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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Would someone help me with what years that the first design roof spoiler was offered/used ?
I have an 05 JCW, that I dislike its roof spoiler so much I removed it without caring if there was something to replace it. I found some flat plastic plugs that just barely cover the whole fastener slots in the body. They are black on a silver body, but still better... The look really isn't that bad.
I'm too old to care about that big monster wing that's available.
I think that I like the little tiny early (first ?) design spoiler.
Any help the year, or years would be appreciated. Hopefully they are available somewhere.
I found the top (xxx1452) version on your site, as "not available". I didn't find the lower one (xxx7730).
What is the difference...except availability..?
I (seem to have) found one on another site. Can get either primed only or painted ($130 extra) the color of your choosing. Still have to buy the mounting hardware.
This appears to be some sort of BMW copy. Doesn't really matter, as long as it fits correctly.
They offer primer or paint. It appears that they seem to have the color of my car on their list.
That's interesting, that note was not there the other day. I even put one into the "add to cart" thing to make sure that they "were"...available.
Oh well. You still have the 7730 version, correct ? Gotta wait till next month to buy.
For those that are going with the GP1 wing…one thing to ponder though … what is the airflow over the roof and through the wing/roof/hatch aperture and how will that affect the function of your wing?
I understand the ‘no holes’ thing … but will the spoiler affect function of the additional GP Spoiler ?
How much turbulence and wind noise will be transferred to the cabin in either scenarios below….comparatively??
pics to ponder (I know not the GP)
hmm 🤔
Last edited by mountainhorse; Dec 4, 2022 at 12:55 PM.
So …. There is the longer and more arched ‘Aero’ version
And the ‘normal’ , shorter/straighter R50 version
MINI PN: 51627117730
Yep, the Aero version is rare and most don’t know of it. It’s the matching spoiler for the Aero kit and was only available separately. The other accessory 1st gen spoiler was the JCW spoiler.
Originally Posted by mountainhorse
Both make for a nice, sleek, roofline ….
if you are going with a GP wing … the std R50 version would be the best IMO … and still widely available new and used
.
I don’t think the Aero spoiler would even fit with the GP wing.
Originally Posted by mountainhorse
For those that are going with the GP1 wing…one thing to ponder though … what is the airflow over the roof and through the wing/roof/hatch aperture and how will that affect the function of your wing?
I understand the ‘no holes’ thing … but will the spoiler affect function of the additional GP Spoiler ?
How much turbulence and wind noise will be transferred to the cabin in either scenarios below….comparatively??
pics to ponder (I know not the GP)
hmm 🤔
I don’t think the GP wing really does much for aero so probably no negative effects. If anything, it might have positive effects like reducing the drag caused by the GP wing and preventing water leakage from the third brake light if the top edge is sealed when installed. The Aero spoiler should also help with third brake light leakage.
The info above my posts wasn’t clear
and had no decent pics … so I thought I’d clarify it for others to benefit from … I certainly never knew it existed… nor could I figure it out from the posts above what exactly was involved.
The longer spoiler SURELY won’t fit with a GP1 ‘style’ wing.
I don’t think that any part of an ‘areo’ kit on a 53 does anything for aerodynamics … it was a JCWG styling accessory for the most part…. with no undercar changes … it’s quite possible it raises the CG and lowers downforce as I’ve never seen any actual testing results other than some using their ‘butt dyno’ to say the car is really improved performance wise with the kit after shelling lots of money … but it does look good (other than the rear bumper)
I’d bet that the GP1-style wings do provide some downforce … but changing the airflow over and under would most likely alter how it does work and that should be a consideration.
For the Aero roof spoiler … I think it adds visually to the cars lines if all the roof colors can be kept the same front to back.
my 2¢
.
Last edited by mountainhorse; Dec 3, 2022 at 11:33 AM.
Yep, the Aero version is rare and most don’t know of it. It’s the matching spoiler for the Aero kit and was only available separately. The other accessory 1st gen spoiler was the JCW spoiler.
Do you by chance have any good
photos of the elusive Aero Roof-Spoiler you can add to this thread ?
Not much out there to be had for photos of this … would really like an overhead shot
The only Aero spoiler pic I have is a side view almost identical to the one you posted. I do have the overhead wallpaper pic below from MINI of an R53. For some reason the detail of the S spoiler perfectly continuing the radius of the roof corners really caught my eye so I had it as my wallpaper on an old computer. It made me wonder what other details the designers included, but might never be noticed under normal viewing conditions or usage.
Without having both spoilers to compare in person, it looks like the two are basically the the same, except for the S spoiler was cut to have an opening and slightly curved/raised at the inner edge to make the opening larger. From high above, the difference of this contour wouldn’t be visible so the opening could be photoshopped out of the wallpaper above and might give you what you’re looking for… that is if my assumption is correct on the difference between the two.
So, my info is "dated" and just from memory and some guessing on my part. So this may be taken as ramblings if a moron.
My understanding about the GP1 wing was that it is in fact functional and does produce downforce. This is from memory when the GP1's first came out and I talked to one of the local techs at the local MINI dealership. He assured me that it was functional and produced downforce but I cannot remember how much.
Now for the guessing based on the limited amount of knowledge I have gleaned from several sources, mostly engineering channels on YouTube and reviews talking about why pickup truck tailgates are really wide and flat at the top.
The standard R50 rear spoiler is not functional as a generator of downforce as far as I know or could even guess at. It is mostly cosmetic though since it is flat, straight and extends the roof out over part of the drag generating flat rear hatch - it smooths out and directs some of the air to start its vortex further away (though probably not by much - if any) from the rear surfaces of the car thus, reducing drag - like that of the wide flat tailgate tops on pickup trucks. They weren't like that to make them look cool or more massive but to smooth out air and increase fuel economy - which those tailgates actually do according to the manufacturers who are required to extract every last bit of MGPs they can from every part they can. (why they don't make the undersides of call cars and trucks perfectly flat in all places they can is a mystery to me.)
Again, it probably doesn't do anything other than make the R50 look a little sportier.
The R50 has a .01 lower drag coefficient than that of the R53. (R50 - Cd 0.35; R53 - Cd 0.36) I attributed that to the 1 inch longer overall length, the taller hood, hood scoop and the "baseball cap" on backwards rear spoiler that does direct some air (though not much) down across the rear glass; like those things you used to see tacked on to the rear ends of the original Jeep Waggoneers.
I would like to have an R50 rear spoiler on the R53 that we have but it's technically the wife's car and she says no and thus, the original spoiler that may not be all the useful in any way, other than looks, is still there.
...what I didn't know until now!
Believe it or not I actually came across a BRG /white slick top R50 at a salvage yard with that Aero spoiler on it, a little over a year ago.
I hadn't learned much about Mini's at the time but it did catch my eye. It did look different and cooler looking than a standard R50 spoiler that I was accustom to seeing. I had thought someone had mounted an R53 spoiler on their justa.
I did wonder / notice the absence of the air passage between the roof hatch and the spoiler. I am now certain, now that I see the pictures included in this thread.
Had I only know then - what I am reading now.
I have one forsale if anybody wanted it. It has 4x tiny holes that can be filled on the top because i used it as a base to mount an aftermarket spoiler on awhile back.
Im now running an all carbonfiber adjustable spoiler
While I am not in the habit of running out to the salvage yards when an R50 hits the lot - An '04 R50 popped up. Other than waiting for paint to dry; I had little to do today. So I headed out - Just for the heck of it.
I assume this is what this thread is referring to:
Although this particular Aero spoiler I scored does not bear the official Mini embossed stamp as pictured in one of the posts above, it is undoubtedly
an aftermarket produced and fabricated FRP (laminated Epoxy), rather than PUR.
Although my Mini is an '04 R53 - I think it's still a nice unexpected find as a result of a lazy day with nothing to do.
Yep we can get that older 7730. 
