Hello, everyone!

I apologize if I'm regurgitating "the same old question" but I'm still learning how to use this website (a great website...by the way).

I have a 2007 R56 MC (all pepper white). I wanted to add a grille badge and realized that I would have to drill some holes in order for me to do that. I felt around the grille and realized that a majority of the spaces in between each slot is...well...solid! I would only assume it is like this for all other MCs. So it appears that the front grille isn't really a full functioning front grille to allow cool air in the engine.

Any thoughts about whether or not it would be better to allow vents in the front grille? Would that improve or hinder performance?

Thank you,

Digby.R56

 

I have a 2008 MCS w/ JCW aero kit, -front grill is completely open, all cut outs are open. ...I didn't realize that the stock grills were particially closed?

 

Oh, also, I don't think you should have to drill out any area of your grill to use a badge, there are sites that sell grill badge holders for our Mini (the magnetic kind) and don't require drilling.

 

The grills are solid. And to mount a badge holder to the grill you will need to drill holes.

 

And this is only for the MC. The MCS does not have a solid grille.

 

The only place where the grill is solid on the S is the lower grill and then it's only about 5 inches on either side of the grill. You can see it on this picture...

 

I didn't much like the stock MC grill for precisely that reason. So I got the JCW honeycomb one and switched it out. Figured the engine can breathe better, especially with the K&N air filter I got for it. Not sure the reasoning for the way it's made. The look isn't bad, but figured there would be at least some holes.

 

Do you have a Pic of your OB with the grill? My wife and I would like to see what It would like. We have a MC OB/black w/black b stripes. Thanks, rock on

 

I did the same as Mirrim and switched to the JCW grill. Not so much because I didn't like the standard cooper grill because I actually do but because I like grill badges more. The standard cooper slat grill is only open on the bottom opening. Another problem is you have to drill the grill for badges but the worst problem is the grill is now much deeper than the gen1 cooper grill. Not only do you have to drill holes but you have to try to find thin bolts long enough to reach the backside of the grill. My solution was change the grill to JCW, it is only 55 bucks.

 

True...the bottom slat is open, not closed. Other than mounting badges I'm sure the chrome grill functions just fine "as it." Some may like badges more, but a proper chrome grill on a MINI works for me.

 

for the MCS, the grill is open and there is a magnetic badge holder available that does NOT require drilling into your grill:

http://www.motorswag.com/outmogrbaho.html

yet, I guess you were asking about the MC, (not the "S"), in which case, yes the grill is closed and yes you need to drill to mount the magnetic badge holder.

 

Thanks for the info on the MCS and the MC. I guess I will have to drill a hole on the grille.

 

Here's an option...
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-cooper/mini_cooper_jcw_grill_trim.html