I see that the non-S has the option of getting the chrome gas cap. Since the non-S comes with a body-colored door (and then a regular plastic gas cap behind that)...what happens to the door? Does it simply unscrew somehow then you use the chrome gas cap instead of the one that would be used behind the door?

 

I believe the entire trim ring that the gas door attaches to is replaced. The chrome door comes with a new trim ring that the dealer has to paint to match your car.

 

Hmm...not saying you're not right, but it seems strange that the dealer would be painting anything. So is the chrome cap a "door" as well, just one that is recessed into the body panel?

The pics just look like the door is removed, and the chrome cap sits in where the regular gas cap would be. Has anyone had first-hand experience with this?

Also, with gas at all-time high prices, gas theft is becoming a concern. Does the Mini (standard or chrome capped) have an inside-the-car release, or can it be opened by anyone?

Thanks!

 

There is a DIY on here some where about swapping the two.

 

The dealer's probably not going to be painting it themselves, but their pet bodyshop will.

From what I remember, the chrome cap that you can get installed onto the Cooper isn't exactly the same as the one on the S. That was the extent of my research, since by that point I'd made the mistake of test driving and S and there was no going back.

 

the gas cap locks when the car is locked so that it cant be opened unless you have the key. there is no "gas cap door popper" inside the car.

 

Could someone post the link to the do-it-yourself instructions on how to install the chrome gas cap?

I decided not to include the chrome gas cap option for my MC '09 because the dealer was going to charge $350 for this option. But then I saw that I could purchase the chrome gas cap on one of the MC sites and install it myself. But, I'm worried about the detail about having the paint the outside ring to match the car body color (and I'm no expert at this). Is installing the chrome gas cap yourself difficult to do? Does the paint job on the ring have to be perfect so it won't look lousy on the car?

Thanks!

 

I was going to order this option until I found out the dealership had to paint to match....I just don't want someone painting the car when it's brand new. IIRC it added like $200 to the price of the gas cap.

They really should make it a factory option, a lot more people would take it then I would bet.

Analogeezer

 

I am interested in doing this mod as well, however I have only be able to find the DIY instructions for the Gen 1 Coopers.

 

My dealer installed it for $60

 

i got this option and it WAS painted by the paint shop at the dealer. Looks great!

 

Just buy an MCS

Problem solved.

 

+1

 

I ordered this option. My dealer quoted me $290. But when I picked up the car, they said it would take them a couple more weeks to get the parts in. So now it is a month later and still no chrome gas cap. I checked a couple of days ago, and they say they got the chrome cap in, but are waiting for the surround piece. Does it really take 4-5 weeks to get a part from Mini?

But yes, they did confirm that the surround piece has to be painted, but they told me they can do that on their own and then just install it when I bring my car in.

 

Could take weeks. At delivery, my Mini had a scratch on black plastic piece on the bottom of the rear bumper. They ordered a new piece...took almost 2 months.

 

Here is the web site of a very resourceful Gen 1 MC owner. I used Chris' writeup to install my own chrome 'S' gas cap this past weekend. I would expect the Gen 2 to be very similar if not the same (with the exception of the shape of the chrome cap.
The trim ring requires paint. Although I have all of the required equipment to do automotive paint work, I decided to use a pre-loaded spray can of Chili Red base coat from the local automotive paint store. The cost was about 1/4 that of purchasing a pint. Then I used catalized OMNI clear from a recent job. SEM makes rattle can clear that could be used but I feel that a quality clearcoat will hold up better to fuel spills and rubs.
The job (not including paint) took about an hour because I took my time and I washed the dirt off of the wheelwell liner.
I really like the finished product.

BTW- I got my 'S' cap kit from Outmotoring.com