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JCW GarageInterested in John Cooper Works (JCW) parts for your 1st Generation MINI? This is where JCW upgrades and accessories for the Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs are discussed.
I have a set of those. They're intentionally convex on both sides.
I think you are missing my point.....the drivers side mirror and passenger side mirror reflect what's behind me differently.....I'm not talking about the last third of the glass lens on each mirror....I'm talking about the first two-thirds of the glass lens....I have sat in each seat and looked at what is behind me in both mirrors.....my drivers side mirror, also known as the left side, reflects what is behind me completely different than the right side mirror.....the passenger side, also known as the right side reflects items in the mirror normally, not distorted like the left side......which leads me to think these were made for the UK cars over there
No, I’m saying that the inner two-thirds is intentionally convex on both sides. It’s a common thing in Europe.
Are you sure they’re different, or are you just used to the US spec of a convex mirror on the right and a planar mirror on the left?
Maybe I should have called them both aspherical.
As I have stated before, numerous times....the mirrors are different on the inner two thirds of the glass.....not sure how I can explain it any clearer.....one was marked "L", the other was marked "R"....that's where I put the mirrors on my car. Looking at the mirrors from sitting in each seat in the car, the reflection of the items beside me & behind me are different, as in one side is not the same as the other. Right side looks normal, left side doesn't (Left side is my drivers side)
I can only explain it to you, I can't understand it for you
So by “right side looks normal,” you mean it looks like a left side US-spec planar mirror, and not that it looks like a US-spec convex right side mirror. If that’s the case, then just swap the mirrors side-to-side. They’re symmetrical, IIRC. I’m pretty sure you’ll discover that it won’t change things though.
I have a new key with three button fob and the new valet key coming to me...sometime soon, I hope. I did get my original fob working by replacing the battery and pairing the fob back to the car.
Both new keys set me back $270 from the dealer.....ouch
Those are great plates. I especially like how the rounded notches match the rib in the strut tower instead of having a squared groove machine into it, and the T-nuts to keep the mounting holes at full thickness unlike other plates. If you also have the strut tower bar, you might have to soak the hood pad with water a few times to compress it so the back of the hood doesn’t stick up from the cowl. Here are some pics of my install.
Not a lot to update here, but I did finally get an answer back from the eBay seller I got the polarized mirrors from. They told me to swap mirrors from side to side. I told them I was skeptical of pulling the mirrors back off for fear of breaking them. They said they would warranty them if they broke.
Now, I asked them if these mirrors were designed for the UK cars in mind because they are right hand drive. They didn't come out and say anything about that, but they sent me these three pictures with instructions. I will let you draw your own conclusions if these are for LHD or RHD cars.
I'm going to try and swap mirrors this weekend, wish me luck
Installed a few of the new parts I have had for the car. New PRW balancer, new drilled and slotted rear rotors to match the fronts. New euro tail lights
Tried to get the Euro storage shelf under the steering column installed, but it's fighting me
Re mirrors --- like deepgrey, I too bought some of those Helix mirrors and I too had to re-glue them and let me tell you it is pretty alarming to hit a bump and have the mirror pop off! Luckily saved by the heater wire.
Overall was great disappointment, but then discovered that there is a factory MINI part for aspherical mirrors so started looking out for them and happily scored a bargain for a NOS set on ebay, and I totally love them although they did require an adjustment period to get used to.
And yeah,
that euro parcel shelf can be a real pain to install, just breathe easy and be patient and it'll go, but must admit that I never look forward to taking it back off when I need to --- the regular one is such an easy pop 'n drop, but the euro shelf can get really really fiddly.
that euro parcel shelf can be a real pain to install, just breathe easy and be patient and it'll go, but must admit that I never look forward to taking it back off when I need to --- the regular one is such an easy pop 'n drop, but the euro shelf can get really really fiddly.
yea, that's what I was finding out....I can't get the little mounting screw to line up with the plastic retainer to hold up the right side of the shelf....I was getting frustrated and decided to walk away until another time.
yea, that's what I was finding out....I can't get the little mounting screw to line up with the plastic retainer to hold up the right side of the shelf....I was getting frustrated and decided to walk away until another time.
Bryan
Yeah, it's a major PITA. IIRC, the shelf has to flex in ways that seem unnatural. I like having it but hate dealing with the installation.
Did you ever figure out your mirror situation? I haven't ever found my spare set so that I could take a closer look at them. They're probably stuffed in a box in storage somewhere...
Did you ever figure out your mirror situation? I haven't ever found my spare set so that I could take a closer look at them. They're probably stuffed in a box in storage somewhere...
contacted the ebay seller and voiced my concern about the mirrors being "wrong" for me.....and I told them I was afraid to try and remove them for fear of breaking the glass
They said that they would replace the mirror or mirrors if they broke....so I got my plastic pry tool and swapped the mirrors from side to side.....all looks good now. I told them that the stickers that they had on the back of the mirrors said "L" & "R".....and being they are overseas, I'm sure that they are RHD cars over there....so I suggested that they mark the rear of the mirror with "Drivers side" & "Passenger side" for both RHD cars and our cars over here which are LHD. Whether they changed the markings, I don't know
Found these rear bumper cover inserts the other day. Made of metal, not plastic. Need to get these installed along with some of the other items I still have not yet put on the car
Found these rear bumper cover inserts the other day. Made of metal, not plastic. Need to get these installed along with some of the other items I still have not yet put on the car
I'm with Husky44 -- those look cool. I wonder how they's look painted with cast aluminum paint. Can you share where you bought them?
I bought them from a member in a Facebook group that we belong to.....I asked him where he got them from, below is his answer
They were originally made by a company called grillecraft and m7 branded them. but they also went out of business.
He says it's been so long that he doesn't even remember the price. He also has the same style mesh grilles for the front of the car as well, he's debating on selling those at this time. The reason he sold me the rears is because he put the Aero style rear bumper cover on his car and these won't fit the Aero bumper
A383 where did you get the VIP plates from? I cant find any supplier down here in OZ
tks Russ
JCW R52 Cooper S
Are you referring to the large Euro style plate on the front of the car? I got it from eBay or Amazon, I can't remember. They have a section where you can put what you want on the plate. Was around $30 American currency if I remember.
Bryan ty but no I was referring to the front VIP strut plates
Russ
VIP is a small machine shop operated out of a residential property in Arizona (not far from me). From prior comments here, I contacted the owner a few days ago asking about the combo kit of tower plates (shown available) and cross bars (shown "sold out"), to which his reply was that he is out of stock on the bars with no current plans to produce more due to the significant price increase in USA-produced aluminum stock. The plates still have drilled/tapped holes for the no longer available bars but can be ordered direct or from his USA eBay store. VIP Custom Parts
If you're looking for just the tower plates, the ones I like best are ECS Tuning's, which are large enough to provide effective clamping however not nearly as large (not needing area for bar attachment) as those produced by VIP, M7, Way Motor Works etc. ECS Strut Tower Plate Kit - Black
