Has anyone done a retrofit of the OEM chrome line exterior pieces that go on the bumper? I wantedt to do this to my 2006 Cooper Cabrio, and just received two of the pieces for the rear bumper as a gift. I thought they were peel and stick but much to my surprise, they have tabs that have to be inserted in the bumper cover. Since my bumper cover doesn't have the slots to receive the holes, I would have to replace the bumper cover (not and option) or cut slots in the cover to receive the tabs. This is true for the two fog light chrome rings, the front chrome strip that goes across the lower grill and the two chrome strips on either side of the fog light on the rear bumper.

If anyone has done this I would really like to hear how it went. I guess I could have a body shop cut the slots but it seems like a lot of effort just to add some chrome.

 

On our 03 Cooper, I held the inserts up. Placed blue painters tape on the car where the tabs hit. Then marked on the tape very carefully with a fine point Sharpie where the tabs rested against the tape. Then drilled about 4 holes inside the marked rectangle (about a 1/8" drill bit). Then used a razor knife to cut out the rest of each rectangle. I also placed some double sided tape inside the inserts. Hold the insert up and make sure all holes are correct, because once you push the insert on, that is it, it's stuck. A little tricky, but ours looks like a factory install. I assume the same applies even though the 06 inserts are shaped differently than the 03 versions. I read where someone cut off all of the tabs and just used double stick tape. I prefer a mechanical connection rather than just adhesive. Good luck