Ok so this Mini:
had the chrome grille replaced with the black 'S' grille. I bought an 'S' grille and tried installing in on my Cooper but it didn't fit properly and I returned it. So my question is, what did I do wrong and how can I get a black 'S' grille to fit on my Cooper?

 

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...rill_trim.html

or

http://www.fastmini.net/blgr2.html

I got mine from fastMINI

 

Thanks for your help! I now understand why I had a problem. I purchased the stock 'S' black grille and not the JCW body kit black grille. The JCW grille must be made to fit in the same way as the stock MC grille, because the stock MCS and MC grilles are not interchangeable.

 

Leica, were the plastic rivets a 'snap' to install?(bad pun)
I checked my Clubman grill out thinking I'd replace it the day I picked up the car.
The JCW grill looks great.

 

They're not bad to work with. I reused the original ones. They pop out by working a thin flat screwdriver behind the head and prying, one side, then the other until they work their way out. I used a small hammer to tap them back in.

 

Do you have to cut holes for the factory driving lights? Also for the mechanically uninclined, like myself, is it pretty easy to do?

 

Did the grille swap out on my MC (non S) and it wasn't too bad. Here is a good post on how too: Here

And some of your questions can surely be answered here

I know for sure at the bottom of the second link they talk about the driving lights, didnt really read it, but hopefully it will help. Good luck, and let us know if you have any other questions.

Oh yea, got my grille from Outmotoring.com...fast and good people, but most mini suppliers seem to be good. Good luck and I'm sure you will like the results!

 

I got the JCW black grille and trim from MachV, and installed it today on my MC Clubman in about 15 minutes. It would have taken less time had I figured out the clips more quickly. (PM me if you'd like a clear and and detailed how-to.)

Before:


After:

 

These grills are looking good. Lot's of good info in here.

For anyone who has tried to install the MCS on an MC.....what has changed? Are they a different size....shape? Just curious

 

I wish the S had a chrome grille, but that's just me I guess..

 

Loooookin' Gooooood

 

I swapped my MC chrome grill with the black MCS (not JCW) grill. The fit, if I recall, was nearly spot-on, but there were some small fit issues. Namely, the MCS grill had to be bowed just a bit in order to make it work with the existing top (chrome) slat -- i.e., the part that's actually attached to the bonnet. The bottom slat is specific to the grill and needs to be swapped entirely to match the new MCS grill.

I'm not sure why others are saying that the MCS grill won't fit at all.

 

That's what I was wondering....cause I know there was a silver MCS that was running an MC Chrome grill without problems too.

I know on the r50/r53 the MCS was VERY slightly different from the MC....but you could still fit it easily. It sounds like this is the same way. It takes a little bowing, but will still fit.

Thanks

 

Those grills look great.I decided on the black slats vs. the JCW grill.

 

These all look very nice!!!

 

Yeah, eburr, I like the chrome, too. Which is why I'm going to keep it in the attic and switch it out when the black gets old. At the moment, though, I'm liking the black because I think it looks great with the stripes. And with the gunmetal wheels I'm putting on this week.

BUT Oxybluecoop . . . Those black slats are excellent! Is that a vinyl job? Euro-part?? The slats are good IMHO because they fill the grille space better.

 

I had them painted at a shop.

 

The black slats look fantastic....too bad they don't make an aftermarket grill like that.....I think the JCW hexagons are a little big.....

 

The black slats are an option on the ONE and Dooper.No idea as to why they aren't an option here.

 

I don't know what the "one and dooper" is.

 

Mini One is the base model, with a 1.4 engine. Not available in the US.
"Dooper" is a nickname given to the Cooper D(iesel), also not available in the US.

 

You could probably do it with blackout tape too, couldn't you?

 

Thanks for the info.

 

how did you get 148whp in a regular cooper?

 

I prefer the chrome grill myself, that's why we got the chrome option for Quentin.