I ordered a Vis hood from an ebay store and they now tell me that the VIS hoods are back ordered for "a very long time." They offered to give me a Seibon hood in its stead but they tell me it only fits minis up to 2004 (I have a 2005). So I called Seibon and asked them what the difference is. They said that a few of the holes don't quite fit. Does anybody have or know of a 2005 or 2006 mini with a seibon hood?

 

I don't have experience with Seibon but I will tell you right now it is going to take some real work to fit it. We installed a CF hood on Dustin's car and it was not a good time. We happen to have one of the best fabricators in the state of IL helping us and it took only 3.5 hours.

There were some things that could not be fixed, for example the headlight openings were not the correct shape, the latches were the wrong shape, the holes were not all drilled, there was a threaded nut in the hood but it was not in the right place so we had to tear it out.

Mush work. It is not a perfect fit but it still looks ok and he is happy with it.

Good luck to you!

 

Dustin here, I'm happy with my CF hood, but not something for someone without the "right" tools and skills. To mount the grill and fender trim we had to use rivets. Had I paid a body shop to do the same work we did it would have cost $100's. You can search for the other threads from just 2007 and see what others have said. In fact I would have never ordered mine without knowing I had a great team to help me install it. FYI, the fit and finish will never be like the factory steel.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I kind of figured there would be a lot of fitting and fabrication after reading other posts on NAM. I have more than enough tools for the job, my dad rebuilds vintage motorcycles and my mini is sitting in the middle of his shop right now. Tho this "fit and finish" worries me, i have heard of the CF hoods not being perfectly shaped, but just how "not perfect" is not perfect?

 

... just how "not perfect" ... well that is in the eye of the beholder. I think my MINI looks great from the drivers side, but from the other side not so much. It all looks great from 20 feet, but the closer you get and people with an eye for details will see, may not say, the not so perfect fit. I think one way to cover that up would be to paint the bonnet fenders to match the MINI, because it's the stark difference in my Red to CF Black. Sounds like you have the team and tools to get the job done. If you do it just take your time and live with it for awhile before making any changes and you can always put the steel back on and make the CF bonnet a coffee table.

 

ah, well thats not so bad! thanks.
i unfortunately don't have the choice of going back to the steel, the left side is pretty much mashed to no return, thanks to a tree........
So now the steel hood is a coffee table!

 

FYI, you will want to cover EVERYTHING from the windshield wipers down to the front bumper and over the side to the floor with a blanket to stop any fiberglass and CF dust from getting in the MINI, make sure the windows are up too or it will smell like fiber glass for weeks. I look forward to seeing pics.

 

hmm.. good idea, ill be sure to wrap everything up nice and tight. Ill post pics too. the hood is due to be here any day now.