Blacked-Out Project

I wasn't a big fan of chrome parts especially for the exterior. Got the idea from one of the American forum motoring/underground after I saw this picture.



Tried painting it myself at firstand with a disappointing results. So I had no choice but to send it to the paint shop to do it for me.

Before: Chrome headlight ring


After: Blacked out head light ring & spotlight surrounds


After: blacked-out door handle & gas cap


Close up

The only parts left to be blacked out are the belt line and side gill. I am also contemplating to paint the roof and wheel black as well.

Damaged:
1. Paint Job - RM180 (CYT Paint)

New Bonnet Stripe

I've been getting quite a number of comments ever since I got the bonnet stripe. Majority of them said that I should have added the pin stripe since it looks kind of thin. Well, I did noticed that most of the mini does have pin stripes and mine looks kind of weird compare to theirs.

Since i got the bonnet stripe done at BESTFEEL, so I guess it's best to go back to them. For those who doesn't know. BESTFEEL is located in Sunway. Right next to Racing Fit adjacent to the car dealer.


Before pin stripe


After pin stripe


Side angle with pin stripe

Sometimes it's good to get feedback from others. In this case they were right, adding the pin stripe does makes a lot of difference. Now the bonnet stripe looks more thicker and it doesn't look weird anymore.

Damaged:

1. Pin Stripe - RM60 (BEST FEEL Sunway)

Carbon Fiber Scoop

Yet another exterior upgrades, after changing the front grill. I just have to change the scoop to complete the front end upgrades. At first I was contemplating whether to paint the scoop black or change it to CF. After looking at some picture, plus the Cf really stands out when you snap pictures of it at night. So I decided to get it done. Check out the results.


Before CF Scoop


After CF Scoop


Close up of the Cf scoop

Damaged:
1. Cf scoop - RM480 (Fastlane Automotive)

JCW Aero Grill

This is one of my latest exterior modification done. It's another one of those none performance mods. As usual, I got my idea from looking at pictures of other minis. Since I don;t have the budget to get a full JCW body kit.

So I opted for a less expensive mods. (It's not really cheap). It's a JCW Aero Grill. The difference is the grill has a honey comb designed compare to the stock one. It also gives the car a more aggressive looks. I guess it's due to is colour. It's black compare to the stock ones. The results as shown from the picture below.

Before JCW Aero Grill

After JCW Aero Grill

Front View After JCW Aero Grill

The installation was done by Fastlane Automotive. The whole process took 3 hours to complete. The top grill was the easy part. The most difficult part was to install the lower grill as it involve cutting the lower inner bumper. Although the work isn't entirely perfect as the cut under neath the grill wasn't really straight. But I cannot blame them as it is not easy to cut the bumper. Since you really have to bend over to see the imperfections under the bumper. I guess I can close one eye. I am quite happy with the results and overall, they had done a good job on the installations.

I would recommend anyone using BMW Mini R53/56 to go to Fastlane for good and professional work.

Next up would be CF Scoop & Piper Cross Open Pod Air filter with heatshield or AXT Silicn Hoses.

Damaged:

1. JCW Aero Grill - RM850 (Fastlane Automotive)

2. Installation : FOC

Bonnet Stripes

Been toying with the idea ever since I got my mini. Of late,I have been looking at quite a number of Mini photos. From what I can see that most of them has stripes either at the side or on the hood. It must be the mini thing and today I decided to one one for my baby.

Although , it is not going to make my car go any faster. But it does makes it look like it is fast. I have asked Hazry for his opinion on which shop shall I go for. He recommended Best Feels, since they have better workmanship.

Before: Plain clean look


After: With stripes

The results speaks for itself. Ijud was there with me during the whole process. I am quite please with results and it definitely gave the car a more aggressive look.

Damage:

1. Bonnet Stripes - RM150 (Best Feels) incusive installation

Custom Intake Cowl

For those who doesn't know about Cooper S. The air intake for the air filter is located underneath the wiper. I was going through some photos on MCS (Mini Cooper S). I noticed that their intake cowl looks different. This was one of the first photo I saw and noticed the intake cowl looks different.


Orciari Intake cowl


Stock intake cowl


Luckily, I signed-up in the MOCM forum. I came across this post about the intake cowl and I found-out there is this shop in Taman Mayang by the name of Fastlane that carry a custom made version. They got two type, the CF and FRP version.



No doubt the CF version looks nice but it cost a bomb



CF intake cowl


Not only that it is functionable it definitely give the car that more aggresive look.



Before : Stock intake cowl


After : Custom intake cowl

Damage:
1. Custom Intake Cowl -RM 480 (FastLane )
2. Installation: FOC