Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior Hey vendors: Why doesn't someone make this?

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Old Dec 20, 2003 | 11:57 PM
  #1  
Calvin77's Avatar
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A black aero grill that isn't an absolute pain to install.
One just like the factory aero grill except with the proper tabs and dimensions to easily replace the stock bumper grill without having to do all the drilling and cutting on the stock bumper and grill piece.
It seems it would be easy enough to make, right?
I'd buy it...

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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 12:00 AM
  #2  
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Dibs on that.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 12:07 AM
  #3  
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supersulli
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I've been saying the same thing for the past year, but finally gave in and did it myself. I must say that it was a pain in the butt, but well worth it. It took me about 5 hours to do it, but yeah you would think that someone would just manufacture a grille that fits. To tell you the truth though, I think that it would still almost take the same amount of time for the install. It only took me about 30 minutes to cut new slots in the bumper, and trim the aero grille. I spent the most time taking off that stupid double sided tape off the body colored slat. :evil: You would also still need to take off the bumper and pry everything off. Also I seemed to have had a harder time than most people installing the upper grille. Trying to contort my body to screw the bolts back in killed my back

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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 12:25 AM
  #4  
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Perhaps M7 will add matching silver or black powder coated grilles for the bonnet and upper front bumper (MC and MCS) to their existing lower front bumper grille upgrade.

Something easy to install that works with either MC or MCS and not too costly-maybe sold as a set would be good.
Maybe add a an additional MCS bonnet scoop grille that matches as well.

I wonder if there are any patents on the design that MINI has for the aerokit that would prohibit a substitute grille part. If you think about it, MINI wants to sell you the whole front aero bumper and not just the upper front bumper grille in order to get the aero look of the grille. They don't really have that much incentive to fullfil your requests.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 12:54 AM
  #5  
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Good idea, hopefully a vendor out there will see this and make something similar.

I'd really like to see a vendor come out with a CF front lip spoiler or some CF air dams...I really like the look of these on all the euros and drifters.



 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 08:10 AM
  #6  
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I am not a big fan of front spoilers (or splitters as they are called) on cars. They often do follow the shape to the car at all and look like Buck teeth.


 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 08:19 AM
  #7  
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Just what I have been wanting. I'll buy one today if it FITS. I should not have to buy something and then "cut to fit and glue in place".

Earl
 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 08:26 AM
  #8  
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>>A black aero grill that isn't an absolute pain to install.
>>One just like the factory aero grill except with the proper tabs and dimensions to easily replace the stock bumper grill without having to do all the drilling and cutting on the stock bumper and grill piece.
>>It seems it would be easy enough to make, right?
>>I'd buy it...
>>
>>_________________
>>


not all modifications are supposed to be bolt on, and easy.

If it was everybody would do, and it makes you no better then a honda owner.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2003 | 12:50 PM
  #9  
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>>not all modifications are supposed to be bolt on, and easy.
>>
>>If it was everybody would do, and it makes you no better then a honda owner.

I agree but a grill shouldn't be a big issue, especially one SOLD BY MINIUSA.
There's no reason why a grill SHOULDN'T be bolt-on and easy and made to actually fit the car it's intended to go on, and making it a pain to install won't make it more "exclusive", it just makes it an unnecessary hassle.
I understand that the aero grill is made to fit the aero kit bumper, still a non-aerokit black grill would be a nice mod that should be easy to install just like bonnet stripes or new wheels.
Not everyone likes to have to cut, drill, and glue their car's bumper just to install a tiny grill piece.
If I had the equipment to manufacture one, I would...and I'd probably sell a whole lot of 'em.
Since that's not gonna happen though, I'd like to at least be able to buy one.

 
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Old Dec 22, 2003 | 12:19 PM
  #10  
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>>I agree but a grill shouldn't be a big issue, especially one SOLD BY MINIUSA.
>>There's no reason why a grill SHOULDN'T be bolt-on and easy and made to actually fit the car it's intended to go on, and making it a pain to install won't make it more "exclusive", it just makes it an unnecessary hassle.
>>I understand that the aero grill is made to fit the aero kit bumper, still a non-aerokit black grill would be a nice mod that should be easy to install just like bonnet stripes or new wheels.
>>Not everyone likes to have to cut, drill, and glue their car's bumper just to install a tiny grill piece.
>>If I had the equipment to manufacture one, I would...and I'd probably sell a whole lot of 'em.
>>Since that's not gonna happen though, I'd like to at least be able to buy one.
>>

the stock front bumper of the mini, was made to have the chrome grill.

The aerokit, was not made to hold the chrome grill, but the speed grilles.

You are complaining, that they should be 1 and the same, but they aren't.

Hence were customizing comes into play, the term custom means

Adj. Made to order.
Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods

You also said, that it should be made to fit the car it's intended to go on, it wasn't made for the car it was made for the body kit, which is slightly different.

Bottom line is, IT'S Different! not stock, and anybody that has a non kitted mini, with aero grilles has customized it to fit.


 
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Old Dec 22, 2003 | 10:49 PM
  #11  
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>>the stock front bumper of the mini, was made to have the chrome grill.
>>
>>The aerokit, was not made to hold the chrome grill, but the speed grilles.
>>
>>You are complaining, that they should be 1 and the same, but they aren't.
>>
>>Hence were customizing comes into play, the term custom means
>>
>>Adj. Made to order.
>>Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods
>>
>>You also said, that it should be made to fit the car it's intended to go on, it wasn't made for the car it was made for the body kit, which is slightly different.


Please re-read my original post, bro. I'm not complaining about the factory aero-grill not fitting the stock bumper, I'm suggesting to VENDORS that an AFTERMARKET aero-grill made to fit a stock bumper would be a popular mod for us MCS owners who like the look of the aero-grill but do not wish to install the aero-kit bumper and would therefore appreciate not having to cut slots and drill into our stock bumper, not to mention dremel out the lower grill piece.
I know quite well what the term "custom" implies, and as such I know that "customizing" should not necessarily imply the need to modify the physical characteristics of the pre-fabricated components utilized in the aforementioned "customization".
As an example, you can give your car a "custom" look by installing aftermarket wheels, yet it would be absurd to have to drill the necessary bolt pattern into the new wheels in order to make them fit the car. Obviously, the wheels are manufactured to fit your specific car without having to perform any other modifications other than installation.
Customization should not imply inefficiency.


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Old Dec 22, 2003 | 10:54 PM
  #12  
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you could make a different lug pattern fit if needed :smile:
 
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Old Dec 22, 2003 | 11:06 PM
  #13  
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Hey guys....

M7 will have some tasty grilles comming out of the shop in January, we will add to the M7 Ultimate lower grille
that's now shipping , the middle and upper MCS Grille. The aero grille will be available early February
and to make all the MC guy's happy expect grilles in January.....

peter horvath

562-712-3270<IMG SRC="

[IMG]https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/hfs.sized.jpg">
 
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Old Dec 22, 2003 | 11:08 PM
  #14  
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M7
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Hey guys....

M7 will have some tasty grilles comming out of the shop in January, we will add to the M7 Ultimate lower grille
that's now shipping , the middle and upper MCS Grille. The aero grille will be available early February
and to make all the MC guy's happy expect grilles in January.....

peter horvath

562-712-3270


 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 12:54 AM
  #15  
Calvin77's Avatar
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M7:
very happy to hear that! Is your aero grill going to be somewhat similar in texture/color/appearance to the &quot;factory&quot; aero grill? I'd really appreciate if you could give me a rough description as well as any input as to the grill fitting the stock bumper nicely without too much modification. (in contrast to the existing &quot;factory&quot; aero grill).
Also, the ultimate lower grill looks pretty sweet from the picture, though I'm having a hard time making out the texture/material from that specific image. Is it something like the grill on the Jaguar S-type R as far as texture/material? If so a full set of those for the entire front end of the MCS including bonnet and bumper grills would be quite nice indeed.
Thanks.

 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 09:38 AM
  #16  
M7's Avatar
M7
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Hi Calvin...

The grill is the bomb....everyone who has seen it realy like it

The intention was to have the best built , best fitting grill with ease of installation bar none, no cutting, shaving
or any other pain in the *** operations.

The grill is made out of diamond pattern mild steel with a stiffening frame, the grill then getts hot zink dipped
for superior rust prevention and then it gets a coat of either black or silver powder coating.

M7 is backing the product with a 2 year no question asked warranty against chipping, flaking or rusting for that
extra peace of mind.

I will try to take a closeup shot of the grill later this afternoon

And yes.....in January middle and top grills will be available

Peter Horvath

562-712-3270


 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 09:40 AM
  #17  
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Peter,
Maybe I missed it...what is the price?
 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 09:45 AM
  #18  
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What prevents a vendor from modifying the MINI part, and charging us for his efforts,labor, shipping and handling ?
Our warranty on the part, could agreeably,be voided.
 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 09:47 AM
  #19  
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SWEET!
 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 09:49 AM
  #20  
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M7
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From: los angeles
Hi Bisch....

Price: 149.95

peter horvath
562-712-3270


 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 10:11 AM
  #21  
gmack's Avatar
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M7,

Nice grill, nice price.

Can we get back to Calvin's original question though?

Those who cut and trimmed the Aero lower grill should be admired for there skills and efforts.

Why can't or wouldn't a vendor however, want to make some profit on us less skilled or daring by either pre-trimming the MINI peace and removing some of the guess work for us, or making a knock off that would just fit on and come reasonably close to matching the upper half ?
 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 10:59 AM
  #22  
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the m7 grill

couldn't you go to home depot, and pick up material just like that, cut it out, and zip tye it to the front...
 
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Old Dec 23, 2003 | 07:26 PM
  #23  
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M7
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From: los angeles
Dudes...

Something new and exciting.......................................... ..........................SILVER.
and a close up of the mesh.

Hope you like it...

peter horvath
562-712-3270






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