My wife is very jealous of the driver side visor above the window. In fact she would like one on the passenger side instead of the handle. Do you think it's possible to retrofit a visor on that side? I also have been looking for any 3rd part visor-type thing as an add-on, but haven't found anything.

 

http://www.coolibar.com/index.html?s...nhat&version=5

 

you'd think a UK or other RHD country would have the visor on the "right" side. Unless of couirse the mounting holes were different.

 

I haven't checked the mount dimensions on the driver side compared to the grab handle. If they are the same, buying a driver side one and mounting it should be no problem.

Minspeed has a kit for this. http://www.minspeed.net/R56PV.htm

 

So Robin you're just suggesting my wife wear a hat? Or slather sunscreen?

The MINIspeed kit looks promising but kinda pricey. I also need to email them about the colors. I don't really consider the non-anthracite to be grey, but maybe it is.

 

Exactly what I was about to link to. Supposed to be a guaranteed fit and an exact match to either the standard grey or anthracite headliner!

 

I sent them an email making sure that the gray they listed is the normal headliner. Their pictures need some adjusting!

 

Yes there pictures look almost tan in color. The drivers side one in my car has 6 5/8" between the mounting screws. The grab handle doesn't have visible screws but center to center on what it mounts to is also 6 5/8". Might be worth taking the grab handle off and checking the distance from the screws, assuming it has a similar mount as the drivers side visor. Pelican Parts lists the drivers side one for $45. Minspeed's model is expensive if you do not have a sunroof! Maybe the Minspeed has some other hardware this needed for installation; if the stock grab handle uses some type of clip and not the same 2 screws as the drivers side visor.

 

Yeah I asked them why the non-sunroof version is so much more. I'll post the response.

 

Isn't the visor larger if you don't get the sunroof (since it doesn't have to worry about interfering with it)? If so that'd make sense that it's more expensive since more material obviously equals more money.

 

I was just joking, hence the wink emoticon.

It is odd that the non-sunroof version is $70 and sunroof version only $40. I wonder if the attachement is more complicated without the sunroof?

 

Yeah I got that! At first though I looked around that site thinking they might have some kind of car visor.

 

I ran into the same problem on my '06 R53. They started installing the drivers side visor with a grab handle for the passenger.

The screw holes for the handle and the visor are the same. The visors are symetrical so they can use the same visor for right and left hand drive vehicles. If you go to the MINI/BMW parts locater you should be able to find the factory number and just order one from your dealer.

Pop off two covers, unscrew two screws. Remove the grab handle. Position the visor, screw in the two screws, snap on the covers and you are done. Wifes happy, you are happy. Piece of cake.

 

That's good to know. I hope the R56 is that easy.
According to realoem.com the part number (no sunroof, no anthracite) is 51162753552. Pelican has it for $44.95 I'm going to check to see if my dealer has one.

 

My dealer had to order it as they did not stock it. Don't worry about a core charge, it was never even mentioned.

 

It's probably because the interior headline panel is shaped completely differently. On the sunroof cars the headliner is lower from the outside of the roof than on the hard top cars to allow room for the mechanism. The visor would have to be the correct curve to lay flat.

 

Finally got a chance to go to the dealer today and they would have to order the visor for $59. The SA said although he had never done the swap it looked doable. I never heard from MINIspeed so I don't know for sure why theirs is $70.

 

This turned out be be a 5 minute mod as Bilbo-Baggins mentioned. I ordered the part from Pelican (#51162753552) after finding it on Realoem.com. Here are some photos but basically you just pop the covers up to reveal the screws. Unscrew, remove the handle and attach the visor. The visor has the same prong to go into the headliner as the handle shown.
The visor was $44.50 + shipping.

 

Very nice! Thanks for the update.

 

Very cool. But more important, Is your wife happy about it?

 

Yeah she's diggin' it. But I can't wait to laugh the first time I take a sharp turn and she grabs it!