I have a Cooper and want to add the S bumper, which I also have. Is there anything special about attaching the S to th Cooper or is it pretty much the same?

 

I think the only thing you will need to do is relocate the fogs(if equipped) to the second set of holes.

 

I do have fogs....2nd set of holes??

 

there are 4 screws that hold the fogs in. remove the front portion of the wheel liners and bend them back to access the 4 screws. there are speed clips that are in those spots, remove them also and relocate them to the 4 holes just above and to the outside corners of the bumper carrier and reinstall the fog lights. then you can put in the s bumper.

when you take off the bumper this will all make sense. the relocation is only about 1 1/2" up and maybe 1" outwards.

 

There must be some kind of different connector for that front panel. I used a phillips head screwdriver to undo the fastener and buggered it up, am I missing something here?

 

for the bumper itself? those are torx head screws not Phillips, I hope you didn't strip them.

there are the 2 torx head screws you need to remove by the radiator, the 2 screws at the corners of the bumper accessed by the wheel well, the 2 plastic expansion rivets in the wells, then 2 more Phillips head screws from underneath and then 3 8mm head screws along that same strip.

 

Yup, I think I did. I'm talking about the inner wheel well panel on the front part of the panel just forward of the tire.

 

those screws that you are talking about are for the expanding rivets in that hold the wheel well liner in place. They like to spin if not held in place. Usually a flat head screwdriver works well in the little rectangular slots on either side of the "screw" head. Every once in a while a slight pry is necessary to get them off.

-Chase