MINI2

onemini · Dec 6th, 2004, 03:02 PM

WOOT! (whatever that means). I now have my aero grille installed. A tricky task, but absolutely worth the effort

Attached are a couple of pics:

They are a bit dark, sorry. I'll do some better ones when the sun comes out (around 4 months time).

I had to chop the grill right down in the end - see the last attached pic. It stuck out at the bottom cutting it the way suggested in the pdf doing the rounds on here

I think the S bumper is a little deeper than the ONE's

FONTAL · Dec 6th, 2004, 03:19 PM

Man why didn't I not get myself a dremel the only tools I used were a drill and a small file and lot of patiance

onemini · Dec 6th, 2004, 03:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by FONTAL

Man why didn't I not get myself a dremel the only tools I used were a drill and a small file and lot of patiance

Jees, it took long enough with a dremel

LordNikon · Dec 6th, 2004, 03:48 PM

AM I right in thinking that if you cut the bumper to slot the aero bottom section in, you wouldn't have to remove the bumper ???

onemini · Dec 6th, 2004, 04:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by LordNikon

AM I right in thinking that if you cut the bumper to slot the aero bottom section in, you wouldn't have to remove the bumper ???

This job would be impossible without removing the bumper. You need to release the lower piece of chrome from behind. I also had to cut off the side tabs as they pushed against the metal 'under bumper' when I first offered the completed section up to the car.

I'll go into detail about this if anyone wants.

Jonathan

Pobsey · Dec 7th, 2004, 05:18 PM

Fitted my second aero grille on a car last week (my moms cooper) I also had the outer edge of the grille colour coded,

onemini · Dec 7th, 2004, 05:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Pobsey

Fitted my second aero grille on a car last week (my moms cooper) I also had the outer edge of the grille colour coded,

Superb job

How much did it cost to get it coded? The aero grill looks so nice on a black car, I'm wondering if I should go all black again and remove my racing stripe

Pobsey · Dec 7th, 2004, 05:44 PM

Im not sure about the cost had a number of bits painted all in one go,
got 2 bumpers
2 skirts (smoothed)
boot handle
all the arches (smoothed)
the grille
for £600

Im guessing that £40 should cover the cost for the grille

onemini · Dec 7th, 2004, 05:49 PM

Yeah, I just looked in your gallery. Your mum's car looks stunning

PortRhombus · Dec 10th, 2004, 10:45 PM

Was in sytner the other day and ended up buying the aero grill rather than waiting for one to come on ebay again.

Havnt got the time for this little mission at the minute. Might slap the upper half on when im bored or something then that will give me a kick up the **** to get the lower sorted.

Everyone elses modifications are looking really nice.

Cheers for the tips onemini

badboyzbadboyz · Dec 12th, 2004, 12:11 AM

Does anyone know if BMW supply and fit the front upper and lower aero grille for a MCS ?

PortRhombus · Dec 12th, 2004, 06:21 PM

They might fit the upper part but thats easily done anyway.

As for the lower, they would probably use another bodyshop or something similar. It is a bit of a jim will fix it task to do. I cant see a bmw dealer attempting such a thing.

Mind you, When you purchase the full aerokit, do they fit that or get someone else to do it?

oh and they do supply the parts. I brought the upper and lower for £51. Just asked the parts department and they had some in stock.

onemini · Dec 12th, 2004, 06:30 PM

I don't think your dealer would do it... but you could give them a try. Or you could read this entire thread and have a go yourself

PortRhombus · Dec 13th, 2004, 12:18 PM

Just fitted the upper grille! It is too cold to be attempting the lower + I havnt the time.

So far its looking really good though! Those fixings are a pain the **** mind, found the 4 fixings along the top of the grille fiddly but they gave way in the end.

Cant find my camera so no pics as of yet im afraid.

onemini · Dec 13th, 2004, 04:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PortRhombus

Just fitted the upper grille! It is too cold to be attempting the lower + I havnt the time.

So far its looking really good though! Those fixings are a pain the **** mind, found the 4 fixings along the top of the grille fiddly but they gave way in the end.

Cant find my camera so no pics as of yet im afraid.

You don't know what pain is until you start on the lower section

PortRhombus · Dec 15th, 2004, 09:49 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by onemini

You don't know what pain is until you start on the lower section

No Pain No Gain as they say

PortRhombus · Dec 18th, 2004, 12:06 AM

So iv finished placing the lower grill today. Wasnt difficult, more time consuming.

Havnt got a camera so i cant get pics yet.

Taking off the bumper was simple. I losened 2 wrong bolts but im glad because it turns out they affected the height off the bumper on either end. I raised the bumper slightly so it now sits closer to the hood leaving less gap which was quite big

.

Trimming the lower grill was timely

. I was being well precautions mind. I trimmed off 1/4'' along the bottem which tapered to 3/8'' at each end about 2'' in.

Making the new slots for the tabs in the bumper was awkward at times. Found it hard to get my dremmel in porperly but got there in the end.
I found a stanley knife a godsend at this point. Once there is a slot made the knife goes through the plastic bumper really easily tidying the slot and getting it tight to the edges.

Same for the top slots. I drilled a hole and used the knife because I couldnt get the dremmel in at all. Worked just as well but took longer. I cut 4 of the tabs off along the top of the grille due to this reason leaving the 2 end and center tabs.

Once i clipped the grille in it wasnt coming out again. A really tight fit from the size of my slots I made in the bumper. Make sure all your cuts are perfect at this point because there is no return without loseing the overall strenght.

Also I slapped a load of no more nails on the tabs from the inside of the bumper just to make sure.

And hey presto its finished.

Oh! the fun part was when I went outside to put the bumper back on ther car to find, gail force winds and rain as the sun is setting. I wasnt going to get beat so I hardcored it and faced the weather. Lying in puddles while your trying to find the holes for 5 bolts under the bumper at night is an experience. I recommend it to anybody.

laptop · Dec 18th, 2004, 06:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by PortRhombus

Oh! the fun part was when I went outside to put the bumper back on ther car to find, gail force winds and rain as the sun is setting. I wasnt going to get beat so I hardcored it and faced the weather. Lying in puddles while your trying to find the holes for 5 bolts under the bumper at night is an experience. I recommend it to anybody.

Heroic spirit.......well done!!

onemini · Dec 18th, 2004, 06:24 AM

Well done! I look forward to your pics

PortRhombus · Dec 23rd, 2004, 04:09 PM

Sorted a camera out so Iv got some pics Finally

Dec 6th, 2004, 03:02 PM	#41
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	WOOT! (whatever that means). I now have my aero grille installed. A tricky task, but absolutely worth the effort Attached are a couple of pics: They are a bit dark, sorry. I'll do some better ones when the sun comes out (around 4 months time). I had to chop the grill right down in the end - see the last attached pic. It stuck out at the bottom cutting it the way suggested in the pdf doing the rounds on here I think the S bumper is a little deeper than the ONE's Attached Thumbnails

Dec 6th, 2004, 03:19 PM	#42 (permalink)
FONTAL MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Shetland Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 496 Offline	Man why didn't I not get myself a dremel the only tools I used were a drill and a small file and lot of patiance SOLD

Dec 23rd, 2004, 04:09 PM	#60 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	Sorted a camera out so Iv got some pics Finally Attached Thumbnails

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Dec 6th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#43 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by FONTAL Man why didn't I not get myself a dremel the only tools I used were a drill and a small file and lot of patiance Jees, it took long enough with a dremel

Dec 6th, 2004, 03:48 PM	#44 (permalink)
LordNikon MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Romsey, Hants, UK Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 249 Offline	AM I right in thinking that if you cut the bumper to slot the aero bottom section in, you wouldn't have to remove the bumper ???

Dec 6th, 2004, 04:04 PM	#45 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by LordNikon AM I right in thinking that if you cut the bumper to slot the aero bottom section in, you wouldn't have to remove the bumper ??? This job would be impossible without removing the bumper. You need to release the lower piece of chrome from behind. I also had to cut off the side tabs as they pushed against the metal 'under bumper' when I first offered the completed section up to the car. I'll go into detail about this if anyone wants. Jonathan

Dec 7th, 2004, 05:18 PM	#46 (permalink)
Pobsey The de Chromed MINI My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Staffordshire Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 3,140 Offline	Fitted my second aero grille on a car last week (my moms cooper) I also had the outer edge of the grille colour coded,

Dec 7th, 2004, 05:41 PM	#47 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Pobsey Fitted my second aero grille on a car last week (my moms cooper) I also had the outer edge of the grille colour coded, Superb job How much did it cost to get it coded? The aero grill looks so nice on a black car, I'm wondering if I should go all black again and remove my racing stripe

Dec 7th, 2004, 05:44 PM	#48 (permalink)
Pobsey The de Chromed MINI My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Staffordshire Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 3,140 Offline	Im not sure about the cost had a number of bits painted all in one go, got 2 bumpers 2 skirts (smoothed) boot handle all the arches (smoothed) the grille for £600 Im guessing that £40 should cover the cost for the grille

Dec 7th, 2004, 05:49 PM	#49 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Yeah, I just looked in your gallery. Your mum's car looks stunning

Dec 10th, 2004, 10:45 PM	#50 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	Was in sytner the other day and ended up buying the aero grill rather than waiting for one to come on ebay again. Havnt got the time for this little mission at the minute. Might slap the upper half on when im bored or something then that will give me a kick up the **** to get the lower sorted. Everyone elses modifications are looking really nice. Cheers for the tips onemini

Dec 12th, 2004, 12:11 AM	#51 (permalink)
badboyzbadboyz MINI2 Jedi Master Join Date: May 2003 Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 1,257 Offline	Does anyone know if BMW supply and fit the front upper and lower aero grille for a MCS ?

Dec 12th, 2004, 06:21 PM	#52 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	They might fit the upper part but thats easily done anyway. As for the lower, they would probably use another bodyshop or something similar. It is a bit of a jim will fix it task to do. I cant see a bmw dealer attempting such a thing. Mind you, When you purchase the full aerokit, do they fit that or get someone else to do it? oh and they do supply the parts. I brought the upper and lower for £51. Just asked the parts department and they had some in stock.

Dec 12th, 2004, 06:30 PM	#53 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	I don't think your dealer would do it... but you could give them a try. Or you could read this entire thread and have a go yourself

Dec 13th, 2004, 12:18 PM	#54 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	Just fitted the upper grille! It is too cold to be attempting the lower + I havnt the time. So far its looking really good though! Those fixings are a pain the **** mind, found the 4 fixings along the top of the grille fiddly but they gave way in the end. Cant find my camera so no pics as of yet im afraid.

Dec 13th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#55 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by PortRhombus Just fitted the upper grille! It is too cold to be attempting the lower + I havnt the time. So far its looking really good though! Those fixings are a pain the **** mind, found the 4 fixings along the top of the grille fiddly but they gave way in the end. Cant find my camera so no pics as of yet im afraid. You don't know what pain is until you start on the lower section

Dec 15th, 2004, 09:49 AM	#56 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by onemini You don't know what pain is until you start on the lower section No Pain No Gain as they say

Dec 18th, 2004, 12:06 AM	#57 (permalink)
PortRhombus MINI2 Irregular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Notts Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 627 Offline	So iv finished placing the lower grill today. Wasnt difficult, more time consuming. Havnt got a camera so i cant get pics yet. Taking off the bumper was simple. I losened 2 wrong bolts but im glad because it turns out they affected the height off the bumper on either end. I raised the bumper slightly so it now sits closer to the hood leaving less gap which was quite big . Trimming the lower grill was timely . I was being well precautions mind. I trimmed off 1/4'' along the bottem which tapered to 3/8'' at each end about 2'' in. Making the new slots for the tabs in the bumper was awkward at times. Found it hard to get my dremmel in porperly but got there in the end. I found a stanley knife a godsend at this point. Once there is a slot made the knife goes through the plastic bumper really easily tidying the slot and getting it tight to the edges. Same for the top slots. I drilled a hole and used the knife because I couldnt get the dremmel in at all. Worked just as well but took longer. I cut 4 of the tabs off along the top of the grille due to this reason leaving the 2 end and center tabs. Once i clipped the grille in it wasnt coming out again. A really tight fit from the size of my slots I made in the bumper. Make sure all your cuts are perfect at this point because there is no return without loseing the overall strenght. Also I slapped a load of no more nails on the tabs from the inside of the bumper just to make sure. And hey presto its finished. Oh! the fun part was when I went outside to put the bumper back on ther car to find, gail force winds and rain as the sun is setting. I wasnt going to get beat so I hardcored it and faced the weather. Lying in puddles while your trying to find the holes for 5 bolts under the bumper at night is an experience. I recommend it to anybody.

Dec 18th, 2004, 06:21 AM	#58 (permalink)
laptop Scalextric Test Driver Join Date: May 2004 Location: In the dog house Local Time: 03:41 AM Posts: 242 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by PortRhombus Oh! the fun part was when I went outside to put the bumper back on ther car to find, gail force winds and rain as the sun is setting. I wasnt going to get beat so I hardcored it and faced the weather. Lying in puddles while your trying to find the holes for 5 bolts under the bumper at night is an experience. I recommend it to anybody. Heroic spirit.......well done!!

Dec 18th, 2004, 06:24 AM	#59 (permalink)
onemini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:41 AM Posts: 549 Offline	Well done! I look forward to your pics

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