Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior r53 jcw grille change

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 21, 2018 | 04:44 PM
  #1  
yyj3869's Avatar
yyj3869
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
10 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 41
From: Socal
r53 jcw grille change

i've purchased jcw grille on Amazon and I actually replaced lower grille pretty easily but the upper grille. I used 10mm socket to remove washer nuts and it spins but won't come off. how do i have to remove the washer nuts?
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2018 | 06:20 PM
  #2  
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
4th Gear
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 496
Likes: 106
The nuts create a thread on the plastic posts. If over tightened (more often than not) they spin and strip the threads they've created in the plastic. If you wedge something (screw driver) between the back of the nut and the metal of the hood the nuts should grab and start coming off when turned with a wrench. It's hassle for sure.
 
Reply
Old Apr 22, 2018 | 06:29 PM
  #3  
OCR's Avatar
OCR
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 795
Likes: 122
From: SoCal
Na, not so much.
I removed the "bar" grill (correct name ?), from my 05, R53. I tried something different on most every nut on my grill...nothing. I used an Exacto knife blade, a small screw driver blade to "help" the nut find or make new threads, a "very" thin wire cutter to "wedge" the nuts off as the nut was rotated... Nothing worked. I finally just used the thin wire cutters and cut the posts. And yes, unfortunately, that rendered the old grill useless.

Use care in what-ever method you use, it's easy to drop the nuts into un-findable locations. A large towel or something over the engine to catch the nuts and plastic washers. Though both are purchasable IF required..!

I also installed the JSW grill. I kinda like the grill with the smaller holes...may swap it down the road a little.

Mike
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mach V Dan
How to
20
Dec 7, 2016 01:19 PM
ig109
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
7
Nov 10, 2009 02:24 PM
PlayPlay
All other MINI parts and items for Sale (archive)
7
Jul 17, 2008 02:36 PM
MiniBlueVancouver
All other MINI parts and items for Sale (archive)
7
Apr 11, 2008 09:13 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:31 PM.