Is there any other instructions hopefully with pictures upon the removal of the side skirt?

I have a dented passenger side skirt, and just got the replacement in the mail. Just side skirt nothing else. I was wondering how I should take it apart and if there are any nuts and bolts.

All I can find is this. But it's hard to visualize.

First step is to remove the thin metal sill plate that's on the top of the rocker panel cover (faces the bottom of the door). It's glued on, and the metal sill plate is very thin. Any attempt to pry it up and you buy a new one. To remove it so you can re-use it, take a heat gun or a really good hair dryer and heat the metal plate up. use a thin spackle spreader and work from one end to the other slowly and with a fair amount of heat and it will come right up no problem, then use the heat gun to get the junk off the back side before it cools. 3M doublesided commercial grade tape will put it back on later.
Next, wait for the rocker cover to cool, then there are 3 or 4 oval head fastners that you can now get to. Pry out gently. These you can reuse. With these out, the top is released. There are now 8 to 10 clips on the side. Two of them will break. One near the front and one at the back. The rest are theorettically possible to save, but I wish you luck. They slide in to a socket on the back side of the rocker panel. To save them you need to slide the rocker panel forward to the clip stays in the body of the car. then you have to rotate them 90 degrees and they come out without resistance. Then reattach to the rocker panel so they can also snap straight into the car upon reassembly. IF it's cold out when you do this, you will not save the clips because they crack easily. Don't know if you can get them separatly (they come pre-attached to a new rocker for about $75, but you still have to save the 3 or 4 top ones and the sill plate.)

 

Sorry to tell you this, but BMW decided on making the clips not reusable. Basically, you have to tear the old one off. There are sometimes clips under the metal MINI Cooper logo as well on top of the seal depending on the year. My '05 didn't have them. I am not too sure about the year, but I believe the '04s and up, have no clips under the metal. You just have to grab the sill at the back near the rear wheel well, and pull. It will sound scary, but it's just the clips breaking. Make sure you have the new clips before doing this.

Do some more research, or hopefully someone else will chime in as to whether you need to peel off the metal logo on the seal. If you have a replacement sideskirt, then you probably aren't worried about reusing it anyway, so I'd say peel it off to be safe. And it is easier just to rip the side skirt off, and use new clips.

 

I don't have photos and its been a little over a year ago that I pulled mine off and put aero sideskirts on but it is pretty easy. There are a couple of plastic screws you need to remove at both ends, wheel well area. The rest are plastic clips that you will destroy pulling the skirt off, dealer will have new ones if you don't already have. If you can pull the metal logo sill off without bending it all up, more power to you but the easiest is just get replacements, they are really cheap. Pull the rubber door seal up a little so you can get your fingers under the sill area and just pull up, you will hear and feel the clips pop (5 or 6 maybe). Once the sill area is free then pull the skirt out horizontally working from one end or the other. You will pop or break the clips in the side skirt (maybe 4 or 5 there) Don't remember if there are clips on the bottom but I don't think so. Put new clips in replacement skirt and pop back on, put plastic screws back and put new sill logo on, done.

 

Thanks Cactus, I forgot about the screws underneath. Also, every replacement panel I have bought always had the metal sill plate with it. Overall, it's a painless job.

 

Like other's have said, you'll need to buy all new tabs (It'll cost you about $6-7 for one side). Some will be saved, but not most.

The 4 under the sill plate will be destroyed for sure. Speaking of sill plate, did you get a replacement for that? IF you're new side skirt doesn't come with one, you'll need to get one. Some folks have tried to remove the old one, but it takes a lot of time and effort to get it off without damaging it.

Overall, it's an easy job. Most of the tabs are the 'pull the center out, then pull the whole tab out' type. Just start at one end and work your way around.

 

Luckily all my tabs survived and were re-used. my sill plate is a different story.

 

I bought my side skirt used, doesn't come with plates or the tabs. I have a 04 MCS. Does anyone have the part number or a link where I can buy it from?

 

Well, I know MINI Mania used to sell diamond plate sills, as well as ones that had their logo on them. I'm not sure how much dealer's are selling them for. I would call the closest dealer and see. When I need parts, Brian Harris MINI's parts department will do the transaction over the phone and mail the parts to me. You might want to try this option. Other than that, use some dental floss and a heat gun and just carefully work the old one off. it can be done with patience.

 

I'm not too worried about the sills, but more of the "clips" your referring to. Are the clips part of the side skirt it self or something separate?

 

Here is a link that should answer all questions and provides some pictures as well......good luck.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...q_clear_fronts

Just page down until you see this picture....

 

Awesome. So #9 screw is reusable. Does anyone know where I can order clips #6, 7 and 8? If I go to a MINI dealer would they carry it?

 

Yes, the dealer will carry these, or be able to order them if not in stock. They are cheap too.