Hello all

First time posting on this forum. I recently purchase a 2007 R56 MCS with JCW Aero Kit. I notice when I purchase the car there is a gap in between the wheel arches and bonnet. The bonnet also does not align properly with the front grill. It is about 3-4 CM off. I've attached a picture below.

I want to get my bumper refitted at the dealer but they estimated it is going to take 3 hours of labour. I was wondering if it is possible to DIY? I was told by the dealer that clips are going to break if I want to remove the bumper and wheel arches. Are those clips replaceable?

I try searching on the internet / forums on removing front bumper and wheel arches instruction but no luck. Can anyone kindly provide some useful links so I can read up on the problem. If you have instructions on how to fix the problem can you PM me please.

Thank you in advance.

 

I have gaps in mine, too. I think it may be the nature of the beast. I have had the front bumper and arches off a few times, and I don't think that helps matters. The clips are cheap and available at any dealer. They are gray. They go on easy, but to take the arches off you break the clips. The sound is ghastly, but don't worry. All is well. To take the bumper off, you have to remove a bunch of screws and rivets, including two in the wheel well. It's not too hard to figure out once you look around. Just be sure to label the placement of each screw and rivet when you take it out.

 

Do you have any PDF instruction I can look at? Anything would help!

Thanks

 

don't mean to threadjack, but I thought it was not a good idea to put the license plate there because it will block air to the intercooler...

 

Attached is a PDF for installation of the Alta FMIC. It has pretty good direction for taking the front off.

 

@VMCMDN I actually got one of those tow hook license plate holder.

@gkp Looking at my picture, do you think I need to remove the wheel arches?

 

A few thoughts/questions.....

Did you buy the car with the ground effects painted (not sure if it was an option back then).

I ask because is there any warranty left?

The other thing is it shouldn't take 3 hours to adjust that. Looking at the pics, it looks like your hood needs adjustment.

Anyway, I'd try it myself before I paid a dealer 100+ per hour for 3 hours.

Not sure where you are located but if you're in NC, you can bring it to either one of my bodyshops and I'll adjust it for you for free.

Mark

 

@orangecrush

Yes there is warranty a year and half warranty left.

When I got it the wheel arches and lower bumper were painted to match the car colour.

I live in Vancouver BC but thank you so much for the kind offer. =D

 

If your in Florida bring it to my bodyshop so i can charge you $150 a hour

 

If there's warranty left, take it to the dealership. Body parts get warrantied too....


Mark

 

Here is the R56 install instructions for the JCW Aero Kit.

http://webpages.charter.net/jimchris...structions.pdf

 

You don't have to remove the entire arch but, if I remember right, the first few clips have to be broken because you have to pull out the bottom of the arch to get at one of the screws.

 

You DO NOT have to break any clips on the arches to get the front bumper off or on. It is very SIMPLE to remove.

Now I can tell you from my experience of installing the entire JCW Aero Kit the there is literally NO adjustments to the bumper cover at all. It bolts on with no adjustment.

Now, as for the Bonnet, there may be some adjustment, but mine has a gap between the arch and the bonnet...it's normal.

I will say this again as I have seen many people here Nit Picking their cars to death.
IF IT AIN"T BROKE... DON'T FIX IT!

 

You're right, you don't have to but chances are you will...

On average if you do enough of these, they will get broken. We've done bunches of minis in my shops and just last week I had to buy 25 bucks worth of clips for arches for a customer's 2009 cooper.

I hope you get lucky like Jim says but if I were a betting man, I'd have a few extra clips laying around.

My .02 worth...


Mark

 

You DO risk breaking clips if you try to remove the entire Arch. If you are just getting the bumper off, then the arch moves enough in the front to get to the one screw on the side. I believe there is also a clip that holds the bumper as well that you have to get to from the wheel well.

If your replacing side skirts(rocker panels)...I can tell you, you have to break EVERY clip to get them off.

 

Man, I'm sorry... apparently I opened my mouth too soon. I didn't read the fact that you guys were differentiating between taking the entire flare off or just pulling it back enough to get the frt cover on/off.

My bad,


Mark

 

Mark,

A little shout out to a fellow NC Mini owner. I live in Hickory.

You guys ever meet anywhere in the CLT area?

 

There's a few clubs around here but I pick and choose the events I go to. Check out the SE events section, you'll see a couple of clubs that get together on a pretty regular basis.

Mark