I just ordered my Mini and I was considering adding the aero kit to it... I saw all the pics on this forum for the aero kit and I also looked up pictures via google images. But my question is... Is the aero kit different for 2006?

The reason I ask is because I really grew to like the aero kit that retains the black wheel arches and is painted black around the lower-outer fog lights. I think it looks the sportiest. Here's a pic:



But then I called the mini dealer today and asked to see a picture of their kit, just to make sure it looks the same, and here's the pic I got:



The sales rep told me that they now paint the wheel arches to match the car and that the outer-fog lights on the bumper are now color-matched to the car.

For some reason, this just doesn't look as sporty to me as the older kit. Can you guys confirm that this is the actual kit for 2006? Or was the sales rep just being dumb?

Thanks!

 

cant see picts but you can have them painted either way. The aero kit hasn't changed

 

If you are adding the dealer installed kit, they can paint it how ever you want. No differences in the kit.

 

Thanks for the input! I will have to call up the dealer again and ask... When I talked to them earlier, they made it seem like they have to paint over the wheel arches because it's too hard to tape off the border of the bumper that blends into the wheel arches before painting. What a bunch of lazies...

I guess one option would be to have the kit factory installed. Do you know if this can be done in pepper white?

 

The factory does not do the Aero Kit. The Aero Kit is done at the Vehicle Distribution Center after it gets off the boat. The dealer can do it at a later point but it will typically be significantly higher cost.

 

Does the VDC automatically paint the arches the same color? My MINI is arriving at the VDC on April 23rd! Should I call the dealer and make sure they dont do it?

 

Sorry but I've no idea what they 'automatically' do. I'm thinking there is some standard that you'd see at a dealer and that they all do that, whatever that is. And I'd be surprised that they'd do anything special but you could certainly ask. Never hurts to ask. Good luck.

 

This is not right...

Painting the arches properly requires them to be removed from the car, sanded, chemically prepped (TSP wash and solvents), primed (usually more than once), painted and clear-coated.

The parts in the Aerokit are MADE to be painted... smooth and primed when you get 'em. The arches on our cars are NOT made to be painted, though it can be done by a skilled, thoughtful, thorough professional.

The official MINI instructions for the Aerokit say that the side sills must be masked off and painted with two colors... the top in body color and the bottom in black. There is a nice groove there, so it's relatively easy to mask off. The masking of this single line is a LOT less effort (given that the aerokit is off of the car) than masking off the rest of the car to prevent overspray, and re-doing the half-a$$ed paintjob that they are going to give you on the arches when the paint starts to peel off a year later.

If your dealer won't do it right, find another one that will!

 

Also talked about over here... https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=908103

I ordered a 2006 MCS on Jan 21st and added the front aero kit then to the bottom line [along with BBS R90s, and JCW airbox]. Arrived into port Feb. 23rd, then to Keeler MINI on 28th. My Cooper S arrived with the OE front spoiler on and chrome/painted grille [I still have these]. Yes, the dealer installs and paints the aero kit parts, not the VDC. You can specify whether you want painted wheel arches, but I would imagine this costs extra as the labor involved and paint is more. I don't think that there is anything different about the 2006 aero kits. Although, I had to specifically request and order the fog light blackouts on each side.

The factory specifies using a specific structured paint for the grained surfaces to match the fender flares.
From the Aerokit factory PDF...
Structured paint:
0.5 litre #51 91 0 027 551 (MINI structured paint black matt)
1.0 litre #51 91 0 027 552 (MINI structured paint black matt)

One plus about retaining the stock side skirts is the factory front mud flaps bolt right on, as opposed to not fitting on the aero side skirts.

Here's my setup for comparison.

 

I have never heard of the VDC installing Aero Kits. The kit is solely installed by a dealer.

 

As mentioned earlier, the trim can be painted but it's not an easy task. Make sure that you have a warranty on the work because it could give you trouble down the road if not done right. I am a big fan of having them painted.
Here is my old car.

Here's my new one

 

Some kits come pre-painted from the factory ready to install. I don't have a list of which colors are available but I will tell you that Chili Red is one of them. The pre-painted kits come painted with the black trim to match the wheel arches. If you want to paint the the entire kit one color then order the primered kit.

 

Actually guys the Aero kits are installed and painted at the VDC if the VDC supports it. The VDC in NJ have their own paint shops and do it there.

 

My dealer only offered a dealer installed Aero kit. I have heard of VDC installed kits but never heard of anyone actually getting one.

 

Mine is a "dealer installed" Aero Kit too but since the VDC does it they just do it there!

 

JohnMonk, thanks for the pics! Til now, I haven't been able to really picture what the PW Mini would look like with color-matched wheel arches. Your car looks really clean. I was afraid that, without the black wheel arches, it would lose that characteristic "mini look"... but I guess that's not really the case.

Thanks again!

 

Don't know about you Easterner's but on the West Coast, the VDC can do the Aero Kit. Because they are set up better for the paint part of it, it is cheaper to catch the car before it gets off the boat and then have the VDC do it. If the dealer has to do it, it will be more expensive since the dealer has to send it out to their paint guys which is typically not a dealer owned entity.

 

Now this is a sweet ride!
Hey I have the front splitter sitting at home because I am not too sure about installing it...do you mind posting another angle of the front splitter.
thanks.
again. very nice ride.

 

Thanks. Do mean like this?

 

about the new aero kits...have any of you seen the new space blue checkmate with a silver aero kit?

 

Mines geting painted this week!! YAY!

 

is it optional to get the wheel caps/wells (whatever their called) in the body color or do the ones from the dealer only do those black plastic things?

 

Yeah thanks. How do you feel about making holes to the body? I can't see myself doing that.
Here's a pic of my ride:

 

To my understanding, it depends on the dealer. Rasmussen Mini (in Portland) started painting everything to match because they found it difficult to tape off the line around the bottom of the aero front bumper. After doing a few of these, they noticed that their customers really liked how their cars looked. So they decided to just do this to all their cars with aero kits. They charge a little more than other dealers ($2895 installed), but I think the car looks really clean with the color-matched wheel arches.

Oh, and one more thing... I know this is off-topic, but I am only ordering from Portland because the Mini dealer near Seattle, where I live, is telling me that there's a 13 month wait for MCS's!!! Have you guys ever heard of a wait time over a year??