I know this question has come up before but I could not find it anywhere.
Every time I search for the answer all I get back is R56 responses.

My question is this: Where can I find pictures of a JCW Aero Kit on a R52/53 that has the original grill slats instead of the honeycomb black grill?

I'm having some collision repair done on my MINI and I would love to have the front bumper replaced with the Aero bumper but I don't want the honeycomb grill.

 

I have read that the bottom portion of the grill is different, and that you can modify the honeycomb grill to fit the normal bumper... I would assume that you would have to modify the stock grill to fit the Aero Bumper, and would think it would be possible. There is information on it at outmotoring.com

 

Second question: Will the stock lower radiator grill insert fit the aero bumper?



And still seeking an answer to question number one...

 

No, the two grilles are different shape.
The slots for the standard chrome grille surround on the regular bumper are spaced differently than on the aero bumper.

Another difference is that the regular bumper has a place that is raised to mount/stick the slat for the grille that the aero bumper doesn't have.

Just have the body shop do the aero bumper with no grille, and if you can salvage the raised piece for the slat from your standard bumper you will have to cut it out of the bumper and figure out how to mount it when you get home, don't forget to get a new chrome piece(if needed) so you can hold it up to the aero bumper to see where the slots will need to be modified/created to fit it.

 

Moved from 1st Gen JCW Garage to 1st Gen Mods: Interior/Exterior. No such thing as a JCW Aero Kit for the 1st Gen MINIs. (There is an OEM 1st Gen aero kit... but it was never sold as a JCW accessory for 1st Gen MINIs)

 

 

Hmm, I never thought about keeping the original slatted grille. It doesn't look too bad w/ the aero kit. Kinda like it

 

well, since more people are posting, I guess that I'll go ahead and post a couple of pictures that were in another thread. This isn't my vehicle, but I did save them so that I could reference them when I did my own Aero Kit! I hope that the owner of the vehicle shown doesn't mind...

-Chase

 

i like the way that looks.
different from the norm..

 

It's been done by someone here. Read the post a few weeks back. They modded the Aero bumper to fit the lower single slat and used globs of Clear Silicon on either side in the back and then used pieces of wood while it dried to keep the slat portion straight and even. So far so good I heard, it is still in one piece.

The bottom radiator grill is a whole different shape but they are basically the same material and honeycomb pattern. No real need to exchange those anyways.

 

I bought my mini several years ago and was set up like this except black in the middle have changed to all black since then but do have a pic

 

Is this your car ???

 

Haha, no it's not. My car is Jet Black.

 

lol, a team member , Hola mate

 

 

This is my car, I don't mind

Yeah, it's still holding up just fine, it was a little bit tricky to get it to sit perfectly. I think the end result looks great, I get a lot of compliments on it. As mentioned, I used silicone (black, not clear), along with wood and masking tape to hold the slats in place until the silicone dried. It's a pretty large gap to fill - probably a half inch of space is held by the silicone. But about 10k miles later, along with a few rainstorms, it has held up all the same.