My MINI is soon to arrive and I've been finalizing accessories for delivery. I've also been noting how much dirt, gravel, etc. there is around here that would be kicked up by the tires of the MINI.

Though I know a lot of people install mud flaps on their MINIs, I've seen at least one post that they're not terribly effective. As I look at my Subie with plastic along the length of the exterior panels (maybe ~ 1/2-way up the doors), and saw the same thing on an Excursion the other day and now that I'm looking for it, many vehicles have similar protection, it made me wonder...

Would it be effective to have invisishield installed similarly along the length of the MINI? Seems like it might help reduce / eliminate chips in the paint behind the tires better than the mudflaps.

I live in a rural area. Our roads can be muddy and many are chip-sealed. I would really like to keep the MINI's exterior in good shape. Any thoughts on whether 'shielding' the lower exterior panels would effectivley help me to do so?

 

It should, but I think that if there was a bigger rock hit the invisisheild might get a small tear and the entire sheet might be lost.

 

I've tentatively decided to go ahead with the invisishield along the exterior panels (from the bottom of metal, about 1 ft up the panels and along the entire length of the MINI). Cost will be $200 installed.

Whatdya think--worth it?

 

I purchased a 5' length 1'x 2' clearbra material on Ebaymotors for $2.20 a foot and custom cut sections to cover areas you described. Since I too live on a gravel road, I had the same concerns. I did a DIY install following the instructions. The areas covered were flat so the installation was very easy. Total cost was less than $15.00.

 

good idea. it should be much easier to install in the flat areas as compared to the hood and bumper.

 

Thanks folks. I'll let you know how it turns out (and again after a year...if I remember).