Hi Folks, recently bought a Mini Cooper S R57 early 2014 build and loving the whole ownership thing. However I'm in need of some advice.....
Bought a set of DRLs to replace the exsisting fog/side light units. Scanned through all the Google and YouTube bits I could find and confident that I knew where all the fasteners where armed myself with my tools and started to remove the front bumper. Everything removed as shown in numerous videos and postings on the www. but still unable to remove the blasted thing..... Many of the videos and how to's are for the many different types of minis but not specific to mine. I have the Cooper S version with the brake cooling ram air ducts and this seems to be where it's hung up. Has anyone with the same mod standard done a removal and would be willing to share the magic key to getting this thing off?
Saw a number of threads from way back with members asking for the very same advice on the same spec'd vehicle but the nearest I could get to an answer was "they're a nightmare to get off". Hope I have more luck a few years down the line and someone else has done the same job.
Note: I'll post the full step by step how to once I can get started.

 

You have to remove the lower grill between the two ram ducts which will give you access to some plastic rivets behind it. With those rivets removed it should come loose.

 

I'll take onboard your advice and give it a go tomorrow. Keep you all updated with the progress. Many thanks.

 

Managed to pry off the top half of the lower grill enough to get at the four elusive fasteners, and hey presto off she came. Once I had the complete assembly on the bench it was really easy to pop the rest of the tabs and completely remove the grill and brake vent sub assembly.
The label on the unit described it as "R56MU Sport Front Grille" the grill and the brake cooling vent inlets are in one piece (see photo).

Finally off

Hidden fasteners
Once again big thanks to mrbean in providing the necessary information. Now to get on with the DRL installation.