Tonight I was doing my now annual Winter MINI Detail, and during one of my breaks I pondered what I could change about my MCS to make it look alot more aggressive, and alot neater. I couldn't really find anything that I couldn't change with already available products. Except for the plastic cruddy vents up by the windshield. I haven't seen vents on the market yet that look good.

This is where I thought M7 would come in. Their Ultimate Grill looks awesome in black mesh, and in Polished. I think it would be awesome if they would come out with what I would like to christen "The Ultimate Vents", sharing the same or close to the same mesh pattern as the ultimate grills. I believe this would complete the look for any MINI, and won't look cheap, like other manufacturer's vents. Plus it might even provide some additional engine cooling capability.

Don't know just an idea...

Mikey

 

I second this idea.

 

I tripple it

Going along with the ultimate theme, the side vents might also look good in the mesh pattern...

 

How about an Ultimate Grill for the Aero Kit??

Mikey

 

Be proactive. Get some wire and do it custom; the hard part about it is deviation from the stock desgin is actually quite complex and far more than just hioles to ensure proper cooling and lack of water hitting the filter.

 

Thanks for thinking of us on this . I can safely say that the front grill piece for the Aero kit are in the design stage and should be a stock item in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Next in line will be the rear aero pieces to replace the decals that come stock. As for the two spots in front of the windsheild we will talk about that and see what may be done. Thanks again

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Something like this?





I also did this same mod on my dad's Cooper, but painted the mesh black to better go with his colors, and it came out great (better than mine, I must admit)...

Let me know if this is something like what you're thinking about.
Take care,
Leo.

 

lookin nice... now quick... sell all you can before M7 jumps on board!!

 

Those look really good , nice job !

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

the problem with those top ones if if water can get right in there.
the factory vents mysteriously () prevent water from getting
inside.

 

Cool! Very well done 13

How did you go about doing it? Are they cut up stock vents with grilles attached somehow?

Any lower angle pics (to see if they stick up like the stock ones)

 

That looks great.....nice job

 

No prob dude, The front grill I don't think would be that big of an issue just a little different shape but same philosophy as the one now, the rear pieces I think would take a little engineering to install (cutting out then dremeling or w/e). Overall though I can't wait to see these pieces. M7 looks like it will have a fun filled summer, with lots of awesome products coming out.

Mikey

 

You are correct the front grill is just a different shape evertyhing else remains the same . As for the rears those will have to be started from scratch but not a real problem. " A fun filled summer " well that is one way of looking at it LOL . I see a ton of work ahead bringing some new ideas into reality but it will be interesting to say the least.

Randy
m7 Tuning

 

I really can't wait!

Mikey

 

Hey again. Lost post, sorry...!

Thanks everybody for the . To answer some questions and help on those going for this mod, here we go:

Somebody brought up the fact of water getting in there; as far as I can tell, there is no problem if a little bit of water runs there anyways, but to be honest, I have not had any problems with rust *knock wood* since 2002.

How to do it: very simple, get about 10 bucks (to cover tax) and go to your local Home Depot/Lowes store.

List: One (I bought 2; used one for the vents, one for the lower grille - not shown in pics) gutter leaf-thingie... um, what's it called? Those things you put on your gutter to keep leaves from clogging it... Hopefully you'll have some wire-cutters already, so you don't have to buy it...

Step one: take off the stock vents: just push from the top *windshield part* down and you'll see 3 connecting clips (carefull with the nails).

In here, the driver's side is off, being worked on. Passenger's side is finished.


Step two: After the vents are off, just unclip them from each other and take the stock foamy thingie off... If your car is more than a week old, it should look very beat up (the foamy thingie that I'm talking about are in the earlier models, 2002/2003 - not sure if they kept it in the 2004s and on. They changed the design!).

Step three: MAKE A TEMPLET! I didn't, and screw up once. Take a marker (Sharpie will do) and place the stock vent over the gutter-thingie. Try to make the gutter leveled, so that it doesn't have too much of a curve. Just bend it with ease and it'll work with ya. Anyways, with the sharpie, make the line on the gutter, then with the cutter, trim off around the line's edges. Try it on for fit without closing the clips completely. Work around it as necessary...

Step four: If you're happy with the shape and how everything turned out, then with a sharp razor (careful with the fingers) trim off the honey-comb patter from the stock vent-piece (top part). It's pure plastic, and it will just slice through it with ease. Don't rush, take your time and do a good job.

Step five: Assemble it. Put everything where it should be, lower piece remains, then gutter-metal, then the stock upper part (trim only, you cut off the honey-comb!). Here is where it gets tricky: if you have to, apply some superglue to the gutter-metal and make it stick to the lower part of the vent. It has some slots running up-and-down on it, so you can use those to your advantage. Pic:



Step six: You're done! Be careful with the glue (if needed) and place it back in the car; it just snaps into place. Then do the same for the other side.

Additional steps, not required: If you're painting it, then there are 2 ways of doing it. Either paint the metal first, then carefully apply it to the vent, or set it up first, then tape all around it, and paint afterwards. I did both ways, but for my car (metalic paint is a b*tch), I had to do the hard way and set it up first, and tape everything... Pic:



If you have to tape it, be careful with the lines that run up-and-down on the lower part, because you'd have to tape those up, too. Otherwise you'd have lines running through your mesh design - not cool... After that, you're done. Go to step six!

Some more pics: I hope I got the lower angle right, I know somebody was asking for it...







Sorry for the extremelly long post, people, but I hope this helps youse fine folks out there looking into this mod. It's really easy and cheap, but it affects the appearance in a good way... I think. hehe.

Take care,
Leo.