So, when I bought my MINI, I liked the checkered look. Now, not so much. Is there a DIY to remove the plastic bits so I can get them vinly wrapped? Just want to save some time and make sure who ever does it, does not screw it up. If I mess it up, I can live with it.

 

You could always try to trade somebody. I don't think the checkerboards are a very cheap option. If you're willing to trade straight-up, I don't think it would be very difficult at all.

 

Not a write up but is fairly easy

 

its very easy.

driver's side is as follows. tilt steering wheel all the way down. i was able to use my fingers to pry and pull the dash trim straight out. tug hard it will come out. the trim is held in with 3 retainer pins. you will need to flip the dash trim 180 as your work it out from behind the speedo.

passenger side is as follows. open the secret compartment. remove the 2 torx screws. there are 3 tabs closet to you, underneath the trim. use a small flat bladed screw driver to pry the sescret compartment door from the dash trim. once you get the 3 tab free the dash trim will wiggle free.

if you have questions PM me, i've recently done exactly what you are doing. i wrapped my dash with vinyl, but i hated it and went back to piano black.

 

is it also easy to replace the colorline dashboard to rooster red or other colors. i have seen some diy that requires taking out the speedometer case and center console. is this true for 2011?

 

Thanks for the instructions.

That seems pretty easy.

What about on the doors?

 

99% sure you are totally right. i also replaced my silver trim with the chrome line package. this involved removing the speedo trim and left/right vent trims.

it looks like from there you could access all of the torx screws holding on the dash pads/colorline parts.

 

i have not attempted to go at the large oval ring, but from reading on NAM it seems that the large oval ring is plastic welded from the rear.

you could probaly remove it by removing the door panel and drilling out the plastic welds.

i opted for just replacing the door pulls, only 2 torx screws. the upper speaker grill will basically pop off, and the long arm pad just unclips by lifting up and pulling out. there are like 4 colors you could replace that with. for the door pulls i put on the carbon fiber bits, but at one time i had them vinly wrapped to match the dash trim. looked OK, but way to much chili red for my taste.

 

The only way to do the doors is to drill out the plstic welds and reattach them some way. I will be doing this to cover mine in suede

 

Which checkerboard do you have? On the pastic trim or under it? I have piano Black and may be intrested in trading

 

I want to know how to remove the dashboard color line strip, want to swap mine for Carbon Black color line.

 

I've removed all my piano black Trim…with the exception of those located on the four doors. From the earlier post…sound like I'm out of luck…plastic welded from rear ?? sound like the whole door panel needs to be removed..then re-welded to attach the ring….we weld..but not plastic!