I was replacing my front bumper with the aero bumper and noticed that the aero bumper does not come with the same plastic moldings on the side. I looked up a manual on it, and supposedly there is some special MINI structured black matt paint that gives the sides the plastic effect (.05 litre Part Number #51 91 0 027 551, and 1 litre Part Number #51 91 0 027 552). However, every dealer that I've called looking for the paint hasn't heard of it and the bodyshops weren't willing to give me much help either. If anybody knows anything about this or a similar product and how it comes out please let me know.

Thanks

 

or you can have them color match them to the body...

 

yeah, I thought about that but I kind of like the plastic and I'm not sure it would be in the budget.

 

We're going through this right now too. Had to replace the front bumper and we can't seem to find a place that can match the texture. I told the body shop that did the work that it had to match, but they went ahead and did it satin. It looks totally off in the sunlight. This Monday I am going to call some local dealers and find out who paints they're kits and see how they do it.

 

Sounds frustrating, let me know if you hear anything.

 

My dealer in Illinois (Patrick) offered to paint them if I order the bumpers. They say they do it all the time.

 

my body shop guy used textured black paint that comes in a rattle can, and it looks pretty darn good. I don't remember the brand, but I'm sure most paint/body shops know about it, or your local auto paint shop if you have one of those around.

 

Motoringfile used to have pdf instructions for painting of the aero bumper on their site (long ago, before they switched servers), but I can't find them on the site anymore -- they may be the same instructions you've already seen. . . but you may want to email motoringfile and see if they can e-mail you those instructions.

 

yeah, I downloaded the pdf, thats where I got the part numbers for the paint. Didn't seem to help find it though.

 

sign me up for the answer. Am on the same boat.
In the box and noone knows what color it takes

 

So after calling around some more, I found and bought some stuff made by SEM but its still not quite a match. I also got ahold of one of the bodyshops for a local dealership and they say that BMW stopped shipping a lot of their paints oversees due to some new law after 9/11 which added restrictions on importing hazardous materials. He said that they spray a stoneguard then paint over it. Anybody else hear anything?

 

anymore input on this issue. I seem to be in the same boat as everyoen else

 

my bodyshop just matched the black flat paint. It came out perfect.

 

My bodyshop guy said no problem. It was a 'simple technique' and he'd do up a few different samples. He did three and I would have been happy with any of them. Very good match indeed.

 

So I finally finished up my car. We ended up painting the area that is supposed to look like plastic with the paint used for the black areas on the hoods of the boss mustangs. We added some kill to it to make it more matt and slightly grayer and it came out quite good. I can hardly tell the difference even up close, and much better than the spray can stuff I tried.

 

can anyone give me there cost on the project. i am looking to have a whole aero kit painted.

 

hello?

 

Can't help there. My first was prepainted by MINI. The replacement was bundled with other work and not qouted seperately...

 

there has to be someone here that had a aero kit painted

 

hello?

 

i paid about $600 the first time.....included wheel arches. after about a year, i had the front bumper repainted and some fill/blend work done on other "aero kit" bits.....another $500. if you can install the parts yourself, you can save a few bucks, but i'm not sure that it's worth the aggravation (and subsequent clip failure). don't ask me how i know....

greg

 

greg that a lot , big help. i am just trying to see what others paid so i will know if i am getting taken or not.

 

Front, skirts, and rear for $550. I installed.

 

thanks Q that is my game plan also did u have the kit painted to match the blk flares?

 

yes, they matched the paint perfectly.