MINI2

MarkW19 · Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:50 AM

Quick question guys:-

What are the two bits of plastic that kind of hang below, near the front and back, of the side-skirts on both sides of the car? If anyone doesn't know what I mean, you can just about make them out in a couple of the pics in my gallery.

What are they for???

Also, what are the bits of plastic on each rear wheel arch that kind of stick out a bit at the side?

:-)

robjohnst · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:33 AM

At a guess I say they are there to protect something under the car but dont have a clue really

MarkW19 · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:35 AM

Yeah I thought that too - interested to know exactly what it is :-)

d.griffiths · Jul 22nd, 2003, 08:33 AM

I read somewhere that they were to "disrupt" the air flow under the car

Though I dont know why

OctaneGuy · Jul 22nd, 2003, 09:51 AM

Well if you're talking about the little shelves between the wheel and the skirt, the Unauthorized Owners Manual refers these to as places to hide your keys when you are out jogging or away from the car! It's your secret little place that only MINI owners know. LOL. I haven't received my MINI yet, so I can't verify.

Johnboy · Jul 22nd, 2003, 11:26 AM

I've seen something similar on Saabs - Is it something to do with keeping snow out of critical places?

Minty · Jul 22nd, 2003, 11:49 AM

i think they are wind deflectors...or they let you know when you are too close to the kirb

Paul · Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by d.griffiths
I read somewhere that they were to "disrupt" the air flow under the car Though I dont know why

To stop or reduce 'booming' I think.

Froggie · Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:38 PM

Are they jack points?

Charger_Pete · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:01 PM

The bits of plastic under the car that look like flaps - they are (believe it or not) there to reduce drag under the car. They deflect airflow away from the tyres and thus make a small difference to the drag coefficient of the car (only a few counts mind you) but it all adds up. The result is better fuel economy.

Minty · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:10 PM

thanks pete

Charger_Pete · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:14 PM

Pleasure

mad brummie · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:15 PM

Well done Pete I knew someone with some technical knowledge would sort it out!

Paul · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:42 PM

Why is it that they're not in front of the wheels then?

Paul · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:45 PM

However, they are in front of the petrol tank, maybe that's related?

Paul · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:46 PM

Picture...

minimarkcs · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:53 PM

With reference to the placcy bits on the rear arches.
I didn't realise that they were fitted in the UK as well. They are fitted in Germany when you order the 17" 'S' spokes to avoid throwing up loose grit ect. at following traffic. They are even recorded in the docs. which means removal of them technically invalidates the right to use the car on the road !!!

Paul · Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:59 PM

Aaah, we're talking about different things.

mad brummie · Jul 22nd, 2003, 02:02 PM

They are in front of the front wheels they're built into the bottom of the front bumper aren't they?

minimarkcs · Jul 22nd, 2003, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
Aaah, we're talking about different things.

Sorry Paul but read the original post....he asked about the 'other' bits as well !

Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:50 AM	#1
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	Bits of plastic under sides Quick question guys:- What are the two bits of plastic that kind of hang below, near the front and back, of the side-skirts on both sides of the car? If anyone doesn't know what I mean, you can just about make them out in a couple of the pics in my gallery. What are they for??? Also, what are the bits of plastic on each rear wheel arch that kind of stick out a bit at the side? :-)

Jul 22nd, 2003, 08:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
d.griffiths MINI2 Regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newport, Gwent. Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 154 Offline	I read somewhere that they were to "disrupt" the air flow under the car Though I dont know why Dave

Jul 22nd, 2003, 09:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
OctaneGuy MINI2 Sr. & c3 President Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Local Time: 05:21 PM Posts: 531 Offline	Well if you're talking about the little shelves between the wheel and the skirt, the Unauthorized Owners Manual refers these to as places to hide your keys when you are out jogging or away from the car! It's your secret little place that only MINI owners know. LOL. I haven't received my MINI yet, so I can't verify. Octane Guy c3:Lets Motor for a Worthy Cause ::: Or Find a MINI Motorer near you!

Jul 22nd, 2003, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Minty Man in the know! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Rugby Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 3,967 Offline	i think they are wind deflectors...or they let you know when you are too close to the kirb MINI-3 @ Cotswold MINI \| BMW-four @ Cotswold BMW \| E-Mail Me \| Minty - Part of the IT Crowd!

Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by d.griffiths I read somewhere that they were to "disrupt" the air flow under the car Though I dont know why To stop or reduce 'booming' I think. Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

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Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
robjohnst MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 80 Offline	At a guess I say they are there to protect something under the car but dont have a clue really

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	Yeah I thought that too - interested to know exactly what it is :-)

Jul 22nd, 2003, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Johnboy MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 344 Offline	I've seen something similar on Saabs - Is it something to do with keeping snow out of critical places?

Jul 22nd, 2003, 12:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Froggie MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Westchester County, New York Local Time: 07:21 PM Posts: 83 Offline	Are they jack points?

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Charger_Pete Mini 2 Slap Head Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Coventry Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 423 Offline	The bits of plastic under the car that look like flaps - they are (believe it or not) there to reduce drag under the car. They deflect airflow away from the tyres and thus make a small difference to the drag coefficient of the car (only a few counts mind you) but it all adds up. The result is better fuel economy.

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Minty Man in the know! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Rugby Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 3,967 Offline	thanks pete MINI-3 @ Cotswold MINI \| BMW-four @ Cotswold BMW \| E-Mail Me \| Minty - Part of the IT Crowd!

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Charger_Pete Mini 2 Slap Head Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Coventry Local Time: 01:21 AM Posts: 423 Offline	Pleasure

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
mad brummie I Just Can't Get Enough Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: end of the alphabet Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 48,898 Offline	Well done Pete I knew someone with some technical knowledge would sort it out!

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	Why is it that they're not in front of the wheels then? Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	However, they are in front of the petrol tank, maybe that's related? Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	Picture... Attached Thumbnails Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
minimarkcs MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bielefeld, Germini. Local Time: 02:21 AM Posts: 179 Offline	With reference to the placcy bits on the rear arches. I didn't realise that they were fitted in the UK as well. They are fitted in Germany when you order the 17" 'S' spokes to avoid throwing up loose grit ect. at following traffic. They are even recorded in the docs. which means removal of them technically invalidates the right to use the car on the road !!! Passengers ride at own risk !

Jul 22nd, 2003, 01:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	Aaah, we're talking about different things. Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 22nd, 2003, 02:02 PM	#19 (permalink)
mad brummie I Just Can't Get Enough Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: end of the alphabet Local Time: 12:21 AM Posts: 48,898 Offline	They are in front of the front wheels they're built into the bottom of the front bumper aren't they?

Jul 22nd, 2003, 02:07 PM	#20 (permalink)
minimarkcs MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bielefeld, Germini. Local Time: 02:21 AM Posts: 179 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Paul Mullett Aaah, we're talking about different things. Sorry Paul but read the original post....he asked about the 'other' bits as well ! Passengers ride at own risk !

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