Are the side scuttles made to have the parts separate? I am thinking about painting the screen around the light and cannot figure out if it needs to be done as a unit or taken a part. It looks like from realoem that the scuttle is ordered as a complete unit, but eBay lists inserts separately.

 

The scuttle consists of three parts:

1) An anthracite or chrome outer piece which uses pop-rivets to attach to the car

2) An insert (typically a black waffle on stock "S" models; colored varieties can be purchased from MINI directly, including a JCW version)

3) A reflector lens which houses the turn-signal bulb

It sounds like you are looking to paint item #2 above. If so, the insert does detach from the outer piece. It is actually fairly easy to remove, but you have to remove the entire scuttle assembly from the car to do so (which is not difficult).

 

This may help you a little.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-scuttels.html

 

Thanks for the link

 

I wish this was a topic a few weeks ago. I had a heck of a time taking my scuttles off. I eventually got it off. The cold weather and tight area didn't help me out at all.