Does anyone have a photo of an EB/W with the blacked-out grill?

Thanks!!
Jim

 

Agro - I did a search for "Aero Grill" because I've decided I want to get the black aero grill for my '05 LY/B MCS and I came upon this thread. And it's like you're reading my mind!! Everything you did is something I've been thinking about. I love the way the black boot handle looks and the scoop... I hope you don't mind if I "copy". I want to get a little more color in my car.

I may have some questions for you if you don't mind... :smile:

 

No worries Jerry. I guess I have to take it as a compliment when people like my ideas enough that they want to do the same thing to their own cars.

Since these pics were taken, I've added a yellow antenna. I got a stock antenna (thanks Todd) and painted it "John Deere yellow" with Krylon spraypaint for outside use. It's kind of a rubbery paint, and it REALLY stands out! Pics to come soon.

 

My understanding is that there are 7 screws holding the bumper on and they are not hard to get to.

Can you remove the lowest grill slat without ruining it for reuse?

Sounds like you got the black grill in prime and had it painted black. Mind sharing how much the grill and paint work cost?

Thanks!

hs

 

To remove the front bumper:
Get under the car, remove the 5? phillips head screws and 2 hex head screws (use a small socket).
Turn the steering wheel to full lock in either direction. There is a hex-head screw in a well in front of each wheel. Use a socket on an extension bar. Can't remember the size socket off the top of my head, but it was around 8-10mm.
Unclip the bulb holders for your parking lights, front indicators and front fogs (if installed). They all twist to unlock then pull out.
Unscrew the torx screw on each side at the top of the bumper. Easy to see and reach. Pull the bumper off. Unclip the thermometer from its little holder behind the lower black grille.
Reverse to re-install.

If you're careful, you can reuse or sell the lower slat after removal. I have my original yellow slats in my garage.

I paid about $20 for the upper and lower slats, chrome surrounds and upper backing piece from someone who removed them from his Electric Blue car to install an aero kit. It WAS going to cost me $50 for the upper and lower slats and the boot handle, however I wound up getting the painting for free due to some major delays.

 

have you considered the black mat that goes on the bumper under the boot? that would look great on your car IMO.

 

Here's how the black grille looks on CR. (I've agrofied my MINI!)

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=43598

I'd still love to find a black boot handle to finish the job!

 

I think the mat looks good with this color combination, perhaps not so good with others.

 

I'm feeling the love.

 

Ok. More yellow where there was black and black where there was yellow.
Got the yellow tinted OEM rally lights back on, and the yellow antenna on.
Just sent a paypal for blacked out tail lights. Will post a pic when they arrive.

 

after you black out the tail lights, you should paint the door handles black..it will look sweeter

 

Nah...if I did that, I'd have to black out all the chrome on the front end (around the grille and lights) and get rid of the silver lips on the wheels, and...
I like the chrome accents. I think there is just about the right amount on the car. Note, I have no added chrome. I am thinking about getting my bonnet scoop grille chromed though. Hard to spot unless the car is about to hit you.

 

My so far unique solution:

Dark SIlver painted slats - stock grill:



Thanks to Jamie and Jennifer at South Bay MINI in Torrance, CA for the painted slats! You guys rock!

And yes, you CAN remove the lower slat without removing the bumper cover or undoing any fasteners. The slat cover has locating pins (no clips) and the two ends tuck very slightly under the chrome trim surround. You can pry and flex the slat cover out from under the chrome pretty easily. The tricky part is that there is a full-width strip of double-sided tape under the slat, and you need to work slowly, in reasonably warm weather. Also, I recommend wrapping your prying tools in tape so they don't mar the chrome trim.

_Dave_

 

I REALLY like that silver....very cool. I debated that too as an option for the chrome. Still somewhat shiny, but not chrome. That looks way better than i had even hoped.

 

Dave,

Looks fantastic. Did South Bay paint these for you (how much) or order new ones in DS for you?

thanks

Jeff

 

DVLMINI, I think they had a spare set of grills lying around after doing an aero kit. When I explained what I was interested in doing, they offered to paint the spare grills to see how I liked 'em. I was out of town for a while, and when I came back to check, they offered me the painted slats no charge.

Took me about an hour to get the upper ones installed into my stock grill, and maybe 20 minutes to swap the lower one. Thank goodness somebody posted online that you need to apply outward pressure when removing the self-threading nuts that hold on the upper grill. I used needlenose vice grips and a slotted tip screwdriver to back them off the plastic lugs, and reused them, applying force with the needlenose vice-grips alone. The hardest part was prying the slats out from under the chrome trim without completely removing the chrome from the black plastic underframe. Yipes!

The bottom slat was a piece of cake once I realized that it was primarily double-sided tape that was holding the slat cover in place.

I'm very happy with South Bay MINI, and Jennifer and Jamie in particular.

_Dave_

 

Am0eba,

Cool, nice of them to take care of you like that. I'm well versed in the removal/install of the upper grille and the havoc it wrecks on your fingers.
Good news that I can get the lower grill out without removing the bumper cover.
I bet BMW HATES this mod .

 

Am0eba, that looks awesome! Love the stripes with the silver grille.

 

Agro

I love the contrast of the yellow stripes on the top!
How do you think the effect of painting the bonnet black with yellow stripes to match your top (leaving the fenders with lights yellow) would look?
Perhaps a yellow scoop to contrast?

 

Hey Agro,

That looks great! Send me some of those picks so I can make a page for you on my site. It all compliments quite well.
BTW thanks for the plug.

 

Thanks. If I painted the bonnet black, I'd have to reinstall my yellow scoop and grilles. It's an idea, but I think I'll keep it pretty much the way it is now. I like all the yellow. I was thinking over the weekend, if it were to get totalled and I had to get a new MCS, I might get a black body and use my yellow take-offs to give it some character. Hopefully, that's not going to be an issue any time soon.
Mike, where do you want me to send you pics to?

 

Send them to my E-mail you can send me up to 20 MB files.

mike@aestheticreations.net


And thanks. I never did get really good shots of your mini at AMVIV.
BTW this weekend the 26th we are taking a run to jerome. You and SSM should join us.

 

^^^^^Jerome, what a awsome town