Grill for my black cooper & tow bar issue advice please.

[jazzaj2003]

Ok 2 things...
Basically I have a cooper (black) with the silver grill at front but would like it to be black.
I believe there are 2 parts to the grill that are silver, it's like the top part near the engine bay and below the lower part.
1. Where can I purchase a new grill (i'm in sydney) or a nicer grill and are there different after market ones i can choose from?
2. Can i install it myself and take it off or is it a big job getting the grills off?
3. What sort of price range would i be looking at?
4. At worst case, would it be a big job for me to simply remove the grill, spray it and put it back on?

Next issue is my mini has a tow bar installed.

It's a real pain because it's never used and basically whenever I blow a bulb like a reverse bulb I literally have to have the tow bar removed to get into the bulb area to replace it!

I asked about it and was told that if the tow bar is removed, I have to replace it with the part that the tow bar originally replaced because without that bit of metal there if I was hit from behind in an accident basically I would be eating my knees.
Does anyone know of any mini wreckers around Sydney?
Or have any advice?

Thanks guys...

[jazzaj2003]

bummer...
heaps of mini experts but not one answer

[zoooooom]

You can get the Grill from your local dealer, the Black grill is the Aero grill, the top part is easy to fit but the bottom part needs modified to fit with the standard bumper(again its easy)

As for the towbar I cant help as I have never seen one.

There is a really good mini comunity in Sydney surely someone can help.

[jazzaj2003]

I've decided to spray the front plastic grill black myself.
I got a can of mini paint made up in a spray can coloured to the paint code of my mini.
got it done at Sparts in Forrestville , WAY cheaper than going to a dealer and getting touch up paint there.
The grill easily clips off, so I'll just take it off, wash it, then spray it, dry then put a clear coat on and put it back on again good as new, will then look like the S and a bit sportier than the chrome grill.

[MINIdriver85]

I would have gone with the Aeri grill, but your solution might be as efficient as mine, . Surely it will be cheaper.

[jazzaj2003]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIdriver85 (original)

I would have gone with the Aeri grill, but your solution might be as efficient as mine, . Surely it will be cheaper.

Somehow I think a sprayed black grill looks better than the aero grill...
I just don't like it, it looks cheap or something.

[weaselpoker]

HELP

Does anyone know how to modify the lower section of the aero grill as want to fit it but have a very short fuse!!!!

Any advice would be fabulous

Tim
07859 016060

[zoooooom]

Quote: Originally Posted by weaselpoker (original)

HELP

Does anyone know how to modify the lower section of the aero grill as want to fit it but have a very short fuse!!!!

Any advice would be fabulous

Tim
07859 016060

PM sent.............long distance