I'll have to check - the car is in the parking lot. But yes - they had to take the wheels off. They did a combined driving lights and mud flaps and charged me 3 hr in total (300$). Had some previous arrangements - so they charged me 50% of the total job (multiple check engine problems and long service stay) bnut it was 162$ in total (50% of 3 hr job).

Car looks nice, though. Fat bottom car (the rear flaps make the rear end bigger).

MMM

 

Ok - here they are:














MMM

 

This is an R53, correct? They claim on the R56 they have to remove the bumper.

 

Nope - 2007. Unfortunately.... :-) (yeah - had some problems with the new engine and computer - long story). So yes - it is R56.

MMM

 

It's even more expensive if you have to buy a jack to remove the tires to install the mudguards yourself. My R56 didn't come with a jack...!@#$%^&

 

Did the bumper have to be removed to put the mud flaps on?

 

No - it comes ON TOP of the bumper - look at the pictures. So I don't think th ebumper has to be taken off. It seems a pretty simple job once the wheels are off - two screws each. It goes ON TOP of the bumper - not underneath.

MMM

 

That's what I thought. The pics in the configurator look that way, too. Then again, the pics on the configurator show NO gap at all between the bonnet and the wheel arches. Thanks for the info!!

 

UPDATE: MoS has agreed to charge me only the $87 parts/labor I agreed to when I ordered the car. However, this is what the MA e-mailed me: [SIZE=2]
The R56 model (2007) takes about 2 1/2 hours total. The muds flaps are $235 for rear and $175 for the front for a total of $410.
[/SIZE]

 

just got done installing both front and rear mud flaps. took apx. one hour tops, and I ain't no mechanic!
$500. is insane.

 

The mud flaps were installed on my car by the dealer for the $87 originally promised (parts & labor). There is no way the bumper had to be removed. They bolt onto the inside of the wheel well and a lip goes over, not under, the rear bumper. My MA claims MINI sent them an installation procedure which required rear bumper removal. Sounds like a regular mud flap install just isn't worth the dealer's time.

 

The only haggling I've had to do with our MINI is over accessories, and frankily, my MA either has no clue how any of them work or tries to persuade me not to get them. I feel like they don't want anything to do with extras. Very strange indeed.

Best approach: buy the extras from a vendor and put them on yourself or have someone "installationally inclined" do it for you and pay them in beer. You save tons of money, much less hassel, and think of the excitement of watching your inebriated friend fumble around your MINI with a screwdriver and rubber mallet! : )

 

My feeling is the dealer is overwhelmed with preps of new ones and repairs on the old ones. It just isn't worth their time unless it's a big bucks job.

 

My MA warned me that MINI of Mountian View charges $150 for labor. His comment had a "Run away, run away!" sort of Monty Python sense to it. I suspect LynnEl is right that the dealers really don't want much of this kind of work.

 

East Bay MINI didn't have them in stock and when they do come in (they were ordered for me) I'll pick them up, have a couple of beers and attach them myself. Of course I've got no jack and wrench, so I'll have to get what I need for that as well.