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

Interior/Exterior My Mini gets a new look!!!

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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 02:24 PM
  #1  
jcmini's Avatar
jcmini
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From: Driver Seat
My Mini gets a new look!!!

I think I’m finally getting close to the look I’m looking for!

I had the front end paint to fix the 1000’s of stone chips. I took everything off and took it to a local body shop. In case your wondering about cost it was $500.00 for paint and body work. However I took everything off before hand, no big deal.


I took the spare paint a painted the trim on the areo grills. I also added the grill bar made of PVC pipe. Bent the pipe a little, drilled a few holes and slid it in place.

Added some custom bonnet strips!!

Also my 2nd prototype LEXAN splitter. Still have some things to change and make a bit better. It’s strong yet flexible enough not to brake, tested at 130mph.

The goal was to make the front look wider, more sporty!! I think I was able to do that.

What do you think????




 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 02:26 PM
  #2  
not-so-rednwhitecooper's Avatar
not-so-rednwhitecooper
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From: Chardon, Ohio
man, you must have melted alot of RC car bodies to make that splitter!



or do they sell lexan in shets? hehe
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:01 PM
  #3  
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agile_moments
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From: Columbia, SC
i like the grille bar, very cool little idea that I feel makes a good visual difference!...how-to, pretty please? haha
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:09 PM
  #4  
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Hounddog
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From: Albuquerque, NM
I like the grill bar too, the way it splits up that large bottom area. Where and what type of mounting hardward setup did you make for the lexan splitter. I'd like to try the same thing if you can send the list of supplies. Thanks and great job.
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:19 PM
  #5  
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agile_moments
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From: Columbia, SC
i, too, am interested in the splitter... if you dont want to tell everyone, just PM us!
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:28 PM
  #6  
eVal's Avatar
eVal
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From: SF Bay Area
Looks really nice - I love EB/W, its such a happy bright fun color combo, great for a Mini

I have one little suggestion, take it or leave it of course, but I think that Silvervisions to replace the stock turnsignal bulbs to get rid of the amber half look would be a nice addition :

http://supremepowerparts.com/product..._Blinker_Bulbs
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:45 PM
  #7  
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The splitter is nice. If you like the lexan. I like the Carbon Fiber look of the M7 peice.
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 05:10 PM
  #8  
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From: Valparaiso, IN
Hmm... Now there is an idea. Go to wally mart and get some tool box liner. Paint the splitter with Parma Fasblack and then lay the liner on top and then spray Parma Charcoal black on it.

Presto Carbonfiber look at less than 1/2 the price!
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 06:19 PM
  #9  
not-so-rednwhitecooper's Avatar
not-so-rednwhitecooper
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From: Chardon, Ohio
Originally Posted by DrDiff
Hmm... Now there is an idea. Go to wally mart and get some tool box liner. Paint the splitter with Parma Fasblack and then lay the liner on top and then spray Parma Charcoal black on it.

Presto Carbonfiber look at less than 1/2 the price!
Parma also makes a tinting spray for lexan. (ive used it on all mu RC bodies, it really does a good job of hiding the guts)

that would look SWEEEET on a splitter, an opaque splitter....
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 06:25 PM
  #10  
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From: Over there on MA
I like the new look you've done a lot. Very nice indeed. Happy MINI's are cool. I don't think I could live with the splitter though. Around here it would be nothing more that a road kill scoop.
 
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 07:46 PM
  #11  
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From: Just around the corner from the Dragon :~)
Looks very nice! Does the PVC extend back behind the bumper cover?
 
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Old Apr 2, 2006 | 08:26 AM
  #12  
jcmini's Avatar
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From: Driver Seat
Thanks everyone for your input. I'll post more pics on how to.

Yes orange lights gota go.

Grill bar was made with PVC that slides inside the bumper about an inch on both sides. My Splitter turnbuckle screws hold it in place. A small bracket could also be fitted inside to hold it. Real simple, takes longer for the paint to dry then to make the bar. Cost minus the paint was $5.00

Splitter I just might be selling them. Carbon Fiber is nice, but some of us are on a budget. The idea is to keep cost way down, over half of any carbon fiber. I still have some things to work out before I can. It is NOT a cheesy off shoot splitter, just a less expensive alternative. If you can afford a CF splitter then bye it.

Here are some details. Will be sold by JCMINI.com
Material: Lexan with stainless hardware.
Good and bad: Lexan very hard to brake or shatter, will flex with bumper if forced. Can be installed in less than and hour. 6 holes underneath need to be drilled for mounting, real simple. Heavier then carbon fiber and finish not as durable. Carbon fiber vinyl decal has a 3 year rating. Looking into carbon fiber laminate, but would up the cost.

My first prototype I ran for 2 years, everything was fine with it. Only thing is extra care had to be taken cleaning the carbon fiber vinyl covering. Being so low it picked up a lot of sand and such. You could easily get 3 years out of it, and in that case I would change minimal to re-finish it if requested.

I might add I relized I had a 0.5 wide angle lens on my camer when I took those shots. So object in pic is wider then it appears....
 
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Old Apr 2, 2006 | 08:55 AM
  #13  
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From: SoCal
what was painted?

YOu took off the stuff that was painted-bumper/scoop/hood? bumper only? Im mainly owndering where the new paint is for that price. splitter is very nice, stripes are vinyl? hood stripes work good with the side stripes!
 
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Old Apr 2, 2006 | 09:36 AM
  #14  
jcmini's Avatar
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From: Driver Seat
Thanks

I took everything off, window forward, HOOD stayed on. Body shop requested taking the bumper and scoop off also. So body shop had the car with bumper and scoop seperate. I painted the aero grill, grill bar and washers. Paint was $130.00. Paint job was $400.00

All strips are vinyl.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2006 | 09:43 AM
  #15  
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Very nice! The grill bar is perfect. Very subtle, looks like the factory might have done it.

If you're looking for votes on whether or not to produce the splitter, count me as a yes.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2006 | 09:44 AM
  #16  
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A transparent splitter with cartoon images of little squashed bug faces might be just what my car needs.
 
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 03:56 PM
  #17  
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From: Spring Hill, Florida
hey jcmini,

there's a video in this link from another thread, don't know if you saw it, but it has a mini just like your, or maybe that was you??

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/wh...ade-164617.php
 
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 07:40 PM
  #18  
F15EWeapon's Avatar
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From: Naw-folk, VA
Dude, I LOVE the grill bar... and all splitters are cool. The fact you made that one is even cooler. Where did you get your grill? (or is that the Aero Grill on it's own?) How can I do a grill bar like that?
 
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 08:03 PM
  #19  
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From: Farmington,MI Ex-Pat
Originally Posted by snooter
hey jcmini,

there's a video in this link from another thread, don't know if you saw it, but it has a mini just like your, or maybe that was you??

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/wh...ade-164617.php
It is the one and same
 
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 09:25 PM
  #20  
89AKurt's Avatar
89AKurt
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From: Prescott, AZ, USA
All the gutter dips around here would cream that cool looking splitter!
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 11:30 AM
  #21  
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agile_moments
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From: Columbia, SC
where can one buy turnbuckles like those by themselves?
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 11:48 AM
  #22  
Call's Avatar
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From: Flowery Branch , Georgia
Excellant job all the way around. Looks like you acheived your goal.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 04:39 AM
  #23  
jcmini's Avatar
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From: Driver Seat
Thanks again.

Turnbuckles...that's the problem I'm having, finding some that can be bolted on without modifing. These I bought at a local boat store, for sail boat rigging. They work but had to cut the bracket. Having trouble finding the right type. Anyone have any suggetions???
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 07:16 AM
  #24  
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Rally@StanceDesign
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From: oh10
Originally Posted by agile_moments
where can one buy turnbuckles like those by themselves?
http://www.seffects.com/parts/APRAB300011.htm

or you can get these from ecs tuning

 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 08:01 AM
  #25  
agranger's Avatar
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The splitter is not my thing, but it looks very well done.

I'm loving the painted edge aero grill and how the stripes make a complete package... sides and bonnet matching.

Very nice work!
 
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