I'm trying to install the lower piece on the aero jcw grille on my 04 MCS. I've put the top piece on but the lower piece (where you manually rip out the chrome strip) has about 4 or 5 "ears" on top that are supposed to slip into the space between the bumper and grill but there isn't anyway I've found to push it in - I've already broken 3 of the lower plastic pieces that hold the thing on the lower edge of the replacement

Anyone have any tips on this? supposed to just push into place but not for me.

Steve

 

Search and you will learn that the lower part of the aero grill does not fit the standard bumper skin without considerable modification.

 

That's not great - I was told by Outmotoring that it is a snap in fitment
Thanks for your reply
Steve

 

I believe there is quite a writeup/discussion on the fitment of this part. Don't know if the Search function will get all the threads but I know it's quite a "operation" to get it to fit. I got so disgusted with mine I just plastic dipped the oem.

 

Outmotoring's website still makes clear that the lower portion requires 'considerable modification.'

 

Supposedly this newer grille requires no mods
To make it fit.

 

[QUOTE

A quote their website
For years the only grill on the market for the Gen1 worth considering was the factory Aero grill from the Aero body kit. While it is still a great option, the lower grill is a total pain to install. It remains one of our best selling products but each and every one of those lower grills was painstakingly modified to fit which is a bit of task and some people are just not interested or capable which is why this is great grill to consider if you want to ditch your standard Gen 1 Cooper or Cooper S grills.

This is a great option for those that want a simple install and also want a slightly more modern look. The pattern on this grill is very similar to the elongated mesh pattern on the Gen2 JCW grill which is a nice look.

This grill set does NOT require the extensive modification to the lower grill and is pretty simple to install. The finish is a gloss black and the material is a rigid injection molded plastic.

Sold as 2 grills. The large grill in the bonnet/hood and the long skinny grill on the front edge of the bumper.

 

To reiterate, this JCW style grille is different than
the OEM that does require substantial modification
to the bumper. It now comes in matte and gloss finish.

 

you do not need to do any modding to the jcw style lower grill to make it work. I have it on my MCS and all you do is pop the chrome piece and that little grill slat off and pop the jcw style grill in.

here is a link to some pics
https://plus.google.com/photos/11222...79540061538977

 

+1^ Mine popped right in with no mods.

 

the areo grill I know you need to either mod the grill hooks things or the bumper, most people go with the hooks instead of the bumper

 

I did ZERO mods on mine. It snapped right into place.

 

really ? i thought the areo needed modding to fit a standard bumper

 

Yes really. Once I got my old one out it literally popped right in to existing locations with NO mods.

 

Thats all very interesting - When I removed the chrome strip and went to install the new piece the first thing I noticed was that the chrome strip had distinclty different "teeth" to fit into the space needed to afix it - There was no way the top teeth would fit into the upper portion of the grille/bumper - The lower teeth fit perfectly as did the pieces on the far outer ends - rather than cut up my bumper/grille/ I cut the upper pieces off and it snapped right in -

Steve

 

@ninja turtle glad it fit did you get the matte or glossy ?

 

thats awesome that the areo grill fit right in w/o having to do anything to it. that makes life so much easier.

 

I got the matte - I figured everything else was matte - I like the look of the grille a lot -
a big improvement to my eye

 

good choice
thats the one i got, lets see pics

 

Will do just as soon as I upload a few decent ones

 

Yep - pics are needed. Been thinking about a new grill for my GP and this one is high on the list.

 

Will post soon - new on site and need to figure out precisely the technique

 

someone tell me the link to post a photo to a thread

Figured it out thanks

 

Just posted it under Ninja Turtle in member gallery - not such a great photo and sadly the car is filthy as I got caught in a major spring rainstorm

 

As a new MINI owner can someone tell me the difference in a MCS and GP and or what precisely a GP is - and how it relates to JCW in a 1st gen car if in fact it does - (now be nice I"m new here )

Thanks