[potts]

Sorry PIT, I didn't mean to insinuate that you were blonde

Yeh, get the inserts, I think they'll look great and let us know how you get on.

Potts

[ADO15]

Potts,


I'm guessing there is no such thing a a bumper coloured "insert" at the 'bump' is part of the bumper... but then again - you never know what these manufacturers deem to be most productive/ cost-saving: making bumper inserts for all the bumpers OR running 2 productions of the bumpers; one with holes [for the pegs on the inserts] for bumpers with inserts and one without holes for the one's that wont need any inserts.

[PIT]

Quote:

I'm guessing there is no such thing as a bumper coloured "insert"

you guess right, I looked again at my bumper, colored inserts dont exist.

[potts]

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

Quote:

Originally posted by potts
Pit,
What's confusing from my quote is that I say it's body coloured, but actually it's just the internal unpainted plastic colour - the distintion needed was that the bumper and internal bump are the same colour.
Potts

ADO15, maybe you missed this bit where I correct myself, sorry (see above). When I said the bump and the bumper were body colour, it was merely to say they were the same colour and thus the same thing. However, they're not body colour just boring black plastic.

Quote:

Originally posted by PIT

you guess right, I looked again at my bumper, colored inserts dont exist.

So PIT, what you're saying is that your MINI doesn't have a body coloured insert in the bumper? All non-bodykit MINI bumpers are the same. They have an insert to fit over the 'bump' and have teeth to hold it exactly in position + glue.

I've attached a 2 dimensional picture (sorry for the ****** drawing).

Potts

[ADO15]

Well Potts, This is where we see things differently... (and this is what I'de like to have verified by picturs)

You think they put a coloured insert on top of the bump in the bumper... I on the other hand think they dont. Meaning that what we see on the 'S and One is infact the bump in the bumper.

The logic behind my opinion is; why add something thats allready there? The bumpers are all sparyed prior to assembly so the bump will most def. be sparyed in the same colour as the bumber...

If someone would take 5 minutes and look behind their bumper - (I'm quite sure you can atleast see the inside ofthe rear bumper without removing it - not sure about the front...) - we could get a confirmation of this.

[potts]

Quote:

Originally posted by ADO15
Well Potts, This is where we see things differently... (and this is what I'de like to have verified by picturs)

I totally agree.


It would certainly make more sense for them to just create one bumper - paint it all, for ONE's (including the bump) and just create a chrome insert for Coopers (and posh ONE's )

If an insert doesn't exist for the ONE bumper, then I agree that cutting the teeth off the back of a chrome one and glueing over the body coloured bump would seem a bit unprofessional.

If this is the case - and it very well might be - then I apologise for any confusion I may have caused. However, I still stand by my original observation from ADO15's picture - that the 'bump' is part of the bumper.


Potts

[ADO15]

That the 'bump' is part of the bumper is clear - without doubt - to me. That's never been the question imo.

[Milquetoast]

I am very much interested in having the chrome inserts, however my Cooper will not be coming with them. My dealer informed me that they cannot do a retrofit. The gluing method sounds interesting, but for some reason I'm a little reticent to go this route. I would much rather they be installed the same way they are at the factory, if this is possible. If not, perhaps there is an aftermarket company that could help me with this (suggestions?). There are so many options from third parties for chrome this and chrome that...side gills, a/c dials, etc. Surely someone would have considered the inserts (and therefore, certainly installation of them). One problem though is that they are already an option for the Cooper, so offering these wouldn't make sense unless there are "One" owners that would want them. Trouble is I live in the US, where there are no MINI Ones. And they don't seem like they'd even fit on the S, but maybe I'm wrong here. While buying the inserts may not be a problem in Europe, I'm not sure they can be purchased in the US. Does anyone know? PLEASE any advice, tips, help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I know it seems like this should not be very important, but I really think the chrome finishes the car off nicely. Unfortunately, my order was messed up. Thanks.

(Hmmm, I wonder if I'm allowed to repost this in the General Forum too.)

[ADO15]

IF the bumpers are made the way I think they are; ie. theres no such thing as a coloured bumper insert - it's actually the bumper itself we see, then I think it should be quite possible to do the job oneselfs. (Providing you are abit 'handy' at DYI'ing..)

There's two ways to do it... one involve cluing the chrome-inserts onto the bumper... the other one involve removing the bumpers, drill some holes in them fo rthe pegs on the inserts and then fit the inserts - and glue the pegs to the bumpers on the inside.

Just out of curiosity, have your car been manufactured yet?
If not - why not call your dealer and tell him you'd like to change the specs. to include the "Chrome Line" exterior-package? From what I can see - this option is availible for both One & Cooper (no idea about the 'S) at around £100.

[potts]

Quote:

Originally posted by ADO15
IF the bumpers are made the way I think they are; ie. theres no such thing as a coloured bumper insert - it's actually the bumper itself we see

I think you are right ADO15.

Quote:

Originally posted by ADO15
the other one involve removing the bumpers, drill some holes in them fo rthe pegs on the inserts and then fit the inserts - and glue the pegs to the bumpers on the inside.

Think this would be my preferred method.

Potts

[Milquetoast]

Thanks for your input ADO15. Unfortunately, by the time I realized the inserts were missing from my order, it was too late. The status had changed to where alterations were no longer possible. Thankfully, this was all that was wrong.

I like your suggestion. I just don't trust myself enough to do it on my own. Perhaps I could find an autobody shop or another MINI dealer that would do this, as it seems my dealer has made it clear it will not. I don't really understand why. Say you get in a minor fender bender and they get dented or scratched or something, by my dealer's rationale, I guess you'd just have to live with it.

I've reposted my query onto the General Discussion board. I hope it's okay to do this. Yet another question is whether these inserts can even be purchased in the US.

[minikid]

My Cooper came without the chrome on the bumpers so I ordered up the the inserts, cut holes with an exacto knife in the bumpers for the tabs on the inserts, and used a little double faced tape on the backsides for good measure (as I didnt want to pull of the bumper to melt the tabs like they do at the factory).

It took a few hours to do but I am pleased with the results.
I thought of busting off the tabs and just gluing them in place but the material is fairly thin and I didnt want to take a chance of flawing the chrome finish.

Im not sure how the dealers are installing these... I thought the tabs would be important so I kept them.

[ricardo]

If you look in this gallery, there are pics of a damaged Cooper showing the chrome inserts partially detached. From this you can see how the bumps under the chrome are body coloured and form part of the bumper.
http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...lery=moonshine