The body shop that painted my Aero rocker panels claimed that they had specially formulated the black paint for the trim areas (bottom and ends) to match the rough textured surface of the black MINI wheel arches. Whether or not that's true, their black paint looks great. It's a very good match where the rocker panels meet the standard black MINI parts. So, I'd advise taking a look at several Aero panels, if you can, to see what other owners have done, and, potentially, to see what to avoid when you apply the black trim to your Aero kit. (Of course, that's if you decide to go with the black trim.)

 

I bought my aero kit over the counter and carried it to a paint shop that painted it for $300. I'm doing the same thing with the MINI that I have coming in this month. I went ahead and bought my aero kit and took the stickers to a machine shop that is cutting some plates out of stainless for me. I will post pics when everything is done. I didn't like they way the stickers turned yellow after two years.

 

I've been thinking more and more about this and I like the challenge but I'm starting to realize that cost-benefit isn't really gonna work out in my favor.

It looks like I should expect to pay about $300-500. This seem about right? I will probably end up spending close to $250 to do it myself, and for an extra 50 bones I could have it professionally done.

Next question is, when you buy an aero kit from some aftermarket shop (outmotoring, detriottuned, i think helix sells it also) does the kit come with the parts I would need to mount it myself? As you can see I'm trying to shave as much cost as possible off this thing.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

i would buy from outmotoring. they're really good.

i've heard that the fitment is not the best so i would probably play around
with the fitment before you get it painted.

 

A28 is the paint code, oh man, you don't know what you are getting into

 

Bring it

 

haha hey, if you like zebra striped paint, its your car!

 

I did the same, for Aero rocker panels, although I had the paint shop install them too so it cost more. I got the parts from Classic MINI. However, the paint shop waited until after I had paid them to tell me that because I carried in the parts (i.e., I didn't get the parts through them) they would not warranty their work. No warranty. Period. (The paint job is great -- but I didn't like the "no warranty surprise" after all the work was done.)

 

I'm glad that they did a good job at least. I'm a little lucky I guess because I take these guys a bunch of aero kits and I hooked the painter up with a friend of mine that builds custom choppers, so he takes pretty good care of me.