What did you do to your MINI today?

Trying out some new brushed metal vinyl. I'm not gonna stick with this one. Grooves seem to catch dust and smudge easily, which looks kinda bad in direct sun. Also seems to scratch a bit easy. Otherwise looks pretty good, but it's almost too serious and sophisticated for the SE. On to the next!

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I de-badged the rather nondescript, energetic yellow blob on the hatch the first weekend I had the car. I know some folks here think that’s heresy. And that’s fine. I like the cleaner look without it, but to each their own.

That said, every so often I do wish that I could let people know my MINI Cooper “S” is electric. I rather do like the simple, lower case “electric” found on the tailgate of every Kona, Soul, and Niro EV. I checked online, and saw that every official source for the emblem was asking between $20-$30 plus shipping. I actually found a place up here that had it for $18 Canadian, but then when I tried to order it, they wanted to charge me $20 for shipping! So I moseyed on down to my local Hyundai store, and the parts guy told me it was $25 plus tax and would take three days so I ordered it.

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Then stopped by the dollar store. My idea is that I do not want this emblem to be permanent, just to slap it on once in a while. My wife has had magnetic bumper stickers on all her cars, so I figured if I pick up an adhesive magnetic sheet, I may be able to cut out a magnetic backing for the emblem. And on we go.

I took a photocopy of the emblem and tried to adhere it to the adhesive backing paper of the dollar store magnet sheet, then started cutting with a utility knife. It turns out that this 26 mil sheet was very thin and could easily be cut with a fine point hobby knife like an X-Acto. When I weeded out all the letters I dropped them onto the emblem, which is when I discovered one problem with my plan: the emblem ships in a die-cut piece of foam core with the backing paper on one side and transfer tape on the front… because the letters are not attached to one another! This won’t work. I paused, then took my individual magnetic letters out to the back of the car to see if they would attach strongly enough. They did not. I’m pretty sure however I affix the emblem to the back of the car with this sheet, the air back there would rip it off before I even got to the highway.

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So I ordered a couple of 30 mil and 60 mil sheets from Amazon and waited for them to show up.

New plan: I pencil-etched the emblem onto a sheet of paper, then added connecting bars between each letter, and cut out the template. I used the negative as a stencil, and a fine-point Sharpie to trace it onto the backing paper of the 30 mil sheet. I got out an X-Acto and started cutting. It was a little more work than I had hoped — next time I will bug a friend with a Cricut machine! Once I weeded the string of letters out of the magnetic sheet, I placed it on top of the chrome lettering again, and it looked quite good. Only when I removed the backing paper to adhere the two parts together did I realize I made one small error, but it’s not very visible in the final product: the I and the C of the chrome emblem do actually have a connecting bar and I put mine in a different place. I just didn’t look closely enough (and yes, it’s RIGHT THERE).

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Anyway, out to the car!

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Got my roll of carbon fiber in!! Couldn't resist getting the dash pieces done. Pictures don't do this stuff justice, depth and "shimmery" (for lack of a better word) looks very, very similar to the real deal.

Gonna get the radio bezel ring and doors done next.

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Trying out some new brushed metal vinyl. I'm not gonna stick with this one. Grooves seem to catch dust and smudge easily, which looks kinda bad in direct sun. Also seems to scratch a bit easy. Otherwise looks pretty good, but it's almost too serious and sophisticated for the SE. On to the next!View attachment 18697View attachment 18698View attachment 18699

I love the look of the brushed metal vinyl, would you share where you got it? And perhaps some tips on installing it? Thanks.
 
Since everyone is sharing dash vinyl...
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VViViD black ash, thin and lifeless but not a glossy finger print magnet. I used 3M DI-NOC dark tamo in the past and it looks more convincing. Probably try that next but not sure I like walnut for my MINI.
 
I love the look of the brushed metal vinyl, would you share where you got it? And perhaps some tips on installing it? Thanks.

I buy wholesale direct so can't comment on where to buy, but 3M, Avery, Vivid are good brands.

As far as tips, I have done it for awhile, but I'm no pro lol. There is some great YouTube pros that can really explain and show how it's done. Trial and error is always gonna happen if your new. Buy extra.

As far as the SE, the dash pieces pop out easily enough. There's 8 clips on the passenger side, and 6 on the driver's. Use a pry tool around the vent area, slip in between the vent and trim. Careful not to pry against the vent itself. Pop the 4 clips around the vent and then work your way over. Same on driver's side, but removing the dash will give more room (2 screws).

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Also here's a bonus pic of the new carbon fiber in the sun light. Oohlala
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Macro shot of the detail in it.
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As far as the SE, the dash pieces pop out easily enough. There's 8 clips on the passenger side, and 6 on the driver's.
Is your SE a 2022 or 2023? That looks like there's no chance to add the hidden compartment, but I've read someone did it on an SE (probably a pre-2022 model). I had one on my 2015 S Hardtop, have wished I had it in my 2021 SE.

 
Is your SE a 2022 or 2023? That looks like there's no chance to add the hidden compartment, but I've read someone did it on an SE (probably a pre-2022 model). I had one on my 2015 S Hardtop, have wished I had it in my 2021 SE.


I have a '23. These are just basically cover plates. That whole section behind it does seem like it just pops out as well, as I almost pulled out the passenger one side by accident. If you want that feature I'd look into it as it may be possible.
 
Much of the VViViD line is rebranded 3M (ie purpose-cut and packaged by VViViD) and is top quality.
 
Lol I actually use the passenger grab handle from the driver’s seat to stretch my shoulder on longer drives. For me (and my chimpanzee arms), that’s much easier than putting my arm around the passenger seat headrest like I’m in a '74 Fury Custom with a velour bench seat.
 
Ha! I found the right visor on ECS but it specifically states it’s for the panoramic sunroof. I have a sunroof delete so not sure it’s the same?
 
All the vinyl wraps on the dash look great.

I get a lot more fingerprints on the piano black surfaces on the door, and those pieces are much harder to wrap.

Has anyone tried one of the various wipe-on oleophobic coatings on the black plastic?
 
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