Hey everyone, I bought a 2004 MINI Cooper at the beginning of 2010 and realized that its badges (both bonnett and boot) were missing the black around the MINI letters. Right now it's just the chrome. I really have had no luck in searching for this topic online, although I have seen pictures of MINIs with the same chrome emblems without the black in the center. I thought the paint might have chipped off, but wouldn't I still see SOME black paint? I also find it odd that both badges have the same problem. So I have 2 questions, were there any 1st Generation MINI's made with this type of emblem (Is it supposed to look that way?)? And if not, then how can I get this corrected? I've attached the pictures. Thanks for the help!

 

Definitely not stock. Looks like someone was getting ready to change the emblem.

You could always see if there is a vinyl substiute or a sticker or get an OEM one from a dealer/bodyshop.

 

You can get replacement badges on eBay (especially UK eBay) for way cheaper than through the dealer.

 

could it be that the prior owner wanted to do some graphics on it?

 

mine did that when they got old, the glue dried out and water got in there . . . over time the black began to fade starting at the outside until it was gone all together. watch for the plastic to begin to lift.

pop off the old center and you can replace with
http://www.aestheticreations.net/vin...icstickers.htm

 

Same problem here. Got a used one on eBay, but haven't removed the old/installed the new yet.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone, I found some stickers at http://www.aestheticreations.net/vin...icstickers.htm so thanks for the link Capt_bj.

 

mrz1216,
I see the stickers at aestheticreations. Do you just place the sticker right over the bad emblem? I also bought a 04 MC this year. (Same colors as yours.) My black paint is almost all gone from the bonnet and boot emblems. Not sure if I place sticker over emblem or remove bad one first. Have not ordered stickers yet.

 

I believe the Aesthetic Creations sticker will insert in your emblem in its present condition. What has gotten lost is a similar insert where over time the glue dries out and the insert falls off.

 

So I finally got around to fixing my boot and bonnet emblems. First I ordered the stickers from Aesthetic Creations (A.C). They were easy to order, A.C. did great job. (www.aestheticreations.net, $15). I attached pix of them (minus the 2 I used).
But when I went to install them I found that my current emblems had raised "MINI" lettering in the metal. Turns out there was a metal convex cap in the plastic wings emblem, and the metal cap has the black paint on it except on the raised "MINI" letters. It's the black paint that is chipped off. Pix attached with metal pulled forward.
So I tried to line up the bonnet sticker with the raised lettering. Didn't come out too good. Then I made the BIG MISTAKE of pulling the metal convex cap off the boot plastic wings emblem. Thought I could remove metal cap and just insert sticker in wings instead. I bent (and ruined metal cap) because it's glued pretty good! Wings beneath cap is not a flat smooth surface. So sticker looked bad.
I finally broke down, went to Pelican Parts online and ordered replacement boot and bonnet OEM emblems. (www.pelicanparts.com, $27.50 each + $5.25 shipping, ordered on 9/1/10, arrived on 9/4/10).
Old wings emblems peel off carefully. I used a putty knife being careful not to scratch paint. Cleaned up spot real good. New wings have peel-off backing and 2 plastic pins that line-up with 2 holes in boot and bonnett.
Here's the kicker: the replacement wings don't have the "convex metal cap" with raised MINI lettering like my old ones did! So it appears that the stickers will work great when the replacement emblems fade

 

Aww man I was hoping those stickers would just go right on. I don't want to drop $30 for a friggen emblem. I may just take the emblem off, put some putty in the holes, and put a sticker over it.

 

Anyone know how far apart the holes are on the OEM emblem? I'm thinking about taking it off and putting this 1.25" x 1.25" chrome autobot emblem over the hole. http://autobadgez.com/transformers_badges.html
These tribal badges might work as well.
http://autobadgez.com/chrome_badges.html