yeah, does anyone know how hard (or easy) the install would be? Would you have to remove the door panel like in here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=85096&page=3

to be able to swap out the handles? (I have no idea)

 

I guess I'm going to find out in a couple of weeks since I ordered a pair...

But I suspect I'll remove the door panel like Yo's Dad did. Then I'll have to remove some hardware inside the hard-to-reach internals of the door cavity and somewhat obscured by the window track - which may require removing the window track - which from past experience would be a real bear, and risk breaking the window... and I have no idea what's involved in switching the lock cylinder... this will be quite an adventure, I'm sure...

I've done it before on other cars, but it's been a long, long time...

 

wow, best of luck, and be sure to post your progress!

 

Got my door handles and side view mirror caps in yesterday, too bad I'm out of town till Thursday though. Expect pics by this weekend!

 

I'm happy you're going to blaze this trail - I'm still waiting on mine, and I'll be out of town for the next two weekends - so my fitting will be a few weeks away.

 

Yeah, I'm "dying" to hear how the install went, too. My decision to buy them hinges on your input.
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Oh Hell, who am I trying to kid ?! Even if you say installing them was harder than performing a root canal on your own molar, I'm going to buy them and find a way to get them installed.

 

Yep. My thought process exactly.

 

It definitely won't be pretty, this'll be my first difficult mod to the car, but I don't care if it takes me 2 weeks to install them, they will be installed.

My fiance said they look awfully "busy," but I'm reserving judgment till I see them on the car.

 

1. remove the door panels.
2. get a mini ratchet, the kind that uses bits. insert allen bit in, i'd recommend wrapping the bit with some tape to wedge it into the ratchet.
3. pull down on the cable to unhook it from the latch mechanism
4. 3 bolts hold the handle in place, 2 towards the front, 1 towards the rear. get to ratcheting. wear some gloves, lots of sharp edges in there.

next, i dont know what these handles include. not sure if its a complete handle or if they're caps in which you may have to disassemble the handle...

be patient, there isnt much room to work with in there. starts out with half turns for a couple of the screws then down to 1/4 turns. that equates to one quarter of a thread youre gaining. each screw is about 1.25 inches long.

reverse for installation. have fun

 

Well, I haven't had a chance to install them yet, but I took a few pics tonight.

The goods:



I at least got the side view mirror caps on
Before:


After:


I can see this becoming a fetish

I'll try to post a How-To this weekend when I get some free time to install the handles.

 

Yep. This is how it starts. Trust me. I know.

 

I immediately started thinking... hmmm, what else can I make checkered? I see a new rear view mirror in my future to say the least. They need to make checkered/UJ roll bar covers damnit!

 

Lookin' good, Vic !!

I'm loving those door handles, even sitting there on the table. Not sure what that is in the jar with them, but as gross as it appears, it can't detract from the beauty of those handles.

Yep, if you get the checkered bug, L K OUT !! Let's see now... so far... I have 17 items on my MC that are checkered. Soon to be 18.

By the way, whatare you waiting for... you need the checkered rearview mirror cover !

 

Its a Yankee Candle.

The handles are a little different than I imagined. Its not a vibrant white, its somewhat transluscent. You can tell if you compare the handles to the side view mirrors in the first pic.

They still look really good, just a little different than I expected.

 

I just emailed Classic MINI about instructions since they didn't come with any. Apparently MINI doesn't provide instructions for the handles, so it'll be up to us to figure it out.

 

Do glnr13's instructions above help at all ? Seems they would.

 

Most definitely I'll try to post pic's to help illustrate them too.

 

Yes please I'll catch some flak from the Frau for it so I'd like to be sure I can actually USE them first

 

The door handle is not very hard, the instructions posted here are spot on. A friend of mine had her handles changed by the dealer and she showed them off during AMVIV. They are very nice indeed.

 

If anyone sees a picture of the Black Jack door handle (other than the one from Mini Mania) can you post it here? The Mini Mania description says it's "A black & white Union Jack door handle..." the picture shows it as blue, gray and white

 

You'll definitely need a mini ratchet to pull this off. I didn't and tried to do it without and its just not possible. There is very little space to work with up in there.

 

I didn't know MINI made ratchets.

Seriously, just how small of a ratchet will we need ? And any idea what size allen bit is required ?

Thanks for blazing the trail, VS.

 

Smaller than any I could find at Lowe's. I may have to end up getting this done professionally.

 

Yikes, the install might cost more than the parts. I guess that's not unusual though, now that I think about it.

Thanks for the input, VS !

 

sheesh... givin up so quick?



here's the link to the tool: Craftsman 3 pc. Bit Wrench Set, Ratchet Screwdriver

be persistent, commit to the mod be determined and be a problem solver. fixing/modding cars is not an easy thing to do. It all comes from HotRodding... where there's a will there's a way. or, you can just pay someone to do it :shrug:

YOU CAN DO IT!