Greetings.
I have a 2004 MCS. I'm from South Africa and got my first mini around 6months ago. Loving it through sickness and in health.

My issue is with license plates tho. I just got a small box style plate made and want to mount it on the right-hand side of the car. Upon Removing the standard plate and its holder, I was greeted by FOUR holes. A sight that made me sick!




Its not really big, but it is indeed visable. When taking out the screws,small bits of paint and plastic came out with it :( .



Since I have black rally stripes, I figure that If used some black tape very strategically it would cover the holes nicely?

Can't believe that something like a license plate would provide enough motivation for someone to DRILL holes into the bumper!
I'd drive without one infact, but its against the law here.

Another issue I recently discovered, was that my front lower grill is sort of caving in! There seems to be no damage to the bumper, but there's a little clip down there that seems to have come out of place,and just won't clip back in :(







Maybe a little glue would hold it in place?

 

*And its been for a much needed carwash since that pic was taken :D

 

From the pics it looks like the clip is broken and the lower grille has been off long enough to get slightly deformed over time. Maybe try gluing / epoxying the tab back together and using a heat gun to heat the grille while pushing it back into place...?

Drilled holes are, unfortunately, required to use the OE license plate bracket. With a new car you can ask that it never be installed and go with one of the "no holes" aftermarket brackets that attach to the tow hook spot. Regrettably, once the OE holder is installed the holes are there to stay. Lousy design, I'd agree, but not uncommon with car manufacturers.

At least you can cover those up with the stripes.

 

My '04 Cooper S has the same issue with the center lower grille clip coming loose. I still have the clip and have latched it back in place a few times, but it always works loose again eventually. I pull the grille gently back in place with a little hook made from still wire, so you could maybe put a little glue at the tab location and pull and hold long enough for it to set? I may eventually do this to my car as well, though it doesn't bother me much.