My mini has messed up piece of grill trim that I have purchased the replacement piece but I want to consult with you guys before proceeding. The picture below has the problem circled. The upper trim piece of the lower grill is what needs to be swapped. What's the easiest way to do this?

 

i'm pretty sure that piece is just double sided taped to the lower grill piece. i will have to check mine in the basement when i get home.... so don't start pulling yet.

you are just replacing that one trim piece, and not the entire lower part right?

 

It's just the one top piece. It does look like there is double sided tape on the replacement piece I have. If it's only taped, do I just pull until it comes off or is there a technique that is going to work easier and safer?

 

i believe that you have to take the bumper off to replace it. but if you choose to put an aero grill on there are some on mini mania that you just use double sided tape to put over them..

http://www.motoringfile.com/howto/MI...ll_install.pdf this is for the aero grille but you can see you need to take off the bumper to get to it..

 

I'll have to take some pictures tonight (more like early morning) when I get home from work to show you the back of the replacement piece I have. I know for replacing both parts of the lower-upper grill I would have to take off the bumper but for the one part I am replacing I am thinking there is a good chance I won't have to. But I'll take some pictures to give you all a better idea of what I am dealing with.

 

i completely spaced and didn't check my lower grill last night. i don't think you need to remove the bumper for that one piece. take pictures, and i will look when i get home tonight.

 

so I got home way too late last night to take pictures. Will try to get them tonight.

 

cool..yeah i took a look at my car last night and it does look like a seperate peice..but it was dark out so i could be seeing things...

 

I've done the Areo Grill mod for half a dozen folks....you don't have to remove the bumber cover...but doing so makes it a little easier to get the lower grill piece off....I like to put it on a table covered with a blanket then cut new slots for the taps on the new grill piece....but I digress

Yes, the piece you want to replace is 'just' held to the grill piece with double sided tape - assuming that part is the same as on the S. That entire grill piece is held to the bumper cover with tabs and double sided tape. Another advantage of removing the bumper cover for the grill replacement is that you can work this grill piece from both sides.. Oops, digressed again. "Just" tape .... it is strong tape! You can really soften up the sticky via a heat gun / blow dryer..... If you use a real heat gun it can come off fast but if you are not familiar with one you can also burn something. A good blow dryer will give you a safe amount of heat. Use some tongue depressors or similar wooden sticks to work the piece off as you soften the glue...wood will be very hard to mess up the paint vs a screwdriver. Be careful that you get just the trim piece you want and don't pop the entire grill piece off! Once off you then should get all the old tape off. More heat and GooGone is what I've used. Then you can use the tape that came with your part or some glue......

 

i have 2 related questions. on topic i believe.

1- how do you get the very bottom piece off an R50? the OEM piece that looks sort of like bbq diamond grill mesh metal? if you look at the op's picture it would be the 3rd grill piece from the top (his is black mine is silver).

2- the rear chrome strip on the back bumper?

thanks.