Hello fellow Mini owners,
As the title said, I’m going to embark on a long and slow quest to model replacement parts for our Minis.
While most parts are still available, first gens aren’t any younger and soon enough parts are going to be unobtainium (and that’s already the case for some parts).

EDIT : project is currently on hiatus as I do not have regular access to my Mini. I'll hopefully resume somewhere at the end of 2026 or in 2027. However I'm not the only person able to model and print parts, feel free to send suggestions in reply to this thread, and link models that answer a request or you think should be listed here.

What started that quest is a broken glove box handle. After realizing it wasn’t sold separately (and it was a shame to replace the whole glove box anyway), I decided to model and print it.
Since it was a success, this emboldened me, and seeing a clip nut fixing I almost lost, I decided to model it. While doing so, I realized most small plastic parts are way overpriced considering they are easily broken (especially when the plastic has become brittle due to age) and easily printed for pennies, if you own a 3D printer (if you are a DIYer and don’t already, now is a good time).

That’s when I decided that now, every broken clip or other small plastic part should be modeled and printed rather than replaced, and made freely available to benefit the community, especially in the future when those will become unobtainium.

Here’s the question to you, owners: which parts do you want to see modeled? Right now, I’ll start with the bags of clips I already purchased, but if anyone needs specific parts, I could focus on those first.

Some restrictions:

• only plastic parts. If it’s made out of other materials, there is probably a reason.
• no engine parts. While some engine parts can be printed, I cannot print with strong enough materials, cannot test it, and am unwilling to make available untested models
• no large parts. If it can’t fit on my printer bed (25.6cm cube) I’m unwilling to design it.
• mostly only interior parts. If failure of the part can mean pieces of the car detaching / breaking the car / injuring people, it’s an automatic no from me. That means no fender/grille or that sort of stuff. This will be on a case by case basis.

That’s a lot of restrictions, but that still leaves lots of parts up for consideration. The aforementioned glove box handle, rear passenger handles, fusebox door, handbrake trim, any clip or clip fixing …

Here are the parts I already designed:

• Glove box handle (not a separate part, thus no part number): https://makerworld.com/en/models/131...fileId-1352281
• Dashboard clip fixing 07131472727 (blue): https://makerworld.com/en/models/131...fileId-1351285
• A-pillar roof molding, part of 51137112079 / 51137112080: https://makerworld.com/en/models/151...fileId-1580878

Currently being designed:

• interior tweeter trim (clips tend to break when you remove door cards)

I’ll try to keep this list updated until this post becomes locked.

Other useful replacement parts that someone else already designed:

• Window regulator clips: https://www.printables.com/model/124...per-r50-r52-r5
• Cowl vents: https://makerworld.com/en/models/106...fileId-1050103

If you need one of those parts but do not have a 3d printer (or a friend with a 3d printer), plenty of online businesses offer to print 3d models for a very reasonable fee (it might even be cheaper and faster than buying a real one).
If you are a business and want to sell prints of those parts, please do so. I’ve specifically chosen a licence that allows that. You do not need my explicit permission.
If you want to sell those models files unmodified, please don’t be a leech. The licence allows you to do that, it’s just very lame.

Here are a few other parts I found online that may be of interest to other 1st gen owners:

• Phone mount that goes over the warning lights button or display brightness button (this remix includes more support than others): https://makerworld.com/en/models/135...one-ball-mount
• Phone mount that goes on the side of the radio (this remix includes a hole to add a screw to strengthen it): https://makerworld.com/en/models/135...one-ball-mount
• Cup holder (not personally tested): https://thangs.com/designer/mrfochs/...ted%29-1492961
• Side scuttles, there are other paid models on Cults (not personally tested): https://makerworld.com/en/models/214...50-r51-r52-r53

Those parts obviously each have their own licence, please be respectful of their respective owner’s choice.
This is not an exhaustive list, only the ones I liked, there are a few other models that may be of interest to you.

 

The white plastic clips that hold the window regulator cable behind the door card (see image) on the 2002-2006 Minis would be nice to have. They're impossible to purchase by themselves.

 

They are impossible. Cable ties? They are my current issue.

 

Those clips right ? That definitely looks like something I can do! I was planning to pull my door cards next week-end, I'll design those while I'm in there.
I was looking at ModMini video, they seem to be at the top.
Can you tell me if they are both the same? To know if I need to pull both or only one.

 

Great stuff. Cant wait to see what else you come up with.

 

Edit: I was informed someone already modeled those, so I do not need to redo the work: https://www.printables.com/model/124...per-r50-r52-r5
Original message left below.

After having a look, I'm unfortunately unable to model those at this time because

1. I could not get them off. Since I don't need to actually replace my regulator, I'm not willing to remove the glass to easily remove them, and while I can get a decent amount of force from below, it's not enough. Also as per ModMini video, it's not possible to remove them without breaking them, so I was not chancing breaking them by applying even more force.
2. I have an older, worse revision of those clips (see images below): mine doesn't have the latch to open it. Which also makes me question if they are actually the same as the newer revision (the spacing of the clips could be different or something else). I'm not fond of going through that trouble just to realize it wouldn't fit in most of the Minis (I'm pretty sure the revision was somewhere during 2003 because there were changes on the window parts sometime during 2003 as per manufacturer diagrams)

To make me proceed with that model, one of two things would need to happen:

1. Either one of my regulator breaks, forcing me to get those clips off anyway, even if I break them in the process. And I will be able to model the clips off of the new part rather than the old anyway.
2. Someone have a broken clip, need a new part and is willing to send me the broken clip (I live in France, so it's going to be international shipping). Alternatively, I could probably model it off of reasonably high quality pictures that include a reference dimension and a few key dimensions.

I'm obviously keeping this in mind in case I come around one of those clips.

For reference, the "new" clip version, off of Pelican parts, notice the latch dropping down at the bottom:

And what's in my 2002 Mini, notice the lack of a latch to get the cables off (which means I'm pretty sure I'll have to break it one way or another to get cables off):

 

I have a 3d printer but just not good at rendering. Any chance you can to the chrome trim piece clips. Like these. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...07131490537kt/

I am redoing a r52 and all the clips to put the trim back on broke. I would love to be able to print my own.

 

Hello, it seems like those clips are not "official" separate parts, which makes them a prime candidate to be 3d printed.
Actually considering the description on ECSTuning, they might be printed parts already? It's not clear, but "Nylon" is definitely a 3d printable material (PA6 and PA12 specifically).
I tried to find an existing file but could not find one (which does not mean it's not there, I'm not that good at finding stls). If someone find one, send the link so I can update the original post.

I'll have a look on my car tomorrow to see if I can get those trim pieces out to access the clips.
Just to be clear, it's the trim clips used to fix this trim line, right?


I took that opportunity to update the original post to add another replacement part I found (cowl vents) and the 2 parts I'm currently working on (it's taking me quite a while because one is hard to design, and I'm struggling with the other tolerances).

 

Yes those clips and also the ones for the side trim.

 

I have a 2006 with aero side skirts that have small vents by the rear tires. The vents have a black plastic grid that snaps in. The right side grid is missing on my car and is NLA. Does anyone have a file for these so I can print my own?

Kurt Housh

 

It would be amazing to have a 3D print (or metal replacement?) of the white plastic part that cracks and prevents the seats from raising and lowering. Photos here: https://www.mini2.com/threads/r53-se...t#post-4538239 (someone in that thread mentions they've made a 3D printed replacement, but they've unfortunately since gone radio silent)

 

Got it. I realized I don't have my trim tools with me, so it'll have to wait for a bit. You'll have to find another solution if you are in a hurry, it's probably going to take quite a while before I get to it.

I don't remember seeing this when looking for Mini stls, and considering how niche it is, it's unlikely someone designed it. Unfortunately I cannot model a part I don't have. Best of luck figuring out a solution! I'd suggest pulling the left side and having a go at modeling it.

That does indeed looks like a useful 3D print. Unfortunately having to pull the seats to access the part makes it a "no" for me, for now, unless it happens to break on my own Mini and I'm forced to model it.
I've looked at the picture and very unsure what I'm looking at, but since someone managed to make a 3D printed replacement part, it must be doable.

 

You're not in the US right? I have a spare seat base that I've been planning to steal the mentioned part from to repair my seat functionality. If shipping wasn't too complicated, I'd offer to send you the part to model. Otherwise maybe I should get motivated to disassemble that seat base and have someone else model that part since I know there are others in need of it.

 

Indeed, I'm in France. Even if shipping the part itself was not too complicated, part of the process to get a good part is testing, and that require testing the whole seat function while bolted in a car.
I'm not good enough at this to model it and have it right the first time. I often have clearance issues, and even if I don't the first try will often have weakness (either inherent to 3D printing or from the original design) that should be compensated for in subsequent tries. That's where I'll deviate from the original part by adding material in places where there is clearance to do so, or sometime alter it altogether to have a better part.

Bottom line: I wouldn't feel confident creating a quality model without the whole seat.
If you find someone locally that can model it, keep us updated and I'll add a link in the first post

 

This one seems like it could be low hanging fruit: the dome light button covers are apparently hard to get, especially in black. Seems like this should be low structural integrity risk, quick to print and more of a nuisance than anything. I need a couple, and would be happy to work the designs if there is interest and anybody has even a broken one they could send as a reference.

 

New model is up! Exterior A-pillar roof molding, which tends to be ripped off by car washes apparently: https://makerworld.com/en/models/151...fileId-1580878
This avoids having to buy the whole side roof molding, you can just replace the actual part.
They are pretty weak and tbh not super well designed, it's not surprise the plastic break, which allows them to be ripped off by car washes or whatnot.

Could you send a picture of what you mean? If it's a part that can be easily disassembled, I could work on it, when I got time available. Or feel free to work on it yourself as well, I might not be able to get around it for a good long while.
In my opinion, any part that can be broken and easily printed should get designed so that future owner can still procure them when they will no longer be available to buy, new or used. Which will happen, perhaps earlier than we think, our cars are not getting any younger.

 

I just came across this post and noticed that my old R53 Cup Holder design was posted. I gave up on that design a few years back because it was a PITA to store the other pieces and keep track of all the inserts. The new design is now uploaded here - https://thangs.com/mythangs/file/1492961

 

Thanks, I updated the link to your new design. Thanks for making the model available publicly!

 

I don't have a 3D printer but wondering if anyone has created an .stl file of this lower console gauge pod?

I do alot of MINI salvage yard "expoditions" and always on the look out for one of these. The OEM are hard to find ...or rediculously expensive.

 

I did a quick search and couldn't find any stl for it (which doesn't mean there isn't, a more thorough search might succeed).
From the picture, it doesn't look that hard to model, but that's not something I would try since I don't have one I can reference for measurements.

 

I completely understand.
If it weren't such a PIA, I'd pull mine out from the console and send you scale/measurements photographs (front, side and rear) that you could import into your modeling program.
At some point, if I have to do so - I'll PM you to see if you might be interested in giving it a go.

Great work and discussion, BTW

 

There are a few places that repop those gauge pods. Orranje sells one, and I think I’ve also seen a more expensive carbon fiber one somewhere. Dunno how much the Orranje one would be with the tariffs these days.

 

I have a carbon fibre one for sale - but if someone can tell me what to do with dimensions or pics, I would be willing to help.

 

I know you said no Engine Parts, but a part that is impossible to get, and is a huge issue for most R53 DIY owners.. is the Red Supercharger Tube Clips.

They are $50 each individually and you need 3 total per engine bay. They often get broken or torn out and are not useable after that. That would be an awesome thing to have 3d printed, as they are not exposed to huge heat, but rather air pressure.

Understand if this is not possible though.

 

For Reference:

https://www.allmagautoparts.com/prod...caAm_0EALw_wcB