I have an r53! With the chrome stock side markers but I want them black but keep the "s" red!! Should I paint them? If so wat paint should I use?? Or should I buy them?? Where can I find a set for sale??

 

I would say paint them. I bought a set of chromed ones for my Cooper and got hosed, afaic. Ive painted things before, and lord only knows why I didnt paint my black ones a gun-metal silver which wouldve looked great.

Sand then down, mask off the S and shoot them with a flat(?) black. Rustoleum, or just about anything in a can, should be fine, as long as you apply smooth, thin coats.

 

i used plasti dip and they look awesome, matte finish.

 

+1 for plasti dip. plus its very easy to do

 

Yup, plasti dip. No need to prep any more than a good cleaning.

 

There are a lot of ways to go with this. The "scuttles" consist of 3 parts: the body, the screen, and the S's. You can do a lot with each part.
The body can stay chrome or be painted an color. The screen can stay black or be painted. The S's are chrome with an insert.
My personal preference: paint the "body" black. Paint the screen body color. Leave the S chrome and replace the insert with an Aesthetic Creations domed insert in body color.
Like I said, many possibilities.
See my gallery for one possibility.

 

Where do u get the dip from? How does it work??

 

Nmgokart did u spray paint your headlight rings and door handles as well???

 

I tried painting the headlight rings. Nothing seems to stick very well. Never tried the door handles, as that requires removing them from the car.
There are a couple of vendors offering overlays for those parts. Black, carbon fiber.....

 

Home Depot
Works a lot like spray paint but with a rubberized product
Very easy to do. Just do lite coats, and keep repeating until you have good coverage

 

Ok thanks man!!

 

Would that dip work on the head light rings as well??

 

Yup, many have.
I had mine done in vinyl by Lyle.

 

I did my headlight rings in plasti dip almost a year ago and they still look good with no fading or peeling.

 

Or buy the Justa Mini grills and go stealth. Or paint them body color as I did. I wish I'd painted the small grills behind the sidemarker black and I may still do that. But I like the stealth look and the painted handles as well.

 

Here is my "reverse scheme".
Now to find the tinted lenses.

 

what is the easiest way to remove the scuttles?

 

I've not done it myself, but as I recall you simply reach behind and at one end you push out. It'll rotate out and then you unplug the connector to the light and then unhook the other end of the grill.

To figure out which end to push on, check a parts diagram. There's a tab at one end of the grill that hooks into a slot in the body. And there's a post that pops into a rubber grommet at the other end of the grill that you push on from the back side. This second one is what you want to push on and push it through the grommet towards the outside.

 

i painted mine

 

You push out at the front of the scuttle as that is where the post is. The back half slides out.

 

ok ill try that later in the weeks thanks!! do i have to take out the head lights to remove the headlight rings? or which is the easiest way to paint them black?

 

also if i remove the cooper letters on the tailgate would it hurt my paint? how would i re-stick it if i painted it?

 

If you're careful, you won't damage the paint. Warm the letters with a hair dryer then use some dental floss to carefully saw through the adhesive on the back of the letters. Some Goo Be Gone to clean up the residual adhesive and then clean and rewax the surface.

The Mini logos have pins, though.

 

aight thanks! i might just leave it off and take the S off paint it Black and put it back on!! any advice on the headlight rings?

 

Check out this thread, it should get you on the way!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...everthing.html

Annette