To those whom have gotten your hood scoop replaced due to melting or just by changing... does the insert (plastic piece) inside also get changed? I ask because mine is starting to melt, and when I bring it back for warranty 1) i dont want them to give me ***** for removing the plastic insert for better air flow with warranty crap saying thats why it melted and 2) I dont want to have to redo it again when they swap it out with a new one (gonna try to get a CF JCW one).

And the side scuttle... to those whom have used plastidip or blacked the chrome part out. How did you mask off the red S? I tried taping it off and with the plastidip no matter if you wait 5 min or 5 hrs you cant get a clean cut with the S and the plastidip to show nicely. My thought was to paint it all black then paint the S back on Red (to match with red calipers and red accents). But this will require masking of the black (post chrome) parts of the scuttle, which then has the issue of the tape pulling off the plastidip. grr. Maybe I should get the krypton paint? Though then the textures will be diff from my headlight rings, grill, etc. Ideas??? THANKS!

 

I can't help you with the scoop, as my car is Just-A-Cooper, but I'd like to suggest a product that might help you achieve the results you're looking for in regard to your side scuttles. Mine are off-the-shelf Union Jacks, but I can fully appreciate your desire to mod your "S" scuttles to your liking.

I'm an amateur model builder and there's a liquid mask that might work for you. It's available in most hobby or craft stores. It paints on with a small modeler's paint brush, and it dries like a smooth rubbery coat. You just paint it on the part you DON'T want painted, go ahead with your painting/dipping what have you, then simply peel the liquid mask off. Use a wooden toothpick or something similarly soft to loosen the mask from the scuttle. In theory it should work. Good luck!

 

i blacked my scuttles out, but with vinyl. I cut around the S to leave the chrome. It's barely noticeable but I think it provides just the right amount of "look at me? for the S.

 

I painted my scuttles and used masking tape for the S but then bought the raised "S" from Aesthetic creations and they look really nice - it's an insert that goes on top of the original S and can be had ain any standard MINI color... You get 3, one for each side and one for the rear.

 

hey Great Idea! That way I can do a solid black on the whole piece then add the raised red S on the side scuttle! perfect. Thanks.

Now... RED or DARK SILVER to match my car? Though I'm trying to go for red accents... and calipers will be red tomorrow... and maybe the mirror caps too...! sooo maybe red... but i think im debadging so. =]

 

I just had my side scuttles painted inculding the black plastic housing that the chrome insert goes into. I will post pictures when I get home. Everything flows beautifully now with just about everything finished in Astro Black. HLRs, TLRs, Side Scuttles, and next month, door handles and belt line, all in Astro.

Thanks for the info on the raised "S" because they had to remove the sticker off the scuttle while painting.

Pictures to come when I get home from school.

 

Heres the pics, Red "S" to come when they ship from AC. Enjoy!





Throw in some m7 too...

 

I used plasti-dip on everything before turning to the paint. The side scuttles were the hardest thing because of the small spaces in the S. Everything else was a breeze and looked very good. There's a thread on here where many people posed thier results.

As for scoop, I replaced mine, but I would recomend keeping the insert in there until you bring it in. Exactly the reason they would have to tell you they wont cover it if you were to take it out.

Every dealer is different, depending on your relationship with them, they will help you out.