[headswami]

So there I was driving to Nor Cal Mini meet this past weekend, cruising at 60 (mph) when a squirrel decided to make a run for it. Unfortunately for all parties involved, I tagged the squirrel right in the middle of the lower mesh grill of my Cooper (standard 5spd). The squirrel did not make it and dented up the mesh grill. Upon inspection it turns out it broke a couple of mount tabs on the lower spoiler that connect the mesh grill as well as the mounting tab for a small conicle device. My questions are: is this DIY fix? ( it seems like unbolting and bolting is all the is required), what is the conicle thingy?, and what kind of expense in terms of parts am I looking at if I replace the mesh, lower spoiler section, and conicle thingy? Any help is appreciated.

[FONTAL]

sorry to here about your cooper this is what a rabbit did to my one £200 or $348 worth of damage .

[JerseyMini]

A bird of some desciprion collided with the mesh below number plate on mine when I was doing 90 through northern France on the way to the ferry. Didn't realise it had actually hit until I stopped an hour or so later and saw the dent and the blood/feather mix all over the grille and the a/c condenser...and the massive dent in the grille.

I got mine fixed by the dealer as had £250 credit with them (nagged MINI after the first 15 times my car had been in). Could be done by those disposed / capable of DIY (i think); sadly I'm neither...

Not sure what the conical thingy you're referring to is (I'm currently in UK and my MINI reference point is in the channel islands...

[joeinitaly]

Sorry to hear about the damage. I hit a deer with mine and tore up the bonnet, passenger door, and right rear quarter panel.

[SeeYa]

How fast was the Rabbit going?

[scooperman_uk]

cripes.. this is rapidly becoming a "what i hit" thread.

i can say, when i perform the act of road kills. i always pray its not on the body work.. my recent score of rabbits and small birds, seemed to dive between my wheels and didnt make it out of the otherside.

[BruceK]

Not to be insensitive to animal lovers, but I am glad to see that you guys are making the right driver's decision to not panic and attempt to swerve to try to avoid the amimal inpact. Unfortunately, many drivers (and passengers) are killed or injured each year when they loose control trying to avoid a small animal and crash into another vehicle or go off-road and hit an obstacle.

[ScottyB]

Quote: Originally Posted by headswami

(Cooper vs squirrel)+ 60mph= dented lower mesh grill and 1 dead squirrel

Yikes! Sorry to hear

[ScottyB]

Quote: Originally Posted by FONTAL

sorry to here about your cooper this is what a rabbit did to my one £200 or $348 worth of damage .

A rabbit did all that??

OMG, thats pretty extensive.

I almost hit a rabbit one night in my current car (not MINI). Glad I didnt now!

[Mini_Blake]

Ive only hit a rabbit, and nearly a cat, all of which ran out from the bushes. It seems to be only when my sister is in the car !

Maybe she emits a suicidal proximity type beam to all animals as I am always having to avoid animals when she is a passenger.

[JerseyMini]

Quote: Originally Posted by BruceK

Not to be insensitive to animal lovers, but I am glad to see that you guys are making the right driver's decision to not panic and attempt to swerve to try to avoid the amimal inpact. Unfortunately, many drivers (and passengers) are killed or injured each year when they loose control trying to avoid a small animal and crash into another vehicle or go off-road and hit an obstacle.

I simply didn't think that the bird would hit the car. I've had so many "near misses" between animal / bird & car in th past and they always seemed to be able to get out of the way in the past. Sadly this one didn't....

I simply take the view that there's nothing I could have done about it; i was doing 90 on an admittedly empty Autoroute, so what could I have done?

[Z1GZAG N]

Boy are you guys all going to be in big trouble when the animal rights group read these posts!

[Fevs]

hit a rabbit my self ouch

wascally wabbit cost me new front lower grill and one very badly dinted A/C radiator

he even had the cheek not to say sorry

[brett]

The thing hanging down from the fron I think is the out side temp gauge reader (obc)
I find birds like the bottom right hand side lower grill, ( Looks like there sleeping all curled up in there)
Teach them to mess with my MINI

[shedend]

Quote: Originally Posted by headswami

So there I was driving to Nor Cal Mini meet this past weekend, cruising at 60 (mph) when a squirrel decided to make a run for it. Unfortunately for all parties involved, I tagged the squirrel right in the middle of the lower mesh grill of my Cooper (standard 5spd).

oh god - there are tons of squirrels around here