille is held on by four expanding rivets at the top which are easily removeable with a trim clip tool, it then just requires a bit of gentle persuasion and some very thin hands to get in behind the grille to the four clips at the bottom.

The lower chrome section is clipped on to the main grille at either end and easily removeable, it then clips straight back on to the black section of the Works grille.

This might all sound a little confusing but once you have ordered the Works grille you can clearly see how it is held in.

Part Number for those who are interested is 51.11.0.404.122 and it costs £30.57 including VAT

It took me 10mins to fit and really is very simple. No tinkering was required at all

[Paul]

Ah right, so it's the aero middle with the regular chrome. I thought you'd somehow managed to get an S grille on, which as far as I am aware cant be done!

Same effect though basically!

[nilu]

Looks great, chip. And seems quite easy... I think I'll try it.

[zyo]

The one thing that was putting me off the R56 cooper had been the chrome grill so I'm pleasantly suprised by that. It's amazing what a difference it makes(IMO)

[mister.t]

Looks Sounds easy too. Need a new sig now

[Chip]

Paul, the Cooper S grille definitely doesn't fit as one of the technicians being helpful gave me a surplus Cooper S grille from a car he'd fitted spotlights to that week, I had the opportunity to try that first and could have got a refund on the Works grille section had it fitted. There really is very little in shape difference between them, I had expected more of a difference but then I could be wrong as I only held it against the upper section with the bonnet up to know the shaping was different. It was the Cooper S effect I wanted so its good to know it worked

Zyo, I seem to remember we both got PW MINI's around the same time in 2004, yours is lookin' good. I'm glad you like the change in grille on mine, I'm not sure what it is about the R56 MC Grille but I wasn't that keen either (another reason I changed it apart from wanting to be different)

nilu, if you try it, please post some pics, i feel sure you will find it easy to change

Ollie......i'm working on the new sig but i'm not very good with paint packages. I really do like the 'Cars' style sig that people have but they're well beyond me

[mcarlo52]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chip (original)

The Grille was bought from my local MINI parts department. I took a bit of a chance and ordered the centre section of the Cooper Works kit grille. I figured that the gloss black surrounds of the Works Kit grille would be the same mould as the standard chrome parts and that the centre section of the grille would just swop straight over. Thankfully I was right.

The grille is held on by four expanding rivets at the top which are easily removeable with a trim clip tool, it then just requires a bit of gentle persuasion and some very thin hands to get in behind the grille to the four clips at the bottom.

The lower chrome section is clipped on to the main grille at either end and easily removeable, it then clips straight back on to the black section of the Works grille.

This might all sound a little confusing but once you have ordered the Works grille you can clearly see how it is held in.

Part Number for those who are interested is 51.11.0.404.122 and it costs £30.57 including VAT

It took me 10mins to fit and really is very simple. No tinkering was required at all

Where does one go to get a trim clip tool, bearing in mind I'm a yank.

[zyo]

Yes Chip, we did get th PW's at around the same time and oddly I was in the dealers a couple of days ago speccing a Cilli Red R56 cooper. We both must have impeccable taste.The chrome grill was what was really steering me towards a MCS cos I don't like it on the cooper but yours has pushed the ' cooper' doubt out of my mind. Nice to see it's relativley inexpensive as well.

[Chip]

mcarlo52,........ i'm not sure where you would source a trim clip tool in the US as i'm unsure of tool suppliers over there but the picture should give you an idea of the style of tool you should be looking for. It is basically just what I used to lever out the centre of the expanding rivet which was then reusable when refitting the grille.

Zyo. We must have the same impeccable taste as you suggest. Keep me informed of your choice

[DerekH]

Chip you better watch out or mini will be after you for saving people money keep up the good work any tip's on saving money on side skirts for MCS, i will get one of those tools handy to have and only a few pounds.

[mcarlo52]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chip (original)

mcarlo52,........ i'm not sure where you would source a trim clip tool in the US as i'm unsure of tool suppliers over there but the picture should give you an idea of the style of tool you should be looking for. It is basically just what I used to lever out the centre of the expanding rivet which was then reusable when refitting the grille.

Thanks much, looks like any simple prying tool will do if I can't find the proper one.

[zyo]

You'll be needing a new sig now Chip
EDIT: Oh.. I see you've done it now.

[J1JPE]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chip (original)

The Grille was bought from my local MINI parts department. I took a bit of a chance and ordered the centre section of the Cooper Works kit grille. I figured that the gloss black surrounds of the Works Kit grille would be the same mould as the standard chrome parts and that the centre section of the grille would just swop straight over. Thankfully I was right.

The grille is held on by four expanding rivets at the top which are easily removeable with a trim clip tool, it then just requires a bit of gentle persuasion and some very thin hands to get in behind the grille to the four clips at the bottom.

The lower chrome section is clipped on to the main grille at either end and easily removeable, it then clips straight back on to the black section of the Works grille.

This might all sound a little confusing but once you have ordered the Works grille you can clearly see how it is held in.

Part Number for those who are interested is 51.11.0.404.122 and it costs £30.57 including VAT

It took me 10mins to fit and really is very simple. No tinkering was required at all

Hi Chip, perfect; am looking at buying a CR Cooper and (with your permission {help}) am keen to swap the grill for the aero one ...

Will the Aero black trim surreound fit too ?

Cheers
J1

[dundeered]

J1JPE - please see my car to answer your question - yes it does as i have full 3 part black grill upper , lower and grill...