[Herbert Austin]

Has anyone removed their a-panel before and if so is it difficult?

I am refering to the panel that in this photo has the checkered decals on it



My MINI has aerokit side skirts any ideas wil this cause any difficulties?


If anyone has a fitting guide that they could share, that would be excellant

[timc]

Translated version of http://www.r53.nl/zoekfoto.php?from=23722383

This might help

[Hartge210]

I used that guide (thanks to Berthill) when I fitted my vented A Panels, pretty straight forward but just a bit fiddly, skinned knuckles was the order of the day Some of the torx head screws were really done up tightly. Try loads of WD40 to lubricate & help loosen them. The worse one to get off was the one holding the bottom of the panel in place.

Worth the skinned knuckles for the end result though

[Herbert Austin]

Quote: Originally Posted by timc (original)

Translated version of http://www.r53.nl/zoekfoto.php?from=23722383

This might help

Thats great, thanks

[Herbert Austin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartge210 (original)

I used that guide (thanks to Berthill) when I fitted my vented A Panels, pretty straight forward but just a bit fiddly, skinned knuckles was the order of the day Some of the torx head screws were really done up tightly. Try loads of WD40 to lubricate & help loosen them. The worse one to get off was the one holding the bottom of the panel in place.

Worth the skinned knuckles for the end result though

They do look tastey

Did you remove ypur aero side skirts to fit them, or were you able to work round them?

What is the fit like of the vented panel?

I know I should test fit the panel then having it painted & fit it, as I use my MINI everyday I was going to paint them and go straight to the final fitting.

[Hartge210]

Yes, I removed the skirts, it was easier with them out of the way.

I had to cut a small slot for the indicators to fit properly, a couple of the mounting holes didn't line up that well but with a bit of perseverance the panels went on & look

Good luck fitting yours & post up some photo's when you've got them on

Cheers
John

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by Andy Simpson (original)

They do look tastey

Did you remove ypur aero side skirts to fit them, or were you able to work round them?

You need good access to that bottom A-panel screw so you will need to remove the sill cover IMO, the bottom screw is a TX 25 (you can see on the guide that that bottom screw has been butchered off),(the top one is a TX 30 or a 10mm nut).

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartge210 (original)

Some of the torx head screws were really done up tightly. Try loads of WD40 to lubricate & help loosen them. The worse one to get off was the one holding the bottom of the panel in place.

Worth the skinned knuckles for the end result though

Those torx screws are painted over etc... thats why they're tight, this quote is from another thread:

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

Those TX 25 Torx bits, I've lost count of how many I've broken (undoing the Torx bolts on the scuttle and the bottom of the A-panels (they're painted on, the tool man stopped replacing the guaranteed ones , he was loosing his lively-hood ) you can't really heat them up or centre-punch them (only with extreme caution) because of the screen and the delicate A-panel.

I've also lost count of the TX 25 bolts that have rounded off and needed dremeling off (some come off 1st go & some are a total nightmare, not too bad as you're replacing the A-panel , possible damage etc...), so you may or may not need spares .

On the guide where the A-panel trim has been snapped off, ie, the broken clips, if you remove the inner wheel arch (**** / mud Guard, I think you need to remove or loosen this anyway) you can squeeze the clips from behind & save them (they're not dear but if you have to reuse the trim, you don't have the inconvenience of waiting for new clips) .