Aero Grill Install |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Topic: Aero Grill Install Posted: October/14/07 at 11:51pm |
I'll post a thread in the How-To thread when it's closer to time for the install. After a quick search it looks like Yakimini has done the install. Anyone else have experience? I'm read through a number of threads on NAM and am looking for insight/experience (heck a helping hand when the time comes is nice too ). Anyone else have interest in tackling this? Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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YakiMini
MINI Motorer Joined: November/08/05 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3531 |
Posted: October/15/07 at 1:21am |
I'm curious to see/hear how you do w/ the lower Grill. My buddy had me do it one way and I wasn't happy with the results (ie. we CUT the bumper and then used Epoxy and the Epoxy didn't hold so it did a droopy number on me :-( It didn't droop to bad, but enough that I did not like it one bit!
Tristan Good Luck |
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MINI-less... If God allows, I will have one again some day. :D
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CINIMIN
MINI Motorer Joined: August/27/05 Location: Everett WA Status: Offline Points: 4676 |
Posted: October/15/07 at 2:41am |
Wildfamily (Martin) did a post a while back on a M7 grill install he did - complete with pictures. http://www.psmini.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2355&KW= wildfamily
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Jack -
<font color=RED>CINIMIN [/COLOR] 2006 CR/W MCS - 6spd - LSD -15% Pulley - Dinan CAI ASA JH6's Koni FSD's 22mm Bar Have you hugged a curve today? |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: October/15/07 at 6:39am |
Now I really need to take another look at his car. When is the next get together . LOL, I never noticed the bonnet stripes until now (see my other thread). I'm thinking of going the same route. So Martin, it really is a form of flattery . Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: October/15/07 at 6:51am |
OK, I spoke too soon. I looked at the M7 grill and love it however I think my wife would find the price of the aero grill a bit more
palatable.
Love the look though.
Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Wildfamily
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: March/11/06 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4559 |
Posted: October/15/07 at 7:47am |
Yes..it's a little pricey, but well made. All metal and powdercoated nicely. Install was not too tough, but you don't want to use M7 instructions...not enough detail. Oh, and the viper stripes...cool look. Had those put on down in Vegas last year by Asthetic Creations (my wife wasn't too happy that I pulled off the factory stripes 4 months after purchasing). Oh well...I wanted someting more unique. :) |
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'15 F55 Cooper Volcanic Orange
'80 Mini English White |
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Wildfamily
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: March/11/06 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4559 |
Posted: October/17/07 at 1:20am |
Hey...take a look. New M7 grill now available for R56 models.... http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t =116995
Edited by Wildfamily - October/20/07 at 12:10pm |
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'15 F55 Cooper Volcanic Orange
'80 Mini English White |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: October/20/07 at 9:17am |
Any recommendations on where to purchase an Aero Grill? Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: November/18/07 at 7:34am |
I attempted the grill install today. Upper went in just fine minus the "bolts from hell", where did they come up with that design. The lower was another story. I still have to get all the double back tape off (suggestions?) and am NOT happy with my cutting on the grill. Sad to say, I'll be ordering another one. Lesson learned... I only measure three times. Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Flitzer2
MINI Motorer Joined: July/06/07 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 108 |
Posted: November/18/07 at 12:31pm |
Sorry to hear about your troubles with the grill install. Let me know if you need a hand with anything - I'd be happy to come over and help out if need be. |
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Happy Motoring!
Thorsten ____________________________ 2004 MCS MC40, 15% Alta V2 Pulley, Alta V2 CAI, M7 STB, Alta Stubby Antenna, JCW CF Bonnet Scoop, CF Mirror Caps |
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YakiMini
MINI Motorer Joined: November/08/05 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3531 |
Posted: November/18/07 at 1:24pm |
Tell us all about the Lower Grill........
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MINI-less... If God allows, I will have one again some day. :D
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: November/18/07 at 11:12pm |
I attempted the install without the bumper removal following one set of direction on NAM. It's a combination of the directions being poor and me cutting the grill a little more than I should have which creates a gap along the top. For $33 it's worth buying another and doing it right. Last night I found a different set of directions and I really like how this guy did it so I'm going to start from scratch and remove the bumnper this time. Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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YakiMini
MINI Motorer Joined: November/08/05 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3531 |
Posted: November/19/07 at 12:39am |
We want pics! We want pics! |
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MINI-less... If God allows, I will have one again some day. :D
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: November/23/07 at 6:09am |
Here are pictures as I went through the process. Excuse the filthy car. As you can see, it was clean last weekend when I snapped the picture of being half way through. BEFORE LAST WEEKEND - Upper grill on, lower stock grill still in place TODAY - I scrubbed the double back tape off where the upper piece used to sit on the bumper (missing now). TODAY - Testing to see how it will look once complete. The lower is just barely sitting there in this picture. I plan to order a new lower next week (Outmotoring was closed this week). I cut this one too tight and it created a gap. I also decided I'm going to remove the bumper cover to do the install right. I plan to leave all the tabs on the AERO grill (some say cut, some don't) and drill/cut into the stock bumper to create slots for the tabs. I'll then use screws or cotter pins to keep the grill tight by drilling a small hole in the tab once through the bumper and ensuring it's snug. I saw one guy do this on NAM and it looked th best overall. I will also likely paint behind the lower flat black or use the 3M tape to black it out so the blue doesn't stand out through the grill so much. As I said... filthy car. One thing to make note of is the lack of egg yolk in the parking lights/blinkers. I replace the bulbs today so there is no longer the orange tint to them. I need to figure out how to fill the screws from the original license plate bracket. I want to ensure they're flush before the new viper stripes arrive since they'll cover where the holes once were . And last but not least, a close up of one of the worst designed pieces I have yet to see on the MINI. A horrid design. These are the "nuts" that are used to attach the upper grill to the bonnet. They "thread" up a plastic post which isn't threaded. To remove them you have to get a flat screw driver under the washer and pry it down as you unscrew it. I hope to finish this little project next weekend if I get the grill in town. Todd
Edited by Sanderskog - November/23/07 at 6:38am |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
Posted: November/23/07 at 8:50am |
Todd since your not going to paint the holes you could ruff up the counter bore and either fill with epoxy glue or place a flat head screw in their to level it off so your strips don't have a bubble. John |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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johnf36
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: August/30/07 Location: Ephrata, Wa. Status: Offline Points: 8612 |
Posted: November/23/07 at 8:53am |
BTW , Sorry it is looking good. John |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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Docroth
MINI Motorer Joined: October/17/07 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 77 |
Posted: November/26/07 at 9:59am |
I so lucked out. The guy i bought the NUff Mini from refused to put a front plate on.. so no holes here :)
Doc
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New Proud Owner of the 2005 Nuff MCSVolk CE28|TSW Springs| Parcel Shelf|Whalen |Aero Grill |Blackbelt|Uber Ant |Sirius Stiletto |Auto-up Circuit|Painted Trim|MTH Tuner File|Alta 15% Pulley
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: December/28/07 at 11:31am |
Done!!!
An upset MINI missing its nose.
The bumper cover being prepped for the drilling and filing needed to mount the lower grill.
An example of the slots that were cut into the cover to mount the aero grill (top left). The scrap that you see on the bottom left is what came out of the hole. I also used black beltline tape to blackout behind the aero grill. Some recommend painting but I opted to go this route.
Once the aero grill was installed I wanted it to sit a bit more flush so I drilled a small hole on the backside of the mounting tabs after putting pressure on the front side and then used a screw to set it to the depth I wanted.
Picture of the final product
And a before picture to compare.
Todd Edited by Sanderskog - December/28/07 at 11:34am |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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onramp
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: November/19/06 Location: Renton, WA Status: Offline Points: 2321 |
Posted: December/28/07 at 12:37pm |
Wow - that looks REALLY great. The stripes are awesome!
Pat |
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2006 Hyper Blue JCW
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scoop
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/07 Location: West Seattle Status: Offline Points: 1489 |
Posted: December/28/07 at 1:05pm |
Looks great! Me next? |
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 6:57am |
I took advantage of the sun yesterday and cleaned the car up and snapped pictures. I'd say these do the job a little better justice than the one taken in the garage. Todd Edited by Sanderskog - January/01/08 at 6:58am |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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onramp
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: November/19/06 Location: Renton, WA Status: Offline Points: 2321 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 7:17am |
OK - I'm going for the silver stripes. That is a way cool
look. I think I will go over the roof and down the back,
though. Did you put them on or did you have someone install them
for you?
Pat |
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2006 Hyper Blue JCW
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 7:36am |
I did them myself and can tell you it is not an easy thing to do. I have actually contacted Aesthetic Creations about ordering a bit more as I want to redo the rear bumper. I had one quote for getting them done and it was over $300 so I opted to tackle it I first. There are some wrinkles in the rear bumper and small bubbles here and there but I am told the bubbles go away with time/sun. I would think this style is much more difficult than your typical bonnet stripe since it runs a straight line down a curved surface. There really is no way to make some areas perfect (like the rear bumper due to the curve). I love the look though and can’t wait to put my summer wheels back on to see what it looks like. I too am contemplating the roof still. Todd |
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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CosmicTraveler
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: September/16/07 Location: Covington Status: Offline Points: 1485 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 9:58am |
The stripes are very sharp looking ... like them much better than the "before". Grilles look great too! From stickler for details. |
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Take It Easy ... Buck
'06 MCS JCW CR/CR |
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onramp
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: November/19/06 Location: Renton, WA Status: Offline Points: 2321 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 1:47pm |
Did you take off the rear Mini badge (the one over the license plate)? Or just cut around it.
Pat |
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2006 Hyper Blue JCW
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: January/01/08 at 10:24pm |
I had to take off both the front and rear badges to do the install. A heat gun on low and dental floss does the trick. Todd
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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Flitzer2
MINI Motorer Joined: July/06/07 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 108 |
Posted: January/02/08 at 1:09pm |
Todd...the stripes look awesome. Makes both the front and back look very aggressive. Love it!
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Happy Motoring!
Thorsten ____________________________ 2004 MCS MC40, 15% Alta V2 Pulley, Alta V2 CAI, M7 STB, Alta Stubby Antenna, JCW CF Bonnet Scoop, CF Mirror Caps |
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