Hi,

I have an '04 MCS with the Alloy Patina interior. I saw one other post about this on this site but it has not been udpated since last year.

Anyhooo, I can't stand the alloy patina and was wondering if someone wanted to swap dashes (5-piece) with me. I would take the silver or the anthracite, doesn't matter to me.

I'll pay for the shipping too.

If anybody is interested, please let me know. Thanks.

Edit: I live in Brooklyn NY and would meet up with anyone remotely close to here (to save on shipping of course!)

The first person to respond (via pm) also kindly offered to pay for shipping to me (*very* honorable).

Oh and lastly the only reason I got the alloy patina in the first place was because I picked up the car from the lot. I waited two weeks for the car instead of 4 months as was originally quoted if I had ordered to spec.

One more thing is that I did not have the HK system and therefore do not have the fancy speaker surrounds - just the standard ones.

 

Have you considered having the pieces sanded and refinished professionally? It would cost a bit (no idea how much), but then you could basically have the pieces look however you want. Maybe try sending a private message to very helpful NAM member minihune, who I believe has a custom-painted dash.

I sympathize with you about the alloy patina; I always forget how ugly it is until I take a look inside an S.

Good luck, and welcome to NAM!
Chris

 

Check out this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=minihune+dash

Looks like he paid around $320 for airbrushing, so I'm sure you could get a simpler job done for much cheaper.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

I saw the thread before I posted and to be honest, was not crazy about the way it looked though craftmanship cannot be dissed in any way.

I know I can order the replacement parts from Mini (~$300) but just thought I'd test my luck and see if anyone is willing to trade!

 

I'm curious, though, how much it would cost, instead of doing 15-20 pieces in custom airbrushed wood finish, to just do the five dash pieces in something like a basic silver or anthracite (or red, or whatever) finish. Somebody must know...

Anyway, good luck finding a swap; that's definitely the cheapest way to go!

 

Holy cr*p you have a lot of posts. I joined in June 2004 and this will make 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I really hope someone comes through.....

 

I actually like the alloy patina dash, as has everyone who has ridden in my car. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

Yeah, it seems to be pretty much a love or hate thing. Kind of like PT Cruisers or Elements!

 

I can't stand EITHER of those cars! Drove the PT in Maui - TURBO version - handled like doo doo....and the Element my father has and that drives like a BOAT.

Btw, I have had to PM's about the SWAP! WOO HOO. Hopefully everything works out as both have asked for the door panels as well.

 

What does Alloy Patina look like?

 

JerseyGirl was the first one to paint her dash the same color same as her car long before MINI offered it. I’m thinking MINI stole the idea from what she did myself. Her MINI looks awesome.

Many people have done interior mods. You just have to look around to find them.

 

This is the only pic I have of my car....

 

Hey LOTF, if one of those is in the CA area - forward on your 'reject' to me!

The wife loves the AP, I love the anthracite - and it's MY car! :smile:

 

hmmm . . I'm gonna try and check that out in person (ill be at a dealership in the next week or two)


If i like it as much in person as i do in your picture ill trade you for my silver one : )

Some conditions though . . Ill be picking it up in person . . Im in DE now .

We'll discuss it more.

Feel free to email me if ya like .

Gixxerryder1371 (AT) yahoo.com

 

One thing to note is that Alloy patina finish isn't friendly to painting- I have heard that OEM color paint will not adhere well.

When I painted my dash I had spare pieces of anthracite dash that I used to have painted. The silver downtubes and any plastic non finished parts were no problem to paint.

Yes you can paint only the 5 dash pieces and it will cost you materials and labor.
How much depends on the body or paint shop- do more stuff while you are at it like the Intercooler cover, mirror covers, or wheel arches and side skirts for a better discount.

Jerseygirl had her painted dash already done by the dealer when she bought it.

As for my dash- my pictures do not do it justice. Send a PM to Hafid, he saw it recently on this trip both day and night. I really like it at night when the lights sparkle against the undercoat which is pretty light during the day.

 

AP, like someone said is a "love it or hate it" thing. I like mine in my EB/EB Mcs, but I also have Lapis Blue leather and I see many of the same comments about it. I only see perfection.

 

Will do!

 

If I had had my druthers, I'd have ordered the lapis blue myself.

Instead I got stuck with the black leather (didn't order car as edited in first post, picked up on lot)

 

Just an FYI that taking off the part that covers the airbag requires intense precision. If you're not 100% comfortable at attempting to do this yourself, please don't try.

I have not taken it off yet but it involves taking off the top of the dash (not too hard, two screws on either side) and no one wants to even think about triggering the airbag!

 

Unplug battery, wait 30 minutes, monkey with airbag!

 

And Loose My Presets ! ? ?! ?!?!


GAH Id rather risk setting the airbag off ! lol

J/K btw.

If we end up dash swapping Ill be in Brooklyn when mine comes off : )

 

Yeah, the Alloy Patina will make you hang yourself if you have major OBD because of it.

You guys know how they pattern it right? They use rubber flipflops that are made in China, and they press it, grip down on the dash material.

 

So is the alloy patina just painted plastic? I woulda thought they'd do something cooler for the S!

 

Alloy Patina is really "Unobtainium". Much lighter than just painted plastic.

 

Ok here are some pics of my interior. I just took 'em.

Still waiting to hear from the first guy. If I don't hear from him by Tuesday, it'll be next person in line....