I need a set of downtubes in my mini! My drivers side fractured. Anyone know where I could pick up a set? I dont want the carbon ones or the chrome ones right now, just the stock. If anyone has a set please pm me.
Thanks Guys

 

guess no one can help me

 

Gabe did an artical on leather downtubes. Might be a good time to upgrade. I'm sure you could get some from a dealership. Good luck.

 

How bad is the fracture? Is it just a noticable crack or there is a hole?

I actually wrapped mine in leather the beginning of this year and it looks great.

Just check out my gallery for pics of the interior.

chris

 

looks amazing! how did u do it?

 

I'll tell you... if you are still interested in my rims

 

Just kidding...

Actually it was not that hard. Go fins whatever leather you want to use and since the tube is oval you dont have to worry about any crinkling/wrinkling at corners and such.

All you do is remove the downtubes, have leather and some 3m foam fast spray glue and a brand new razor blade.

You wrap the leather around the tube putting the middle of your piece in the front so that when it wraps the seam is in the back. You then use a razor blade to cut down the spine of the tube in the back to give youa clean seam. All of this is done of course after you have sprayed both surfaces with glue prior to this process.

The only trick I learned (the hard way of course) is to wrap the leather at the bottom of the tube under and back inside the tube. The reason for this is so that when you place it back in place the surround near your cup holders doesn't peal back the leather you just spent all that time glueing down.

Heck, if yours are cracked try it out since you will probably get another set anyway.

I actually bought an extra set of downtubes to have just in case I screwed it up. Unfortunately for you I just sold them to another NAM member last week since they turned out great and didn't need them.

chris

 

I am also looking for a set of stock downtubes... actually only need the driver's side. Please PM me if you have any to sell or know where they can be purchased other than the dealer.

YD

 

thanks for the tip! Im going to the fabric store now to buy some faux leather. Ill let you know how it turns out and I will also pm you about those rims. Do you think i could do the dash as well.?

 

Yeah, it really does look great.

 

Props on the interior . That turned out amazing!

 

Thanks for the props! I am nowhere near there yet... there is a lot more that I want to do.

JTrem... I won't do the dash. the reason is that you cannot wrap leather properly without creasing with so many curves and such. That is why when you look at the factoy leather dash kit you see that there is a seam in the front with the stitching.

I have decided to get the leather dash to compliment what I already have. It will be the easiest way I think. I also wonder if they made the dash pieces slightly smaller to accomodate for the thickness of the leather

chris

 

For any dash part you can get them from the dealership. Just tell them what you need and the parts can be ordered and are not that expensive since they are just plastic.

If you damaged tube is not that bad you can cover it and that will work fine. Just make sure the material you use is fairly thin so that it can fit snugly and not be too thick.

Those leather downtubes are very nice indeed- Great job!

Next- do the dash in leather.

 

I did my dash in vinyl today. Turned out pretty well. Check out my thread I posted

 

I did my downtubes in leather a while back just as you did your dash in vinyl. You could always match your downtubes in the vinyl, or use the same technique with a stretchy leather and it will work fine.

 

I plan on replacing my dash soon though. It would be nice to pick up a set of carbon downtubes.