I keep staring at the front of the car and the chrome treated upper vent is not as cool looking as the lower vent with no chrome parts. When I imagined the car with body colored mouldings on instead of chrome it still wouldn't suit my taste. The best design would have been just one piece hood with no separate moulding attached...even the chrome piece around the headlights should have been dropped, IMO. I know some people just love the chrome all over the car inside and outside but I don't and it should have been entirely an option. The chrome surrounding around the rear light clusters look out of place to me also... I guess it was part of the retro look, a tribute to the original MINI. No chrome option and replacing all the chrome with body color plastic should be a no charge option, IMO.

The door handles could be body color as well and the chrome pieces on the sides look out of place too.
Maybe I am having a chrome melt down day today. Hahahaha....

 

you could always black-out your chrome. that would look good with the CR/ B.

 

I like the chrome bits, and I'm glad they kept them on the R56, rather than having the car look like just another (every other) econocar.

The grill pieces can be replaced with the black trim pieces from the JCW aero grill (or you could just replace the whole grill).

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=aero+grill

And you can always paint or blackout the other chrome stuff. Lots of people have done/are doing it.

 

I am in the process of blacking out my chrome on my CR/B 07. I too think that you should be able to chose from the factory if you would like chrome or not. It would have made life so much easier!! Here are a few pics...

 

Thread jack, what percentage tint is that on your windows?

 

What did you use to cover the chrome, or is it painted. How ever you did it, it looks sharp!!

 

The legal limit in NC is only 35%, so that's what I have.

 

Thanks! The grill trim I actually bought from outmotoring.com it is a JCW grill trim. It was so easy to install and changed the look of my car dramatically ( I think anyway!). I also bought the blackout kit for the beltline from outmotoring.com and my brother and I put it on. I"m thinking that the headlight rings, door handles, taillight rings and gas cap will have to be painted....I've heard a lot of good things about the Wurth black paint, so I may try that. The goal is to have no chrome.

 

There seems to be a generation of 'chrome haters'. Different strokes. I think the base chrome treatment is a bit fun.

Maybe it is all in how you look at your Mini. The perception of it. When I look at Romi, I see one of those hyperactive terrier type of mutts just bouncing around being cute screaming,..."TAKE ME! TAKE ME OUT! TAKE ME!". Course,...if it were Jessica Alba, it would be even better, but this ole fart will take what he can get.

 

 

I like how they did the Mustang's front edge without chrome and how the Shelby Cobra's front end didn't have the chrome...or did it? Russian MiG jet fighters didn't either. However, I don't like how the Viper's front hood blends with the bumper that has a grill that is mega thick and not so detailed.

 

Like this?







OK, I'm just messin' with you - I know you're talking about the new GT 500.

Totally agree with you about the Viper. I think those are some of the UGLIEST front ends ever.

 

I think if you were take all the chrome and make it body colored, you would end up making the car like much like every other car out there. I don't like all the pieces, but the pieces do give the car a lot of character.

 

I think I understand...MCS have always has an odd relationship w/ grill chrome. The body-colored grill, now the black grill...especially on dark colors...sure makes that chrome stand out, to the point of distraction for some!! I always have felt the chrome looked right at home on Coopers since they come with a chrome grill...it's one, unified grill and, being chrome, is very Mini.

 

So, in addition to all else, we now know Skuzzy is into beastiality.

I mentioned to my son, the younger, that I was thinking of blacking out the chrome around the grill. He said, "No, the chrome looks cool."

 

Good point!! Chrome haters have a problem...black-out the grill surround, then there's the headlights. Deal w/ that and there's the gas cap...then beltline...then door handles. A slippery slope...where does it all end? That said...it is a MINI, so I applaud any individualization an owner feels is necessary. Even moreso if it's done well.

 

Meow. Here kitty-kitty-kitty! Oh Jessica,...meow.

 

No wonder you got your toe bit.

 

Jessica's a biter??

 

Don't know about Jessica. But his cat bit his toe a few weeks ago.

 

Hey, I was wanting more chrome on the front of my MCS, actually. But, the chrome line package was not what I was looking for. Is there a de-chroming. MC out there that wants to get rid of their grille?

Now I am thinking maybe I am one of those people easily distracted by bright, shiny objects....

 

The MINI One has alot of body color and black parts. I'll bet you can look on the parts CD in the One section and find some... you do have a parts CD don't you?
;-)

 

Always loved that "Felix The Cat" grin that the MINI has with the chrome.