Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

R50 - How to remove side skirt?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 09-11-2016, 02:05 PM
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
RudeJoe is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 438
Received 72 Likes on 53 Posts
R50 - How to remove side skirt?

First let me say that Bentley is useless!!! Also, I did a search here and could not find a good instruction.

I'm trying to remove the Left side skirt and can't figure out how to get at the clips on the back side.

I've got the top and bottom clips removed, well, most of them destroyed. The top clips I just pulled up on the skirt and they popped through. I'll get them out later.

One thread I found said to get at the front and back clips through the wheel well and then slide the skirt forward to disengage the others. The picture on the ECS's website suggests otherwise to me. It looks like some of the interior clips oppose each other (one would need the skirt to slide forward and the other to the rear to disengage).

Any help would be appreciated!
 
Attached Thumbnails R50 - How to remove side skirt?-side-skirt.jpg  
  #2  
Old 09-11-2016, 08:18 PM
Brochacho's Avatar
Brochacho
Brochacho is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Goodyear Az
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts


If the one circled in orange is removed via wheel well, the two in red look to me when blown up on large monitor, will come off if slid in the direction of the green arrow.
 
  #3  
Old 09-12-2016, 12:54 PM
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
ECSTuning is online now
Platinum Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 35,287
Received 2,100 Likes on 1,873 Posts
+1 Thats correct, watch those clips , they like to slide out and break the tabs, just take it easy.
 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
  #4  
Old 09-12-2016, 01:19 PM
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
RudeJoe is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 438
Received 72 Likes on 53 Posts
I figured out why I got it reversed - that image is the right side skirt not the left side. It was incorrectly shown in the left side listing.

I did get it off and ended up breaking most of the clips in the process. The skirt needed to slide forward to disengage the clips, not rearward. I tried sliding rearward like recommended in one thread. When one didn't work I pulled a little too hard trying to look at the clip underneath. The first one popped and, thinking they were popping out of the side skirt and not breaking, I started pulling my way down the length of the skirt. When I got to the last one I looked and noticed I had broken off one ear of each clip. I guess I need to take more time and also wait for a response here before going with the gorilla method.

ECStuning - Is there a kit with all the fasteners or do I need to buy all of them individually? The parts seem expensive for what they are. I was able to save a few of the underside two part clips but all the backside clips are gone.

Thanks
 
  #5  
Old 09-14-2016, 07:05 AM
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
ECSTuning is online now
Platinum Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 35,287
Received 2,100 Likes on 1,873 Posts
Individually for those :
07131480419

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/07131480419/ES16410/


 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
  #6  
Old 09-14-2016, 07:31 AM
MiniTigger's Avatar
MiniTigger
MiniTigger is offline
5th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,091
Received 37 Likes on 32 Posts
So do they slide toward the front or rear of the car? Can you remove it without breaking any of the clips?
 
  #7  
Old 09-19-2016, 06:23 AM
MiniTigger's Avatar
MiniTigger
MiniTigger is offline
5th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,091
Received 37 Likes on 32 Posts
bump
 
  #8  
Old 09-19-2016, 06:02 PM
Brochacho's Avatar
Brochacho
Brochacho is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Goodyear Az
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RudeJoe
I figured out why I got it reversed - that image is the right side skirt not the left side. It was incorrectly shown in the left side listing.

I did get it off and ended up breaking most of the clips in the process. The skirt needed to slide forward to disengage the clips, not rearward. I tried sliding rearward like recommended in one thread. When one didn't work I pulled a little too hard trying to look at the clip underneath. The first one popped and, thinking they were popping out of the side skirt and not breaking, I started pulling my way down the length of the skirt. When I got to the last one I looked and noticed I had broken off one ear of each clip. I guess I need to take more time and also wait for a response here before going with the gorilla method.

ECStuning - Is there a kit with all the fasteners or do I need to buy all of them individually? The parts seem expensive for what they are. I was able to save a few of the underside two part clips but all the backside clips are gone.

Thanks
Originally Posted by MiniTigger
So do they slide toward the front or rear of the car? Can you remove it without breaking any of the clips?

Looks like to the front. Hope that helps.
 
  #9  
Old 09-22-2016, 10:14 AM
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
ECSTuning is online now
Platinum Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 35,287
Received 2,100 Likes on 1,873 Posts
Red ones to the front, so they side out. Orange circle one in the wheel well access.
 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
  #10  
Old 10-16-2016, 11:02 AM
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
RudeJoe is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 438
Received 72 Likes on 53 Posts
So finally finished all the work I need to do with the side skirt off and bought replacement clips (thanks ECS). Now I need to put this back on. Do I put the clips in the skirt and then push the skirt on? Do I put the clips on the body and then slide the skirt on?

I know some of the other trim pieces come with clips installed and they just push on.

The only reason I question this assembly method with the side skirt is because the clips are so rigid I'm not sure they will flex enough to push on. To get the old clips off the body they need to be turned 90 degree to pull out as the hole is rectangular. I guess I'll experiment with a single clip before trying to push all of them on.

TIA
 
  #11  
Old 10-16-2016, 02:52 PM
RudeJoe's Avatar
RudeJoe
RudeJoe is offline
4th Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 438
Received 72 Likes on 53 Posts
OK, I went ahead and gave it a try and they pushed in easily while on the skirt.
 
  #12  
Old 10-17-2016, 08:32 AM
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
ECSTuning is online now
Platinum Sponsor
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 35,287
Received 2,100 Likes on 1,873 Posts
Welcome. Glad to help.
 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Phillbis
1st Gen Countryman (R60) Talk (2010-2015)
13
06-06-2020 09:24 AM
MarioKart
Interior/Exterior
9
05-14-2019 10:10 AM
MrBlah
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
5
08-19-2016 08:17 AM
gfx
R55 :: Clubman Talk (2008+)
4
08-16-2016 07:54 PM
alexinvancouver
Vancouver Mini Cooper Club
0
08-16-2016 02:32 PM



Quick Reply: R50 - How to remove side skirt?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:27 PM.