Well, this is the second time my MCS has met debris on the road - the first time was day 4 of ownership!

This time, I hit a piece of a tire, and there was a bit more damage than last time. The front lip is now hanging down from the bumper, and there's a pretty big crack in the middle of the lip where it absorbed the impact.

My question is: should I replace the lip with a stock one, or is this a good time for an aero front bumper? I'm not sure if it'll look weird with just the front aero bumper, but I'm open to suggestions...

Also, where is the best place to buy an aero front bumper if I do decide to go that route?

Here is a pic:

 

I would say go with the whole Aero Kit...because that's just better...and will tie it in! I would also color code the arches.....because you have to get the kit painted anyway....mise well do it all at once! And go with an M7 Splitter while your at it!

-Cody

 

Whats your budget? The plastic part of the bottom of the bumper should be relatively cheap, and nothing more than an afternoon project. The best place to souce an Aer bumper is a marketplace thread and you may find one cheap, and possibly even already painted to match. Then I'd say give classic a call and/or check prices with a local dealer if you have any club discount through them.

 

time for aerokit.

 

I had to replace the lower plastic piece on my wife's '05 from hitting road debris (two wooden pallets some idiot lost on the highway). It is an easy piece to replace - I ordered it from Classic. The only issue with Classic is they dinged me like $18 shipping for a $27 piece because of the size. Probably would have been cheaper in this case to have picked it up at my local dealer.

 

You guys are giving him all the wrong answers!

Clearly, like me and Ken said...the ONLY way to fix this problem is a whole new Aero kit! DUH!

Oh, and an M7 CF Splitter!
-Cody

 

The Aerokit is lower, so it is more damage prone IMO.

 

i don't think there are many street cars that would not suffer damage after
hitting an allegator on the road... unless it's some boring sedan or minivan
or suv or something.

 

Not everyone has 1500 (and thats just the aerokit not a splitter) to spend at the drop of a hat, also there is the matter of time and having shop do the job right.

 

insurance can pay part of the repair.

 

Haha, I like the suggestions I'm getting here...

The only problem I have with replacing the lip with a stock one is that it looks like a few of the tabs that hold the lip in on the right side are broken...Probably not a good sign.

I'm all for the Aero kit, but I don't really like the back of it (sticker mesh in particular)...Would it look weird with just the front and possibly the sides?

Driving another car today, so hopefully I'll be able to drop the MCS off at the body shop sometime today or tomorrow...

 

Agreed...I'm used to driving low cars anyway, this was just practice

Since I wanted the aerokit from the factory anyway, I don't really have a problem going for it at this point - great opportunity

The only problem is, I don't know if it's worth the extra cost...

 

I think you're right about the stickers on the rear bumper cover. I don't care for them either. So I had mine painted matte black, along with the fender arch portion on both the front and rear bumper covers. Do the area around the fog lights and behind the small middle grille while you're at it. It will make your MINI a little less friendly looking.

 

The full aerokit from the dealer (Painted and color matched to your car) is $2,200 at your MINI dealer. This does not contemplate the cost of labor.

 

yeah its only a $50 part at the dealer......tabs broken can be fixed eaily egnough....but hey if you got $1500 thats burning a hole in your pocket....

 

Like I said before if you want it and can afford it then go for it, but it is the balance of $50 and 20 minutes in the driveway or $1500 minimum easily climbing to $2,200 and a few days in paint plus an hour or so for install.

 

As far as how it would look with three sides I know many do just the side skirts or front and bcak w/o the skirts so I don't think a mix of that would look weird, not if you wanted only a left side skirt to be aero, that I would characterize as unusual.

 

Good point...

I just called Classic, and they quoted me $288 + $40 shipping for the front aerokit bumper. To tell you the truth, I don't really like the rest of the aerokit, so I may just go with the front. Body work shouldn't be an issue as a local shop gives me VERY reasonable rates since we take all of our cars there...

 

I just went through this last sumer. Feb 05 hit an ice chunk that nearly took off the front 1/4.




I spent some time looking around the auction sites and whatnot for an OEM castaway, perhaps from someone having done an aero install. Not much luck, even damaged ones were demanding premium $$. I ordered only the front end aero kit and installed myself. Take note that there are multiple pieces. The actual bumper cover (which comes with some trimmings/hardware, 3 separate grilles. I did the install myself in about an hour. Very simple if you have basic mechanic tools.




Just a forewarning though. You may have more damage underneath then what appears on the surface. I speak from my experience, where I had to also replace the p.side wheel well. Also the radiator mount (aka the massive black plastic piece encompassing the entire front end to which basically everything forward of the radiator is mounted to) had sustained significant damage as well. There was no way of telling until I pulled the bumper off. Luckily the car was in the shop not long after this for unrelated radiator issues (new radiator under warrantee), and I had them replace that part at cost since it needed to come out anyway.

Good luck.

 

what?! those stickers on the rear aerokit are fantastic!



at least easy to clean. cooperflags has different colors.

 

Just leave it off ... Rip the whole thing off. You will get more airflow ...

Odds are, your going to hit something else as everything comes in threes