[bluemcs]

One item in a weight loss thread from long ago caught my eye. I used a bit of this vacation time to try it. Took a few hours. Losing any significant wieght from the Mini's nose has to help. Here's how to do it:

Loosen #30 torx bolts holding top of front bumper. Remove them last.



Remove 8mm bolts on sides. Access from under wheel well.



Remove 3 10mm bolts underneath bumper.



Remove frame extensions. 2 bolts per.



Use sawzall or cutting torch to remove metal from bumper assembly. I left the top girder and brackets to support the bumper and to give some protection to the condensor and radiator in case of a parking touch. Here's what I removed.



When you are finished you will no be able to tell the difference as the bumper cover is supported as well as before and looks identical. You are just 14 pounds lighter.



This is a US spec car. As bumper requirements vary your results may be different. I am sure this will negatively effect your warranty and insurance. It may also effect your safety. Please perform this mod at your own risk.

[Goonery]

I cannot believe you have done this, we spend millions of £'s in making the cars as safe as possible, what if you sell the car and someone has an accident , MINI gets the blame, I'm sorry buit the car should be broken up or made unusable on public roads

[Cape Cod MINI]

You removed the absorption bumper?
I pity the unsuspecting innocent people who will ride with you.
My guess is that your liability and exposure has just made a quantuum leap.

[2BlueMCSMRdstr]

Ouch...

Performance + safety = Great idea
Performance - safety = Bad idea

I'm sure there must be better ways to make up for those fourteen pounds. To each his own, but please warn future passengers of the safety compromises you have made. On the Cadillac Escalade and Ford Excursion clogged roads here in the U.S. I wouldn't want to do anything to compromise the MINI's ability to withstand an impact.

Stay safe.

[Tonyt3]

why don't you remove the disk brake rotors as well... they must weigh a good 14 pounds or even more!!!!!

[NEMINI]

Hope you don't ever get in a front end collision, your insurance company may refuse to pay once they see you've illegally modified a safety feature (and yes it is illegal)

[Tonyt3]

And anyone injured in a crash (either your passenger or someone in another car} will surely sue you for interferring with the crumple zone on your car... Cars, especially small ones, are designed to absorb impacts in a certain way. Interferring with the structural integrity isn't the best plan I've heard of....

[AMT]

To be fair he has acknowledged the safety and insurance repercussions in his post. He may use it primarily for track days, as previous posts suggest, not carrying passengers.

[AidenL]

This thread does need a health warning !

[NEMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by AMT

He may use it primarily for track days.

So on a track where you're going even faster and pushing it harder you have less of a need for a safety device? Sorry, not trying to pick on you but it doesn't add up. Most tracks require you go through a safety check and sign a form saying you hadn't modified your car in an unsafe manner. This would certainly qualify as an unsafe manner, so chance are if you wreck at the track, you'll be left without insurance there also.

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by AMT

To be fair he has acknowledged the safety and insurance repercussions in his post. He may use it primarily for track days, as previous posts suggest, not carrying passengers.

Does he say that? Or did a moderator insert that (it was last editted by Miniac I see)... either way, its not a track car, its a street legal car. it might be used on track, but that doesn't mean it isn't going to be invloved in a road accident driving too and from the track.

Seatbelt mechanism must weigh a few pounds to. Are they next to go?

[bluemcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by goonery

I cannot believe you have done this, we spend millions of £'s in making the cars as safe as possible, what if you sell the car and someone has an accident , MINI gets the blame, I'm sorry buit the car should be broken up or made unusable on public roads

We? Could that be the royal WE? Could you explain how this assembly transfers loads in an impact greater than 15 mph? And, thank you so much for your concern for Mini's potential liability. I'm sorry that your ignorance in the areas of engineering and product liability have made you unhappy. Stick to "IT stuff".

From Cod: "You removed the absorption bumper?
I pity the unsuspecting innocent people who will ride with you.
My guess is that your liability and exposure has just made a quantuum leap."

No, I modified the bumper designed toe satisify DOT's low speed crash requirements. This assembly is made of ALUMINUM, is not terribly strong and the strongest part of it remains. I believe that it is there to offer some level of protection to the condenser and radiator in the event of a low speed impact.

2Blue: 1st post, huh, I'm honored. Get your car and learn how to drive it. Funny, I always felt that having a car that can get out of the way of those SUV's gives you a far better change of living, if you know what to do.

If you guys would take 10 minutes to remove the bumper cover and study the assembly you might learn something.

Besides, my car is primarily an autoX/track car and rarely has passengers nor does it park where it can get bumped. And if you read my post you saw that I have considered the safety issues. The only reason you would do this is if you place your vehicle in situations where 14 lbs off the front end makes a difference, such as autox and track events. You would never notice it on the street.

[AidenL]

Goonery has a close relationship with MINI..............

Are the mods legal on the road?

[bluemcs]

Oh, what have I wrought?

[NEMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by AidenL

Are the mods legal on the road?

nope.

[AidenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI03

nope.

Then we can't promote it , has to be specified as being strictly racing orientated.......

[NEMINI]

I doubt it's legal for any organized auto-X either.

[AidenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI03

I doubt it's legal for any organized auto-X either.

Oh dear...........worse so..........

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by bluemcs

Oh, what have I wrought?

Did I just hear a deep breath of resignation...

I thouraghly believe that every structural component of modern computer designed small cars plays a part in their crash safty design, its certainly the 'big ticket' of european car companies to get their car high up in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Cars that fair badly in those aren't great sellers. This would be especially relevant in a small car, which have traditionally faired badly in these tests.

[Tonyt3]

BTW bluemcs... excellently written instructions, great photographs.