I am looking to delete my seats from my JCW and it was suggested by my local Mini dealer to look into the GP setup(panels, fabric, bar, etc) as a substitute/mod for my soon-to-be-gone rear seats.

Is there anywhere to acquire the requisite GP pieces to cover my eventual delete or is this another matter of getting a GP VIN and figuring it out that way.

I just dont really know where to start but i am dying to do it this way because of the gorgeous look and lack of respectable delete alternatives.

Thanks in advance for any advice, etc.

 

I suspect it will be difficult to purchase the GP parts. An easier route may be to purchase one of the aftermarket rear seat delete kits, such as the one sold by Helix or Shrader. Here is the link to Shrader:
http://www.rearseatdelete.com/mini.html

 

If your dealer suggested the parts, see if they can order them for you. Just be ready to open your pocketbook. Forget the interior bar, it does nothing.

 

those things look terrible. some of you GP owners should get together and make a rear seat delete kit based on your cars. It would probably be a pretty big seller (i know I'd buy one).

 

yup, i figure an arm and leg would be sufficient payment for this project but i definitely want it to be legit and quality craftsmanship.

 

Here is the parts diagram:



01 LATERAL TRIM PANEL REAR LEFT 51439110495
01 LATERAL TRIM PANEL REAR RIGHT 51439110496
02 COVER, LATERAL TRIM PANEL LEFTPANTHER BLACK1 51437034409
02 COVER, LATERAL TRIM PANEL RIGHTPANTHER BLACK1 51437034410
03 COVERING CAPPANTHER BLACK1 51437034489
04 CLIP 12 07131503417
05 CLIP 4 07130766476
06 CLAMP 2 51451857745
07 SPRING CLIP 6 07131171862
08 EXPANDING NUT 6 07130672440
09 FILLISTER HEAD SELF-TAPPING SCREWS T4,2X13MM6 62101387600
10 CLIP 2 51210148478
11 CARRIER, TANK TRIM PANEL 1 51479113741
12 COVER, TANK TRIM PANEL 1 51479110366 +core
13 COVER, CARGO ROD, LEFT 1 51439110369
13 COVER, CARGO ROD, RIGHT 1 51439110370
14 SET, CARGO ROD 1 51719120978 +core
15 LOCKING BRACKET 1 51169113769 +core
16 FILLISTER HEAD SCREW M8X302 52207056516

I have been wanting to do this too, but I want to find a GP to compare side by side to see if I could do it with only the storage compartment and cover (11, 12, 15) or if I would need to get the side panels too. Just ask your dealer to see if they can get these parts. I also heard that Pelican sells these parts.

 

wow, thank you so much. Thats above and beyond the call of duty.

 

I just looked at Pelican, one side panel is over $500, so your looking at over a grand for some pieces of plastic. I wanted to do it too, but that is way too much money.

 

The storage cover is held in place primarily by the side panels clamping down on to it. Also, the shaping is very different to the normal panel in that area - I'm sure you wouldn't be able to fit the cover between the stock side panels.

Maybe this pic helps to show where the GP side panel runs, compared with your stock panel (click pic for bigger, and check the gallery it links to in case any other pics are helpful!)

 

One other point that some may not have thought of is the GP panel's do not provide any mounting area for your rear speakers.
Steve

 

Thanks, that pic helps. I am mainly interested in the storage compartment and I have a rear seat delete kit already installed. If nothing else I may just be able to use that part. The other issue is getting a access to the rear seat belt latch for the schroth harness. It may require a rally 3 point instead of the 4 point quick fit. What do other GP owners use?

 

i went by Mini of Charleston today(best mini ever) to discuss this plan. Ian had it very right when he said that the storage comp would not fit well without the side panels. I basically ordered most of the parts without the cargo rod(for the time being) as it was close to $700 just for that piece alone.

Its a real expensive project even with many of the parts left out.

I came away with ordering this:

08 EXPANDING NUT 6 07130672440
15 LOCKING BRACKET 1 51169113769
10 CLIP 2 51210148478
01 LATERAL TRIM PANEL REAR LEFT 51439110495
01 LATERAL TRIM PANEL REAR RIGHT 51439110496
12 COVER, TANK TRIM PANEL 1 51479110366 +core
11 CARRIER, TANK TRIM PANEL 1 51479113741
16 FILLISTER HEAD SCREW M8X302 52207056516

This is minus several of the panels that are already in the S as well as existing clips, etc that are there too.

The Itch is also correct in that the mount for the bar covers most of the speaker mount, therefore demanding removal of my rear speakers for the time being.

I figure i will try and cut and mount those speakers in the new panels at a later date if it works. Very bizarre that there are basically no rear speakers in the GP. Am i right in that assumption?

 

Your right. NO speakers in the back of the car. Good luck with the project. PM "motorn"as he has taken these panels out of his GP for the track if you have guestions. I think he has a "How To" posted on GP mini's site.

 

Much good luck with this project!
I really hope it works out, and I hope you keep us informed - I'd love to be able to put something up on GPMINI.net if it all works out.


The GP was created as far as possible without changing the existing "body in white", the basic car metalwork. Thus the designers simplest option was to omit the rear speakers and attach the luggage brace at those points - you should see how complex the attachment bracket is; but it saved them having to re-tool the "body in white" robots.

 

I would be more than happy to keep this updated on progress, i should know with in a day or two if the parts are available and then its just a matter of selling some extra organs for money.

I saw pics of the bracket and how it sat over the speaker mount(it looked like there were at least 5 bolt holes for mounting that monster in there) which is what led to the conversation we had in Parts over how to hopefully get around that in terms of modding the new panels for speakers. It should be an interesting process.

 

It's certainly possible to simply omit the luggage brace; you can then use the holes in the side panels to let sound out from the original speakers; maybe get some audio-transparent material to cover the holes so they look better.

I did look at the luggage brace and I'm pretty sure you could mount the 6x9 speaker on the "inside" of the car bodywork (using slightly different fixings of course) then mount the luggage brace on the "outside" where it goes now. The issue then is getting the sound out through the panel, with the brace fully installed. Omitting the brace is likely the better option!

 

Hmmmmmmm - interesting. I put in the MINI DPSM rear speakers in my GP, in the standard rear speaker spot, with the brackets for the luggage brace removed, and have left out the luggage brace, to allow the sound to escape. I intend to get some kind of speaker covers to cover up the holes.

Originally, I thought it would be nice to mount the speakers in the red rear panels, but I gave that idea up, as it seemed to be way too much work for me.

 

How were you able to order the parts with this not being a GP?

 

We used a GP that had been through the dealer relatively recently for the VIN and ordered the parts that way.

It looks like all the parts are readily available, except they are shipping from Germany and the time should be 1-2 weeks. But at least they are there for the taking!!!

 

The GP parts came in and were installed today with little or no fuss at Mini of Charleston(once again, best Mini service...ever)

The cargo container had to be cut and molded a bit to fit around the seatbelt hooks at the base of what used to be the seats.

So here is what the process kind of looked like and the finished product at the end(the cargo bar was left out in the beginning because of the ungodly price)

And there you have it, a wonderful, albeit very expensive way to do a rear seat delete.

 

in case I missed it, how much for the parts? I just put a post up for exactly this idea for my car

 

Looks great!!! I really wanted to do this but I didn't even want to think of the cost involved. I must say that I really like my back seats in the car but if this was not the case I would have gone for it!

 

without the bar(which is a whopping 600+) it was about 1700 in parts. So its not cheap by any means but Im really trying to keep this car as oem/mini oriented as possible.

Its all very quality too, no rattles, and fits snug as it should.

 

Awesome job....very OEM+, I love it

 

That is awesome! I have wanted to do ever since I saw the GP, but after looking up the prices on Pelican, more than $500 for each side panel!, I decided that it was too rich for my blood. Congrats on a sweet job though.