This is currently what my car looks like and I have White TDRs on him. I've been thinking about trying to make the MINI more aggrssive, but I'm starting to think it's hopeless with a HB/W Mini.... What do you guys think?

I'm considering getting TSW springs for better stance, but I was going to switch out the struts at the same time so I'm waiting for them to wear out... By the way, does anybody know how long it usually takes struts to wear out on the MINI?

 

An easy/relatively cheap aggresiviser is stripes. Take look at Mighty Stripes. They have some cool ideas.

 

It is all about the angle. Here is my favorite pic of my car. You do need some stripes. I am thinking about the Checkmate like U stripe for my car in white. I think that could look cool.

 

I'm actually thinking of some stripes... maybe I'll look into it some more. It's not going to be white though...

 

Yeah go stripes and then proceed to some heavier mods. You could do the joey mod to the head lights- paint the chrome to match the body color, yours should look amazing. After that maybe look into m7 grills, There is a hyper blue mini with them and it looks great. The stock struts take about 60,000 miles or more depending on the driving that has been done. I would go with the whole m7 coilover set up if I was replacing my suspension. You get a lot for your money from them, plus insane amounts of adjustment.

 

M7 grills or just the black Aero grills would be a fast/easy way to "aggressivize"

 

Talk to Mike at Aesthetic Creations about stripes, he'll do just about anything you can come up with. A U-shaped Ghost Stripe would look nice IMO.

 

That color is just so happy I'm not sure what to do. Certainly adding some black would help - blacking out the grille slats with vinyl would be a good start, as would using a blackout kit on the beltline trim. I used the Lamin-X film on my taillights as well and it helped with the "agressive" look IMHO. Last, a set of wide black viper stripes might help tone down the bright blue - all of these options are easily reversable if you want to return the car to stock to sell it later on (unlike lowering).

If you have more cash to spend, you might want to consider dark rims as well - if not black, maybe a dark gray with a bit of chrome trim if they're too severe. Lowering the car is always an option, but to me that tends to make the car look more "tuner-ish" rather than "tough", especially with that color.

Also, low-mounted, large driving lights (2 or 4) would help lower the apparant stance of the car (at least when viewed form the front). Outmotoring has wonderful brackets that can be mounted in the lower grille that would look great on this car.

 

Go with a set of Aero Grilles. The M7 grilles look cheap and show off the un-astetic qualities of the A/c condensor and radiator.

like Imagax said Black out the beltine, and tint the headlights. I would go with a dark grey wheel and no chrome or polished lip. Shiny lips will just bring that un aggressive look back on your mini.

A lowered stance would help as well. If you go with coil overs look at all your options. Do you just want to have a lowered car or will you be using this set up for track days and auto crosses. Do you know how to adjust them and what is does to the car's handling? Will you have it corner balanced everytime you change the ride height? For most people a set of good springs h&R, Eibach, TSW (never had experience with them) and good shocks/struts, Konis (yellows) or Bilstiens will work just fine as well (Koni Fsd's are not recomemded for Lowered vehicles but they ride great).

Here is a very aggresive looking Blue mini from back in the day:

 

What's all this carp about "can't look aggresive with these colors"??? With the right wheels and tires and stance, ANY car will look aggresive. A set of stripes, JCW wing and a front splitter would help, too.

 

Stripes may look weird with that unicolor grille surround, unless you continue them somehow.

 

I like the body color grille surround. I would also lower it and put on the factory aero side sills like I did on my IB/W. The white wheels may not be helping you in your search for an agressive appearance. Respraying the TDRs in a charcoal gray might look pretty cool and distinctive too. Just make sure the wheel color works with the HB.

I went for the autocross look on my IB/W with the 16" forged wheels, no frills, and low stance. It works, but I still plan on changing out the grille to the black aero model.

 

When I had my IB/W Cooper, changing the wheels (gloss black with a polished lip) and lowering it made it look more aggressive. The custom Unistripe also helped make it stand out from other MINIs.





Versus white 5 stars

 

I think this Mini is well sorted in the mean looks stakes

http://www.hosokawa.co.jp/bond-mini/gallery/no217.html

 

Ditto this. Nothing looks more aggressive than a black grill, IMO.

 

I'm not a fan of the areo grill personally... Looks very "plastic" to me (probably because, well, it IS). I know that some peple love it. but for me the best look on the front is the blacked-out grille with the chrome surround and matte/satin black slats. Just looks more SOLID to me. But everyone likes different things, so go with what you like best, of course.

 

I'm actually thinking of the TSW springs and shocks when they come out. I really don't need all that much adjustability.

heheheh... I'm actually thinking of ghosting a center stripe with thin stripes on each side....

Actually thinking about rectangular driving lights or fog lights if need be.

Other than the TSW/TSW combo, I might consider the TSW/FSD combo despite the warnings. What weirds me out about this car is that the white clashes so much with the black...

I will probably be doing a matte blue color from the rear all the way to the front, including the roof.

 

That'll look slick.

 

Well I know his car is not Hyper Blue, but check out UKSUV's car. Indi Blue (I think) and white. He has 18" white wheels lowered on coilovers and I think it's one of of the best looking MINI's out there...even if it is "justacooper" It's VERY aggressive!

 

it's hopeless.... JK haha decide on what mmod you like, usually an aero kit (oem) or m7 will give it a more agressive look to it. also stripes :P

 

how did you body colored the upper grill's chrome inserts??
paint shop? if so, how much did it run ya??
thanks!

 

1. lowering springs
2. M7 extreme hood scoop in body color or white...only white if you go with #3.
3. Oricari cowl vent scoops (Outmotoring)
4. Team Dynamics Pro Race 1's 17" in white
5. White Viper stripes from Asthetic Creations...the ones that extend down to the bumper...bonnet and boot.

 

I took it to a paint guy from a shop around here. Charged me $40. He said he would do the plastic trim for $200 - $300, but I'm afraid he doesn't know what he's getting into and I'd rather have the regular plastic trim than a botched paint job.

1. In the plans, as soon as my struts start wearing out.....
2. Not a fan of the Scoop
3. Eh...
4. Got 'em.
5. I'm thinking of doing stripes, but they won't be white or viper.... When I finally get some time off work, maybe I'll get around to setting it all up... I'm thinking of doing a matte blue stripe from the front all the way to the back. I think it'll look pretty good.

 

I love this blue, but it is a very happy color.
Dark colors seem to give an agressive look.

Start with black for the chrome:
- belt line
- grill
- headlight rings

Tint the windows dark

Black mirror caps in place of the white.

Just my $.02

 

My friend has a HB/W and he put red mirror caps on it and a JCW spoiler. Looked pretty slick. I'd go with an aero kit for the agressive look (adding one my my car this fall)