OEM+? No way, the konigseider kit is super extreme and would give a very modified look. OEM+ would be arches made out of the same plastic that look EXACTLY like the OEM arches just an inch or two wider.

That's not to say it would look bad. I think the konigseider kit looks awesome.....it's just not subtle enough to look OEM+.

Molding it into the bodypanels only leads to one major problem. The arches aren't metal so they couldn't be welded which means you'd have to use some sort of filler adhesive to mold them. That's fine and totally do-able, but be forewarned that if your tire hits the arch or something, it will crack along the molded line and will require you to re-mold and re-paint that entire panel.

 

you can also go with zeemax wide body flares..

 

Thanks Rally for your insight It is always very much appreciated.

BTT thanks for the suggestion.

Now, Rally and anyone else...

How can we achieve a wider "stock-finished" flare?

If we widen stock ones by cutting and shaping, it will get rid of the texture and look bad unless you would prep them and paint them...This seams nealry impossible with out spending a fortune...

Are we(ones who want them) going to have to make a set of molds and form new one?


Thanks everyone

 

this is what you are talking about when adding flares...cutting the metal part and rewelding sheet metal under wheel base. that worked for me...no rubbing issues.

 

Unless one of the big vendors wants to step up and do it I think we're stuck to doing it ourselves by cutting and shaping. MINI has a spray paint that comes close to matching the arch material for the old aero kit arches....but it's not the exact same texture.

I've got a spare arch, so I'll look at it and let you know. I'd probably use fusor as the bonding agent....the same stuff I used to shave my plastic body panels. As you know, mcmaster carr sells abs plastic so it just comes down to being able to properly shape the extension pieces.

Or you could spend big bucks like this VW Or imagine using this same method on the plastic arches with fusor and abs instead of welding metal. This is very OEM+. It basically looks just like stock, it just extends an inch further out. Nothing too crazy like you'd see in the fast+furious













I was actually talking about molding the arches into the body panels...

 

Molding like Rally shows would look great. The real trick and skill of the body man tested would in be making all the cut lines match being the MINI has the gap between the hood and fender panel.

 

what are the vdubs doing to widen their plasitc bumpers to match their finished metal flares? Fusor and abs?

 

I think alot of them put the G60 fenders on.

 

Depends how far they extended the fender. For minimal pulling of the fender, they usually just make cuts every inch and bend.....then fill with a plastic filler like fusor.

Bumper before any modifications. Doesnt line up


Make cuts and pull out



Flared and fusor'd


The extreme flare almost looks like the cut apart a spare bumper and used it to extend it. Again, probably used a plastic bonding agent like the fusor products.

 

the example posted is a MKIV....no g60s for them

 

Woops, misunderstood the question. Thought he was talking about the plastic fenders on the MK3.

 

Man, I hate to say it but those water cooled guys have got a lockdown on the whole super cool euro low scene.

 

A lightbulb just went off...Now I remember what my thoughts were on widening this... Hopefully next summer I can tackle this and get my R90's made for the car...or maybe make it a winter break project...

 

You gonna share your idea? I just shared all mine

 

Pretty much just the same fashion as the VDubs...I forgot all about just cutting and repositioning the trim. So I will use the VW way of widening, but I will retain the stock black trim when finished...Like how the white Mini that Coen posted is, but much less bulbus and more OEM+

Too bad school starts next Monday, I would be all over starting this next week

 

What kind of steel should I be using?
low/medium/high carbon, 4130, 41L40, A36...etc...
I am going to have to measure the thickness with a micrometer, but does anyone have the thickness of the sheet metal on our cars off hand? I am very ready to tackle this long project...lets see if I can beat Sid

 

I looked into the cost of urethane products. The biggest issue is the minimum order amount....100 pieces. So, that means 100 sets of arches (4 corners + any trim work). Is the market big enough that 100 owners would buy? At what price? $300/set? $500/set? More?

 

If they were subtle enough I bet you could sell 100 EASILY. Wide wheels are starting to catch on slowly but surely. People like Konky and I would be interested so we can fit 10" wheels.....but at the same time, the non-stock class autocrossers or track junkies may show interest so they can fit those 245s or 255s without a problem.

The problem with extreme honda-style bodykits like the konigseider or the orciari kit is that their style is "too much" for most people and it really only appeals to the show-car crowd. If you were offering OEM looking arches that were only an inch wider, it appeals to a much wider crowd and you can fully encompass both the function people and the form people.

If you wanted to get real serious, find investors in the UK and Japan where the MINI scene is big. I bet companies like BondMINI would buy up atleast 20 sets for their shops. They could front you some of the initial cost. This would cut out some of your profit, but if you're worried about reaching 100 sales, this would make it much easier.

If they were molded in a matte black plastic with the OEM style texture, you could easily ask 500 for the set and get a bunch of buyers. That's an amazing price for such a big change. You wouldn't have to worry about painting them or anything, paint. I'd pay 500 in a second for bolt on OEM style arches. 300 would be even better Just think....how much are people paying for those euro corners? Like 120 right? If people are willing to pay 120 just to get rid of those lights, these arches could widen the car and remove the lights.

The R50/53 poses some problems because the arches are actually 8 piece....4 of which vary between the model and year. With the R56 it's only 4 pieces total and it fits all models....I even think the clubman uses the R56 arches.

 

yeah...it makes things harder for sure. An easier way....maybe an add on piece and then cut the inner edge of the stock one?

 

Yah, I thought about something like that too, but adding the piece on the inside of the arch kinda like a spacer.

 

even better.

here's what I was thinking of....the LGT guys get these from Japan. It's more of a styling thing than for more clearance, but the idea could be made to work for the MINI...fill the gap to smooth it and coat.

 

Sounds interesting. keep us updated. It seems like it would be 1000 times easier to just mod he plastic arches though and in my opinion it would look much better too. I don't like the look of extending the metal on our cars like the original pics in this thread. I much prefer wide arches like the ones below. Imagine taking our arches and just extending them outwards at a straight angle like these. If you haven't done so already, check out my buildup thread on MU to see what I was able to do with some fusor and some shaped ABS plastic.

As mentioned earlier, these are the g60 arches that mkIII's use

 

That looks like garbage in my opionion. It's like those 3M stick on scoops that they sell. I'm not a fan of parts that look "stuck" on.

If you could smooth it that would be awesome....but if you're gonna spend time smoothing it, why not just custom widen them yourself instead of buying a part?

 

I didn't say it's the end goal, but just an example. I agree, it doesn't look good. Believe it or not, I think they're OEM. The lower spats are for sure...as is the lip spoiler. I had them on mine (spats and spoiler).

 

The spats and lip are cool, just not the arch block things