I'm not the first, but I did document the install. Works fine.
(mlg2ca did it before me but its hard to find)

http://www.tarheelminis.org/entry.ph...ero-R56-bumper

 

Please send me the full write up on this EXCELLENT mod!! I'd asked over in the JCW area about swapping the grills but only after being told it wouldn't work did I consider your mod. About how long did this whole thing take, start to finish and how did you secure the ducts onto the grill, gorilla glue?? Standing by to get chopping!

Cheers!!

 

The link in my first post has most of the write up in a blog post on tarheelminis.org. Or click through the photo for the flickr set.

I did it in about 5 hours start to finish, but if you haven't pulled your bumper off before, budget another hour for that.

As for securing the ducts... you don't need to. The way I did it, they will fit into the stock bumper. Once the bumper is on, they can't move about at all. It makes taking the bumper on and off a slightly bigger pain, but that doesn't happen frequently.

For getting the bumper on/off, just follow the ALTA intercooler install directions. Once its dropped you can switch to mine.

 

looks badass. good work. I see how its tough to gauge the amount of plastic to remove. Im sure youd get it perfect next go around.

saving this thread!

 

Yer prolly not the first, but I've never seen this done yet, yer the first for me. Thanks for taking my vir... well you know what I mean. Looks good though! Knew it would!

 

You should take a look at this thread as well.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ce-needed.html

 

blitzcat,

Now that you've got my attention, the serious questions!!

1. Was this the kit you used?
2. Did you get this from the dealer?
3. Did the dealer charge more than ~$300 for the parts?

Thanks for the info as I'm looking into doing this job NEXT!!

Cheers!!

 

@Poppa Bear

1. Yes, that is the kit I used. exactly. the. same.
2. I got it from minspeed.net before they closed.
3. Morristown mini has it for sale for $110. I paid right about that much.

@slinger688
Yeah, I'm still going to get some t clamps and silicone hose to finish piping the air to the rotor after seeing that thread

 

now someones gotta do it on the Factory Aero Kit (which is like an upside-down grille) lol.. Im too skeered

 

I don't think it would be too much harder to fab the intakes for factory aero, but it would be difficult ($$$) to get a replacement grill when it was time to sell the car. Stock grills though.... everybody has one in collecting dust in their garage.

The scoops would look weird behind factory aero though. The shape of the JCW grill and stock are pretty similar. Upside down grill.... not so much.

 

thats true... i guess maybe someday ill try the spots by the fogs....

 

I don't think that would work- the curve to get the air around the tire and back to the inside of the wheel well would be too severe. I think you best bet is to remove your inner grill and store it. Get an aftermarket screen style grill kit like the M7, or run no grill and fab some sort of X cross brace in the middle between the intake ducts.

 

That sounds like a potentially very good idea. Food for thought!

 

i tried calling them all day today and there is no answer.. does anyone know if they closed shop?

 

Closed for weather, perhaps?

Cheers!!

 

If you are trying to get hold of minspeed.net, I think they are no longer operating.

 

Yeah, he sold the business.He was getting out of MINI entirely, so the new owner won't have MINI parts.
AFAIK Morristown is the best bet, and its possible they were too snowed in to open earlier.

 

Nice job Blitzcat !

I think it looks even nicer than my install

 

For an update on this: The (stock) brakes have been great/more than adequate at three track events so far this year. I boiled fluid once at CMP (out of 8 sessions), but not in a full weekend of VIR north and full. Front pads lasted less than 11,000 miles- lots of late threshold braking.

I also had an off/crash at autocross school where I partially wrecked the front bumper. The ducts took some damage but they stay in place ok, and thats good enough for me. It looks a little rough but not bad enough to buy a new bumper. Really glad I didn't have an aero kit now! I'm headed to the dragon now.

 

Your brakes lasted that long??

I am running one front set of track pads every three to four days. If I get carried away with threshold braking,the brakes last only two to three days. So far 24K miles and 5 front pads and one rear and one set of front rotors.

When you get up in run class, stock brakes start to feel rather underwhelming.

 

Slinger688,

You're an exception though. 25 days of track/yr

You THA MAN !!!

 

Was at WGI Monday and Tuesday. Weather was really cold, about 40 - 45 degrees and lots of rain and some snow inthe mornings. Track brakes just did not seem to come up to operating temperature and felt a little slow in gripping. I think I will have to think of some sort of way to blockoff the brake ducts for these conditions to make sure the brakes are in the correct heat range. Duct tape used by some others there just did not seem to work.

Anyone have a brake duct blocker?

 

Yikes !

Too cold for me man ! Did you guys run snow tires ?

I'm going to CMP on the 10th. Hopefully weather will cooperate.

 

I hope so too. I am looking forward to getting up there some day soon.

Have lots of fun.

 

Thanks ! I'm looking forward to try my RE11s and camber plates.