Hey all, i figured that title would draw a few people in
Anyways heres the thing, i love looking at my mini. It looks awesome from every angle except the rear. I have the JCW spoiler and a custom liscense plate and tinted rear glass and invidia exhaust ,but i still think i have an ugly butt. It has always been on my mind but ive never know anything to do about it. If anyone has an idea on how to change it or dress it up, id really appreciate it.
All input welcome and thanks
Pure silver without Aero kit if it makes a difference. ( im the silver one )

 

Um...well, I guess it depends on the look you are going for. IMHO it looks fine now. But if you wanted to know things you can do:

Aerokit rear
CF hatch handle
CF hatch
Dechrome the tail lights
Tint the tail lights
Install different tail lgihts
Build a cutsom rear diffuser
Install 7-8mm wheel spacers on the back or lower offset wheels
Change out your license plate frame
Debadge it if you wanted
Get a different wing, like R56 Challenge style, similar to GP

Besides all that...I'm not sure what else you COULD do, that isn't rebuilding the trunk that MINI gave you

Like I mentioned...I think it looks fine the way it is. But if you were going to do anything, the Aerokit always looks good. Also, dechroming the tails to match your beltline blackout. Last, it hard to tell from that shot, but it looks like the license plate frame might be a little too busy. Are you lowered at all?

 

Whatever you do, don't do the Aero Kit rear. IMO it's worse than the standard rear.

How about a couple big fat black viper stripes?

 

Black out the trunk handle and ditch the license plate frame.

 

nice ideas...
im leaning twards changing liscence plate frames and mabe taillights but what are my options? I have had a bad experience in the past on a previous vehicle with leaking taillights.
Id like to debadge it as well, but im having a hard time finding R53W11 lettering

what do you think of these? the first ones that list for 112
http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/min...aillights.html

 

I would black out that chrome boot handle... go with the carbon fiber handle if it's in your budget. I'm not normally on favor of blackout but with SS, I think it would look better black than chrome. And if you do that, also black out the tail lights.

I would de-badge it. In your case, I'm thinking less is more.

And by all means, ditch the plastic plate frame. Get a nice one or go frameless.

 

Those tail lights from streetbeatcustoms look very cheesy. Nothing beats the stock tail lights. Maybe you could try some tint film on them.

 

boot stripes?? vynle styles ruby red tail light film, CF boot handle?

 

drop it and throw some wider tires/wheels on, and you will be amazed at how different the rear appears.

 

given that u have already drilled holes for the rear wing, keep it, go with that look, and add a rear diffuser...u decide either body color or flat black, paint a license frame to match ur paint, light tint on the rear lights

 

Black out the area where the license plate goes like on the GPs

 

yea, just switch the taillights out, get the ones with the little white dot, or all red.

 

-Lower the car
-Either leave the boot handle chrome or paint it body color. Just don't paint it black. There's no need to add contrast in the middle of the smooth boot.
-Clear third brake light to blend with silver roof
-Shave the rear wiper

 

I like the aero kit....

 

I got a good view of your **** last time i was in Cincy, lol.. Id shave the wiper if you can stand not using it.... changed the tails...and if you do, change the 3rd brake light. they make black ones if u black out the tails.

 

I like all the input. to clearify i DONT have achrome grab handle yech.
Im looking into taillights seeing as that is the general consensus of most posters.
when you shave the rear wiper does it leave the mount in the middle of the rear window? i need pic to decide

 

I think because you have the pre 05 MINIs with the white light on the bottom bumper, you should get white tail lights to match.

 

What about painting the aches? Apart from that I would do tinted tails plate frame, black boot handle and tinted fog.

 

I would go with the euro tails with the white dot instead of the orange.

 

tint the tails lower the car about 2 inches get some wheel spacers ....at least 15mm ....and trust me u will love it from behind ( no pun intended ) ( unless thats your thing ) lol

 

Shaving the rear wiper would be a nice improvement, but it does come with a serious con... I love it in the summer, but have really contemplated putting it back no this winter.

I agree with you, I still feel like the rear of our cars are kind of goofy looking...

I would:

1. Go with the euro tails (red/white) or upgrade to 05+ tails
2. Look into a rear diffuser. I'm not a fan at all of the M7 one (sticks out too far in my opinion). I do realize anything shorter and it's pretty much pointless, but still, if you're more worried about looks, function would come 2nd...
3. Is your car lowered any? If not, I would seriously consider doing it. It'll tighten up the look, ground up.

 

black out tail lights and reverse light, clear 3rd brake light, shave badges and rear wiper. no boot stripes i think it would make the back too busy

 

Something that is easy and belive it or not that actually makes a difference is I added the Black bumper cover that goes on top of the rear bumper. I also have a Pure Silver and it breaks up all the silver color back there. Just a thought

 

and its all appreciated

 

A quick pic: