So who has released their gas cap from the plastic tie bondage?

 

Good question, I am currently wanting to black it out...

 

You are going to black out he inside cap? Man, this blackout thing as really become an obsession with some.

BTW, how would you black out the rings around the vents in the dash?

 

I haven't even gased up for the first time. Why would you want to "set it free"?

 

I set my R53 gas cap free a long time ago. The little rubber leash was just getting in the way so I got rid of it.

 

I like the leash. When I bought my 99 CR-V years ago, it came w/o the leash and of course I drove off and left the gas cap on the roof and never found it. I had to go to autozone on Sunday and fortunately they had a replacement.

I'll leave the leash on.

 

Mine set itself free some time ago.
I'd actually like to get a replacement leash, but not
sure if you can get one without buying a whole new cap.

 

Add this to the big list of ways to drop weight out of a MINI.

 

my poor gascap will never see freedom.. because im the muppet you see going down the free way with the lil gas door open..

 

Why would you want to do this? The weight loss is miniscule... inconvenient?? Keep your gas cap tethered to the car, that's one item you'll never have to replace.

 

Robin-

it would not make sense, at least to me, to black out the inside of it....I am referring to the exterior. But I need to set it 'free' to do the sanding, priming, painting..

 

Freez3,

The little tie definitely gets in the way and you can store the cap on the top of the fuel door while fueling. I guess I've never had a problem remembering to put the cap back on?

 

I think you are talking about the outer cap and this thread is about the inner cap. IIRC, removing the outer cap is a fairly extensive job.

 

I don't see the need to remove the tether.

 

Wow I don't own the MCS, have a cooper. Never even realized that there was a separate cap inside. I always thought the chrome part was the only cap.

 

I have a convertible, so I'm in the same position as you - I didn't realize that the chrome piece was just a decorative cover. I always thought the 'S' gas cap was just an awesome hunk of chromed metal.

 

Nope...it's faux. That's why I've always been happy w/ the Cooper version.

 

Really, ... Thank god I didn't get an "S" ...
Couldn't stand a car with a faux hunk of chromed metal.
God Bless our regular Coopers!

 

I would love a machined cap to replace the "faux" cover... that'd be badass!

 

The chrome petrol door on an MCS is only held on by 2 screws and a lip. I got a spare one and had it powdercoated black, then swapped it for the original one. The swap took maybe 3 minutes.

 

It isn't even a hunk of metal. It is a hunk of plastic with a chrome surface. Can't tell if it is really thin sheet metal over the plastic, or just plated.

The MCS outer gas cap is reminiscent of the billet aluminum caps used on race cars of the late 1960's. I recall seeing them on Ferraris and Cobras. From my Concourse d' Elegance photos:


I don't recall seeing such caps on Minis, but perhaps one was used during the Monte Carlo Rally.
http://www.supercars.net/Pics?v=y&s=...perSRally3.jpg

 

While your at it, peel the air bag safety labels off the sunvisors and all the labels under the hood, door jams and boot area. Then fill your tires with helium.

 

Speaking of weight, the MCS faux gas cap is considerably lighter than a billet aluminum version would be. So, you MCS will go faster with plastic.

Now, if anyone really wanted a billet aluminum cap, I could probably get them made at my cousin's production machine shop.

 

Why?

 

I like it the way it is.