Fitting Aero Kit to R53 (MCS)

[cokey]

I'm getting ready to fit an Aero Kit to my R53 (Cooper S). I've done loads of research to prepare but there's going to be a few questions that I'd like to get advice on while I wait for the kit to arrive.

First question (front bumper):

I see in the official fitting instructions http://www.gamestone.co.uk/car/car_1...4_(hi_res).pdf that they mention a pair of mounting brackets (page 11 of PDF - item 7) that attach to the bottom edge, each side of the front of the car, and then the bumper attaches to these with expanding rivets. I think that the PDF is saying that they are not necessary for the R53. Can anybody that has put the Aero Bumper on an R53 confirm that these brackets are not needed?

Second question (rear bumper):

I've read the DIY guide (in the DIY section, here on MINI2) on removing the rear bumper, and it says you need to jack the car up and remove back wheels. I can't see why this is necessary and the guide doesn't acually say why! I've had a good look in the wheel arches and the two screws that need to be removed, within each rear arch, both look accessible without removing the wheels. Can anybody thats removed the rear bumper, confirm that it can be done without removing the wheels?

Thanks for any replies - more questions to follow, as they arise.

[maybury]

I have just had a rear aero bumper put on my car and the place that fitted it definitly did NOT take off the back wheels i do not see any need for them to be removed and no you dont have to jack up your car.

[cokey]

Quote: Originally Posted by maybury (original)

I have just had a rear aero bumper put on my car and the place that fitted it definitly did NOT take off the back wheels i do not see any need for them to be removed and no you dont have to jack up your car.

Thanks maybury, I suspected as much!

[Anthony Bigwood]

Hi, I have fitted a number of these kits on R50's, R52's and R53's
The two brackets you refer to are in fact required on the R53,
I believe your confusion has been raised due to the two different positions of the Fog lights between R50's and R53's in the instruction details.

The rear wheels do not need to be removed for rear bumper fitting, however it is easier to remove the two plastic rivets on each side without the wheels in place.
Good luck
Tony

[cokey]

Right, I just finished installing the Aero Kit. Took a while but an easy enough procedure, thanks to this forum. I can honestly say the hardest part was getting the small grille into the end of the Aero Skirts!!! The expanding rivets that secure the skirts to the adaptors were also a pain in the arse...very difficult to push closed.

Anyhow, I have a question for anyone who has installed the rear aero bumper on a Cooper S (Anthony Bigwood, you there?)

There are four screw/rivet type fasteners (B in the image below), 2 in each rear wheel arch, that fasten the Cooper S bumper to the wheel arch. On the Aero bumper there is nothing for these screw/rivets to fasten to.



So the rear Aero bumper only has 5 fasteners:

2 screws, 1 either side beneath the rear wheel arch trim,
2 screws under the boot opening,
1 bolt under bumper, above exhaust tips.

Is this correct? Are the 4 screw/rivets now redundant?

Many thanks for assistance!