Ok, soon to be new MINI Cooper S owner here asking for everyone's experience/advice. I have a Jet Black/Jet Black MINI coming in Sept and am having the aerokit put on it, plus having the windows tinted. I am looking at more tips/tricks that others have used to match the cars parts to its body color (even if it was all Chili Red, Pepper White, Hyper Blue, etc).

A couple of other items that have been suggested:Ok, the chalice is thrown down - any takers?! What's your best idea?

Do you have photos to share of what you've done?

John

 

I have some in my nam gallery...

all you have to do is use dental floss for the rear badge...with a sawing motion...and POP then just peel the left over sticky stuff and wax

 

one option you might consider is blacking out your chrome belt line. it's not to everyone's taste, but i did it to my dark silver mcs. i just thought the long stripe of chrome that wrapped completely around the car was too much.

i used matte vinyl purchased here:

www.autobodydepot.com

part number: MMM 72793

it matches perfectly with the rubber surrounding the chrome. do a search for "chrome beltline"....there was a thread that discussed this topic.

 

Don't forget about blackened tail lamps, (or "smoked out"). You can also get smoke colored turn signal lamps, since you've already thought of the MC 's black side grill vents.

Heck, they even sell smoked reflectors for your fenders, (instead of the amber and red ones in the fenders from the factory).

You could paint your exhaust tips black, or better yet, have them powdercoated. (Or for a cheaper solution, just never wash the tips--eventually enough soot will build up that they'll look black).

Finally, if you're going all black and/or stealthy, might I recommend a shorty antenna. Yes, the stock antenna is black, and so are the shorty ones too. The difference is that the stocker looks like an R/C car antenna. The shorty is much stealthier/cooler.

 

I suggest checking out this thread. The owner has gotten rid of ALL chrome except the stuff on the inside of the headglights (which he will fix soon enough....he has the outside headlight chrome painted). He has color coded the handles, gas cap, belt line, arches and much more....check out the thread for pics and tips.

http://www.teammightyminiz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46

dont forget the obvious one....tinted windows

 

I think if you blacked out your tailighst it would be overkill. However the all clear versions look killer on all black. But I am partial I put them on my ds/b S. I want to either replace teh side markers with smoked or Clear. but I don't want them to attract the coppers. Maybe I will just tint film them so they blend in.

 

don't just think OUTSIDE your mini when you think "black-out" there are plenty of things inside you can do. Black tach/speedo, change LEDs to blacklight or ultrawhite, etc etc etc

Also if you want to try a cheap effective way go buy some good electrial tape and you can use it to blakout your chrome beltline. It doesn't look to bad if you wash and dry your car then stick it on.... 1 hint cut the tape to match the ends of each panel... DONT wrap it around...

if you can any questions about what I have done... PM me... and everythign I have done is in my sig (see below) also here is a link to some stuff I have done to Lucy Click Here

-Josh

 

Excellent ideas. Thanks for the link to DrDrumanBass' journey with his MINI over on TeamMightyMINIz. Very cool stuff.

John

 

I've been considering removing a taillight and trying to disassmble it to paint the chrome detail inside black. Anyone ever take one apart? I am not real fond of the blacked out covers for the tails.

I'va alos been thinking about removing the side S grill and painting it black, except leave the S in red and chrome.

I have done the tint, blacked beltline and blacked out marker lights.

 

I had the same idea about the tail lights - somebody with a VW Jetta told me that he had to put his in a toaster oven to warm up the glue, then it pulled right apart. Not sure how the Mini ligth comes apart, but maybe keep this in mind if you run into trouble - just be careful with the temp!

 

It is possible....and there is actually a thread somewhere on here about how to do it. I will try finding it. You dont need to melt any glue like the joey mod, so no toasting. You just dremel off some tabs and the entire assembly comes apart. I want to do the opposite of you guys and tint the red parts and leave the chrome.

 

aha....found the thread....enjoy

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ghlight=sumwon

 

Cool! Thanks!

 

Ok, so here's my plan so far with the blacking out:

• Full Aerokit
• Replace side vents with base model black vents, but retain the white turn signal (may smoke them later)
• Have the headlight rings, door handles, and gas cap removed, prepped and painted body color black
• 3M black vinyl tape for the waistline chrome
• Remove the "Cooper S" badge from the rear
• Tint windows to max legal (35% rear, 50% front in VA)

What will be left is the wheels (stock 17" that come with the performance run flats), trim around the brake lights (just thought of that), the lenses (headlights, side turn signals, brake/tail light assembly), and the chrome tips on the exhaust pipes.

Think I 'll go with that to start with, take some pics and see what it looks like before going further. Thoughts?

John

 

cool. can't wait to see it.

 

Sounds like a plan. I can't wait to see the painted bits. I've consider putting a painted non-S gas cap cover on, and keep the original. It would be cool if you could somehow smoke the MINI badges too.
Are you going to paint all of the fender flares too?

 

 

Well, that about covers evrything we have been talking about! nice find!

I think it needs some contrast, maybe silver wheels or something?

 

maybe it needs less contrast.. smoked headlights?

 

I too have the affinity for black MCSs. Mine is pretty dark (beltine, aero grilles, side vents painted...had to keep the red "S") but why on earth would you smoke your headlights!?!?
Talk about unsafe and a stupid way to diminish the amazing light of those xenon lamps.

Be realistic people.

TJM

 

What a great find - it really allows me to preview what I have in mind. I'll keep the stock wheels for awhile, but I'd love to know what wheels/tires you have there - where'd you get them.

Thanks for that!

john

 

From what I read, there doesn't seem to be a way to replace the S cap cover with a base model cap cover very easily. And of those that tried it, no one seemed satisfied with the results. That's why I'm opting for the paint.

I was not going to mod the fender flares at this point, though the thought crossed my mind.

john

 

I like this one also:

 

 

Hello Folks,

I just wanted to say I can lend a hand on some of ur blackness needs. I do Powdercoating in my spare time & have done a lot of work for others on other forums. I can do a lot of your small stuff, like the headlite trim & door handles, and other small items. I can only do up to 18" items, as that is the size limit of my oven. I am building a bigger oven and will be able to do larger pieces soon.

I have extrememly reasonable prices & only powdercoat items I am familar with. I just wanted to offer this up to anyone because this is such a great site & I would love to be able to give a lil back.

Thanks,

Cole