Just got my 06 Cooper S eight days ago, and realized something fishy about my driver side metal door sill plate. There was a small ding in it a few days ago, and now an even larger ding with lifting of the plate on the outer edge. So I decided to investigate the possible cause, I felt under the door and realized that there is a raised surface like a rivit or something. I just felt, and did'nt look because I figure it was adealer issue now. Then I decided to check the passenger side, it was OK as far as dents go, but it is not centered in the recessed space of the plastic sill, it overlaps on the side toward the back of the car. Soon someone will step on that area and it will bend in and look like crap. Shooting over to the dealer today.

Just pointing this out incase others are wondering why mysterious dents are appearing on their door sill metal plates.

 

Is it towards the rear of the sill plate/door? I have one there and always wondered where it came from.

 

Here are a few pics of the sill plates, first one is the dented driver side and the other two are the passenger side "toward the rear" where the plate is not seated in its recessed area. My concern other than aethetics is the fact that water will get under there and totally lif off the sill plates completely. Just got back from Morristown Mini, and they are replacing both sil plates.

 

My drivers side one looks different. It's an actual ding as opposed to the crease in your pic. Luckily, mine are showing no signs of lifting.

 

Oh It's a ding alright, just hard to see in the picture. Just hope this does'nt happen again, this car only has 500 miles on it and it is only a week old.

 

Yea, that does suck on a brand new car. Did you show the SA at MoTown the thing under the door?

 

Yep, and 2 new door sill plates are on order. They will do something about the area of concern under the door also.

 

Cool. Good luck.

 

The same problem with an '04. I think it is related to the door closing with the seat belt metal tab still inside. If that is not the issue I owe my wife and apology!!! It sure buggers up the entrance to the MINI. Anyone else??

 

The dealer replaced both sill plates on saturday, and they did a perfect job on the install.

 

Yeah, no biggie
Even out of warranty, they are about 20 bucks...I just replaced mine on my 2002 MCS

 

Yeh I know, but It had to be done at there expense since the car was brand new. Now I have to de-stripe it to get the clear bra on. I was quite surprised that the stripes are $75.00 from the dealer, I was expecting something like $35-40.00.